DISCLAIMER: I don't own Pokemon in any way, shape or form

~D~{Dense}~D~

"YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME, KETCHUM!"

Brock and Tracey groaned from behind the now quarelling best friends. The four of them were sent out to recieve a package for Professor Oak. Misty visted from Cerulean City because Ash came home and Brock was visiting Pallet for the same reason and Tracey went along with them. What Brock and Tracey were now witnessing was a rather explosive scene that erupted just seconds ago. This was the one thing neither of them missed and even pikachu had his little paws covering his ears to help block out the noise.

"Here we go", Brock said shaking his head

"Yup. So much for that quiet afternoon, huh?" Tracey said with a groan.

"What are you yelling at me for!? I didn't do anything", Ash retorted smartly.

After he said that, it put her over the edge because he was acting like going around in circles in his home town in the woods somewhat near where all the houses was normal. Misty stalked closer and closer to Ash practically in the boys face and completely invading his personal space. "I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!? UH YEAH DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU MR POKEMON MASTER THAT WE ARE CLEARLY LOST BECAUSE OF YOU!" The red haired teen screamed incredulously at him.

Ash not letting her scare him, let alone the Master in training never ever backs down from a challenge face to face with the Gym Leader. Both of their faces were mere inches from each other. The tension between both was growing with each passing second. They were too wrapped up in another petty arguement to realize this fact though. Even if it had been years since one of their famous quarells even happened. Both teens way to stubborn for their own good and niether will admit defeat.

From behind, Brock and Tracey decided to hold back and watched everything unfold vigilantly. Not really wanting to be thrown into the middle and get involved. But, observed the shouting match just incase due the proximity and how quickly things were heating up.

"DID NOT!", Ash shouted back reverting to the classic comeback that never really got you anywhere.

"DID TOO!", Misty shouted with just as much vigor. Yeah, she is and was just as bad as him.

"DID NOT!"

"DID TOO! You know what Ash Ketchum. You are way too dense to know left from right! It is beyond me why anyone agreed to let you hold the map and lead us to where Professor Oak needed us to grab the package. I swear sometimes do tou ever use your brain to think for once!?" Misty gave it right back to him unwilling to let it go even tgough it was a rather stupid and pointless fight. The teen was panting hard, her chest heaving trying to calm herself down.

"If I'm so dense, then why did you come all the way from Cerulean to travel down here to pallet to see me then huh? If you are SO smart Misty then give me an answer", Ash stated very calmly. It was too calm actually.

His eyes were dark with anger but that is only because he was hurt by her words and he knew he was wrong and noone was to blame but himself. He wasn't going to admit to her that he did feel a bit dumb for technically getting them lost in his own backyard though. He loved Misty and he figured and sorted out his feelings long ago. But, nevertheless it killed him to know that she thought he was dumb. He took initiative to basically impress the girl, you know to show off.

"Well I-"

The girl didn't have a chance to respond. Ash cut her off. Instead of letting her speak he decided to say something hurtful and make things far more worse than intended.

"Noone one asked you to come along us. You could have just stayed at my house with my mother but no you jumped up and volunteered yourself to tag along." Ash looked her dead in the eyes trying to cover up for his hurt. He didn't mean a word he was saying but, he was just upset and at the moment it clouded his judgement.

But what happened next surprised the whole group and even Misty included.

"You know what Ash. If this is how you really feel then we were never really friends at all. Yeah I got mad because we got lost and that was all because of you. But now, I guess the secrets out then and I know just how you really feel about me. Glad to know this now then to not waist anymore of my feelings on you". The girl's eyes stung with tears and her face red with anger. Seeing Ash open his mouth to probably question her choice of words.

He opened his mouth and his expression changed to slight shock. He was beginning to regret his words. On top of that he knew he never ment it to begin with. He really did it this time.

She intercepted him like he did to her moments ago, "I took time off from my busy schedule to come here to Pallet. Not to see anyone else but you. Only you. I can't believe that I actually had feelings for you and really liked you. I came here hoping that you would have been just as happy to see me as I was to see you. But, no thank you so very much it really is great to know I waisted my time and my feelings on an insensitive jerk like you. I hate you!"

She pushed the stunned teen and took off running after the words departed from her mouth. Tears still threatening to fall, have not spilled yet. She did not want her now ex-best friend to see her cry.

Back at the clearing. Tracey and Brock both having figured out that both teens had feelings for one another, were still shocked at the revalation coming straight from Misty's mouth. They were shocked because she admitted it the boys face and then threw in the enevitable 'I hate you'. Those words stung them and knew it hurt Ash pretty bad as well.

Silence permeated between the now trio of boys and the look on Ash's face spoke a thousand words. He was crushed.

The fearless Master to be was crying. The boy practically had his heart ripped out and torn into a million pieces. He knew it was all his fault. No one but him was to blame.

"Ash. Hey man, are you ok big guy?", Brock inquired with a hand resting on the raven haired boys broad shoulder which was currently slumped.

"It's getting late guys. I will go on ahead and look for her. The sun's going down. Gym Leader or not, it is really dangerous out here especially in the dark",Tracey said after Ash never responded to Brock's retorical question.

Shaking his head, "No, Let me go. This is my fault and if anyone should go and talk to her it should be me" placing a hand on his heart. Still trying to catch his breathe and trying to gather his now jumbled thoughts.

"But-"

"No guys", Effectively haulting what ever both of the older men were going to say. Ash needed to take tge initiative.

Ash continued, "Look I know she said she hates me. It hurts knowing that she liked me and I probably ruined any chances of us being something more." The poor teen looked like he was going to lose all bearing and cry even harder after spewing what he feared. He did not want to lose her. He never ment those words to begin with.

"Go get her Ash, you still can fix this", Tracey smiled knowingly.

"Yeah we'll go on and set up camp here. Theres no point in us all foing together. Just stay calm and tell her how you feel. You never know big guy, I believe you can salvage this. You both are to important to eachother. You need eachother and you have to remind her that", Brock stated offering words of encouragement.

"Alright. Plus this place is crawling with bug types and if I know Mist sge is probably getting scared. Come on pikachu let's go buddy. ", Ash said walking away.

When Ash was finally out of earshot both guys looked to one another and shouted "Knew it!" Then fist bumped.

Misty found herself a short distance away from where she ran away from her friends. Well two friends and ex- best friend.

Tears streamed down her face. She took her hair out of it's ponytail. She felt a migrane that can rival a psyduck's coming on. The poor girl found a small stream and was sitting near a pile of boulders. Misty had her head down as she cried. Her salty tears making her vision obscured. She was to engrossed in her thoughts about what occured back there, the fight very fresh in her mind, She never heard the rustle in the bushes.

Without warning an Aridos made it's appearance known. The blood drained from the girls face. Her heart raced. She was frozen in shock. Paralized with fear. She may be an undefeated and well respected Gym Leader despite only being sixteen. But, regardless of all that she was scared. It was like she lost all sence of everything with the creepy eight-legged creatured lunged forward at her.

"Thunderbolt, Pikachu!"

Pikachu bounded off his trainers shoulder and through the bush and attacked the large aracnid from behind. The vile thing did not have a chance. It scurried away effectively leaving the scene and Misty alone.

Pikachu walked over to Misty and nuzzled her cheek affectionatly. He, like his trainer has always had a soft spot for the fiery red haired leader. He was trying to make her feel better and help her out of her shock.

Ash took that tine to slowly walk closer to Misty. He was mulling over what he wanted to say. Hoping that he could fix what he essentially broke. Looking ahead of him. Trying to giver a small smile showing that the 'white flag' was being waved, the he came in piece. His warm sorry-filled chocolate brown eyes connected with her usually warm and bright blueish green ones that were now filled with hurt. She turned her face away from him diconnecting the gaze.

Still holding Pikachu, the small nouse could feel the vibes coming off two of his favorite people. So he decided that they should be alone si he got out of Misty's loose grip and sat further down stream.

"Hey", He said trying to garner her Attention. But, she still kept her face averted. She would rather stare at nothing, than at him. Tears still falling from her eyes. She hoped he did not notice. But, he did though. It was hard to miss the splotchy red cheeks and eyes. He knew he looked just as bad to her having his face mirroring hers. She was too upset to read into why he was crying though. She did not care anymore.

Knowing that simply calling out and starting a conversation was not going to work. He tried a more forward approach. Sitting down beside her he did something that was rarely done.

"I am really sorry. I know you probably don't care what I have to say and I get it. I understand. You have every right to hate me. I can't say I don't deserve it. But, for the record Mist" He paused taking a deep breathe because he was going to go for broke and with each passing moment, she never turned her head to aknowledge him. "I hate me too."

That made her look up.

He continued, "You were right though I am dense. I got us lost and even though I knew I was wrong I just had to fight with you. Mist, I said things that I didn't mean. I-I never ment a word I said to you."

Tears still rolling down her eyes passed her cheeks and dripping off her chin, she watched him as he cried again, this time in front of her.

"Misty please, I will do anything to believe me. Please, I-I love you. When I seen you this morning at my house I was just so happy. You don't understand just how much I missed you. I said things I didn't mean all because I wanted to get you to like me and I am dense I should have known you like me. Well, I guess liked me because I know you hate my guts right now." Ash was starting to get repetitive with his words. He couldn't fathom the thought of her hating him.

Misty stared at him. She could tell the sincerety in his voice and his words. "Ash, it will take more than just that to get over you."

Shocked that she was speaking to him. Misty was sitting there speaking to him civilily and lost the edge in her tone. Her eyes still watery though.

"Ash I'm sorry too-"

"No, don't appologize. Please, Mist. It really is my fault ok. I still should not have-"

Misty cut Ash off and grabbed his face gently and made him meet her eyes. "Ash, I believe you. Don't hate yourself. You are a good guy Ash and I pushed you to say all of that. It was a stupid arguement anyway."

Ash was in disbelief, he still had a chance? "Misty when you said you liked me and just now you said it would be hard to get over me. Does that mean you will give me a chance. I promise Mist I will do anything to show you I am sorry"

"Ash I said I believe you. Besides I think I would have said those things too out of hurt if this was the other way around. But, yeah I ment it when I said that I liked you. I really do love you", Misty finished with a smile

Ash hugged Misty and held her in his arms. They both looked at eachother and smiled. Both still have red puffy eyes lent in for their very first kiss. It was simple and sweet.

Ash took Misty's hand and helped her up. "So are we together now Ash?"

Smiling at his new girlfriend, " Yes, I loved you for a while now"

"I loved you for such a long time to Ash"

She looked up and gave him a smile. Still holding her hand and Pikachu firmly on his shoulder. They both walked back to where Brock and Tracey were waiting.

End

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