My head is reeling, so much so that it sort of shuts down all of a sudden.
"Misty? Are you alright?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I just need some air."
I step outside, and it's the bitter winter chill that brings me back to my senses.
I can't do this! I can't go on a trip with him.
Sure, he seems nice enough, not to mention he's… rather handsome, but he's also an idiot!
Just the thought of traveling with that man and working together is too much for me.
Okay, so I know I can't go on this business trip. I have to come up with a plan.
Plan A: Quit.
This is the easy way out, but it simply won't do. I'd be left homeless. And worse, I'd have to tell my sisters so we'd move in together permanently.
Plan B: Get Ash fired.
This one seems sort of cruel, but he could've gotten me fired! Of course, he didn't... Not to mention his mother is injured and he needs the money to take care of her. I'm a scorned woman, not a monster.
Plan C: Get someone else to take the job.
I nod; surely this is the best solution. Of course, I don't want to come off as rude, so I decide to make subtle hints that I'm just not right for the job.
I walk back inside and see Ash and Gary are now standing, and seem to be saying their goodbyes.
"I'll send you an email about all the details by the end of the day. See you later, Ashy-Boy."
"Yeah, yeah, see you later, Gary."
Of course, this is when they both notice me standing there.
"Oh, Misty, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, but you know what I was thinking, Gary, about this job—"
"Oh, don't worry about it, I know you're the right fit. After all, you're a wonderful journalist, plus you're a romantic."
"Thanks, but wait, how did you—?"
"Oh, come on Misty, we've worked together for two years, I'd think we'd know each other by now. Besides, you always have a romance novel on your desk."
Well, that's embarrassing.
"You read romance novels?" Ash decided to interrupt.
Great, let's get everyone involved in my life!
"Um, yeah, I do, Ashy-Boy."
I notice that I've gotten him upset by referring to him by that adorable little pet name. 'Good,' I think. Then it hits me. This is perfect! If Gary sees me clearly not getting along with Ash, he'll surely give the job to someone else! Right?
I look over to Gary, and he'slaughing.
What sort of response is that? Gary must have a weird sense of humor.
"I knew you two would be perfect for the job. Oh, Misty, I got one of the new laptops for you, so here you go," my boss noted as he handed me a rather hefty box weighing a good eight or so pounds, "I'll send that email tonight, and I'll see you both on Monday!"
I just nod, dumbfounded by the fact that my plan was failing; the same plan that my sanity was basically hinging on.
It looks like all that's left is Plan D: Get this trip over with.
I pace back and forth in my room, wondering what I did to piss off whatever higher power had decided I deserved this. I mean, honestly, I'm not a novelist like I want to be, I'm currently living with my obnoxious sisters, I had my laptop destroyed by a bumbling idiot, and now I'm being told by my boss to spend two whole weeks with said bumbling idiot.
I click on the email to review the details about the trip again. I've decided that I will read it over and over until it's ingrained in my memory, so much so that this trip will just be a numb experience, just like every day at work.
To Mr. Ketchum and Miss Williams,
Congratulations on being selected to visit the following regions for this assignment:
The Orange Islands, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos.
Ms. Williams, you will be interviewing two couples from each region and asking the following questions:
When/How did you two meet?
How long have you two been together?
How does your region celebrate Valentine's Day?
How do you personally celebrate Valentine's Day?
Mr. Ketchum, you will take photographs of each of these couples and the best photographs will accompany the article.
Your itinerary is as follows:
January 25th-26th – The Orange Islands
January 27th-28th – Johto
January 29th-30th – Hoenn
January 31st-February 1st – Sinnoh
February 2nd-3rd – Unova
February 4th-5th – Kalos
You will return to Kanto to finish the project by interviewing two more couples in this region. This will give you from the 8th to the 13th to finalize the article in time to be printed for Valentine's Day.
Please don't hesitate to reply with any questions. If you have none, I will see you both on Monday.
Mr. Oak
My index finger hovers over the "Reply" button. I could just tell him via email that this arrangement really won't work. I could, but Ash might find out about it at some point and claim that I was responsible for making his mom's health worse. But then again, what do I care what he thinks? I start writing a response.
Dear Mr. Oak,
I realize that you believe I am right for the job, but—
I stare at the computer screen. Then it hits me.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Sure, I may have to share the experience with a moron, but I will be going to all of these beautiful regions just like my sisters did, only I've earned it. Not to mention, this could be my next step to becoming a novelist!
I delete my message and close my new laptop. I look around and notice it's gotten late.
My sisters are out, probably drinking. So I get settled into bed and try my best to get some sleep...
"... Misty?"
"Misty."
"Misty!"
I snap awake to my sisters all huddled around me.
"What's going on?"
"Misty, like, guess what?"
I lean back onto my pillow, exasperated by my sisters and their ignorance toward other people and their sleep schedules.
"What?"
"We, like, are all going to move to The Orange Islands!"
"You're... what?"
Lily and Violet just giggle while Daisy explains.
"Well, you know my boyfriend, Tracey? He is moving to The Orange Islands to pursue his dream of becoming an artist! And naturally, I decided to move with him!"
"Okay, so why are Lily and Violet going, too?"
"Um, duh! The beach, the boys, the bathing suits?"
Ah, right, I forgot, my sisters can frivolously move wherever they want.
Wait a second…
"Then why did you move in with me?"
"Well, uh—"
Oh my God.
"Oh my God, you were mooching off of me!"
"Misty, I wouldn't say 'mooching,' I would say living with you and having you pay for groceries and rent and everything else."
"That's what mooching means! Whatever, just get out."
"Misty, are you mad?"
Mad? No, just frustrated. I'm not even upset with them! Ok, yes I am, but I'm mostly disappointed that I didn't see this coming.
"No, I'm not mad, I just need to get ready for the day, alright?"
"Okay, Misty, if you're sure you're not mad."
"I'm not."
I shower, get dressed, and say goodbye to my sisters.
"We'll send you a postcard!"
"I'll look forward to it."
Then, just like that, they're gone.
I wonder what happened to us. I suppose that them being so close in age while I've always been just 'the runt' has something to do with it. But it's more than that. I was daddy's girl while my sisters were putting on our mother's makeup.
I look at a framed photograph where my red hair is barely visible while my sisters are posing for the picture.
I just smile sadly. It'd be nice if we were a functional family, but I suppose my life hasn't exactly been 'functional' anyway.
Maybe my life was doomed from the start. Ever since my parents got divorced, I was meant to fail at all of my career paths and future relationships.
I suppose being a journalist isn't terrible, some people would love to have my job. I mean, I do love it in a way since I love writing. It's just that I have no passion for it.
And I love romance, but again, I haven't felt the passion described in the movies and novels. I'm old enough to know that fairy tales aren't real, and love at first sight is a load of crap, but maybe the little girl in me still believes in true love.
I start packing for the trip, and I hope that I made the right choice by deciding not to try and get out of it.
I look at my phone and notice I missed a text from Sakura.
Hey, what happened with the computer killer?
I stifle a giggle, because I don't want to laugh. I still want to be mad, but I can only be upset for so long, I might as well tell Sakura what occurred so I press the call icon and press the cell to my ear, enduring through a couple of rings before I hear the click of someone picking up.
"Guess what happened?"
"Misty?"
"Yup, it's me, and you were right."
"Right? About what?"
"Ash Ketchum isn't going to be out of my life as soon as I had hoped."
"Oh no, what happened?"
"Well, you know he works at The Kanto Times, right?"
"Yeah...?"
"Well, it looks like I'll not only be working with him, but traveling with him to six different regions."
"No!"
"Yup."
"I'm so sorry, Misty. Wait, can't you just turn down the job?"
"Not really, I mean, I need the money and, besides having to work with this Ash guy, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity."
"That's true. What's the assignment about anyways?"
Shoot, I really didn't want to tell her that...
"…Valentine's Day."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Misty! That's perfect for you! You love romance!"
"Yeah, but not when I have to deal with a buffoon."
"Who knows? After this trip, the two of you might be Mr. and Mrs. Buffoon."
"Shut up, Sakura."
"Oh, come on, Misty. You've seen enough romantic comedies to know how this works. You meet this guy and you immediately hate each other, but for some reason, you have to spend more time with him and then, BOOM, you fall in love."
"Yeah, well, life isn't a romantic comedy," I bitterly remind her.
The next day is Monday, there has never been a day I've dreaded the commute to work more. Okay, the trip is something I dread more, but let's be honest, the uneasy feeling of trying to get along with someone who you are determined to hate for eternity right before having to travel with them for two weeks is just, well, uncomfortable. To say the least.
I arrive at work early, like I used to before my sisters moved in. I look around anxiously, hoping that Ash isn't there. Then I wonder: why haven't I ever seen him here before?
That's when I see Mr. Oak heading towards his office.
I decide to casually interrogate him about Ash.
"Good morning, Mr. Oak."
"Oh, good morning, Miss Williams. Are you excited for your assignment?"
"Uh, yeah. I was just wondering since Ash works here, how come I haven't seen him yet?"
"Oh, well, his hours are different than yours. On that day you met him, he was on his way to work, but he got a call from my grandfather—"
"Your grandfather?"
"Yeah, he was a professor, he actually founded this company though it was originally meant to distribute medical journals and scientific discoveries. I've been taking care of him for a while now, and luckily he was able to get help for Mrs. Ketchum. After all, Pallet Town isn't that populated. Chances are she wouldn't have gotten help if it wasn't for him."
I nod, I do feel badly for Ash's mom, but it doesn't quite make it okay for me to be fine with traveling with Ash himself.
"Wait, shouldn't Ash stay home? After all, his mom is injured."
"We talked about that, and I'll be making sure she's alright."
"Taking care of your grandfather and your friend's mom? Not to mention you have work, isn't that too much for you to do?"
"No, Leaf helps out a lot, too."
I smile. I can picture the two of them aiding his grandfather and Ash's mother, and Leaf making sure Mr. Oak gets his work done, too.
"Of course, I suppose I should help Leaf though, we're planning on getting married in the summer."
"Oh, Mr. Oak, congratulations, I love summer weddings."
"Well, you'll definitely be invited."
A grin finds its way on my face, even if I can't find myself a guy, I can enjoy other people's happiness.
Right?
I find my way to my desk and I go to grab my current romance novel from my bag, however I leave it in there. It dawns on me, I've spent too much time reading about love and not really experiencing it. Not anymore! Maybe on this trip I'll meet the right guy. Who knows? Stranger things have happened.
