77.
chapter seventy-seven:
she challenged me
to a fight,
but boy, am
I shy!

"Nothing costs you to spread smiles. Maybe that's what keeps me going."

It felt like an eternity had passed since I had genuinely smiled at someone to give them strength. I had an evanescent energy, and to distribute it would be draining.

But this was for someone special. 

I held her fragile hand up as we trotted on, admiring her slender fingers and running a thumb across her palm. "Ash?"

"We've changed, a lot."

Serena giggled. "All of us do. We grow up, after all."

I shook my head dismissively, letting our hands fall to the side. She began swinging them back and forth with an extra cheer to her step, but she was feigning jubilation. "Back then, you were really delicate. I don't see that quality of yours too much now, in you."

"Well, there was this... amazing personality in my life who showed me that cowards make no mistakes," she breathed. My eyes traced her movement curiously as she let go of my hand and overtook me. "He showed me how something as simple as a smile could give somebody courage, and I wanted to do the same thing. 

"I realized, during my early teens, that all along, I was taking others' encouragement as my stamina. But, no. When that wonderful guy was feeling low, it hit me that I was drawing my needs from him and the others around me when, in sooth, I was supposed to be the one lending others strength!

"I want to be someone to give others strength with my smile, Ash," she concluded and looked over her shoulder at me. I quickened my pace to fall into a step with her. 

"Who—" I cleared my throat of rising insecurity. "Who was this 'wonderful guy'?"

Serena made a happy sound and took hold of my hand again. Her eyes met mine, and we stopped walking. No words were needed to hear her answer; it gave me immense pleasure to know that I had been monumental in her development. 

A pang of guilt weighed me down, and I lowered my gaze. "Serena, I just want to... get this off my chest." 

"Mhm?" she hummed. I hesitantly peered at her through my bangs. She had a faraway look, a sad smile tugging on her lips. Tightening my hold, I broke into a stride, pulling her along. Standing still always made you mull over thoughts, and I only needed one more reassurance to begin my plan. 

"Sometimes," I started and repeated the statement that had been eating my mind ever since we fell apart, "why do I feel like I'm just a chapter in your book while you're my entire story?" 

"Well, you're obviously wrong, because you're my entire novel, cover to cover." There was no hesitation in her voice, her gait, or her eyes. I felt a euphoric dizziness overtaking my senses. 

With newfound energy, I gave her the warmest grin I could muster. Serena blushed and looked away, mumbling something incoherent under her breath. 

We came across a clothing store, and I pointed at one of the mannequins wearing what I assumed to be a sundress and matching hat. The honey-blonde's eyes once again filled with a faraway look as she stared blankly at them. I blinked at her. Didn't she love matching dresses? 

Was something eating at her so much so that she lost passion in what she loved? 

If so, was it because of me?

Moments passed in a blur as we aimlessly walked through the bustling streets of Vaniville. Throughout the journey, I pointed at several stores that might interest her, but all the emotions she showed were of a bittersweet smile, one that showed she was in deep. 

Sometimes, I would swing our intertwined hands back and forth madly, eliciting giggles from the girl each time she toppled closer to me, out of balance. 

Making her laugh could metaphorically be compared to setting a fire. It would warm you, take your breath away, and make you feel better. 

After taking quite a few confusing turns while making sure to keep Serena distracted, we managed to face the outskirts of the town and the borders of the next: Aquacorde Town. 

"Flippety flippers!" Serena exclaimed. "I'm so sorry, Ash! I never realized—" 

"Didn't you mention you liked the cafés at Aquacorde?" I interrupted her. Serena blinked before the faintest trace of a flush crept across her cheeks, and she nodded hesitantly. I flashed her a grin, despite my heart throwing itself against its enclosure in anticipation of my next question. "It's lunchtime, too. So, um, can you do me the honor of going on a date with me, M'lady?" 

"Oh." A small smile slid into view, and she bobbed her head excitedly. Her expression changed as quickly as it elated. "Sure! But I'm not dressed the part." 

I frowned. What was wrong with her outfit for her to think as such? "What? You look gorgeous this way too." An alarm went off in the back of my mind when realization set in as slow as a Slowking. "Er, what I mean is—" 

"T-thank you, Ash." 

I laughed it off nervously, running a hand through my hair. "If you consider yourself to not be the best dressed, I ain't even getting on the rankings list, girl." It was Serena's turn to have her eyebrows stitched together in deep apprehension. I anticipated a compliment, but when I received none, my face fell. 

Cheer up, man. You're here to make her feel better! 

I gave her hand a tug, and she snapped out of her thoughts, alarmed. Before she could utter another word, I pulled out the Google Maps and led her to a café she had once mentioned. As usual, the damned technology had us wandering around the longest route rather than a shortcut. 

The walk was a silent one, besides the occasional antics I tried to put on for the sake of seeing her grin or hearing her giggle. 

When we entered our destination, War of Hearts by Ruelle, the song we danced to in our face-off against Anistar High, was booming in the surround sound system. The both of us found ourselves blushing profusely as we settled into a booth, facing each other. 

When the waiter left with our orders, I opened my mouth to speak. 

"This song reminds me of you, Serena—" 

"This song reminds me of you, Ash—" 

"Huh?" we screamed in unison. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and we broke into a hysterical laughing fit, clutching our sides and gulping down water when we were finally calm. 

"Back then, Misty was sure you had a thing for my chest," I admitted, setting my glass of water down. Serena's eyes widened, and she colored again. 

"N-no! Of course not! I mean, I felt your heartbeat comforting... I couldn't hear it much, but it made my nerves better. It isn't easy coming up with a dance, let alone a duet, spontaneously in front of a jeering crowd and an equally discouraging co-host." As she progressed, her words became clearer and more eloquent, and I found myself admiring her speech. 

"Makes sense." 

"Hmm-mhm," she hummed, tapping a finger on the table. "And Calem was sure you had a thing for me." 

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. I briefly feared they would fly off my head. "Seriously? What made him think that?" 

Serena's face fell, and she looked at me pointedly. "Didn't you?" 

"Serena," I started, throwing my hands up in surrender, "I've been harboring feelings for you ever since the second summer camp. During, after, and even still." 

The girl looked thoughtful again. Her blush didn't go unnoticed, though. "I don't know, but he did tell me that right after the event ended. I was on my way to... actually confirm it with you, but then I encountered y-you—" She stammered, shivering lightly. 

"Hey, that's over, and we're even done with the year," I reassured her, concerned, and reached a hand across the table to hold hers. "Take a deep breath whenever you find yourself losing your eloquence, ma'am." 

She obliged and resumed talking as our dishes arrived. "That was when I ran into you being b-beat up by those thugs. I was honestly so-so s-scared for you." 

"Well," I flashed her a lopsided grin. "You would do better to know that I don't go down that easily." Serena quirked her eyebrow and leaned forward in her chair. Her tone turned strangely musky, all traces of her previous nervousness vanished. 

"Is that so? Do you wish to battle with me, then?" 

"With swords? I'd rather cut myself than maim you. Easy." 

"No. I want you to kiss me." Her sudden surge of courage took me off guard and left me stuttering for words. All the vocabulary had been erased from my diction as my mind blanked out. 

Is. She. Serious?!

"Smooth, girl." That was all I could manage. I nervously chugged down my tea and spoke with a smirk. "Bring it on."