Serena's POV

"Come on, give me back my book!!" I shouted as I ran after my best-book-snatcher-friend. 

"And why would I?" Replied my friend as he continued to run around my room. 

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. The sun was shining brightly and the birds chirping and playing with each other. 

People must be at their homes, still sleeping or maybe sitting along with their family, having tea and reading the morning papers or maybe gossiping. Whatever they must be doing, they must be having a calm and peaceful morning.

But certainly I am not.

"Come back! I want my book!" I screamed.

"There is a word 'please' you know, miss. People call it the magic word. Use it and get this back," He teased as he waved my book in front of my face.

He knew I hated to speak 'magic words'. But people call it manners and I call them waste of time and energy and voice. But I knew that this boy, standing here right in front of me, whom I wanted to strangle right now but couldn't because I didn't want to be in the juvenile, would not return me my book, so I said it anyways not really thinking what I am supposed to say.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

I should have thought before speaking.

"Well, what are you apologizing for," he laughed as I face palmed, "if it is for the ice-cream you stole yesterday, then it's okay. No worries, I am cool with it," he smirked and winked. Flirtatiously. But it didn't really give that effect.

Man he is irritating.

"I meant please, return me my book,"  I said, rather begged in a soft voice.

"Aww, sure I would do that but first promise to go on a date with me," he replied grinning widely.

I rolled my eyes and face palmed.

There he goes again. 

This is Ash Ketchum for you. He is my best buddy, and I know him since I went to Professor Oak's summer camp. And now to think about it, it was a serious  mistake to make him my friend. 

"What?!" He asked as if he knew nothing and was innocent.

"Ugh- fine! I will. Now just give me my book back," I screamed at the top of my lungs. I ran forward and launched myself at him to grab hold of that book I so dearly loved. 

After a minute I got up satisfied with the book in my hand. When I got up, I saw Ash on the bed panting heavily and looking like a big tomato.

"What?" I asked with a confused look.

He sat up, losing all the red-color and puffed up his cheeks. 

"Are you mad Serena? You almost killed me when you jumped, I could have broken a few bones," he pouted.

I frowned at that and glared at him. This made him shrivel back in fear. He shut his eyes, most probably expecting a slap or a punch. I glanced at my book and then back him.

As much as I want to punch him right now, my book is way more interesting.

I shrugged to myself, retired back to my couch and started reading where I left off. I don't know how long I was reading and how long Ash was standing but yeah, he did interrupt at a very bad point. 

Just when the villain was going to reveal his true face.

"You won't slap me?" He nervously squeaked, but soon cleared his throat and repeated the same in a more 'manly' tone.

"Why would I?" I asked calmly, without even glancing at him.

I heard some shuffling and within a few moments, Ash was sitting beside me and tucking a hair behind my ear.

"I don't have long hair, dumbo," I sighed.

"Yeah yeah I know, it's sad," he sighed and pouted.

I glared at him and he quickly added, "but- since we are going to a date, something romantic should happen between us." 

I rolled my eyes, "Right, a date. We are going on a date. You are going on a date with me. I am going on a date with you. I am going on a date with my best friend."

I tried to be as sarcastic as possible but obviously, he didn't get my sarcasm and grinned widely, nodding at each statement. I groaned and face palmed.

Dear Lord, save me from this rock!

"And," he started speaking again, "this time it will be a real date, romantic. We will go to the lake and have a romantic stroll, then go to the park and have ice-cream and share it romantically and then go for a movie which will be romantic and then a romantic dinner," he said, stressing on the word 'romantic'.

"Fine," I casually responded and returned back to my book.

But from the groan that escaped his mouth soon after, I knew that he knew that this was going to be a disaster too like every time.

He has asked me several times to a so-called-romantic date but in the end I would not be ready when he knocked on her door. I would be wearing jeans, a loose shirt, sneakers with a cap on my head. Just the perfect tom-boyish look. Accessories would be either a chewing-gum or a lollipop in my mouth. And not to forget a book or the kindle app opened on my phone. If someone wants to learn how to love books, well I know the perfect book- expert, Serena Yvonne, that's me.

"This is serious Serena! This time you be ready like a pretty girl, with everything," he whined and crossed his arms over his chest.

"With everything- what?" I asked not bothering to look at him.

"With make-up, earrings, a dress, heels and purse and stuff," he pointed out.

"Oh you mean- like get ready the way a girl does for prom?" I asked and looked at him.

"Kinda, not exactly that much but still a bit."

"I won't even try."

"Aww, come on Sere! For me?" He made puppy-eyes.

"Nah, I am cool with my shirt," I shrugged and chuckled as his shoulders slumped.

I looked back at my book and realized that it got boring. I yawned.

I yawned.

Yawned.

While reading a book.

It is bad to yawn in front of Ketchum.

"Oh, got bored Sere?" He looked at me expectantly and I could almost see the sparkles in his eyes.

"Yes," I carefully replied, "it is boring now. Maybe I will just read it later."

I put a bookmark in it and kept the book on my bed. I then proceeded to fish out my phone out of my pocket but before I could even unlock it, it was snatched away by a grinning, z-marked, raven head.

"Let's go for a walk now!" He exclaimed and put my phone in his jacket. 

I eyed his hand that held my phone and glared at him.

"I want my phone back," I growled.

"Nuh-uh! You are shutting out the people who love you with this," he waved my phone in front my nose, "it is bad to do so! Technology should be banned-" 

I eyed him and crossed my arms over my chest. 

"- or maybe not," he stammered and gulped and put my phone back inside his jacket.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my backpack and walked downstairs.

"Coming, or not Ketchum?" I shouted and looked up at him.

He was standing at the top of the stairs and I could see his mouth curve up into a huge grin before he started jumping down. But he rolled down half way.

"Ow, that hurts," he rubbed his back and looked up at me, "maybe a little help?" He extended out his hand for me to pull him up.

I sighed and grabbed his hand and pulled him, but maybe I used a bit too much force or he was to lean.

I used too much force, he eats way too much to be lean.

But anyways, I used way too much force because the next thing I knew, he was standing just a few inches away from me, our bodies almost pressed against each other. 

His eyes widened and for me it seemed as if everything happened in slow motion. I could feel my ears warm up a bit but I shrugged it off and pushed him away.

"Hey!" He groaned and looked at me, pouting.

"What?"

"It was perfect!"

"What?" I tilted my head, confused.

"Way to ruin a romantic moment between us, Sere."

I face-palmed and groaned.

Why am I stuck with him!