The Only Exception

10.

"Why's that?" She asked.

"Think about it.. I never initiate the first move, I can't.. say the right words when you want me to and I definitely don't treat you out anywhere special." He told her.

Serena was flushed realizing he just listed down the perfect boyfriend she wanted him to be. She wasn't going to let him go - ever. "Aww.. you don't have to worry about it! I love whatever you do." She smiled sweetly.

"I really don't think-"

"Ash, it's okay. I really want this to work. I know that soon enough, you'll fully see me as your girlfriend. So until then, let's continue."

Ash was silent as he nodded at the chestnut haired girl. She smiled at him as she got up from the lounge chair and made her way back inside, "oh yeah.. Why didn't you want me to sleep next to you?"

"It's not that I don't like you. I'm just not comfortable with that." Ash explained.

"Oh.. but, could we try?" She asked.

Ash furrowed his eyebrows at her then sighed, "um.. I guess we could." He said as he got up from the lounge chair and made his way inside with Serena. They turned the light off in the room as they made their way towards the bed.

Ash got in first and laid down as Serena got in and laid down next to him. "Ash, stick your right arm out." She told him. "Um.. okay." Ash said as he extend his arm out and she lay on his chest. "This is nice.." Serena said as she slowly drifted off to sleep. Ash, however, wasn't able to sleep. He didn't feel comfortable about this at all and tried to adjust himself to it.

"Ash..." Serena said tiredly.

"Uh.. yeah?" He asked.

"A boyfriend also puts his arm around his girlfriend when they sleep together.." She said.

"Oh.. um, okay.. like this?" He said as he took the arm she was laying on and put it around her. She smiled and nodded her head at him as she drifted off to sleep again. Ash sighed as he closed his eyes and try his best to sleep.

5 hours later - Midnight.

Ash woke up to see Serena's back turned to him. He looked to the side to see the others asleep as well. He slowly crept out of bed and made his way towards the couch. Before he could lay on the couch, something had caught his eye. He noticed a silhouette sitting out on the balcony and went outside to see that it was Dawn.

Dawn heard the sliding door close and looked behind her to see Ash.

"Hey." She smiled.

He sat in the lounge chair beside her, "hey, what are you doing out here?"

She shook her head at him, "can't sleep. I've been thinking about the showcase too much."

"Hey, no need to worry. You're gonna do great." He smiled.

"What if I don't? This is not like Pokémon contests.. it's much more different than that." She sighed.

"You've gained a lot of experience on your journey, take those experiences and pour them out onto the Showcase!" He told her.

She smiled at him, "Thanks, Ash."

"No problem." He smiled as he laid down against the lounge chair and looked up at the star-filled sky.

"So why are you awake?" She asked him.

"Hm? Oh, right.. Yeah, I didn't feel comfortable sleeping next to Serena. I was gonna sleep on the couch until I found you out here." He told her.

"Didn't you tell her you weren't comfortable with that idea?" She asked.

"I did. But, she just wanted to try so I went along with it. But, it was still uncomfortable for me." He said. Dawn felt sympathetic towards the black haired trainer.

She placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him, "you don't have to try something you don't feel comfortable with." He smiled at her and noticed her shivering.

"Dawn, you alright?" He asked her.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm just a bit cold I guess." She chuckled.

Ash sat next to her as he put both arms around her and pulled her close to him. "Um.. I know it's not much but, I hope it makes you a little warm." He told her. Dawn looked up at him surprised, "aren't you uncomfortable doing this?" She asked him.

He shook his head at her, "since you're cold. I don't mind trying to keep you warm."

Dawn smiled at him as she moved closer towards him. "Thanks, Ash."

There you go! A little pearlshipping fluff towards the end :) Hope you guys enjoyed! Update you soon.