A/N: Here comes chapter 2. Who is this new girl? Does Ash really want to know? And what kind of trouble is Brock gonna get himself into now? Find out in:
It's Between Two Hearts
Chapter 2: Two of a Kind
Ash floundered in a storm of emotions. What's with Misty? Do I have a chance? Why is she so touchy-feely with this chick? And most of all, WHO THE HELL IS SHE?!
When the two girls broke apart, Ash shook his head. What am I thinking? he asked himself. So Misty's getting a little over emotional. How can I be getting jealous of a girl!? Ash started to blush at the thought. Suddenly, Misty came running back toward him, holding Misa's hand and dragging her along.
"Ash, I can't believe this! This is my best-friend, Misa Petal. (A/N: Ok, TOTAL loss of rational thought, so don't murder me for the lame last name!) I can't believe she's here!" She broke to hug Misa again. Ash waited somewhat impatiently. "Anyway, we were born a month apart and our mothers were good friends, so we grew up together."
"Until we were six," Misa added.
"I was getting to that! Anyway, when we were six, she came over crying and said they were moving out of the country a day later. She spent the night and we fell asleep hugging. I'm pretty sure I've still got the picture in my room. But she left the next morning and we didn't see each other, but we kept in touch, for another four years. Even then, it was only brief. I didn't even know she was in town." Misty was taking a breath, and Ash took the opportunity to get a word in edgewise.
"Four years? So you saw her again just before you left with me? Why didn't you ever mention her?" Misty's mallet greeted his head once again.
"Shuddup and let me finish the story! Now where was I?" Misa put her unoccupied hand on Misty's shoulder, because neither of them had let go of the other's hand.
"Take a breather, girlfriend." Ash inwardly cringed, but shook it off quickly. Just a slang term, that's all…
"My parents said we were going back to Cerulean to visit all our old friends, including her parents. I was so excited, but I wanted to surprise Misty, so I didn't call or anything and my parents told her parents not to let her know. When I got here, I ran to Misty's room to find her crying her eyes out." Misty's eyes teared up, remembering the pain she had felt that night.
"My sisters had just finished ripping me to shreds, and I was positive that I was gonna kill myself. I couldn't take being just a runt anymore, so I wanted to end it. Then Misa came running in and held me as I cried." Ash's heart was starting to beat even faster as it broke, his mind racing even more. Did these two actually have a relationship going or what? As if wanting to scare him even more, Misa finally let go of Misty's hand, only to put her arm around her shoulders as he had just a moment before.
"I rocked her back and forth until she calmed down. She started to tell me what had happened and how she felt. When I heard her say she wanted to commit suicide, I started crying myself. She said she was positive her family didn't care about her, because all her parents could do was fawn over her sisters, and all her sisters could do was pick on her until she cried. So I held her close and told her how much-"
"she loved me," Misty finished for her, looking into her eyes once more with the stare that sent pain through Ash's heart again. "After that, we talked things out, and she convinced me to go out on my own. She convinced me that I could prove everything wrong that my sister's had said about me." She looked back at Ash. "So the next day, I left early in the morning and found you in the afternoon."
"I wasn't ever able to get back in touch with her, but I explained to her parents why she left. They told me thank you, that they had noticed something was wrong with their little girl, but didn't know what to do about it. So I left them at that, and that was the last I'd heard of her." Ash nodded, smiling. It was the only way he could hide the hurt he felt inside, the hurt that there was somebody who meant more to Misty than he did.
"That's an amazing story," he whispered, afraid that if he spoke any louder, he'd choke and cry. "I never knew you had anybody that close, Mist." Misty blushed.
"Well, I was supposed to be starting on my own, so I didn't want to bring back the bad memories. I always carried Misa with me, though. She was the one that saved my life." Ash just kept on smiling.
"So what brings you back now, Misa?" he asked, hoping the slight anger he felt growing in him didn't slip into his voice.
"Once I turned eighteen, my parents said I could move back if I wanted. So I did, and I found a job at the Pokemart. I've only been there for about a week, I've been in town for maybe two. Daisy came in my first day and recognized me, so I asked her when she thought Misty might come by again. She said she didn't know, and that's why the surprise wasn't really planned. It all depended on you guys."
"Wow. We've got some timing, don't we, Mist?" Misty smiled.
"I'll say. This is the best present I could come home to."
"Misty! Could you, like, help me out here? Your Psyduck is giving me a MAJOR headache!"
"Coming Lil!" she called back. "Why don't you guys get to know each other? I'll be right back." She ran out before either of them could say anything.
Needless to say, Ash was very, very uncomfortable.
"So you're Misty's boyfriend?" Misa asked.
"No, no, we're just really good friends. Her sisters just like to tease. We've been traveling together for about six years." She wrinkled her nose.
"I didn't think so." Ash looked slightly offended. "It's nothing against you, but she just doesn't seem the type to settle down with some guy. At least, not this early." Ash was very offended now.
"So what are you saying, she'd rather settle down with a girl like you?" he mumbled.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?" He quickly shook his head.
"I was just saying, I guess that makes sense, because otherwise, why would she have traveled with me for so long?" Misa smiled, nodding. "So how did you two become so close? An on and off rela-, er, friendship," he quickly covered, "like that seems hard to keep together." Misa suddenly got a day-dreamy look in her eyes, and she wasn't looking at him anymore, but at someone she was imagining behind him.
"Well, I'm not really sure. When I first left, it was really touch and go. Obviously, the letters were ok. But before that, it was like we were destined to be each other's friends from the very beginning. If you ask our parents, we were always playing with each other, or helping each other out. It was like that for the first six years, and we kept getting closer and closer. Then when I left, I felt like I was leaving a part of me behind. It hurt real bad, ya know? But she said we'd never really go bye-bye, that our friendship would last forever and ever. She said it just like that. So we wrote each other every week, never missed a beat. Each letter reminded me that I was still a whole person, that I was definitely worth something to somebody, even in my worst times. My last letter I wrote before we came back, I told her, 'I'm having such a great week! And I know things'll just get better! I'll wait till later to tell you all the wonderful things that've been happening, so until next time, Love, Misa.' Then I was here, ready to tell her. It figures that she needed me, this time. But we really just kinda, clicked, ya know? It was definitely then that we both realized how much, how much we loved each other. There's really no other way to say it. After she left, and I lost contact with her, I felt completely lost. I just had to keep believing she was out there, thinking about me, still keeping me in her heart. And it all paid off. Here we are again, reunited at last after six years. I'm hoping this time we can stay together for more than a couple of days."
"Well, you'll be able to, because we plan on being here for a week." Brock walked in, extending his hand to Misa.
"Oh! Hi, my name is Misa." She reached for his hand, shaking it cordially.
"I know, Misty attacked me the moment she saw me. All I heard was, 'Misa's here! Misa's here! You have to go meet Misa!' So I came down. My name's Brock, I'm the third party of the group."
Ash was glad Brock had come in. He was afraid he was actually going to try and kill Misa. He totally blocked out their conversation, losing himself in thought.
"I can't believe it! They really do have something going on! I've never seen Misty that comfortable around anyone, not even me, and Misa's damn story pretty much proves it. It's no wonder Misty never chased after any guys, except for that dumbass at the Princess Day competition. What was his name? Oh, who cares. It obviously doesn't matter now, she got over him quick enough. This isn't fair! I can't give her up, I love her! I know I love her more than this, this….chick does! I love her, I love her personality, and dammit, I love her body, too!
"And that makes me better than Misa?
"How do you know she doesn't love her body, too?"
Meanwhile:
"I heard most of your story. That's incredible," Brock commented.
"Yeah, it's sometimes hard for me to believe. But it's all true, and I betcha Misty'd say the same."
"It's nice to see you two have the chance to be together again. Pairings like that don't come along very often." Misa nodded in agreement. "Speaking of pairings, whaddya say we get to know each other a little more? Say, over dinner tonight?" Misa laughed.
"Sorry, I'm not interested in a boyfriend right now. Truthfully, I'm not even really interested in boys right now." It was before that comment that Ash had snapped back to, now more ready than ever to mangle Misa.
"Probably because you're interested in taking Misty to bed," he mumbled angrily. Neither Misa nor Brock understood what he said.
"What did you say, buddy?" Ash took a deep breath.
"Nothing, just kinda grumbling. You two just get acquainted, I'm gonna go check on the pokemon." He walked out before a word was said, much like Misty did, but with a whole lot less energy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ash walked in on Misty finally getting Psyduck back in his pokeball. He couldn't help but smile when he saw her, but he couldn't help but hurt either. He simply didn't want to believe she could be taken by another girl over him!
Misty smiled the moment she noticed him, and before he knew it, she was hanging off his neck like a little school girl.
"Can you believe it, Ash? This is the best vacation ever! I can't believe I finally get to see Misa again!" Ash's heart fell once more.
"Yeah, that's sure something else," he said with less enthusiasm then he intended. Misty noticed right away.
"Ash, is something wrong? You're upset, I can tell." He knew there was no point in shaking it off with her. She knew him, that was another reason he loved her so much.
Probably why Misa loves her, too…
"Oh, I know what it is." Ash freaked. He didn't think she knew him that well! "You're upset that I never told you about her before." Ash quickly nodded, not even attempting to speak. "I'm really sorry about that, Ash. I would've told you, but I just never thought about it. It's not like I spent every waking moment thinking about her, she was just a part of me.
"But now, I've got the greatest friend in the world here staying with me. My relationship with my sisters has already picked up." She stopped for a moment, tilting her head to the side slightly with a heavy-lidded gaze. "And I have you to share it all with."
Miraculously, Ash's heart repaired itself and ran like crazy. His mind could only think of two things: Misty and what he wanted to do with her (not entirely physical, mind you, because his body was already responding to that.) As soon as he swallowed, clearing his throat of the strange obstruction that popped up (no pun intended) out of no where, he managed to respond.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Misty giggled in a unintentionally seductive way.
"I can't think of anyone else I'd want to share this moment with. This has to be the best week of my life!" she finished, hugging him. He smiled, a genuine smile, now, throwing all his doubts out the window, and hugged her back. When she pulled away, Lily walked in and immediately looked at Ash. Up and down, stopping just below his waist. Thinking, she made a calculation: Ash near Misty is obviously equaling…..
"Like, Ash, do you have a-"
"Hard headed one, aren't you Brock?" Misa said as she walked into the pool area of the gym with Brock. Immediately, any passionate thoughts Ash had left him as every doubt climbed back in to his mind through that open window. Misty beamed once more, dragging Ash's heart down underwater.
"Usually I am, but with you, I'm just playing. No offense or anything, but you're the first girl I haven't really been ogling non-stop. There's just something different about you."
"There sure is, all right," Ash growled.
"Isn't she great, Brock?" Misty said, totally ignoring, or maybe not even hearing, Ash's comment. "Come on, let's all go watch some TV." The group headed out of the arena as Violet came in with a letter.
"Oh Misa, this just came in for you." Misa grabbed the letter and opened it hurriedly. Scanning her eyes over it, she jumped up squealing for joy.
"What is it, Misa?" Misty asked excitedly.
"My parents are flying in to visit! They're landing tonight on flight number six-eighty-seven at ten o'clock! I get to see them in two hours!" They hugged again, jumping in unison. Brock stepped over to Ash, who was glaring uncontrollably.
"They're something else, aren't they?"
"They sure are, unfortunately." Violet got the two to calm down.
"You guys go relax and stuff, we'll be ready to take you to the airport at nine thirty, ok?" They all nodded and contiued off to the lounging area. Ash trotted behind the others, not wanting to risk losing control of his emotions.
Once the three of them sat down, the two girls still gabbing away, Brock grabbed the remote and clicked the tv on to the news. As Ash stepped in, only one thing was heard throughout the whole gym.
"OH DEAR GOD NO!!!!"
*~-_-~*~-_-~*~-_-~*~-_-~*
Duh-duh-duh! What happened? Can anybody guess? More than likely somebody will, but for those of you who can't, Chapter 3 is coming soon!
