***Jason's POV

It's the middle of the night. I'm sitting on the edge of my bed with my speaker softly playing music.

I can't sleep.

The last time I was able to sleep was when I was stupid drunk and May and Serena held me.

I still can't believe she doesn't remember. It's still fresh in my mind.

The way she put her head on my shoulder and snuggled against me to stay warm. Her soft lips pressed against the side of my cheek.

I miss that level of comfort.

"I'm so needy," I say, shaking my head. I stare out the window, as the moon shines dominantly in the sky in its lonesome.

I should go check up on my Pokemon.

I get up, and walk out the door, the music still playing.

...

I walk down the set of stairs into the basement. I walk over and open the door, leading me into an open room. There, I see a Pikachu suddenly awaken from a corner, and dash out, heading upstairs.

That must be Ash's Pikachu.

I walk over in the back, where there are trays of different Pokeballs. I see my name in black letters, and underneath a tray with six Pokeballs. Next to it, is a single Pokeball. The Pokeball I dragged Ash and Dawn through an entire faculty to find. I walk over and look at my team. Umberon, Pichu, Grovyle, Charizard, Phanpy and Buizel. I slowly clip them back on my belt.

"Whatcha up to?"

I turn around and I see Sarah standing at the doorway, her hands on her hips. She's barefoot, and wearing the gown from before.

"I'm just checking on my team. I see you took your Gastrodon back," I say, watching her walk over next to me, grabbing her own Pokeballs.

"Yeah, I missed her. But if you want, you can have Lucario back since I took Gastrodon," Sarah says, offering his pokeball.

"No, it's ok. The reason I gave you Lucario is because he was so attached to you when he was a Riolu, so it only made sense. So do spare him heartbreak and keep him," I say, as Sarah slowly takes her Pokemon back.

"Speaking of heartbreak, you never gave me an explanation," Sarah says, walking towards me. I quickly grab the extra pokeball and take a step back. My heart starts beating faster.

"What do you mean? I already did."

"Why did you walk out on me in front of all those people? You didn't have to embarass me like that," she says, pushing me farther and farther back.

"Well, I, uh, see," I say, as I feel my back hit the wall. She doesn't stop until our chests are pressed against each other, and she looks up at me. Our lips are nearly touching. My heart is beating crazier than a Mankey on a rampage.

"Tell me Jason. Why?"

I sigh.

"Because I'm stupid."

Sarah is caught back by the words.

"You know what I've done. To both you and Drew. Look where Drew is now because of me. And look how much pain I've caused you. Your eyes are still swollen from crying. You deserve better, so when you confessed everything, I panicked, but I knew I had to keep you away to keep you safe from me," I say, as I try to gently push Sarah away from me, but she doesn't budge.

"I forgive you. For the incident with Drew, and that incident during breakfast. Yes you made mistakes, and hurt me, but grow up Jason. You fucked up big time! So what? Move on. Don't live in the past, otherwise it can ruin things for the future just like it almost ruined us," Sarah says, wrapping her arms behind my neck.

Almost?

"What do you mean?"

"Well, now I know what it was. This is something we can fix. Together. So I don't need to let you go if I know we have a chance together. I don't want to let you go," she says looking into my eyes.

"Unless, there's something else that's bothering you," she says.

She knows me so well, it's almost scary.

"There, uh, might be," I say. Sarah stares at me slightly.

"It's Serena, isn't it?" She asks.

I gulp.

"Y-y-yes. It is."

She looks down at my right hand. She noticed the Pokeball in my hand.

"Is that for her?" She asks.

I nod.

Her lip quivers a bit, and I open my mouth to say something, but next thing I know her lips are pressed against mine.

My eyes pop open as she kisses me. I try to push her off, but then the urge of kissing her back won over me and I press her tighter against me. I feel her smile as we kiss, then we both push away from each other.

"What was that?" I ask, out of breath.

"I'm proving to you how much I love you Jason. This is just a small thing I'm willing to do for you. Please, let me do more," she says.

"I-I, I need to think," I say, holding my head. I'm a tornado of feelings right now.

"That's fine," she says with a frown. She then walks up and kisses my cheek.

"Just keep this in mind: Ash is back now, and that's who Serena wants." Sarah whispers in my ear as she walks out the room. Once she's gone, I collapse on the floor.

What just happened?

Sarah confronted me about why I walked away. She yelled at me for being stupid, then she kissed me and told me she wants us to try again.

I felt a fire light up when I kissed Sarah. There was something there. But I didn't feel happiness, or Butterfrees in my stomach. I just felt physical attraction.

I don't want that to be the basis of our relationship at all. I want someone I can tell anything, who will listen, and both there for each other, even in our darkest moments. I see myself doing stuff like that with Serena, not Sarah.

But Serena doesn't want me. She wants Ash.

I close my eyes, and force my lips shut.

My body begins to tremble, as I process that statement.

Serena doesn't want me. She wants Ash.

She doesn't just want him. She loves him. A lot.

That's what I want.

I want love.

I want her love.

But that isn't going to happen.

"Pi?"

I open my eyes, and I see Pichu staring at me. I was took busy thinking I didn't notice him pop out of his Pokeball.

"Oh, hey," I say, as I feel my wet face. Tears stream down the side of my face.

"Sorry, for being a mess. I'm just having some love issues,"I say. Pichu stares at me with a confused look, then crawls over to me. He gently rubs my arm.

"Thanks buddy. I don't know how much you were able to hear, but Sarah loves me. I have feelings for her, but they're nothing compared to the feelings I have for Serena. But she loves Ash," I say, my voice cracking. My breaths are very shaky.

"Pi! Pika, Pi, Pichu!"

Pichu jogs in place, then points at my chest.

"What?"

Pichu frowns, then jogs in place again, then climbs in my lap and presses on my heart.

"Follow my heart?"

Pichu smiles and nods.

So what does my heart tell me?

I already know the answer.

"Thanks Pichu, you really helped me out," I say, wiping my tears.

"Now go to bed, it's late," I say, returning him to his Pokeball. I take a deep breath, and head upstairs.

...

I'm standing outside a door that has wooden letters that spell out Serena. My grip on the pokeball tightens as I gulp, and take a deep breath.

Here goes.

I knock on it gently, and I stand there, waiting. The door doesn't move, so I go and try it again, but a bit louder.

Nothing.

So I knock once more, at normal volume. I stand there for a minute, until I realize she's not in the room.

Where could she be?

Wait.

Where Ash is, Serena might be there as well.

My heart aches, as I make my way towards the room Ash was placed.

Once I reach the room, I don't even bother knocking. I slowly open the door. I creep in, and I see Serena, laying next to Ash, her arms wrapped around him. The moonlight bleeds through the window and shines on her clean white skin and golden hair.

"Who's there?"

Ash is awake, and has one arm around Serena, and the other arm is petting Pikachu, who is laying on the other side of Ash.

"Hey Ash, it's me, Jason. I was just checking up on you and Serena," I say, as I walk up to him. Ash smiles as I slowly show my face.

"Hey Jason. How long have I been out?"

"For a couple hours. Serena refused to leave your side during that time," I say, keeping my voice from cracking.

"Yeah, well, I'll do the same exact thing if our roles were reversed. But I rather be the one to be hurt," he says, kissing her forehead. Serena shifts a bit, and smiles in her sleep.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Ash asks. I nod.

"Ash, can I ask a question?"

"Sure."

I take a shaky deep breath, and move my head a bit.

"Why did you collect the Pengen for Bryon and kill all those gym leaders?"

Ash's smile quickly disappears. He looks down at his feet, but then looks at Serena.

"This may sound crazy, but I did all that for Serena. When Bryon and Maximum showed up in my room, they threatened to hurt Serena, May, and they already had Dawn. Maximum particularly wanted to get Serena, and he would say all the things he wanted to do to her. I couldn't risk them doing anything to her, so I agreed. Yes, I killed the gyms leaders, and I killed one of my best friends," Ash says, his voice cracking.

"But I did it to keep Serena safe. And of course May, and to save Dawn. But all I could thing about while I doing those terrible things, was Serena's well being."

Wow.

"I took advantage of the situation though. I was able to help Gary come up with an antidote for the Pengen, before he sacrificed himself to save Dawn. That was the white liquid I asked you to take out of Gary's pocket and give to me later," Ash explains, gently feeling Serena's cheeks.

Even after acting to save the girl he loves, he also managed to find a way to save the world.
No wonder Serena loves him. He has such a big heart, and always thinks of ways to help people even if it means to hurt some people he knows.

"Ash, want to do me a favor," I manage to say, as I feel a lump forming in my throar.

"Sure. What is it?"

I place the Pokeball in my hand on the bed a few inches away from Pikachu.

"Is that the Pokeball you nearly had us die for?" Ash asks.

"Yea. It's Serena's Braixen. She was kidnapped because of me, and I promised I would bring her back to Serena," I say. Ash gives me a confused looked.

"I don't get it. Why are you telling me this when you can tell her-"

"I want you to give it to her when she wakes up. Tell her you fought a whole research facility for Braixen," I say, as my mouth goes dry.

"What? No, I can't. I don't want to lie to her and take credit for something I didn't do," Ash says as he stares at the Pokeball.

"It would mean alot more to her if you tell her that, and that will only make the love she has for you grow even more," I say, as I turn and head out.

"Jason. Catch."

I turn around, and Ash tosses me the liquid I grabbed from Gary. I easily catch it and stare at him.

"It's the antidote Gary produced. Use it to cure Nidoking tomorrow morning," Ash says.

"Thanks," I say, as I put it in my pocket.

"Do you want to come with?" I ask.

"No, I need to get some training in, but I'm sure Serena will go with you though, since I heard her mumbling something about a Nidoqueen," Ash says, as he picks up the Pokeball and examines it

"Thanks. Goodnight," I say, as I quickly dash out the room, and enter mine, where I sit on my bed, and all the emotions I've been holding back finally emerging, with my music still running in the background.

Author's Note:
What do you guys think of the new cover? It was drawn by my friend Lizet! & sorry for the kinda long chapter, but a lot happened o:
& as always, Happy Reading :)
-eV04