55.
chapter fifty-five
feeling my lies
in the blood

The door slammed locked behind me. My knees gave way to the cold floor below. Something hard hit my chest. With a pang, I realised it was the pendant that he had gifted.

I forcefully wiped my cheeks with the sleeves of my cardigan. They still carried a scent...

Fresh tears threatened to spill, and I let out a sober cry despite myself.

It didn't matter anyway. Nobody was home. I was... lonely. Why did he make it hard for me to forget about him? A week? Screw that.

Huffing, I wobbled up to my bedroom, throwing my bag to the side and letting gravity take a pull to the soft and welcoming mattress. It was in need of a wet wash.

One year? Two? How does he expect me to live without him when he isn't letting me off for a week?

I closed my eyes, sniffling a snort. My fingers curled around the sheets that now magically smelt of his cologne. "I hate you. I hate you. I hate you, Ash Ketchum. I. Hate. You."

I didn't realise how skipping a meal was pleasant at times when weariness caught up.

— xoxo —

Click!

I turned to my side, letting out a little exhale.

Clank!

What was that?

Silence.

Concluding that it was probably a dream or a hallucination, I turned on my stomach, barely registering another sound before...

Clink!

I shot up on my bed, almost tumbling over in my sleepy daze. "What the—"

Click!

That sounded awfully like a burglar trying to break in... in the middle of the night?!

I leapt out of bed, hurrying to the balcony. To my surprise, a few pebbles littered the floor. Before I could react, another came flying from below, pattered against the sliding window, and fell harmlessly.

Why would a burglar toss stones—

All the sleep drained from my mind when I caught the time. Four past twelve. Without delaying, I scurried downstairs and to the kitchen. The tiny window there would let me take a discreet peek, and that was all I needed to ascertain who this mysterious thief was.

The moonlight barely illuminated the silhouette standing right below the balcony and looking up. As if sensing my presence, it turned.

My breath hitched, something in my chest thrumming. A glint of amber, and I was already opening the sliding door to the lawn. "What the hell are you doing here at this time—?"

"Happy birthday, dimbo!" He grinned, walking forward. His hands were in his pockets, but he withdrew one of them to pick a pebble from the garden and toss it up. When it landed back on his palm, he smirked. "I figured you could use some company on your—"

"You're an idiot!" I reprimanded, stepping onto the wet grass. The late winter breeze sent a shiver through my spine, but I didn't give in.

"I'm glad to take the title if it means you will be a little less lonely on your day, Serena-chan."

I huffed, a retort crossing my mind. Before I could voice it, he reached out, grabbing my wrist. The air was knocked out of my lungs when I collided into him.

For what seemed like an eternity, the pinching wintry breezes seemed to hold hot moisture in them. Time stilled, as if wanting to take a glimpse of the unfolding embrace.

As for me, my brain short-circuited. My hands hovered over his back, unsure of where they belonged. His heart pounded in my ears, the steady rise and fall of his stomach against my chest. Warmth seeped in when the boy shifted to accommodate me in his arms.

His whispers fanned my hair. "I'd go any length if it means your smile."

Hot liquid stung my vision; I quickly blinked it back, drawing in a sharp and staggering breath. "Ash, n-no." Pushing myself off of his welcoming arms brought bile to my throat. With nothing but righting my hair against the wind to do, I stepped back. "Get back to the hostel."

Ash frowned, the corners of his lips tugging downward. "Serena, I can't."

"Why not?"

"They lock the gates at ten."

That piqued my interest. "And how did you manage now?"

His tongue lolled out. "I parked my car out and snuck out at eleven. Don't ask me how. It's a secret."

"You're notorious for spending the night out, huh?" I chided, crossing my arms. The cardigan was doing a poor job at keeping me warm.

"Only with you." He shrugged. "Are we going to get in or is it gonna be Romeo-Juliet style?"

I threw a glance over my shoulder, as if Mom would appear into thin air and reprimand us for staying out too late. When she didn't, I sighed. How was I supposed to stay away?

Opening the sliding door wider, I stepped in. The boy followed, shutting it as soon as he was in and letting out a shuddering breath. "What would you prefer—"

"You smiling—"

I frowned, feigning nonchalance. "Tea or hot cocoa?"

"Uh, hot cocoa, obviously." He grinned, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Without lingering around him, I took quick strides to the kitchen and busied myself. It didn't take him too long to lean against the counter facing me.

"Tomorrow is exam," I mumbled under my breath. If anything, he had to get it into his thick skull how annoyed I was that he snuck out to see me. How he wasn't making it any easy to let go. "We ought to be resting."

"Girl," he retorted, as if he overheard my complaints. "You aren't the one writing the second-year exams. You're just a fresher, so chill!"

"Exams are exams." The milk was perfect. Now to add some cocoa and a twinge of vanilla, the way he likes it. "My point stands."

Ash drawled, "C'mon. It's your special day! It's not like I'm doing this every other night!"

I huffed, pouring the hot liquid into a mug before sliding it to him and mirroring his pose. "I didn't ask for this."

The boy peered through his mug, taking a long sip before speaking. "You didn't. I'm doing it on my own free will."

"And ruin my night too?" I pouted. "No, thanks!"

The mug clinked when he placed it behind me. Without any warning, he drew close, pinning me against the slabs. This was too familiar to forget; the wetness on my collarbone...

"Don't lie to me, Serena-chan." His voice was barely above a whisper, eyes half-lidded as if he were fighting to stay awake. "I felt that breakdown in my blood."

My heart skipped a beat. "W-what—"

"Don't pretend," he hissed. His hand came to cup my cheek, but this time, his touch wasn't gentle. It was... demanding. "Do you feel déjà vu?"

Goosebumps drew the length of my skin. I sucked in a sharp breath, our air mingling with his proximity. "Ash—"

"Because I do. Why, Serena?"

"What—?"

Hurt flashed in his browns. The barely illuminated kitchen suddenly blocked all the noises save our ragged breaths and pounding hearts. The bond thrummed lowly, drained of passion. "Why are you withdrawing from me?"

"I-I'm not—" I tried, but I simply couldn't feed him the lie. Words died in my throat before I could even have a chance to voice it out. "I..."

He knew.

He always knew.

Ever since he tasted my lifeline.

Ash frowned, lips tugging downward. With a huff, his palm pressed against my cheek. "I didn't intend to bring this up today. Let alone now, but..."

He paused, his thumb grazing my cheekbone. The warmth and the chill he was sending were unbearable. If only my shivering knees buckled...

"But I need to know. You avoided me for an entire week since Misty and Gary's date. Your reasoning? Exams. You gotta study. I gotta study. But why didn't you ride home with me earlier?"

I tore my gaze away from him, suddenly finding the button of his jacket fascinating. "Serena," he pressed. This boy wasn't going out without an explanation. He was stubborn.

"I told you. I had to get home quick."

But so was I.

"Crap."

Something in me snapped. Before the voice of reasoning in my mind could go off, I pushed forward accusingly. "What do you—"

"Give me a break!" he cut in, leaning back. His words wound, not because he was harsh, but because it was the truth. "I know it when you feed me pretty little lies, Serena. What do you think? That your blood isn't running within mine? That we are soulmates just in name?!"