"….You love me? Still?" Ash asked.
"Yes, I've been crying every day since. It was a mistake, and if you let me explain things to you I swear I'll never make the same mistake again."
"This is who you were dating…like I said, you could do so much better! Do you want me to handle this?" Gary asked.
"Gary, I can handle this myself. James, you really hurt me, and I don't know if I can forgive that. You just said exactly what I wanted to hear you say, but for some reason, it doesn't feel like it should feel…I don't have the urge to run up to you and kiss you, instead I have this overwhelming urge to have Pikachu shock you again." Ash said.
"I am so sorry, and if I can be honest with you-"
"You should have been honest with me before!"
"I know…" James said.
"I'm not saying that I don't love you anymore, or that I don't want to be with you. I just…I just need some time away from you."
Everyone was silent anticipating James' next move, but he didn't shout. He didn't command a Pokemon to attack anyone, and he certainly didn't cry…at least not in front of everyone. He just turned around and walked away.
Jessie followed him, to surprised to even keep battling. When they were gone everyone looked to Ash for an explanation of what just happened, except for Cilan and Iris who knew about Ash and James.
"I was dating James, and he broke up with me…"
Gary rolled his eyes, "Like we didn't figure that out…but that guy, is no reason to kill yourself."
Ash didn't want to hear any of this right now. He ran ahead of everyone and into the Pokemon Center. He started packing his things.
"I can't believe I just did that…I'm so stupid…maybe if I go find James now he will still forgive me." Ash thought.
He packed all of his belongings including his Pokemon. He was about to walk out the door when Gary entered.
"Where do you think you're going?" He asked eyeing the bag and Ash trying to rush out the door.
"To look for James. I was wrong when I said I needed time away from him." Ash explained trying to move past Gary.
"Ash he cheated on you."
"He apologized."
"He made you feel bad enough to try and commit suicide! There's no way I'm letting you go after him right now, and if I remember correctly…aren't you grounded?"
"No matter what I say, you're not gonna let me go find him are you?" Ash asked.
"That's right. I'm sorry, but I care about you. Don't tell Tracy this, but you're my best friend."
"Why can't I tell Tracy?" Ash asked.
"He's obsessed with me…"
"Ha, okay I won't say anything him."
Gary walked into the room in the Pokemon Center and closed the door behind him.
"Were heading back to Pallet soon, but looks like you have everything all packed up. Everyone else is waiting on the boat. I told them I'd come and get you."
"Boat? What boat?"
"Were taking a boat back to Pallet town. It's a hell of a lot better than walking."
Ash shrugged and picked up his bag again. Gary opened the door and led Ash out of the room.
"How far away is this boat?" Ash asked.
"No more than twenty minutes away walking, but were taking a cab so it should be about five minutes."
"I don't have any money on me."
"I'm paying." Gary said, showing Ash his wallet.
"It's a lot better than walking." Ash said.
"EXACTLY!" Gary said and opened the cab door for Ash, getting in after him.
"Everyone is really worried about you, Tracey is betting you don't come back with me."
"Does he not like me anymore?" Ash asked.
"He's jealous of you."
"Why is he jealous?"
"He thinks I'm in love with you."
"Are you?"
"Do you really want to talk about this now?" Gary asked. Ash thought about it, he knew there used to be some romantic feelings between him and Gary but those were long gone…right?
"We'll talk about it later." He said not wanting to get into this at the moment, he was still exhausted from his earlier encounter with James.
"Ha, alright. Were at the boat anyways." Gary said as the cab slowed down to a stop. He paid the driver and got out holding the door open for Ash.
Ash got out and walked beside Gary onto the boat. He saw his mom and the Professor. Gary rolled his eyes at something and when Ash got closer to the boat he could tell Tracey was there…
"I didn't know Tracey came." Ash said.
"He didn't go to the hospital, someone had to keep an eye on the boat." Gary explained as we boarded the boat.
Delia ran up and gave Ash a bear hug.
"Mom…you're squishing me."
Delia stopped hugging him long enough for him to take a quick breath of air.
"Ready to go home?" she asked.
"Sure…I guess."
"Cheer up Ash." Gary said, patting his shoulder.
"I'll try."
"Hey! Ash!" Tracey said running up to him.
"Hey man, long time no see." Ash said.
"I know right? Crazy how time flies right?" he asked.
"Yeah, how you doing?"
"Pretty good man. Glad to see you're okay."
"Thanks…"
"Tracey, don't you think we should be getting ready to leave?" Gary asked.
"Oh! Yeah, I should go draw the anchor. I'm steering this thing. Pretty cool right?"
"Yeah…it's pretty cool…" Ash said.
Gary smirked as Tracey walked off.
"Pretty lame right?"
"Is he trying to impress you?" Ash asked.
"When is he not?" Gary asked.
"Ok…"
"So you want to relax? It's not that long a trip. About an hour." Gary said.
"Sure. Where's my mom?"
"Talking to my grandpa. You want to hang out with me?"
"Like I have been? Sure." Gary nodded and led Ash to a couch away from the others.
He sat down and motioned for him to sit down next to him.
"So what's the story with James?"
A/N: SOOOOORY! I KNOW I KNOW! It's been forever! I'm sorry! I have just been so busy! Updates will be more frequent from now on. I have missed this story!