Disclaimers: Let's see…um, nope. I don't own Pokémon. Sue someone else.

Chapter Nine

One Down, One To Go…or is it?

"For your information, it is really none of your business what I'm doing here," Suzie said, giving Melody a superior look as she placed her hands on her hips.

   Melody arched an eyebrow and slowly narrowed the slits of her eyes. She glared right as Suzie. "Whatever, Suzie. Why don't you just turn around and go hang with your friends. You're stepping into an Anti-Suzie zone."

   Suzie gave out a low, false laugh before she cleared her throat and took a step forward. She pointed her right index finger down to the floor. "Oh I'll make it my zone when I want it." She spat on the floor and stepped on her spit. "So what are you gonna do about it?"

   "Look, Suzie. Come on, can you just leave?" Tracey said.

   "You poisoned him, you bi—" Suzie didn't get the chance to finish her sentence.

   "He asked you to go, didn't he?" Melody interrupted, not wanting to hear anything else from Suzie's dirty mouth.

   Cassidy stepped in; her dark eyes darted completely at Melody. She looked at her closely from head to foot and smirked. This is no competition for Suzie. Small girl. "Let's go, Suzie."

   Suzie whirled around, her hair flipped behind her like a hawk flapping its wings angrily. She couldn't believe it! Cassidy was backing out?

   "Excuse me?" Suzie said fiercely. "What are you talking about, Cassidy? I'm not through with her yet!"

   "You are…" Cassidy said in a low, hissing voice. Janine and Bridget followed closely behind her as she began walking towards the exit doors. Suzie fumed, but followed what Cassidy said.

   Melody stuck her tongue out. "Good riddance."

   "Isn't she so cute when she's angry?" Brock said with a dreamy look on his face. He stared after Suzie's retreating back.

   Tracey and Melody fell down (Animé-style) and sweatdropped.

   Tracey wiped his forehead and said, "Is that all you saw? Suzie and her cute 'angry' face?"

   "There's more…" Brock said, getting sillier by the minute. He nearly literally melted like a candle.

   "Let's grab something to eat," Melody said and dragged Brock by the collar. "Maybe you'll find something appetizing rather than Suzie."

   Brock clasped his hands together. He sighed languorously as he imagined Suzie. "I'll take a to-go please…Suzie Sushi, Suzie Steak, Suzie Soda…oh, and do they have Suzie Salami? Sigh…"

   Melody stuck her tongue out and gagged herself. Tracey laughed.

   "Add another order of Suzie Salad for me, Melody…" Brock continued on, "maybe another order of Suzie Sandwich…"  

~*~

Screech! The car swerved and (slam!) slammed right into a lamppost. Following behind were police cars; obviously anxious to catch whomever the person is inside the red Lexus. The person in the Lexus stepped out and held a gun. He pointed the gun towards the direction of the policemen, who stopped in front him, also holding guns.

   "Put that gun down, Jack! You're under arrest!"
   He yelled out a swearword, which made the leader of the police operation even angrier. "Never!" He pulled the trigger, but nothing came out. He tried again. Nothing. He gave the angry policemen a sheepish smile. "Can I plead temporary insanity?"

   The leader of the operation, Sgt. Waterflower, sighed and shook his head. "Take him away," he said, opening his car door when he spotted two teenagers on the sidewalk. He spotted the bruised Misty, and the boy who saved her.

  "Oh! Goodness, it's the daughter of Dylan!" Sgt. Waterflower said, recognizing Misty. He rushed forward. "What happened here?"

  "Ow!" Misty moaned, clutching her (very) mild sprained ankle. She looked up, and saw Sgt. Waterflower staring at her concernedly. "Uncle!"

  "What happened, Misty?" Sgt. Waterflower asked, kneeling down.

  "That car almost hit her!" Ash interrupted.

  Sgt. Waterflower looked at Ash. "Oh, I remember you! Your wonderful mother decorated our house beautifully! Ash Ketchum, isn't it? Son of the famous Delia Ketchum?" He smiled. "Did you save my niece here?"

   "To put it humbly, yes Sir," Ash said and he looked at Misty. "You okay?"

   Misty leaned forward and threw her arms around Ash. "Thanks so much for saving my life! The speed of that car could've killed me!!!" She closed her eyes and hugged him tighter, forgetting every argument that happened. She owed her life to him. Misty pulled back and tried to stand up, but her left ankle was in slight pain. Ash helped her up, and so did Sgt. Waterflower.

   Ash nodded. Then he looked puzzled. "Why are you in the middle of the pedestrian lane anyway? You're not supposed to cross yet, didn't you see the pedestrian signals?"

   Misty looked down, earning herself a look of disappointment from her uncle. "Misty Waterflower!" He uncle exclaimed sternly.

   Just then media trucks began popping out from all directions. Reporters from six different rival channels began rushing forward the policemen whom had Jack surrounded. After a short interview with Jack, they spotted Ash, Misty and Sgt. Waterflower.

   They positioned their microphone in front of Sgt. Waterflower.

   "What? What's going on?" Misty whispered as she hiked up her left ankle and leaned against Ash to see what's happening.

   "Seems that there're reporters to interview the catch of the Most Wanted Jack Jackson," Ash explained, craning his neck to see.

   Sgt. Waterflower waved his hands in front of the reporters. "Aw, Jack Jackson's crime days are over. We caught him today stealing that Lexus over there." Sgt. Waterlflower pointed at the heavily dented Lexus. The cameramen and photographers pointed their cameras towards the direction of the car.

   "Sgt. Waterflower, how long did it take you to be able to catch the dangerous Jack Jackson?" one of the reporters asked eagerly, who was secretly praying that she'd get a promotion after her coverage of this story.

   "Well, to be perfectly honest, we would've caught him sooner or later, but the chasing ended when he swerved the car to miss running over my brother's daughter," Sgt. Waterflower answered. He motioned for Misty to come over, and Ash helped her hop towards the crowd. The reporters sounded deeply interested and they began focusing the whole coverage to Misty and Ash.

   The very the same reporter asked Misty, "How did you wind up getting almost run over by a car?"

   "Well, I—"

   Sgt. Waterflower stepped in. "Look, my niece is really tired. So please, can you just leave?"

   "Sorry," one of the reporters shouted, and rushed forward to Misty and Ash. "Can you tell us, Miss?"

   "Uh…yeah," Misty said nervously, awestruck by all the media attention. She smiled at Ash. "Well, I wasn't supposed to cross the street yet, but then I saw no car approaching so I went to pick up my papers that fluttered over to the middle of the street." She looked at the intrigued reporters' faces.

   "Is there anything else?" someone asked.

   "Yeah! And when the car was just about two feet away…" She looked at Ash with a grateful grin and said, "This guy pushed me out of the way!"

   The reporters 'oohed' and pointed the microphones at Ash. Their interested expressions surprised Ash. He knew his mother was exposed to this kind of media interest, but he never thought he'd experience it. Ash grinned at the reporters awkwardly.

   One of the reporters waved his hand. "Uh, you seem to be familiar!"

   "I am?" Ash asked, stunned.

   The certain male reporter nodded. "Yes, you've appeared in a magazine article once. With your…" the reporter trailed off, snapping his fingers and looking for the answer that was on the tip of this tongue.

   The promotion-wishing reporter continued for him. "Yes, you're the son of Delia Ketchum, the famous interior designer!" The reporters gasped excitedly. "This so great. Not only you're her son, but also you saved Sgt. Waterflower's niece from getting run over by Jack Jackson!"

   "Oh."

   "Most excellent!" the reporters yelled.

   "Isn't that Juliet Saunders?" Misty whispered, spotting the familiar channel 1 reporter.

   Juliet Saunders stepped forward. "Can you tell us the feeling of saving a person?"

   "It's very great," Ash said, his eyes overworked from the hands flinging everywhere. He looked at the all the hands with microphones and all the cameramen who were there to shoot it for four o'clock news. "I just happened to pass by and the next thing I know I saved Misty."

   "Misty?" Juliet asked.

   "Yes, her name is Misty Waterflower," Sgt. Waterflower butted in.

   "Well, Mr. Ketchum, what do you think of yourself now? A special hero?" Juliet asked

   Ash was shocked. How could she ask something like this? Not only it was impolite, but also it was highly rude. "Not really. Still normal."

   "Modest, isn't he?" Juliet said, and because of that the reporters' interest even increased. They began asking a million questions. Misty looked at her uncle helplessly, who silently told them to rush to the police car and he'd take care of the media attention. Misty nudged Ash and they began walking away from the reporters. But the insistent correspondents trailed after them, eager to hear the whole story. Misty and Ash shook them off and entered the police car. One of the officers drove off.

   "Follow that car!" Juliet yelled, and the reporters began piling inside their own trucks to follow the car.

   "Stupid reporters," Misty mumbled.

   Ash looked at her. "Is your ankle feeling better?"

   "Not really," Misty said, trying to move her left foot. "Maybe some ice would help, but right now, we need to get away from the media."
   "Don't you love the attention?" Ash asked, definitely confused. He knew Misty was the most popular girl in school, and the stereotypical popular girl loves attention, especially in front of the television.

   Misty looked at Ash with an astounded look of her face. "Stereotyping!!! Bad, bad…"

   "Sorry."

   "Well, actually, I don't mind being popular, but media attention is just…so-so, you know?" Misty said, flapping her arms and trying to make Ash get the picture.  She leaned back and sighed.

   Her uncle's partner, Officer Carroll, drove the police car into a tiny street. A door opened up and they went inside. By the time the media caught up with them, they disappeared. The frustrated media men went back to the site where Sgt. Waterflower and the rest of the other policemen.

   Ash helped Misty out of the car. "Where is this place, officer?" He asked.

   "Oh, this is my friend's house. He owns this car repair shop." Officer Carroll escorted them inside. A man with a greasy face greeted them and told them to make themselves at home. Officer Carroll got an ice pack for Misty's ankle, and told them to sit wherever they're comfortable.

   "Are you sure the media won't spot us here?" Misty asked, peering anxiously outside the window.

   "No, they won't." Officer Carroll handed Ash a can of Sprite. (I don't own Sprite!) Officer Carroll sat down and handed Misty her ice pack. "Are you okay, Misty?"

   Misty carefully placed the ice pack on her ankle. "Yes, I'm fine." She put her arm around Ash. "Thanks to my student, of course!"

   Officer Carroll looked at her, puzzled. "Student?"

   "Well…uh…" Ash began to say, but Misty decided to answer for him.

   "Our teacher assigned me to tutor him." Misty smiled appreciatively. Her aqua-colored eyes sparkled with gratitude as she beamed at her 'hero'.

   Ash scratched his head. He was being very noble and humble. He REALLY was noble and humble. He laughed lightly, appreciating Misty's thanks. "Nah…that's okay. I mean, I just happened to pass by and I can't just let myself see someone get hit. I was just as lucky as you are too." He stifled a laugh and said, "I almost got hit too!"

   Misty inhaled deeply, thanking God for sparing her life. She closed her eyes. "Thank you. Thank you very much for sparing my life." She opened her eyes and smiled.

   "You were very lucky, Misty." Officer Carroll took a sip from his can. "You too, Ash."

   "I guess I am, aren't I? Misty smiled gleefully.

   She was happy that she was alive. And the person who saved her was unharmed too. She felt she deeply owed Ash, and now she had to her senses that he wasn't such a brat. She was the one was acting like a brat.

   Exhausted, Misty leaned on the soft couch, and her head leaned on the arm of the couch. Ash saw her fall asleep, and he smiled. He was just happy that nobody was hurt.

~*~

   The next day, almost everyone in the school knew about Ash's heroic action. Teachers were shaking his hand, students were waving at him and even the janitor was being nice to him that day! The only thing he feared right then was the swarm of paparazzi or media there to interview him. But when he got to school, there were no media coverage swarming about. He figured that they would be there sooner or later.

"Way to go, Ash! Saw ya on TV!" Todd said, high-fiving Ash when he saw him passing down the hall.

   "No big deal," Ash said, laughing. "Later, man."

   Todd nodded and raced down the hall.

   "Man! You were radical!" Several guys kept commending him for what he had done. He didn't expect this much attention. All he knew that he had done something very commendable and right.

   "So are you and Misty friends yet?" someone spoke behind him. Ash jumped, startled. It was Richie.

   "I guess so," Ash said.

   "I am thankful."

   "Why?"

   "Because now Duplica will stop jabbering about it," Richie said, exhaling. He sounded terribly relieved. Or maybe he was just exaggerating. "She works with Melody in the council, so she knows some of the stuff."

   "Oh." Ash remembered something Richie said the other day, but he couldn't put his finger on it. What was that he said again? Ash thought, racking his brain for the answer.

   Richie looked at Ash. "Something bothering ya, Ash?"

   "Nothing." Ash smiled.

   "Richie!" A familiar female's voice called from behind them. It was Duplica. "Richie!"

   "Duplica." Richie said, shaking his head. "See ya later, man."

   Ash just continued on and finally he spotted Tracey and Brock. "What happened yesterday, Ash? That was so cool! Saw you on TV!"

   "Er…yeah…" Ash stammered, not knowing what to say.

   "Misty, eh? Maybe now you two will quit arguing," Tracey said.

   "Maybe."

   "Where's Suzie?" Brock asked, searching for Suzie on all corners of the hallway.

   "What happened to him?" Ash asked, looking at Brock. "He's getting worse."
   Tracey laughed then shook his head. "We were at the Comic Con yesterday, and Melody and Suzie nearly chomped on each other's faces."

   "Why?" The moment Ash said that word, he instantly knew why before Tracey can even say anything.

   "I don't know," Tracey said, scratching his head. Then it came to him. "Yeah, what the heck happened anyway?"

   Ash sweatdropped and waved his hand dismissively. "Never mind. Let's just get to class."

~*~

"Ash, wait up!" Misty said, spotting Ash by the water fountain. Classes were over, and they were supposed to come forward and admit that they had something to do with the statue.

   "Oh, hey." Ash placed his hands inside his pockets. He stared at her uneasily. He didn't know what she was going to say, what she was going to do. He couldn't react to all the attention, so how could he react around the person that made him a hero.

   "I was just saying…" Misty looked at the nervous face of Ash. She laughed. "What's the matter?"

   "Nothing," he said tensely.

   "Relax! I was just going to say that, um, thanks for saving my life. I owe you so much! And about that punishment, I'm will to take all the blame as a starting payback for saving my life."

   Ash sighed. "Don't worry. You don't have to do that. It was my fault anyway."

   "I insist!" Misty pleaded.

   "No. It was my fault," Ash said, looking at Misty's pretty pleading face. "I can't let you take the blame for something you really didn't do."

   Misty grabbed his left hand. "Please!"

   "Look, if you think you owe me, you don't."

   "I don't?" Misty said, surprised.

   "Sure! I would've saved anyone anyway. I mean, I can't just stand there and see someone get run over by a car. Besides, you had a chance of living anyway, by the looks of it. I just saved you, but then if I didn't, Jack would've seen you and he couldn't have hit you." (Does that make sense?)

   "Don't be silly. The car was about two to three feet away from me. Of course I could've gotten hit." Misty smiled. "Thanks so much."

   Ash smiled. "Okay! If you really want to do some of the work, you can share half of the punishment then."

   "Deal."

~*~

   "I thought we'd never finish!" Ash groaned, his hands aching from all the polishing. They were asked to polish every trophy inside the gigantic trophy cabinet and wash all the windows on the first floor.

   Misty dropped the bucket and the rag. "I can't believe they made us clean the windows."

   "That's okay. It could've been worse. We could've mopped the building or wax the stairs or buff the marble floors…" Ash enumerated, ticking a finger for each task he said.

   "…Or get banned from the dance." Misty wiped her forehead.

   "I don't mind getting banned from the dance," Ash said. "I'm not going there except for the extra credit anyway."
   "Really?" Misty asked. "Why? Your date will be disappointed."

   Ash laughed. "Date? You think I have a date?"

   "Don't you?"
   "If you're thinking that I accepted Casey Carmichaels' invitation, no, I didn't." Ash slammed the janitor's closet shut as he and Misty made their way out of the school.

   "That's weird. No media," Misty said, looking around.

   "Maybe tomorrow. Probably they're still researching on what school we go to," Ash said. "So, where do you live?"

   "Down Staryu Drive," Misty answered.

   "I'll walk you." Ash paused, realizing what he said. He just blurted that out like it was nothing.

   "Are you sure?" Misty asked.

   Ash nodded, and a very light pink flush came to his cheeks. "Yeah. You might need saving again."

   "Yeah, right," Misty said slowly. "In case we're out of the way, where do you live?"

   "Squirtle Avenue."

   Misty stopped. "That's like, ten blocks away from my house! Are you sure you want to walk me home?" She smirked and placed her hands on her hips. "I don't need saving anymore, thank you very much."

   "Yeah, sure. No problem. I could use some exercise anyway," Ash dismissively.

   "All right then," Misty said in a challenging tone. "Let's see if you can keep up with me!" She laughed and began running.

   "We'll see!" Ash raced after her.

~*~

Wacky Witch: YUCK!!! Bad chapter. I couldn't think of a better way to end this chapter. Or maybe I can think of a better ending, but I want this chapter done so I can start throwing in more cliffhangers (evil grin) in the next chapters because that's where they start to be good friends, then best friends then the AAML kicks in!!!

I have two Fanfiction holidays to celebrate. Happy Very Bad Chapter and Lame Fic Day.

Reviewers:

LavenderEspeon: You must've purchased an expired jar of self-esteem, because it didn't work. In fact, it only got worse. Anyway, you've done a great chapter on Driving Me Crazy and why are you ending it so soon? Anyway, thanks for always reviewing and read!!! Now, go sue the store manager where you bought the Bottle of Self-Esteem you dumped on me. ^_^

Violet Emeralds: Whee! I'm the best reviewer! (Bows) Thank you! (Bows again) Dōmo Arigatō (Bows again). YEAY! I love you fic. Anything But Ordinary rocks! Thanks reading and reviewing so much. Christmas party!!! Yippee. Will AAML kick in there? The next chapter is going to be great, I bet. ^_^

M*Y*S*T-L*A*D*Y: Yeah! Thanks for reading and reviewing. Been there from the beginning. Thanks so much. (Sniffs) (Wink!)

CCS…hmm, sure, why not? Yes, I think Yue-san/Yukito-san is a smart student. I read in the Manga about something Sakura said about him.

(Sakura thinking: Yuki can do anything (Wacky Witch: Well, not anything, but you get the picture, right?). He's good a sports and really smart.) ---said in the Manga.

So, did that help?

DeathAngelHell: Waah. I apologize for mixing up your name. I already corrected it, and I'm sorry! (sniffs) Thanks for reading and reviewing!!!

And to all the other reviewers, (including the people above)

Your reviews mean a lot to me! Thank you for the positive outlook (even the author has sunk so low) and for reading and reviewing!!! Please say that you'll still hang on and continue reading.

-Wacky Witch's self-esteem has been discovered inside a black hole in space, where objects absorbed there are never found again. Unfortunately, there is nothing the scientists can do. Bear with her stupid fic. As for the errors, I apologize because I'm kind of distracted, and depressed. And sad, and all that. L So, I'm sorry.-