Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own Pokemon. If I did, there wouldn't have been nearly a decade without Misty.
First FanFic, yeaaah buddy.
More chapters to come!

Gotta Catch You Later

"You're more than just my best friend…"

Misty pedalled over the stone path, oblivious to the bumps and twists in the road toward Cerulean City. It was a little overwhelming that five minutes ago she'd separated from her two best friends, and despite finally acknowledging some form of emotion from Ash toward her, it felt as though a lot was left unsaid. It was an abrupt stop to a beautiful bond. She pondered over the previous months of her relationship with Ash and Brock, holding back tears, channelling the emotion through her legs into the bicycle. She hated that he was as dense as he was. Was it really that difficult to see? She could've sworn that Ash could pick up the underlying tones of her emotions, displayed a few hours before.

It was insulting that he even considered that she stuck around for the bike. Sure, the bike kind of got the ball rolling, but after all this time, Ash naively thought she was as shallow as that. She regretted even visiting the Pokemon Center; they could've just bypassed Viridian and headed straight to Pallet Town – that way Misty would still be bikeless, and still have Ash at her side. She kicked herself for all the "ifs" and "buts" that could have so easily changed the outcome of today, but she wondered herself how long could she go without knowing what Ash felt, if anything.

Cerulean soon welcomed Misty to the familiar streets and buildings, and she solemnly made her way to the City Gym. She allowed the bike to slow to a halt on its own accord, and proceeded to daintily step over the frame and wheel it inside. The Gym was quiet, void from her sisters' giggles, arguments, whining. Misty wasn't ready for home just yet, and her heart pined for Ash, and for Brock, Pikachu, all the adventures they shared. She wanted to relive each moment she had where Ash was around, whether it was good or bad. A sigh escaped her lips as she sat on the floor, her eyes taking in the surroundings of the building. Misty reached to the side of her head and pulled the band holding a thick strand of messy red hair, letting it fall onto her shoulders. No one could pick her up, ask her what was wrong, or even just naively ask what she was doing on the floor.

A big gap was missing from her life, but she knew that she had a duty to the gym, and that her sisters would only be gone for a short while. Misty recited to herself Ash's promise that they'd meet again to try and motivate herself to get the gym ready and prepare her Pokémon for the battles coming up.

Six years had passed, and Misty had stayed at Cerulean, becoming a strong trainer and Gym Leader. Although nearly eighteen years of age, she still had a youthful look about her, she kept her boyish charm and was still the fiery redhead from over half a decade ago.

She was standing in front of the mirror in her bedroom. It was a newly installed full length design that was an unused hand-me-down from family, and it managed to fit on a space on one of the walls in her room. Misty's room was a little messier than usual. She had spent the morning looking for a pair of shorts that were recently purchased, that happened to be under a pile of towels on the floor. The shorts weren't anything flash, but Misty was rekindling her childhood memories in an attempt to block out the problems she faced in terms of adulthood. She had been standing in front of the mirror for almost ten minutes, just checking to see whether the denim matched her top, and whether the bright red braces were too much. She gave up, and slipped her feet into some old pumps and pulled on a jacket. Her hands quickly scrambled over the cluttered dresser for her keys and she paced her way to the front door.

"Misty, don't think I've forgotten about our chat, you need to start looking!" A voice called from the kitchen.

"Whatever" replied Misty, who didn't stop to converse, already closing the door.

Misty was living with Daisy, and was being forced to find somewhere independently as she ventured into the big world. She stretched as she stood on the steps, leading onto the streets of Cerulean. Nothing had really changed, apart from a few extra shops here and there, businesses changing hands.

This week would be Misty's last at the gym. She had worked hard over the years, and since the return of her sisters after she took to the job permanently, she prospered from chances to explore and expand her knowledge and arsenal of Pokémon. She even had the chance to visit some old friends a few years ago on their travels. Life was good as a teenage trainer, but Misty was on the cusp of adulthood, and looking to step into the boring life of bills, wages, family – "eughhh, who even has the time for that!" she quietly pondered, as she walked along the city streets.

Misty looked at the watch on her wrist, the glass face cracked a little from years of use – 8:37am. She still had a little time before opening. Coffee? Why not. Clearly over-eager to escape the confinement of Daisy's. She quickly side tracked across the road to a café, and ordered her coffee. A barista took care of the order, and handed her the cup to take away. He was tall with curly hair, which was shaved at the back and sides, his face appeared more chiselled as he smiled, handing Misty the coffee. The redhead contained her blushing as she awkwardly took the cup, trying not to make any physical contact with her fingers – which was futile as her little finger brushed his thumb. She got a cringing tingle as she stormed out of the shop throwing a brief "Thanks" which sounded more like a giggle than a fully formed word. Misty closed the café door and proceeded to sip from the cup as she walked on to the gym, squinting hard and screwing her face up as she pictured what an absolute idiot she looked. Suddenly, Misty's eyes opened in a split second, as her brain registered that her right foot had connected with something, and her body had carried on going. The coffee slid helplessly out of her hand onto the concrete in front, and Misty's long pale legs went flailing up into the air.

Misty's cheek collided into the ground, followed swiftly by her hands desperately trying to break the fall for the rest of her body. She grimaced as she pushed herself up, holding her face in agony as she rose to her feet. She spun around to find the guilty article that caused her trip, to find a young boy sat at a table with his rucksack splayed behind him out into the sidewalk. He was eating a pain au chocolat, completely oblivious to what had just happened.

"Hey! Do you have absolutely any idea what you've done!?" Misty cried, waiting for the reaction of the boy enjoying his breakfast. "Oi! I'm talking to you!"

The boy cautiously turned around, still wondering whether the ranting girl in the street could have anything to do with him. He sat upright once he saw the fuming woman glaring, teeth bare at him. She had a graze down the side of her face and wondered how on earth that could be his fault.

"Hey, I'm sorry lady, I don't know what you mean." He replied, sounding a little anxious just to be safe.

"Your bag tripped me up!" Misty screamed at the top of her voice.

The boy looked behind his chair at the rucksack that lay in the middle of the paving. He smiled guiltily, and opened his mouth and shaped his lips into a "sorry". He turned around and revisited his pain au chocolat, before it was rudely ruined by a familiar rucksack being flung across the table, smashing the plate on the ground and hitting him hard across the head.

"Hey! What's the idea?" He angrily snorted at the girl, who at this point was already storming away down the street.

To be continued...

First fic, pretty excited. Sorry it's a little slow, but I'm setting it up ;) Hope you enjoy, I'm a fan of cliffhangers. Sorry. :D

R&R!