Serena was only home for a few days. She preferred staying in dorms to study before the exams because it wasn't as distracting as being home with her mother and gossiping until two in the morning. Maybe it was a good thing she didn't like her roommate and they didn't talk much?

"Thanks for coming, sweetie! Good luck with exams!"

"Thank you! Bye!"

Serena pulled the door of the store and stepped out. She walked quickly as she held tight the grocery bag she was carrying.

Suddenly, the honey-haired girl got pulled into a narrow alley to her right. She instantly started screaming.

"Serena! Stop!" Ash shouted, putting his hands on her shoulders. "It's me!"

She froze. "Ash?"

"Yes, me, Ash."

"Oh..." Serena gulped. Bam. He caught her. She's been doing so well for the past few years, though... "Hi, Ash."

"Hi, right..." he nodded slowly to himself. "Is that what you have to say to me?"

"Congratulations on getting married." Serena pulled a smile. For some reason, she felt like she was in deep shit.

"Two years ago?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Oh, really?" Serena tried to sound surprised. "I've just learned about it!"

"Look, don't. Okay?" He glared at her. "This is not what's going to fix things between you and me."

"Fix what? What things?" Serena faked the gasp. "Are you mad at me?"

"You bet I am!" He shouted. "You avoid me like plague, Serena! I had to stalk you all morning so we can talk now!"

"Stalking?" She gasped. "Ash! You were raised better than that!"

Ash glared.

"Look—look..." Serena sighed. She avoided looking at him. "I've been so busy with college and switching rooms and exams..."

"Okay, let's see." Ash stood straight and crossed his arms over his chest. "You've been busy nonstop for almost four years. You couldn't even return my calls or text back—I mean, you were very busy, right? You were so busy you'd run when you see me in the streets—can't waste time with old Ash, can you?"

Serena cocked her head. "Yes, I was busy."

He chuckled. "Okay."

"And you are busy too—I understand that!" Serena nodded quickly. "I know being married makes you very busy! It's all fine, Ash. I don't blame you."

"Actually, I'm the one who's blaming you in this." He grinned.

"Oh."

"Of course." He nodded again. "Busy to return my calls but not busy going shopping with Gary's girlfriend and stopping for milkshakes."

Serena gasped loudly. "You're stalking me!"

"Not only you have time for Gary but you even have time for his girlfriend!" He retorted. "And I was not stalking you! Can't I have a milkshake too?"

"Of course you can! Mango or strawberries?"

Ash stared. "What's wrong, Serena? What have I done to you?"

"..."

"Are you seriously that scared of Misty?" He asked. "You've never actually talked! You don't even know her that well! You shouldn't judge her."

"I'm not judging her..."

"I mean, she does look, you know, like that..." Ash licked his lips.

"I—actually..." Serena took a deep breath. "I have nothing against Misty. She doesn't scare me. It's not her."

"Why did you cut me out, then? What makes me any different now?" He frowned. "You know it hurts, right? Why me?"

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was that important to you..." She mumbled.

"What are you talking about? Of course you're important to me!"

"It's just..." Serena sighed again. "Don't you think it's weird?"

"Weird? What's weird?"

"Us." She said. "I feel weird around you."

Ash paused for a moment. "Huh?"

"Come on!" Serena pulled away. "I told you I wanted to marry you instead of going to college! How weird is that?"

Ash put his hands in his pockets, thinking. He finally said, "So... it's really not Misty's attitude, is it?"

"I never saw Misty's attitude." Serena shrugged. "I don't even really know the woman."

"You have a point."

"I'm sorry, Ash. It's just that..." Serena groaned. "How can you not feel weird? We were going to get married!"

"I don't feel weird about it." Ash shook his head.

"Really?"

"It'd have been weird if we have gotten married, Serena. That's what I'd call weird."

"True..."

"Right? Isn't it better like this? Me stuck forever with Misty but it's okay since she's hot, and you with all the guys in campus and outside campus..."

Serena licked her lips. "How did you know? Hum?"

"Oh, I knooow..." Ash nodded slowly, smirking.

"Hey, I still have my flower!" She defended herself.

"I didn't need that information." He shook his head.

Serena threw Ash a glare.

"Fine, fine, I'm proud of you." He laughed and brought her close in a hug. "But you can't go around and tell people you're a virgin. It gives... hints."

"Are you and Gary people?"

"Technically." He pulled away. "And Gary is... Gary. You know Gary."

"He bought me condoms." She blushed.

"Yeah, that's what I was talking about." Ash chuckled. He put his hand on her shoulder. "Are we cool now? No more ignoring me?"

"I guess." She nodded. "I'm sorry. It just felt awkward for me to be around you. You probably won't believe me but I missed you..."

"I believe you, princess."

"It's really weird for me to be called princess at twenty-five, Ash."

"Oh, damn! You're twenty-five now! I almost forgot." Ash rolled his eyes. "Times flies, huh?"

She giggled. "It does."

"But at least I got married before I die."

"You're happy." She smiled. "And I'm very happy for you."

"Everyone is happy, then." Ash grabbed the grocery bag. "Do you want to meet Misty? She's in town as well."

"Oh, really?" Serena cleared her throat. "Uh, maybe not today. I have to get home fast."

"Tomorrow, then?"

"I can't. I'm leaving for Goldenrod tomorrow."

Ash shot her a look. "You just got here last night."

"You should really stop stalking me, Ash."

"Okay! I get it! You don't want to be anywhere near Misty." Ash started walking away, carrying Serena's grocery bag.

"But wait!" She followed after him. "That's not it—what if she's mean to me? I can't defend myself then because she's your wife!"

Ash turned around. "Seriously?"

Serena rubbed her hands together. "Is she really nice? She doesn't look..."

"Come on, Serena. Follow me."

She shrugged and caught up with Ash. He hugged her over the shoulders. "You know...."

"Hum?"

"I give you the permission to defend yourself."

THE END