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…
"So, Gary?" Brock asked, finding Misty sat alone waiting for Gary to return with her drink.
Misty bit her lip as she glanced over shoulder at Gary, debating whether to tell Brock the truth. She knew he was very close with Ash but he'd still keep a secret from him if she told him to but that wasn't the main issue. The main issue was the lecture she was bound to get for weaving a web of lies and playing with people's emotions.
"Yes, Gary." She nodded, since she was ten there was nothing she hated more in the world than disappointing Brock. "What about him?"
"When did it happen? How did it happen? Is it serious? Why didn't you tell me?" Misty's eyes widened slightly at all the questions. "May was very vague with the details." Brock admitted.
"Okay. Well it happened about three months ago, I was helping him out with some research and it just sort of happened. As of yet it's not overly serious, still in the early stages, and we weren't really telling anyone about it."
"I wish you had done, I could have saved some money and slung you in the same room." Brock laughed, Misty laughed too slightly uneasily, praying she wasn't about to be kicked out her room and forced to share with Gary.
"We're keeping it on the down low."
"And what about Ash?" Brock questioned.
"What about him?" Misty almost snapped, not really in the mood to talk about him.
"Does he know?"
"Yes he does." Misty explained as Brock watched her intently, trying to gauge an understanding of her emotions. "Don't look at me like that, he only found out yesterday so he was just as out of the loop as you."
"And how did he take it?"
"Not great, not bad but still not great." Misty sighed.
"Well can you blame him? You've been friends for fifteen years, three of which you were in a relationship, you can understand why he was a little upset."
"He's made no attempts to talk to me for the past two years so when did he expect me to tell him?" Misty crossed her arms.
"Don't you dare try to pin this all on him, you know he tried to talk to you when things first went wrong but you ignored him, carried on pushing him away until he just gave up trying." Misty looked down, seemed like she hadn't managed to avoid a Brock lecture after all. "You two have been through too much together to throw it all away because you're both dating new people."
"But we…" Misty began to protest but soon stopped when she noticed Brock's stern look.
"I'm sorry things didn't work out romantically for you but as friends you know you two are the best. So, as a wedding gift to me, you're going to play nice with Ash and try to get back to the way things were. Understand?" He crossed his arms and looked down at her.
"Yes Brock."
"Good, glad that's settled." Brock smiled, his face changing completely in a mere matter of seconds. "I have to say Mist, I never imagined you and Gary as a couple."
"That's because you always wanted me to fall for my best friend." Misty laughed, surprising herself that she was finally able to laugh about it.
"What can I say? I'm a sucker for romance."
"Suzy is a lucky girl."
"I think it's the other way around." Misty smiled at Brock, happy that he'd found someone. "I'm going to find her, you'll be okay on your own?"
"Course I will." Misty nodded.
Brock gave Misty one last smile before getting up and walking over to Suzy. She smiled as she watched the couple together, seeing Brock like this made her regret how she acted with Ash, if she'd just allowed her heart to open she could be happy right now. But instead she'd closed herself off to love and she was alone.
"Here you go Red." Gary said, placing a drink in front of Misty and breaking her train of thought.
"Thanks. Double?" She asked as he sat down.
"That's what you asked for." He smirked, placing his arm around her. "It go okay with Brock?"
"Yeah, he was surprised as most people are but he seemed fine overall." Misty shrugged.
"Good, could do without another one of your friends glaring me down the whole time."
"What do you mean?"
"Two o'clock." Gary said, nodding his head in the right direction.
Misty looked over to one side discreetly, she soon saw Ash watching the pair intently over his glass, barely registering Dawn talking to him.
"He's been like this since he found out." Gary muttered, lips against her ear, only increasing the intensity of Ash's glare.
"That's another thing Brock talked about." Misty said, turning back round, her nose against Gary's.
"What was that?" Gary asked, as she could barely carry on her sentence.
"I need to make up with him." Misty explained, her gaze flickering ever so slightly down towards his lips, but enough for Gary to notice.
"He's got a point, would make our lives a lot easier." He said, licking his lips.
"I need to get some air." Misty practically stuttered, abruptly standing up and walking to the outside area.
Gary watched her go with a slight smirk on his lips, she was quite entertaining.
…
Misty stood outside with her arms resting on a table, chin in her palm. Her mind filled with thoughts of Ash, Gary, the wedding, she needed a rest. Why couldn't anything be simple? If she hadn't faked having a boyfriend she wouldn't be having these problems with Gary, that would be at least one less thing to worry about.
"Hi." Ash said, coming to a standstill next to Misty.
"Hi." She nodded.
"I'm sorry about earlier."
"I'm sorry too."
"For what?" Ash asked.
"Everything I guess." She shot a small smile in his direction.
"Can we just forget it all?"
"I'd like that."
"I'm glad you're happy Misty." He refused to meet her eye when he said this, he knew she'd be able to tell he was lying if he did.
"Thanks." Misty said in a small voice, if Ash could handle this all maturely why couldn't she? "I'm glad you're happy too."
Ash nodded, a silence then hung between them, neither one sure what to say next.
"I'm surprised they let us back in here." Ash said, a slight smile on his lips.
"What are you talking about?" Misty asked, glancing over her shoulder at the pub, hoping to jog her memory.
"Don't you remember when we came here with Brock?" Ash asked, a look of confusion still on Misty's face. "And he left early and we decided it would be a good idea to do some shots?"
"Oh god!" Misty exclaimed. "You were awful that night." She laughed.
"Me?" Ash cried out.
"Yes you! You threw a pokeball at a couple who you claimed to be Jynx and Mr Mime on a date."
"I'd forgotten that detail." He laughed. "But you were hardly any better."
"I don't remember assaulting people with pokeballs." She crossed her arms.
"No, you were too busy dancing on the tables." He gave her a look. "To your own music might I add?"
"Jesus, don't remind me." Misty moaned. "I am correct in thinking I fell off the table and threatened to sue them."
"Yeah, you did." Ash laughed.
"I'm such an embarrassment." Misty buried her head in her hands.
"I don't know, provided me with lots of entertainment." He gave her a slight nudge.
"Well I'm glad somebody enjoyed it." She laughed, despite her embarrassment, looking back up to meet Ash's eye.
From inside the pub Gary walked towards the door, he stopped when he saw Misty and Ash stood outside laughing. He forced himself to look away, watching them together conjured up new feelings inside him, feelings that he'd never felt before and feelings he hoped he never felt again.
…
Misty leant against the bar, watching Brock's younger brothers and sisters, although not allowed to partake in drinking were still enjoying themselves on the arcade dance mats. She smiled as they danced, their giggles filling the pub. She felt a pang of envy, she longed to be that young and carefree again.
"I'll take you on." Gary said, appearing behind her.
"What you talking about?" She asked, turning so she was facing him, being careful to take a step back this time to create a space between them.
"The dance mats." He nodded his head in the direction of them.
"You're kidding me right?" She raised her eyebrow.
"No, you've been watching them for half an hour now I can tell you're dying to give it a go." He smirked.
"Maybe, just a little bit." She smiled back.
"Then let's have a go."
"Alright Oak, get ready for me to whip your ass." Misty smirked.
"Fine, but first let's go dance." Misty laughed as he took her hand and lead her over. "Off you get Igglybuff's let the grown up's have a go."
Brock's brother, who was picking a song, took a step off and gestured for them to get on. Misty and Gary climbed on and she began picking a song while he looked down in confusion at the arrows underneath his feet.
"I love this song!" Misty exclaimed as Boom Boom Boom Boom came blasting through the speakers. "We're dancing to this one."
Misty selected the song and gave Gary a cocky smirk, all he could offer in return was a small smile, still confused. They both turned towards the screen as it came to life, he watched as arrows began climbing up the screen towards the top, Misty seemed to move as the arrows reached the top, jumping, pressing buttons with her feet.
"Do you even know how to play?" Misty asked, never missing a step.
"I've never really had an urge to play these before." He said, hitting random arrows with his feet.
"You have to move as it tells you." She explained. An up arrow appeared on the screen and Gary jumped forward. "When it reaches the top." She laughed slightly at his failed attempts.
"Forward! Left!" Brock's brothers and sisters yelled at him, just confusing him further. "Double!"
"What does that mean?" Gary shouted, throwing himself around. He looked over to Misty hoping for some help, she glanced towards him and gave him a little wink.
"Boom boom boom boom, I want you in my room, let's spend the night together, from now until forever." She sang cockily, still not missing a beat. "Boom boom boom boom, I wanna double boom, let's spend the night together, together in my room."
"Stop showing off." Gary growled, missing every single step.
They continued to dance, Misty getting everything perfect, Brock's brothers and sister's yelling instructions and Gary failing miserably.
"Would you look at that?" Misty smirked as the song ended. "I got 100%. What did you get?" She asked, looking over at his side of the screen. "5%, well done babe!"
"Don't patronise me." He laughed. "We'll get a few more drinks in you and I'll beat you."
"Keep dreaming." She laughed, getting off the dance mats as he followed after her.
He put his arm around her and lead her towards the bar, leaving the children to their games.
…
Gary waited at the bar for another drink, watching Misty play slapsies with Drew.
"Got you." Drew exclaimed, slapping Misty's hand.
"You sod." She laughed as he slapped her hand again. "Give me a chance." He slapped her hand again. "You're like a ninja." She reached forward to slap him but he moved his hand before she could.
Gary laughed slightly to himself, if Misty hadn't had so much to drink her reflexes would probably be better.
"I saw you earlier." May said, stopping next to Gary.
"When?" He asked, racking his brain for something he'd done wrong.
"On the dance mats with Misty. Since when does Gary Oak make a complete fool of himself in a public place?"
"I didn't plan on making a fool of myself."
"Come off it, you knew you had no idea how to play and that you were going to look like an utter twat but you did it anyway." She stared him down, arms crossed to emphasis her point.
"You're smarter than you look May." He smiled.
"I know, so why'd you do it?" She asked.
"I don't know, she's had a rough time and she needed some cheering up, if that meant looking like a dick on the dance mats then so be it." He shrugged.
"I underestimated you Oak." She smirked, she shot him an approving look before walking back over to Drew and Misty.
He watched her go, a feeling of pride inside him now that he won May over, also wondering why he cared so much.
"In your face!" Misty called out, having successfully slapped Drew's hand for the first time since the game started. Gary laughed to himself as he watched Misty's slightly tipsy victory dance. "Hey, Gazza! Where's my drink?" She called over to him.
"I'm working on it." He said, turning his attention back towards the bar.
"Double!" She yelled, walking over to him.
"Yeah, yeah I know." He felt her slump against his side, using him as support on her unsteady feet. She leant her head against his arm and looked up at him with slightly glazed eyes and a sloppy smile, he looked down and smiled back at her, noticing how no matter what happened she always managed to look adorable.
…
"I don't need your help." Misty slurred leaning against the wall in the lift, her latest drink pushing her over the edge.
"I think it's pretty clear that you do." May rolled her eyes. Gary had offered to take her home but in this state she thought it would be best if Misty wasn't left alone with him, god knows what she'd try to do to the boy. "So Gary seems nice." May said as the lift arrived on Misty's floor.
"Yeah, he's lovely." She stumbled out the lift towards her room.
"He seems to have taken a liking to you." She pressed.
"He takes a liking to anything with tits." She rolled her eyes, attempting to open her hotel room.
"No, I think he's got an extra little soft spot for you." May said, taking the keys from Misty and opening the door while she scoffed at her statement.
"If you say so." She stumbled into her room and fell down onto the bed.
May pottered around the room, moving the bin so it was next to the bed and placed a glass of water on the bedside table. She began walking towards the door when she thought Misty had passed out.
"I spoke to Ash today." Misty announced, just as May had reached the door.
"Really? And how did that go?" She walked back over and sat on the bed next to her.
"It was good, we made friends again and talked about old times. It was nice, I missed him." Misty smiled up at May.
"Great." She fake smiled back, worried that this new friendship would just push Misty right back to the start.
"Do you think so? Think we're going to get back to normal? The way things are meant to be?" She questioned, her eyes wide.
May opened her mouth but found no answer, unsure of what Misty wanted to hear, did she want to hear that they'd go back to being friends? Did she want to hear that they'd be more? Because either way May wasn't sure of the outcome.
"You could, a friendship like yours won't be hard to pick up again." May smiled.
"A friendship, right." Misty sighed, turning away from May, apparently that had not been the answer she wanted.
"Do you know what I think?" May asked, lying down behind Misty and snuggling up to her.
"What do you think?" Misty mumbled.
"I think that the right person for you is closer than you think." May hinted, Misty looked over her shoulder.
"Are you coming on to me?" She asked, eyes widening.
"No, I'm not." May groaned.
"But you're the only person close to me right now."
"I didn't mean literally close to you, more figuratively."
"I don't understand." Misty moaned.
"Just think about it, okay hun?" May asked, getting off the bed.
"Sure, will do."
"Drink some water and try to get some sleep." She instructed, walking towards the door and letting herself out the room.
…
A couple of hours later Misty had yet to get some sleep or drink any water, instead found it far more entertaining to break open the mini bar. She jumped slightly as her phone began ringing, in panic she threw the bottle under her pillow in case it was May calling to check up on her.
"Hey." Misty fake yawned as she answered the phone.
"Hey Misty!" An equally drunk Ash yelled down the phone. "Are you awake?"
"Obviously, or else I wouldn't have just picked up the phone." She laughed.
"Oh yeah, come to the pub." He whined.
"Why should I?"
"Because everyone's left and it's just me and I swear the landlord is giving me glares, I'm pretty sure he remember me from last time." He whispered, worried the landlord would overhear his conversation.
"Well as long as you don't throw pokeballs at people again you should be okay." She laughed.
"You should still come back, it would be fun." He pleaded.
"I don't know." Misty thought back to what May had said earlier. "Figuratively, do you want me there?"
"Figuratively?" Ash asked confused.
"Yeah, I can't come unless you need me there. Figuratively, of course."
"Misty, I need you." Ash whispered down the phone. "Figuratively."
"I'm on my way." Misty smiled, hanging up the phone.
She crept out her room and glanced towards the lifts, if she went that way she'd have to pass May and Drew's room and she had ears like a bat and was bound to hear her escape and send her back to bed. She turned in the opposite direction and walked towards the stairs instead.
She froze when she met with Gary's door, a feeling of guilt tearing through her stomach, but she was not sure why. It wasn't like she was cheating by going to see Ash, they weren't together so technically she was a free woman but yet she still couldn't move herself along. She raised her hand slightly to knock on Gary's door, but why? Was she going to ask for his permission to see another man?
Just as her hand was about to hit the door her phone began to ring again.
"Hello?" She whispered down her phone.
"Misty?" Ash whispered back, confused as to why he was doing so. "You here yet?"
"No, I'm just leaving the hotel." She rolled her eyes, briskly turning away from Gary's door and walking towards the stairs.
"Well hurry up, these tables aren't going to dance on themselves." He laughed.
"Not going to happen." She said sternly.
"I'll believe that when I see it." He joked, hanging up the phone.
Misty delicately placed her phone back in her pocket and skipped down the stairs and out the hotel towards the pub, where Ash was patiently waiting for her.
…
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