Guys, it's been almost 3 months since I last updated… WOW!!! I'm so sorry and thank you so much to anyone who came back and read it. This will be a good one, I promise.

The picture was of Gary.

I knew it was only a matter of time until someone found out. Who and when? Details. But, I honestly didn't believe anyone would have discovered my secret so early.

"Is this Gary Oak?" Rhythmi asked. She looked at me in a distrusting way. I shrunk away from the gaze.

"So what if it is?" I replied quickly, my voice cracking as I spoke to her.

"How do you know him? You're related to Ash Ketchum? How come I've never heard of Ash having a sister? You know Gary Oak? How do you know him? Are you friends? Are you enemies? What is going on?" she screamed her questions at me.

I involuntarily moved away from her. She was now standing, her wavy blond hair in her eyes as she panted heavily. She was getting worked up over nothing, I thought. She really needed a chill-pill… now.

I guess I was in shock for too long because Rhythmi grunted impatiently. "Well, are you ever going to answer any of my questions?" she spat harshly at me.

I cringed away from her—again—but decided I should tell her. Somehow, I trusted her. I trusted this new girl I had only known for an hour or two. I can't explain it.

"Help me up," I muttered to her as I tried to gather my thoughts together. A smile appeared on her pretty face. I was getting at little worried about her mood swings, but I brushed the thought aside as she pulled me back toward the bottom bunk. She handed me the picture that had caused her outburst.

I instantly remembered the picture the moment I saw it. I closed my eyes and thought back to that day three months ago. It seemed so much longer than three months though… The picture was of me and Gary. His brown hair was gelled into its usual style and he wore his white lab coat over a favorite black T-shirt. His black jeans were too short on him, but he didn't care. I was behind him, my arms around his neck, smiling at the camera. My brown hair was still wet from a shower I had just taken. I wore a white T-shirt with an aquamarine colored jacket. My white Capri's had sand on them.

We were on the research island where Gary worked. Sayda Island, I believe it was called. It was one of the best days of my life…

"So?" Rhythmi asked when she decided I had looked at the picture long enough. "How do you know him? I want all the details."

I put the picture down on the bed and leaned back against the pink pillow. I closed my eyes again and tried to remember how I had met Gary.

"I'd seen Gary around Pallet Town a lot when I was growing up, but I didn't actually know him. He and Ash went off with their Pokemon when they both turned ten. I was nine. They were gone about eight months, maybe more... When Ash went off to the Orange Islands, Gary returned home to visit his grandfather, Professor Oak. I had been working for Oak a few weeks after Ash left home.

"Gary had taken a particular interest in research, but he still loved being a Trainer. So, he decided he spend the summer working for Oak, while training his up-and-coming Pokemon. I originally hated him because Ash did, but I guess I realized he wasn't all that bad. He and I developed a friendship. He was my best friend/"

I stopped talking. I leaned back up, but Rhythmi pushed me back down. "And?"

I frowned. "'And' what?"

"Hello! What else happened after the summer? Jess, you need to finish the story!" she told me.

I sighed, but reluctantly agreed. I readjusted myself until I was comfortable then continued where I had left off.

"Months passed and Gary left for the Johto region with Ash. He returned about a year later with news that being a Pokémon Trainer wasn't his dream anymore. He wanted to go into research; follow in his grandfather's footsteps. He stayed for two weeks… and in those two weeks… we started going out."

I was silent for a few moments. I didn't know what else to say. It had all been so sudden. Rhythmi hummed softly to herself. "Thanks Jess… you know, I have a feeling we're going to be very good friends."

She had no idea….