Author'

Author's Notes: Welcome to Chapter Five! I haven't updated, and I probably lost some, of you dear readers! I'm here to gain you all back! Last time we left, Gary had become fast friends with Misty! ::cheers:: Then you know who showed up! Let's see how this ends! Enjoy the fic! Thanks for reading so far! You're super kawaii!!

Disclaimer: What if you went to pee but the flow kept coming and never stopped until you finally had to call for help? Well, what if? Okay that wasn;t a disclaimer, justa questiomn to get you to open your mind.. Now that it's open, realize that I'm a broke lil' thing!

Misty's Great Adventure

Misty stared into the face of one Ash Ketchum. Not knowing whether to yell, or cry, she said nothing, and walked off. Gary watched her walk off, leaving the two boys alone in her wake.Gary of course, was too surprised to speak either. Instead, he chose to catch up with Misty. Just as he was about to run, Ash pulled him to the side.

"Misty! Wait!" He said, but not willing to budge.

"Don't bother Ash."

"Why not?" He demanded.

"You know why!" Gary replied, his voice stern, but unraised.

This was a shock. Why hadn't Ash gone running off after her? Gary knew that was his only reason coming to Euclid. Nothing would, or could deter him from his Pokemon journey. The only explanation he had was the fact that Ash didn't trust Misty enough to let her choose her own path. When he looked into his eyes, he could see the glimmer of anger, and disdain.

"Where do think you're going Oak?" Ash said, grippening his holdon Gary's arm.

Gary quickly jerked out of Ash's hold, and frowned at the younger boy.

"Not that it's any of your usiness, but I'm going to catch up with Misty!" He said glaring at him.

"She doesn't want you!" He said angrily, then paused. " What girl would?"

Gary froze in place. Ash and he had many squabbles in the past. All of them frivoulous, and stupid, but his last comment, that one stung. There was a time when Ash and he were comrades. They shared everything, pokemon secrets, trading cards, but now it was shattered. He knew they weren't friends, but still when they were alone, it was as if nothing had happen. They could be friends again.

"Goodbye, Ash."

"Gary! She doesn't like you! I like her!" he called again, but he was already out of earshot.

He said as he hurried off to gind misty. She didn't know her way around the city, so she shouldn't be difficult to catch up with. He didn't even bother looking back. Quickening his pacem he arrived at an intersection. Checking his watch, he decided to go into the food shoppe across the street. Hoping he'd see a flash of orange-red hair, he smiled when he saw she was in fact in the shoppe. Sitting down, sipping a latte, or cappucino. They all looked the same.

Clearing his throat, he took a chair. Misty, lifting up her well tanned, muscular leg, blocked him from sitting. Frowning at her attempted to sit again,a nd once more, she blocked him. Deciding to move her leg altogether, Gary lifted her leg before she could protest, and sat with her.

"Misty, why did you leave me?" He said, awaiting her response. Silence. "Misty, that was very inconsiderate!" He said again, raising his voice slightly.

Suddenly, Misty jrked her head up from it's former position of being glued to the table. She frowned at him.

"You wanan talk about being inconsiderate, go see Ash!" She said huffing.

Gary rolled his eyes.

"Misty, if this is about Ash, saveit." He said, gesturing for a waiter.

Misty looked up again at him quizzically.

"What are you talking about? Didn;t you see him follow me here?" She said shocked at Gary's nonchalance.

He closed his eyes and nodded.

"I did in fact see him. He had a few choice words for me."

"What did he say?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because.."

"Because what?"

"Because I wanna know dammit!" She said angrily.

Gary shrugged his shoulders.

"The usual. I'm a loser. I won't ever have any girl lik me, and you of course, haven't and never will!" He said, chewing his finger as he selected food from the menu. Misty's famous frown returned. She watched as he selected his meal thoughtfully.

"How can you be so.. so.." She stammered, not yet satisfied with a suitable word.

"Nonchalant?" He added, helpfully.

"Yea.." Misty said smiling.

"Well, forgive me if I sound insensitive, but it's your problem, not mine." Misty stopped sipping her coffee, and looked into his eyes. "What I mean to say is, I can only try to uderstand how you must feel about Ash's sudden appearance." He said in explanation. "You have to make the first step, by telling me how you feel. If not i, someone."

The waitress finally ame and Gary ordered a chicken salad with a smalll latte. As they waited for his meal to arrive, Misty chewed on her scone. The two teens sat silent for what felt like hours. Fianlly, Misty broke the silence.

"I feel betrayed." Misty said suddenly without looking up from her scone.

"I see. Continue.. please.." Gary, said encouaraging her.

"It's just that, I've been gone for a day! Now, Ash decides to play Mr.Chivalry? He wants me to return. He didn't think I could last without him. That makes me angry." She said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

Gary looked at her thoughtfully.

"Why does it make you angry Misty?"

Misty looked at the table, deep in thought.

"Well.. It makes me angry because it makes me think I perpetuate the idea that I need Ash to be a success with my training, and I don't even know if I want to anymore! Everywhere I go, if Ash isn't there people want to know where he is, or who I am! I'm worth more than being a roadie."

Gary smiled at her. Misty was a strange girl indeed. One minute she was Braveheart, the next Gwynevere, in need a knight to rescue her from the evils of the day. It must be fascinating ot be so versatile.

"Misty, who cares if people think you are a roadie? You don;t travel with them anymore! Live your own life. Each man to his own." He said pointing a finger at her. Misty glared.

"Excuse me, I'll be politically correct. Each woman, or man to his own. Satisfied?"

Misty giggled. Gary jumped up, and began dancing around.

"There's that smile I've been missing!" He proclaimed.

"Do you feel better now?" He asked, sitting back down.

Misty nodded again, and smiled. She beckoned him to sit down,a dn they begam to talk. Regular, friendly, chit chat between good acquaitances. Soon both realized they were actually enjoying themselves. They could talk without being defined by who they hung out with, or how many pokemon each had caught. Misty had to admit, it was refreshing talk about things other than pokemon with Gary.

"Gary.. why did you choose thta song, by Celine Dion for my karoake?" Misty asked the boy.

"I dunno. I thought you'd like it. Plus, you are kind of stiff, and I thought it loosen ya up!" Was his reply.

"Okay.." Misty said giving him an odd look.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You ARE stiff, Misty!" He said definatly.

"Okay, whatever, get back to the novel."

Once, she had tried to talk about novels with Ash, but that had proven unsuccessful. Ash didn't read many stories, and the ones he did read were all about Pokemon. He only wanted to talk shop anyway. Then Misty had tried talking with Brock. She was a bit more successful, although, Brock was a major fan of Harlequin romances. Misty didn't read much of that. Yet, here she was, sitting in a city she'd never visited before with an unlikely chatting companion.

"You like Dickens?" Misty asked shocked.

"Of course, I liked the Pickwick Papers, but Oliver Twist is my favorite," He said before taking a sip of his latte. frowning and making a face, he waved the waiter over, and ordered a hot chocolate. Turning his attention back to her, he leaned in closer.

"What's your favorite Dicken's book, Mist?"

Misty had noticed he used her nickname again. This time she let it slide. That was okay Maybe she'd develop one for him. Sir-Smirks-A-lot had it's appeal.

"Mist?"

"Huh? What?" She blushed, slightly embarassed.

"Your favorite Dicken's novel."

Misty's face beamed.

"Oh, that's easy. A tale of two cities." She said, as her eyes gleamed at the mention of romanticism.

"Why do you like that one so much?"

Twirling her hair, Misty was silent.

"Well.. I like the story of double lives, and the romance between the main characters.. I think it's endearing." She said.

"Really?" Gary said, shocked to knwo the girlw as a romantic.

"I always thought that it wasnice, but it lacked adventure. What's the fun in leading a double life? Where's the glory, the excitement?" He said taking a bite her now diminishing scone.

Misty swatted his hand away.

"Ow! That hurt!"

"Ask, and ye shall have!" Misty said dramatically.

"Thwap, and ye shall pay!" Gary said jokingly. Misty supressed a chuckle.

"As, I was saying, I'll take adventure with one of the boys, of that double life stuff. Besides, I don't need romance. when I can woo the ladies myself. Every girl falls into my hands." He said matter-of-factly.

"Not me!" Misty said emphatically.

"Soon enough," he said laughing. "You shall fall privy to my wiles. Admit it Misty. I'm good looking!" He said moving his face to the right.

"I have no bad side!"

"Whatever..."

"Hey, you're not so bad yourself." He said looking at her more closely now. Misty cheeks burned.

"No need to blush Misty. All I did was imply that you were cute."

"I know but..."

"It's not like I said you were."

"Well.. HEY! Are you implying that I'm not!" Misty said, raising her brow.

"I didn't say that, you assumed!" He said smiling.

"Gary Oak, you are impossible!"

Misty said huffing. She grabbed her wallet, and threw money on the table. Leaving in a hurry, she neglected to get Togepi. Gray simply sat, and gathered his belongings. He paid for his food, and left. Misty, realizing she'd abandoned Togepi for the second time, returned to the diner, and found Gary, and Togepi gone! Before panic copuld ensnare her, she walked over to the cash register, and camly asked what happened to the young gentleman she was with.

The cashier frowned, anf told Misty what he knew. That was no help.She thought as she tried thinking of the places Gary would go with her Togepi. Girl huunting proably. The cty was big, and she'd probably never find them, unless she met them at the train. Standing ready to leave, she heard a toliet flush, and watched as Gary exited the bathroom, Togepi in hand. Smiling gleefully, she raced over to her prized Pokemon, and peppered it with kisses. Looking up at Gary she smirked.

"What happened to you?" She demanded.

"I should ask you the same thing." He mimicked. "You aren't going to keep playing Disappearing Acts with me Misty."

"Nice allusion to the book... But you still should've waited outside, the proper place."

"You were gone." He muttered in explanation. "We both had to go."

"You took Togepi into the bathroom with you?" Sh said astonished.

"What's the big deal?"

"WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?!" Misty yelled.

"It's not like Togepi or you haven't or will not see that stuff again. Well.. you maybe."

"Gary!"

"Geez.. Sorry. I'm the one that remembered it. You left again. This is turning into a running gag, Misty. Pun intended."

"Sorry. Let's go."

"Cool..." There is a new movie playing. We can catch the subway to get there.

"I dunno Gary.. You and me, going to the movies?" She said crossing her arms.

"Look Red, get it straight, I'm not gonna do anything. Unless of course you ask me to."

"Every girl's wildest dreams.. To be in a sark room with me!" He said, flashing her a triumphant smile.

"Yea.. Right. Every girl but one. Or tow. Maybe three.." She said while she pushed him out the door.

"I get it. I get it." He said laughing.

Misty, and Gary chatted more, about different things. Each enjoying the other's company, as Togepi briied happily. All was well, but they would soon find out that their day in Euclid would be ruined by unwanted guests.

Footnotes: Ash didn't have much to say. (I wish.) Misty and Gary grow closer, while enjoying the sights of the town. Gary continually mentions misty's tendency to run away from bad situations. Misty is upset by his arrivl, but niether Gary, nor she gives him time to explain his sudden appearance!! Will Gary keep telling it to Misty like it is? What are Ash's plans? Is it foul or fair? Wukk Togepi survive being abandoned one more time? All these questions answeed and more, in the next installment in.. Misty's Great Adventure!