We had trudged our way through the Kalos desert all day. A heavy beating of sun on our backs and either the difficult terrain of scorching sand or summer baked mud beneath our feet. Water was scarce but luckily, Gary had brought extra.

Admittedly, Gary and I had bickered our way through the trek. It really wasn't cause we had a point to argue, it was due to entertainment. A getaway from the harsh desert route. Ash, on the other hand, sluggishly pulled his feet and pouted and sulked. Conversation didn't pull him out of his glum and neither did arguments. I had even proposed a battle, but he declined.

I had come to learn this was an indication something was wrong.

The sun was sinking behind the sandy horizon when the temperatures began to drop. Final waves of heat expelled from the sand as bitterness seeped into its place. I certainly was not familiar nor aware of the harsh diurnal temperatures. This was when Gary decided we should stop for the night. He was actually a rather smart guy and had suggested we stock up on fire wood before leaving the comfort of the forest. Luckily, I had listened, for fuel was limited in the desert.

"Ash, do you mind starting to unpack the tents while Elaina and I work on the fire?" Gary had ordered, looking on with a mixture of sympathy and tenderness. Not once had he become frustrated with Ash's attitude during our travels. He was patient, tranquil and empathetic. As if he understood every feeling that coiled within his friend. I, on the other hand...

Well, let's not go into that.

Ash gave a simple nod before attending to his assignment. I sighed, my gaze lingering on his saddened posture a little longer than needed. I missed Serena; I missed her with all my heart, but it hadn't crushed my very will to live. Ash looked as if her absence weighed upon his every step and glued his lips together. It worried me, more than I liked to admit.

Pikachu was also concerned for his trainer. I heard his squeaks of encouragement as we journeyed, almost pleading for Ash to hold his head a fraction higher. To even attempt a quirky smile. But no avail.

"This fire ain't gonna start itself." Gary complained, my lack of cooperation seemed to bother him. As if Ash wasn't currently more of a hassle.

"Relax. I'm helping." I reassured the mahogany haired boy. "Though, could you try be a tiny bit stricter with Mr. Sulky over there and lighten up on me?"

"He's going through a rough time." Was all Gary replied. I gritted my teeth in sheer frustration, growling through the small gaps. Is he blind?

"I'm going through a rough time." I seethed back as we began hoisting sticks and branches from Gary's sack. My movements were rather vigorous as I stacked the wood, glaring at the soon-to-be-professor from under my lashes. "She's my friend too."

"She's more than just a friend to him." Gary murmured and I wasn't sure if I was meant to hear it or not. In the end I kind of wished I hadn't, for those words brought with them a sharp pang at my heart. The feeling lodged itself within my gut, twisting and turning and striking me with both guilt and anguish. I bit my lip to stop it from quivering and averted my gaze.

I should have been happy. I tried forcing it upon myself. But happiness never came. Wasn't this what I had worked for? Weren't my lessons successful? How could I not feel happiness?

I was simply guilty and pain stricken. I wanted to plead sorry. I wanted the aching to cease.

"So?" I acted as if inside wasn't raging in a turmoil and strife. "That doesn't mean he can't at least try to be happy for her."

My facade was to hate him. I was childish in that sense.

"It's hard to be happy when your sad, isn't it?" Gary told me in a wise tone, pausing his actions for a brief moment. If I wasn't so distraught, I would have told him he was wrong. Fought against his argument. But there was no point fighting against the truth.

"You act as if you have been in his place." I stated. His empathy and attitude towards his friend said it all. Practically screamed from the furrowed expression on his face.

"Trust me, it's not fun." He deadpanned. Curiosity was always a major weakness for me, however, this time, I let it go. To force myself into this prospect would have been an overall bad idea. So instead, I changed the subject.

"Got a fire type Pokemon?" I questioned. In all honesty, I would have loved to explore Gary's team. Learn the pros and cons and how they faired in battle. Maybe even get a chance to battle him, but this certainly was not the time nor the place.

"No, not on me. Just electric and dark, if that's any help." He replied, seemingly relived that I hadn't dug into his personal business any further.

"Nope, not helpful. I guess we'll have to use Ash's Talonflame." I shrugged before excusing myself to face the raven haired boy.

It's just a simple question, Elaina, not that hard.

But it was hard. Seeing him, up close, in his glum state. Seeing those troubled eyes that were lost in someone else's memory. Watching as his hair would fall into his face and he wouldn't care enough to brush it away. It was a new hardship I was reluctant to accept.

Ash gently unpacked the tents from their covers, fingers moving leisurely, pausing then resuming again. Encased in his own world, he barley recognized my presence. He didn't care enough to acknowledge me.  I sat down in the sand next to him, not bothered if it crawled inside the crimps of my dress. We had something more important to discuss than just borrowing Talonflame.

"Ash?"

There was a gentle murmur from his lips, urging me to go on, but he never lifted his head to meet my eyes.

"Yesterday...at the preformance...did you...vote for Aria in the finals?"

This time, his head perked straight up in utter alarm. His pupils dilated, showing more of the striking auburn color of his eyes.

"P-please don't tell Serena." Ash pleaded, desperateness lacing ever uttered word. It made my insides ache even more, throbbing slightly from strain.

"But...why?" I whispered. She had trusted that he would always support her. He told her he would. He lied.

"Look at what happened! She's gone! This is exactly what I didn't want to happen!" He raised his voice, frustration making creases in his forehead. He was blinded. Blinded by feelings and it angered me.

"She's achieved her dream, Ash! It's what she's always wanted! And she's not gone, we're going to see her every Master Class performance. Can you at least try to be happy for her?! Can you stop feeling sorry for yourself and sulking! You're not the only one who misses her! Your self pity doesn't only effect you. It effects me too!" I vented, hoping with every fiber in me that Gary would be understanding enough to not investigate. I hoped he would keep his place by the fire wood. I wasn't finished scolding Ash. I wasn't finished breaking myself to pieces, heck, I hadn't even started.

"It's not the same! Can't you see that?! She'll never spend the night with us again! She'll never walk through the forests with us again! And we're meant to, what? Follow her everywhere? It's the beginning of the end, Elaina. We'll both eventually have to let her go." He countered, face still twisted in melancholy. My jaw trembled just watching it, seeing him carve out words of truth. Words I couldn't bring myself to believe.

"J-just...stop being sad." I didn't know how els to put it. I didn't know how els to make him stop. He chuckled bitterly.

"It doesn't work that way, Elaina. I think I deserve to be sad for even just a few days. I'd actually like to be upset about losing her for the moment." He said without much emotion, just a sour undertone.

"Well I can't face it yet. I'd like to hide from reality for a few more days and you're making it hard to do that! Gosh, I should curse dreams, shouldn't I? I mean, everyone keeps leaving me for them. First, Leon for his, then Aron for his fantasies and now Serena for her dream. And where is mine going? No clue. It's barley gone anywhere. I'm not even sure I know what it is. And you..." I pointed at Ash "you..you..you..."

"I what?"

"You love her."

Saying the words out loud cemented everything. Crashed everything I had shoved aside onto my shoulders. Everything I hid behind arguments or fights, obliterated my walls of denial. I was struck with reality. Like a cold hard slap across the cheek. And it hurt. It was agony in the form of emotion.

"You love her." I repeated as sobs began to boiling up my throat, ripping through my chest so I had to clamp my teeth onto my bottom lip to stop from weeping. I don't cry I thought to myself. But those were just meaningless words.

Small, hot tears began tracking down my cheeks, glazing my flesh like donuts. They were silent tears, I made sure of that. But I never stopped them, just continued to let the water stain my skin with my broken pride.

"I love Serena?" Ash questioned, not only me but himself. He submersed himself in the idea. And it made him smile. He smiled while I tore myself apart.

"Isn't that why you voted for Aria?" I asked all while suppressing my sobs.

"Well, yes, but-"

"I guess that's kind of my fault. There's one thing I forgot to teach you. And that's sometimes, you've got to love them enough to let them go." This registered with Ash in hesitance. He finally looked at me, ample chocolate eyes and all. He was temporarily stunned at the sight of my tears.

"Elaina, are you crying?" I never answered his question. Simply got up and tried to stifle the brewing whimpers. I took my tent from Ash's clutches as I couldn't bare to be around him for another agonizing second.

"Gary needs Talonflame to start the fire. It's going to get cold." Was all I replied.

Then I took my work to the opposite side of our camp, as far away as I could get. The temperatures continued to drop as I set up my tent. I didn't feel like dinner for I had lost all apatite, so instead, I quickly shut myself within the flaps of my sleeping bag.

I willed myself to sleep as quickly as possible. For I knew, staying awake any longer would only lead to a newborn eruption of tears.

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Sorry for the short chapter, but yes, chapters will be getting shorter form now on! We are sadly coming to a close on this book, well in perspective. Still a one more challenge to overcome.