The Breakup (1/2)
"I'm worried about her." whispers the redhead to her husband.
"Why? She broke up with him." He shrugs nonchalantly. The man is actually relieved to know his niece is single. Worrying over whether a boy would hurt her was too much stress on him.
This response, though, causes his wife to smack his shoulder. "Ash! Don't say that! She still loves him!"
Wincing, Ash rubs his shoulder. "Then why'd she break up with him?" Mew. He will never understand women. They say one thing but want the other.
Hours ago, Clem had dropped into Pallet Town for a surprise visit where she informed her parents that she and Cole broke up. They're still traveling together as friends, but Clem wanted to break up. She didn't go into details, and the adults haven't pried. However, Clem and Cole are in their early 20s, meaning they were dating for almost a decade. Misty always assumed the two would get married someday; thus, she's disappointed and worried hearing about the breakup.
Last Misty heard, Clem and Cole were madly in love. Sure, they've had a few hiccups along in their relationship, but every couple goes through that. Nevertheless, the way Clem so nonchalantly announced her breakup makes Misty concerned. The older woman knows how much her niece loves Cole. There has to be some misunderstanding, even if Clem is acting like everything is okay.
"Relationships are more complicated than what meets the eye." Misty gets off the couch and away from Ash's embrace, much to his dismay. "You should know that the best." Being married to the champion, Misty gets a lot of unwanted attention from the media.
Sighing, Ash runs a hand through his hair. "Okay, so what? She broke up with Cole. You saw her. She was fine! She and Cole are still friends who travel together. They're fine. They're adults, Mist. We don't need to meddle."
"Oh. Says the one who scares Cole every time he visits." Misty rolls her eyes.
"Well, I won't need to do that anymore."
"SMACK!"
"Ow!" Ash rubs his head from where Misty's mallet hit him. "Why do you still have that thing?"
"For when you wanna be an idiot." Misty knows Ash is very protective, especially towards Clem and Coral. He's always eyeing their male traveling partners. "She's an adult, but she's still our little girl, Ash." Despite being Clem's aunt and uncle, the two are more like her parents. They've raised her since her mother passed away when she was young.
"I treat her like a child, you get mad. I treat her like an adult, you get mad. What should I do, Mist?" Exasperates the man, earning him a sharp glare.
"Treat her like how she needs to be treated."
"What does that even mean?" Ash exclaims as Misty walks up the stairs. The woman doesn't expect her dense husband to ever understand. He's never been great with social queues or anything regarding romance. How they reconnected and fell in love is still surreal to Misty.
Once Misty reaches her destination, she knocks on the door. "Clem, can I come in?"
"Yeah, Aunt Misty." comes the nonchalant response.
Opening the door, Misty sees her niece at her desk. Because Cam and Coral are out traveling, Clem is the only child home. Clem is visiting while Cole is visiting his family in Cerulean City. Misty sits on the edge of Clem's bed where she notices Clem looking at her pokenav. Before Misty can say anything, Clem sets her pokenav facedown and turns to smile at her aunt.
"What's up?" The young woman rarely visits nowadays, so she enjoys her time with her family when she can get it. Despite how tired she may be from her journeys, she will always interact with her family when they call.
Misty gives Clem a small reassuring smile. "Just checking in on you."
Clem raises a confused eyebrow at her. "I'm fine. Just happy to be home for a bit." She already informed Ash and Misty that she'll be leaving in a few days. Clem wished she could see her cousins, but this is fine. She did drop home without telling anyone. It just sort of happened.
Nodding, Misty takes in a deep nervous breath. "Is that all?"
"Uh. Yes?" Clem blinks a bit. "Is something wrong, Aunt Misty?"
"I don't know. Is there?"
The young woman is very confused. She tilts her head a bit and squints her eyes. "I don't know?"
Sighing, Misty throws her hands up in defeat. "The breakup. I don't get it!"
Oh. Now this weird conversation is making a lot of sense. The last time Clem had a weird conversation with her aunt, it went like this, though it was about the Pidgeys and the Beedrills. Sheepishly rubbing the back of her head, Clem awkwardly chuckles. "What about it?"
"Why did it happen?"
"I don't think I have to tell you that." Clem shrugs. She's an adult now, so she doesn't need her aunt and uncle's constant supervision. They should trust her.
"I know." Misty leans against the headboard. "I just don't get it. You and Cole were so in love. You two have been together for years. Everyone thought you were gonna get married!"
"Well, we're obviously not now." Clem shrugs nonchalantly. "Aunt Misty, times change. People change. We realized our childhood crush was just a crush."
Misty shakes her head. What Clem and Cole had, that was more than a crush. "What makes you say that?"
"Because we don't love each other like that anymore." Clem says matter-of-factly. "We've both seen it coming. I just called it first, and Cole agreed."
"But-"
"It's over. Please don't make things awkward and try to put us back together. We're happy with our new relationship." Clem's pokenav buzzes, making her flip it to quickly look at the screen. Misty notices Clem frown a bit before the young woman places her pokenav back down without responding. "We're still best friends."
"That's Tauros shit, and you know it, Clem." Misty sternly narrows her eyes at her shocked niece.
Clem nervously gulps. Her aunt never curses around the children. She's only done it a few times, which is when they know Misty is about to tell them something important and serious. "You can't tell me how to feel."
"I'm not telling you how to do anything!" Misty exclaims. "I'm just saying it like how I see it." The redhead stands. "You and Cole are in love. You've always been-"
"We're not like you and Uncle Ash!" Clem furrows her brows in frustration. The main reason why she didn't tell anyone about the breakup until she returned home months later is because of this. She knew her aunt and others would question her and Cole. No one can tell her how they should feel. They don't know her and Cole. "Just because you loved Uncle Ash when you were kids and then you guys got married and are still in love, that doesn't mean it'll happen to me!"
Misty purses her lips as she thinks of her next words. Upsetting Clem will just make Clem close up or even leave early. Misty doesn't want to push her niece away. Letting out a breath, Misty meets Clem's green eyes. "Every time I saw you two together...that look in both of your eyes… It's not a look that will ever go away."
"What are you talking about?" Has her aunt gone a little crazy with age?
Before Misty can explain, Clem's pokenav buzzes again. And again. And again. Groaning, Clem flips the pokenav to read the messages on the lockscreen. Her furrowed brows deepen and she places her pokenav back down a little too aggressively.
"Are you gonna respond?" It seems important if someone is texting her this often.
"It's a group chat." lies Clem. Right now, Clem needs to clear the air with her aunt, as much as Clem would like to stop this conversation. "Aunt Misty, Cole and I are just friends. We've always been friends, and we mistook our friendship into something more."
"Then tell me why you broke up." Misty isn't having any of this. Clem isn't answering anything, and Misty knows these 'lost feelings' are not the full truth. There has to be more to this breakup.
"Why?" That's private, and Clem isn't a kid anymore. She can make adult decisions.
"So that I stop questioning you. None of this makes sense to me!"
"It doesn't need to make sense to you! It's not your relationship!" the frustrated young woman massages her temples. "I never questioned you about Uncle Ash."
"You were 5." Misty reminds her niece. Of course a 5 year old won't be asking these critical questions. All 5 year old Clem cared about was when she was going to see her uncle again.
"Fine." Clem isn't amused with her aunt's pestering. "I'll tell you more if you tell me more about you and Uncle Ash."
"Your uncle and I have been married for almost 20 years, Clem. We don't have big relationship problems anymore."
"I know, but I'm not asking about now." The bluenette narrows her eyes at Misty. "What was your biggest fight with him?"
"Why?" Misty and Ash argue often, though it's always playful. They don't really have large arguments anymore.
Clem's pokenav vibrating makes her shut it off. Right now, she's in a serious conversation with her aunt. Distractions can wait. "See! You won't tell me anything, but you expect me to tell you everything!"
"Clem, I-"
"It was the day we met, Clem." The deep voice makes both women turn their attention to the doorway where they see Ash and Pikachu. Pikachu leaps into Clem's lap while Ash sits down beside his wife.
"Were you eavesdropping?" Misty hisses.
"I was on my way to bed when I heard you two." He yawns. "Anyway, our biggest fight was the day I met you, Clem." Ash repeats.
"What makes you say that?" Misty questions. She has still been thinking of what she would deem her biggest fight with Ash.
Shrugging, Ash wraps an arm around Misty's waist. "Ever since we reconnected, that has been the only time I've been scared I lost you forever."
Clem is intently listening. Despite Clem's questions, Misty always speaks before Clem can get any words out. "What are you talking about, Ash?"
He shyly rubs the back of his neck. "Well, I already told you why I volunteered to sub at your gym. It was all to get closer to you again." His cheeks flush a tint of pink. "I mean. I was committed to you. I still am, but back then, we were so uncertain… I did go MIA from your life for over a decade."
"Don't remind me." the redhead rolls her eyes.
"How was that your biggest fight?" Clem is confused. Her uncle hasn't said any details about any argument.
"Oh yeah. You don't know." Ash chuckles. "I was committed to your aunt, so I was committed to you. We bonded and I let you call me your uncle. I made a few promises with you. We got close throughout the evening."
"Why were you mad?" Clem asks her aunt. Uncle Ash sounds amazing. Clem knows he's amazing too. He raised her without any hesitation. He's the closest thing she has to a father. Thus, Clem doesn't understand why Ash being an uncle would make his aunt mad.
Misty frowns from the reminder. "I didn't think he'd be committed. I mean, he did abandon me for over a decade."
"I didn't abandon you." Ash sighs.
"Felt like it." Misty narrows her eyes at him. "Anyway, you just lost your mom a few weeks before. Ash was just a sub. I didn't need you getting attached to him and then he leaves you too. I was protecting you." Misty recalls that day where she blew up on Ash. The turning point in their relationship. She's glad he didn't abandon her again. She's glad he didn't abandon Clem. Ash is a great father and uncle. Misty wouldn't have been able to raise Clem without him.
Nodding Clem scratches Pikachu's ears. "Makes sense. I'm glad you stuck around, Uncle Ash."
"Me too." He smiles and kisses Misty's head.
"Now, you." Misty snaps at her daughter who sighs.
"I think he likes Sammy." Clem nonchalantly replies. "Cole and I lost that spark a long time ago. I don't care what you think you saw in us, Aunt Misty, but it's our relationship. We both knew it was dying." The bluenette shrugs. "Cole is too nice to break up with me. We were just going through the motions of being a couple."
"How does Sammy tie into this?" Misty inquires. Sammy is a new traveling partner of a few years, and a friend of Clem and Cole.
"Cole talks to her more than he talks to me. He laughs more around her. He's happier." For the first time all evening, the adults see Clem's face fall from talking about the breakup. She was so lax about it this whole time, that Ash believed she was truly fine with it. "I want him to be happy." Pikachu snuggles deeper into Clem's lap.
"How did Cole take it?" the redhead is still certain that Cole and Clem love each other.
"He asked why. I told him we both knew it was coming, and he agreed. We decided to be friends again, and we actually talk more than before. It's like we were forcing so much with our relationship."
"Clem-"
"I'm fine, Aunt Misty." The young woman gives her aunt and uncle a reassuring smile. "I'd rather be Cole's friend than nothing at all."
"Maybe you two will get back together?" Misty suggests.
Shaking her head, Clem responds, "No. Once he and Sammy start dating, I'll stop traveling with them. You know. Give them space."
"Does Sammy like Cole?" Ash is curious. Clem has told them that she thinks Cole likes Sammy. However, are the feelings reciprocated?
"Yeah." The low voice makes Misty's gaze on her goddaughter soften. Clem is definitely hurting more than she lets on. After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, Clem clears her throat. "I'm tired…"
Ash quickly stands and extends a hand to Misty. "Oh yeah. You traveled a lot today. We'll let you rest."
Misty kisses the top of Clem's head. As much as Misty wants to question her niece, she needs to trust that Clementine can handle herself. Clementine isn't a young child anymore. She's an adult. "Good night, Clem."
Clementine waves at them. "Good night." Once the door is closed, she looks down at Pikachu. "Mew, that was suffocating."
"Pika pikachu." Pikachu apologetically gazes into her eyes.
"Not you too, Pikachu." Clementine groans. She places him on the bed before joining Pikachu. Turning back on her pokenav, she soon sees a lot of messages she's missed. Most of them from Sammy.
It's been a few months. Would you still be okay if I asked Cole out?
Are you sure it's okay? I still feel bad.
I know you said you were okay with it months ago, but still. Clem, I don't want to lose you two. You're my closest friends.
Clem?
Sorry.
Sorry? The young woman shuts her eyes in frustration as her heart aches. "Am I an idiot, Pikachu?"
"Pi?" the groggy mouse manages to squeak out. Clem knows he isn't listening. He's tired.
Sighing, Clem recalls the breakup. It's not like she and Cole lost feelings exactly. It's more like Clem got scared. Seeing how close Cole was getting to Sammy. How the two seemed to have more fun than she and Cole. Clem couldn't take it. Rather than lose Cole to infidelity, Clem broke up with him. She's mainly guarding her heart, though she's happy to still have him as a friend. The first few weeks were a bit awkward, but with Sammy's help, they're somewhat normal again.
Taking in a deep breath, she finds the courage to read her last unread message. From the man in question. The man she still loves and she's sure she'll love forever. Clem got the good commitment Waterflower genes, like her Aunt Misty and Daisy. Even though Lily is still with Danny, Lily was once not committed to anymore. Misty and Daisy have been committed to their husbands since they were young. Clem has that commitment.
Cerulean City is still more fun with you.
Clem smiles slightly as the Butterfrees fly in her stomach. Sammy is in Cerulean City with Cole because she's a Hoenn native. The fact that Cole finds the city more fun with Clem there must mean he prefers her over Sammy. Clem shakes her head of the thought. She broke up with Cole. She can't be acting like they're getting back together.
Pertaining to Clem not being in Cerulean City anymore, Misty became an Elite Four member a couple of years ago, so the Ketchums fully moved to Pallet Town. Currently, the sketchits run the Cerulean City gym. Prior to the move, Clem and Cole would spend time together whenever they visited home. Lately, they've been separated because they're in separate towns.
Pallet Town is still boring. Clem replies.
She's about to set her pokenav down and sleep when it immediately vibrates in her hand. Dreading that it could be Sammy again, Clem reads the message: Can we talk?
As Clem furrows her brows at the text making her heart pound, her pokenav starts ringing. It's the very man who's constantly on her mind. Mew. She just can't catch a break, but she brought this upon herself. It'll be suspicious if she doesn't pick up since it shows she's read the text. Making sure that she has her voice, Clem picks up the call, "Hey, Cole."
"Hey, Clem." His voice. That deep calm yet boyish voice. She's always liked it best when he says her name.
"It's late. What's up?" Clem really hopes she sounds normal.
There is a small pause, and Cole responds, "Sammy asked me out. She said you're okay with it. Like you've been encouraging her."
"Congrats." Clem boredly speaks. "I wanted her to know that we'll still be good friends."
Sighing, Cole runs a hand through his hair. "What are you doing, Clem?"
"What?"
Cole shakes his head. "The breakup and now you're setting me up with Sammy. Why are you pushing me away?"
"Cole, we both knew the breakup was gonna happen sooner or later. We don't have fun together anymore." Clem reminds him. "And I'm not setting you up with Sammy. She likes you. Always has. I was just letting her know that she doesn't need to worry about me."
"But what about me?" Cole breathes out. "Don't you care about my feelings?"
"Well, yeah." Clem's cheeks heat up. "We are friends." Who were once lovers, and she may or may not still have feelings for him.
After a brief pause, Cole groans loudly. "I should've never let you break up with me."
The woman blinks in confusion. "Huh?" Cole did easily agree to the breakup, indicating to Clem that he doesn't have feelings for her anymore.
"If I knew you were gonna just allow other women to throw themselves at me, then I would've fought more for us."
"What are you talking about?" Clem sits up alertly, all the fatigue gone.
Sighing, Cole leans against the outside wall of his house. Sammy is currently inside with his family. He had stepped out to make this call. Of course, he gave everyone a bogus excuse so that no one follows him. He needs an uninterrupted conversation with Clem. As much as Cole would like to do this in person, he needs to talk to her now. "I let you break up with me because you lost feelings. I never did. I can't."
"What?" Clem speaks a little too loudly. She didn't know her face could heat up this much.
"I thought you wanted a break. You know. Just time to yourself, and then we'd get back together once you're ready." Cole shakes his head in disappointment. "I just never thought you'd be totally over me. Enough to set me up with our friend."
What can she say? She's not sure. Clem is at a loss for words about this situation. She feels exactly like how Cole is feeling. However, if they both share these beliefs of loving each other but believing the other doesn't love them, then how come they broke up? Why was their relationship so dead these past two years?
"Wanna have some fun?"
Cole blinks in confusion. Did she not hear a word he said? "Clem, I-"
"You said Cerulean City is more fun with me, right?" Clem recalls his text as she puts on her coat. "I'll be there in a few hours. Meet at the spot."
Before Clem can hang up, Cole quickly speaks, "I rejected Sammy. I'll see you there." He knows it'll take Clem and Swellow 3 hours to reach the Cape. By then, his family and Sammy will be sound asleep. Although Cole is also tired from the trip, he'd rather see his ex.
"See ya." Clem ends the call and sighs. Pikachu is sound asleep on her bed. The little rodent is acting like he's been traveling for weeks.
Pocketing her pokenav, Clem sneaks out of the house. One thing she's told herself is that she will never be in an on again off again relationship. While she knows she's going to see Cole based on her own impulses and emotions, she doesn't plan on letting anything come out of this meeting. It'll be like when they were kids and used to hang out at the Cape tormenting couples. Instead, they'll be the couple that they're tormenting.
I wanted to write an extra for this story because it's been a while. However, my approach with this chapter now leads me with an ambiguous ending, so I'll have to type up an second part. Look forward to "The Makeup" chapter sometime. :P