Love Will Find A Way
Part 4: Falling Into Place
Misty walked slowly into the dark room and closed the door softly. When she switched the lights on she saw Ash sitting there, not even bothering to look up at her, just staring down at the table.
"Ash?" Asked Misty softly walking over to him. Ash didn't move or say a word, he couldn't even look at her.
"Somethings wrong," stated Misty in much certainty. Ash took a deep sigh.
"Why would you say that, Misty?" Ash forced the question out of him. Misty gave a small smile and sat in the chair next to him.
"Because I can always tell your emotions, like Pikachu knows your determined side and Brock knows your childish side, I know your sensative side," Smiled Misty proudly trying to cheer him up.
"Yeah... Since when are you such an expert on my feelings?" Snapped Ash. The words cut Misty a bit, her smile began to fade still she still tried to hold up at least a grin.
"Well... I've hurted your feelings enough to know," joked Misty. Ash turned his back to her.
"Hey, I was only trying to make you feel better, I don't know what it is that's got you so down, Ash. I just don't like seeing you this way."
"Why should you care?"
"Because I'm your friend," Misty told him in a serious tone of voice without hesitation. Ash's head fell down a little and the shadow of his hat covered his face making it hard to see his face. Misty studied him for a moment, trying to figure him out.
"Fine, if you don't want to talk to me, so what," Misty stood up from her chair and began to walk away, "See if I care."
"Misty. Wait." Misty stopped in her tracks and turned her head around waiting for him to continue.
"Is it okay for a friend to like a friend as more than just a friend." Misty smiled and walked closer to him.
"Of course it's all right, the best couples start out as friends," Ash stayed silent, "Why?"
"Because I..." Ash looked up at Misty's eagered eyes and couldn't yet do it, he couldn't tell her the truth, so he lied, "It was a question April had."
"Oh," said Misty softly and disappointed, she forced another smile, "She tends to ask a lot of questions." Ash nodded in agreement.
"But she's gonna make some guy very happy someday."
"Mmm... Hmm..."
"Well... Good-Good night, Ash," she made her way to her room, "Sweet dreams."
* * *
The next day early in the morning a knock came to Misty's door, Togepi was the first to hear it and started cheering and making noises, waking Misty up to the banging door. BANG! BANG! BANG! One hit after another constantly, whoever was on the other side of the door must have had something urgent.
"Misty, wake up, I need to talk to you," yelled the voice from the other side of the door.
"All right, All right, hold on, I'm up, I'm up," Misty lifted herself slowly from the bed rubbing her eyes and walked over to the door and opened it. April came rushing in and quickly closing the door behind her, she walked over straight to the bed as Misty followed.
"Misty, things are getting really serious between me and this guy, I really need your help; more of your advice" said April nervously.
"All right, all right, enough's enough, I've been giving you advice for days now about this guy and now that things are reaching a new level, I think I deserve to know who he is, don't you?" Misty stood up from the bed and folded her arms in a stubborn gesture to show she wouldn't cooperate until her demands were met. April stood up too and anxiously waved her hands in the air.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you," April thought for a second, "No, better yet, I'll show you, why don't you come with us to the restuarant."
"You and your guy? On a date? April, that's hardly romantic and you know that phrase about how three's a crowd."
"No, I don't me actually be with us just tag along, sit in a table across from us where I can see you and he can't, that way you can give me advice and afterwards see him."
"I don't just want to see him, April, I want to meet him."
"Um... Misty, I don't think that's such a good idea..."
"Why?" April wouldn't answer her, "Fine, then no advice." April stared at her angrily, her eye brows came together as she glared and pouted.
"I don't need your stupid advice anyway, I've got him right where I want him and your service is no longer needed anymore."
"Service?"
"Yeah, matchmaker, I found my match, thank you for your help," she got up angrily from the bed and stood across from Misty and walked towards her with a big grin on her face, "And I'm un-inviting you to that dinner and chance to see my BOYfriend." She said it as if the word 'Boyfriend' was to hurt Misty in some way.
"Hey, I was the one doing you the favor."
"Well, don't do me any favors."
"Gladly." Misty charged to the door and swung it open for April to walk through. April stormed to the door then came to the door and stared Misty in the eye.
"If it wasn't for Ash I probably would have kicked you out of here a long time ago."
"What does he have to do with anything?" April just smiled at Misty arching one eye brow and gracefully walking out the room as if nothing happened, walking away and humming. Humming? Yep, humming. Humming and whistling too some silly love song Misty couldn't understand, all she knew was April was all of a sudden acting like a whole different person, like a person in a great and confident mood, a person who had just won the lottery or had just won something that would hurt or make Misty angry.
Misty thought it over, what April had said, forbidding her to come and see her and her boyfriend. How dare she? After all Misty had helped her with, for her to do such a thing, Misty had almost forgot about her little problem with Ash and seeing him with that girl. What was she going to do? Misty got up from her bed and walked out to Brock's bedroom, Misty went inside and sat on his bed and automatically said, "Brock, I need love advice." Brock turned around and looked at her puzzled. Misty looked up at him with a desperate look in her eyes.
"You're the last person I'd want to come to, but I really need it."
"Thanks?" Misty laid herself on the bed and Togepi happily imitated.
"What do you do when you really like someone but something always seems to stand in your way?"
"You know what... Ash asked me the same thing," Said Brock leaning on the wall across from her. Misty quickly lifted herself from the bed in excitment and curiousity.
"He did?"
"Yup."
"Well... Why?"
"I don't know, you know how Ash doesn't like personal questions."
"What? Ash wouldn't care."
"Why wouldn't he?"
"Because Ash is Ash and he's not the personal type, he doesn't have any secrets that go beyond pokemon or anything we know about him. He's predictable when it comes to stuff like that, Ash doesn't have a love life," giggled Misty, "Ash hates love."
"He doesn't hate love."
"Oh, then what does he think about it?" Asked Misty skeptically.
"I don't know, why don't you ask him yourself." That finally shut Misty's cocky-too-confident-attuide up.
"Then... What advice do you give me?"
"The same I gave Ash," Brock walked over to Misty and sat beside her as she sat herself up more, "Love isn't some subject like pokemon where there are facts and right and wrong answers. It's something you just have to go along with and figure along the way. You can't give people advice on love accept just to follow your heart and go with what you feel."
"Oh, that's a big help," Said Misty frustrated, "I don't know what I'm feeling."
"'Course you do, Ash said the same thing. The thing is you two do know what's in your hearts, you just don't know you know."
"Brock, that doesn't make any sense," Misty pointed out.
"It does if you think about it," Misty's eyes concentrating hard as she thought, "What are your instincts telling you?"
"It's telling me," Misty closed her eyes as if reading the answer from her eye lids, "I should follow April on that date."
"Then go, don't worry I'll take care of Togepi for you, I already got Pikachu on my hands anyway." Misty's eyes quickly opened and shifted to Brock.
"What? Where's Ash going now? Aren't you angry at him, Brock? He keeps leaving Pikachu here expecting us-you to take care of him while he's off to who knows where! Doesn't that make you angry?"
"No. But it obvious makes you angry. All I know is Ash cares a lot for Pikachu and if you get your mind on straight you'd know too Misty, he wouldn't leave Pikachu behind unless it was for something really important."
"But what if it's not for anything important, Brock. What if he's been leaving Pikachu with you just to be with some... girl," Brock stared at Misty fearing her change in tone, Misty lowered her voice, "Hyperthetically, of course."
"Well, hyperthetically, Ash would never do that for a girl," Brock paused for a second and looked at Misty deeply, "Unless he really cared about her." Misty's eyes sank and so did her heart the second all that dawned to her, Brock was right, Ash must really care about this girl, it was probably only easier to believe he had simply just losing his mind at least there's a chance he could get it back but once someone steals your heart, it's over.
Misty nodded to show thanks to Brock and walked like a Zombie out of his room as if empty and lifeless. Togepi followed her not understanding what was going on. Misty kneeled down to Togepi in the middle of the hallway.
"What if Brock's right, what if all these accusations I made on Ash were untrue, what if he really likes this girl... What if he..." Misty's eyes grew even more wider, "Loves her." She looked down at her Togepi very worried.
"What am I going to do?" Togepi knew enough to understand the one he saw as his mother was really losin' it. After a moment of freaking out at all the possibilities, Misty finally got herself together. She stood up tall and took and deep breath lifting her Togepi along with her.
"I know what I'm gonna do Togepi, I'm going to follow my heart, I'm going to sneak on April's date and spy against her will, that'll teach her. I'll deal with Ash later." While planning all of this Misty had completely forgotten about the dinner with Jeremy she had promised him. But she didn't have time for that now.
Everything was taken care of, Brock was baby-sitting Togepi like he promised and as the time came near for April to leave for her date, Misty kept her eye on her but didn't follow her just yet. She waited for more time to pass to give less a chance of April finding her.
When the time came, Misty walked in to the restuarant she instantly spotted April with her date across the room, she tried to see who the guy was but still couldn't see his face and attempted to walk to the empty table near by but a waiter stepped right in front of her.
"May I take your coat, Ma'am," Misty studied the waiter for a moment as if he spoke a langauge she didn't understand.
"Huh?" Finally Misty noticed she had her coat on, she didn't even remember putting it on, she was too busy thinking about Ash's situation and April's and her anger was controling her more than anything else. The waiter's left eye brow arched up highly as his mouth grew small moved to the side of his face.
"Oh, no, I'll just keep it on."
"Would you like me to show you to your table?"
"Um..." Misty pretended as if she really had to think about it, "I'll just take the one over there. Thank you." Misty pointed to the table she was aiming for, the one of course near April and her date.
"Oh, no," Smiled the waiter in a more friendly tone, "That is a booth for more than two people, and there is only one of you, is there not? So we will send you to a table that's fit for one person and save that table for people who really need it." Misty's eyes narrowed at the waiter. But I need it! Misty wanted to shout.
"So... Uh... Can I at least get a table near that one?" The waiter stared at Misty in a curious face. He held his hand out.
"The closest table we have to it, is over there," He pointed across the room to the single table where hardly anyone was, what was worse is it seemed to be miles away from April's table, Misty's head turned back and forth calculating the distance between and whether or not she should take it. Misty just groaned, gave in and walked to the far off table when she was making her way towards April's table she quickly picked up a menu and buried her face in it to hide from being seen. The waiter followed Misty to her table.
"Ma'am, we have menus on your table, you did not have to take that one."
"I like this one," lied Misty as she found her table and sat down. The waiter stood there waiting for her to order and Misty waited for him to leave.
"Aren't you gonna go?" Misty finally asked anxiously.
"Not until you've ordered..."
"Why don't you just go and then come back like other waiters do?"
"Because I am not a cold hearted waiter, I like to stay near my costumers," Smiled the waiter proudly, probably wanting a big fat tip afterwards because of it. Misty glared at him.
"Lucky me," sighed Misty, "Okay, how about you just bring me some bread first." He nodded.
"All right, excellent choice," He walks away and Misty traces through the heads of people and finally finds April and her date. Misty peeks through her menu now and then trying to make out who that guy is and quickly hides back behind it if she sees their heads about to turn. The waiter comes back over with a basket of bread and waits patiently for her next order.
"What's the cheapest thing on this menu?" Asks Misty.
"I don't know... The salad?" Guessed the waiter.
"Fine, then I'll have that," answered Misty ignoring the waiter, not taking her eyes off April and her still unknown date.
"Which one?"
"I don't know, surprise me!" Snapped Misty getting frustrated. The waiter merely stuck his nose up in disgust and reached for her menu. Misty lost focus and set her eyes to find April again but somewhere in the middle of it saw Jeremy on the other side of the restuarant being seated too, he was probably waiting for her.
"Oh, no..." Misty said softly in fear the waiter gripped her menu, Misty snatched it back, "Um... I want to hold the menu."
"But Ma'am, you've already ordered."
"Well, what if I want to order again?" Commented Misty. The waiter simply rolled his eyes and left. Misty knew she wasn't treating him as good as she should and he probably would put a bug or something in her salad now, but Misty had no time to worry about that. She hid behind her menu again this time because of Jeremy then spied on him too. When her eyes finally found April she studied the boy she was with closer, the more she looked at the back of him, she knew, it was Ash!
Misty gasped and hid behind her menu again, how could she do this? How could he do this? A thousand questions and emotions filled Misty. So that's the big secret, the new love in Ash and April's life were each other? How could have Misty been so blind? Suddenly it all made sense now though. All the nights Ash and April were out at the same time, the way April seemed happier and was so extra nice to Ash, the way April didn't want Misty to meet her date. All you had to do was put two and two together. But Misty would have never want these two would be together. As much as it killed her she couldn't take her eyes off them.
Ash seemed to be enjoying himself, the more April went on, the more he'd smile here and there, he'd sometimes even laugh too. Misty's eyes weakened as she watched, she just wanted to get under her table, she felt smaller every minute. It was hurting to see Ash having such a good time with April, more than he seems to with Misty, but a voice then went inside her head, can you really blame him Misty? What have you given him worth taking a chance on? If you never told him how you feel... How was he suppose to know?
Misty fell down to the floor, she couldn't help herself she had to see what they were saying, she got on her hands and knees and crawled over to and under their table, folded her legs and sat underneath them trying as best as she could to stay quiet.
"So how did you and Misty meet?" Misty heard April ask as she sat underneath their table quietly.
"I kind of wrecked her bike so she followed me." April laughed at Ash's answer.
"Sure it was just the bike she wanted?" Misty rolled her eyes at April's smart-mouth comment.
"Huh?"
"Never mind," She said, "So you and Misty are friends, just friends... Don't take this the wrong way but I notice Misty can have a temper... Don't you ever get sick of it?" Misty felt her heart heating as she listened closely for Ash's answer. There was a silence then finally he spoke.
"There's some things Misty does I don't like too much, like when she sometimes might doubt me or start arguments with me and gets her temper higher than it should be, but then there's somethings Misty does that I do like, like how she seems to care about me if I fall or make a mistake, she seems to stand by me when she sees that I might really need her there even if I'm too stubborn to admit it. She accepts my faults and I accept hers." Misty smiled, she never knew Ash felt that way, probably because she never asked and he never told her. It was nice to know she was at least privately appreciated.
"That's sweet... But have you ever thought of her as more than a friend?" Misty tuned in closer.
"Like a sister?"
"No, like a girlfriend." Misty's heart sprung out as her head instantly flew up and slammed against the table not ready for such a question.
"What was that?" Asked April immedietly at the sound of the thump. Ash looked around.
"Ouch..." Responded Misty very softly rubbing her head.
"I don't know, it came from under the table." Right when Ash was about to look under and find Misty. Brock walked over and interrupted. Misty felt a sigh of relief as Ash took himself away from the floor.
"Have you guys seen Misty?" Asked Brock holding Togepi.
"Misty? Brock, why would she be here?" Questioned April annoyed.
"Well, because-" Brock then saw a body squirm underneath the table, "Uh... Gee, I don't know, April, I was just looking anywhere so I decided to come here too."
"Well, maybe she's lost or in trouble, I should help you find her," Said Ash getting himself up from the table. April reached out and grabbed his arm.
"I'm sure she's okay," She looked up at Brock, "Keep looking." Brock nodded and left. Misty couldn't believe what April was doing. Did she really want Ash all to herself?
"So what were you asking me?" Asked Ash forgetting about the noise he and April heard under the table.
"Did you ever see Misty as more than a friend?" Misty controlled her emotions this time so she wouldn't hurt herself and get herself close to being discovered again.
"Misty? I don't know... She's a good friend but..." Misty didn't get to hear the rest of the answer, she saw the waiter was looking for her and crawled back to her table hopeing to not get noticed.
"What were you doing on the floor?" Asked the waiter. Misty shrugged.
"Lookin' for pocket change."
"Well, I hope you have enough money for this meal or it's dishes for you." He put down her salad and left. Though Misty's heart was pushed her to go to Ash and April's table, she couldn't bare to see Jeremy all alone. She had to go over there and explain everything to him and she had to do it without April and Ash noticing.
"Don't you think she's pretty?" Asked April at their table.
"She's beautiful," Smiled Ash gazing down at his plate thinking about her, "Even when she's angry at me."
"Oh..." April said softly in disapointment not getting the answer she was looking for, "You really like her, don't you?"
"Yeah..." Ash caught himself and stumbled with his words, "I-I mean I guess so." April got up from the table.
"I can't do this, Ash..."
"Do what?"
"Ash, I really like you, but it's obvious to see, you two really like each other, she wants you, you want her and the only things standing in the way is me and you two."
"What do you mean?"
"You like her, Ash, you do, you just don't realize you do, you don't see what I see when her name is mentioned. You don't see how your face lights up, the way you smile just thinking about her even when she's driving you crazy. You don't see how strong you become when you're around her, whether it's in battling or everyday life. You don't see how much you care about her or how much she cares about you. But I do. Sometimes it takes someone else who's sitting on the side lines watching to see this. Just like in your pokemon battle, you don't see how good you really are because you're too busy battling but someone who's doing nothing but watching can see all of this, just like I can. I can see each and every feeling your trying so hard to hide."
"What are you saying, April?"
"I'm saying you and Misty could really have something special," She walked over to him and leaned on the table, locking her eyes on his, "And I don't want to stand in the way." Ash was surprised and didn't know what to say his eyes just began to roam around but came to a complete hault when Ash saw Misty sitting with Jeremy; talking. His heart started to boil once again.
"Ash? Ash? Say something..." Ash looked at April with cold eyes.
"April, I don't care what you think, I don't love Misty, I never did and I probably never will," It took a lot of him to say that but he said. April gave him a look that showed she didn't understand why he was saying these terrible things, a look that showed, fear, curiousity, questions and disapointment all at the same time. The kind of look Pikachu would probably give if he heard Ash say those things. Ash couldn't look her straight in the eye when he said that; it wasn't the truth.
"Ash, you don't mean that..." Ash looked back at Misty and Jeremy still talking and his anger was inflamed again.
"If I loved her, why would I be here with you?"
"Because...?" Ash stood up and walked over to her side of the table and sat beside her.
"Because I want to be with you, not Misty." April gazed into his eyes.
"Really?" Ash became a little nervous not knowing what he was doing, he leaned a little back, as his anger faded and cluelessness took over again.
"Uh... Y-yeah... S-sure." April threw her arms around Ash and squeezed him tightly.
"Oh, I'm so relieved to hear you say that, lets get out of here, Ash."
After Misty explained everything to Jeremy she was finally able to check to see how Ash and April were doing. But when she looked, she saw the worse thing to her, what she feared the most, they were gone.
To Be Continued.
Part 4: Falling Into Place
Misty walked slowly into the dark room and closed the door softly. When she switched the lights on she saw Ash sitting there, not even bothering to look up at her, just staring down at the table.
"Ash?" Asked Misty softly walking over to him. Ash didn't move or say a word, he couldn't even look at her.
"Somethings wrong," stated Misty in much certainty. Ash took a deep sigh.
"Why would you say that, Misty?" Ash forced the question out of him. Misty gave a small smile and sat in the chair next to him.
"Because I can always tell your emotions, like Pikachu knows your determined side and Brock knows your childish side, I know your sensative side," Smiled Misty proudly trying to cheer him up.
"Yeah... Since when are you such an expert on my feelings?" Snapped Ash. The words cut Misty a bit, her smile began to fade still she still tried to hold up at least a grin.
"Well... I've hurted your feelings enough to know," joked Misty. Ash turned his back to her.
"Hey, I was only trying to make you feel better, I don't know what it is that's got you so down, Ash. I just don't like seeing you this way."
"Why should you care?"
"Because I'm your friend," Misty told him in a serious tone of voice without hesitation. Ash's head fell down a little and the shadow of his hat covered his face making it hard to see his face. Misty studied him for a moment, trying to figure him out.
"Fine, if you don't want to talk to me, so what," Misty stood up from her chair and began to walk away, "See if I care."
"Misty. Wait." Misty stopped in her tracks and turned her head around waiting for him to continue.
"Is it okay for a friend to like a friend as more than just a friend." Misty smiled and walked closer to him.
"Of course it's all right, the best couples start out as friends," Ash stayed silent, "Why?"
"Because I..." Ash looked up at Misty's eagered eyes and couldn't yet do it, he couldn't tell her the truth, so he lied, "It was a question April had."
"Oh," said Misty softly and disappointed, she forced another smile, "She tends to ask a lot of questions." Ash nodded in agreement.
"But she's gonna make some guy very happy someday."
"Mmm... Hmm..."
"Well... Good-Good night, Ash," she made her way to her room, "Sweet dreams."
* * *
The next day early in the morning a knock came to Misty's door, Togepi was the first to hear it and started cheering and making noises, waking Misty up to the banging door. BANG! BANG! BANG! One hit after another constantly, whoever was on the other side of the door must have had something urgent.
"Misty, wake up, I need to talk to you," yelled the voice from the other side of the door.
"All right, All right, hold on, I'm up, I'm up," Misty lifted herself slowly from the bed rubbing her eyes and walked over to the door and opened it. April came rushing in and quickly closing the door behind her, she walked over straight to the bed as Misty followed.
"Misty, things are getting really serious between me and this guy, I really need your help; more of your advice" said April nervously.
"All right, all right, enough's enough, I've been giving you advice for days now about this guy and now that things are reaching a new level, I think I deserve to know who he is, don't you?" Misty stood up from the bed and folded her arms in a stubborn gesture to show she wouldn't cooperate until her demands were met. April stood up too and anxiously waved her hands in the air.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you," April thought for a second, "No, better yet, I'll show you, why don't you come with us to the restuarant."
"You and your guy? On a date? April, that's hardly romantic and you know that phrase about how three's a crowd."
"No, I don't me actually be with us just tag along, sit in a table across from us where I can see you and he can't, that way you can give me advice and afterwards see him."
"I don't just want to see him, April, I want to meet him."
"Um... Misty, I don't think that's such a good idea..."
"Why?" April wouldn't answer her, "Fine, then no advice." April stared at her angrily, her eye brows came together as she glared and pouted.
"I don't need your stupid advice anyway, I've got him right where I want him and your service is no longer needed anymore."
"Service?"
"Yeah, matchmaker, I found my match, thank you for your help," she got up angrily from the bed and stood across from Misty and walked towards her with a big grin on her face, "And I'm un-inviting you to that dinner and chance to see my BOYfriend." She said it as if the word 'Boyfriend' was to hurt Misty in some way.
"Hey, I was the one doing you the favor."
"Well, don't do me any favors."
"Gladly." Misty charged to the door and swung it open for April to walk through. April stormed to the door then came to the door and stared Misty in the eye.
"If it wasn't for Ash I probably would have kicked you out of here a long time ago."
"What does he have to do with anything?" April just smiled at Misty arching one eye brow and gracefully walking out the room as if nothing happened, walking away and humming. Humming? Yep, humming. Humming and whistling too some silly love song Misty couldn't understand, all she knew was April was all of a sudden acting like a whole different person, like a person in a great and confident mood, a person who had just won the lottery or had just won something that would hurt or make Misty angry.
Misty thought it over, what April had said, forbidding her to come and see her and her boyfriend. How dare she? After all Misty had helped her with, for her to do such a thing, Misty had almost forgot about her little problem with Ash and seeing him with that girl. What was she going to do? Misty got up from her bed and walked out to Brock's bedroom, Misty went inside and sat on his bed and automatically said, "Brock, I need love advice." Brock turned around and looked at her puzzled. Misty looked up at him with a desperate look in her eyes.
"You're the last person I'd want to come to, but I really need it."
"Thanks?" Misty laid herself on the bed and Togepi happily imitated.
"What do you do when you really like someone but something always seems to stand in your way?"
"You know what... Ash asked me the same thing," Said Brock leaning on the wall across from her. Misty quickly lifted herself from the bed in excitment and curiousity.
"He did?"
"Yup."
"Well... Why?"
"I don't know, you know how Ash doesn't like personal questions."
"What? Ash wouldn't care."
"Why wouldn't he?"
"Because Ash is Ash and he's not the personal type, he doesn't have any secrets that go beyond pokemon or anything we know about him. He's predictable when it comes to stuff like that, Ash doesn't have a love life," giggled Misty, "Ash hates love."
"He doesn't hate love."
"Oh, then what does he think about it?" Asked Misty skeptically.
"I don't know, why don't you ask him yourself." That finally shut Misty's cocky-too-confident-attuide up.
"Then... What advice do you give me?"
"The same I gave Ash," Brock walked over to Misty and sat beside her as she sat herself up more, "Love isn't some subject like pokemon where there are facts and right and wrong answers. It's something you just have to go along with and figure along the way. You can't give people advice on love accept just to follow your heart and go with what you feel."
"Oh, that's a big help," Said Misty frustrated, "I don't know what I'm feeling."
"'Course you do, Ash said the same thing. The thing is you two do know what's in your hearts, you just don't know you know."
"Brock, that doesn't make any sense," Misty pointed out.
"It does if you think about it," Misty's eyes concentrating hard as she thought, "What are your instincts telling you?"
"It's telling me," Misty closed her eyes as if reading the answer from her eye lids, "I should follow April on that date."
"Then go, don't worry I'll take care of Togepi for you, I already got Pikachu on my hands anyway." Misty's eyes quickly opened and shifted to Brock.
"What? Where's Ash going now? Aren't you angry at him, Brock? He keeps leaving Pikachu here expecting us-you to take care of him while he's off to who knows where! Doesn't that make you angry?"
"No. But it obvious makes you angry. All I know is Ash cares a lot for Pikachu and if you get your mind on straight you'd know too Misty, he wouldn't leave Pikachu behind unless it was for something really important."
"But what if it's not for anything important, Brock. What if he's been leaving Pikachu with you just to be with some... girl," Brock stared at Misty fearing her change in tone, Misty lowered her voice, "Hyperthetically, of course."
"Well, hyperthetically, Ash would never do that for a girl," Brock paused for a second and looked at Misty deeply, "Unless he really cared about her." Misty's eyes sank and so did her heart the second all that dawned to her, Brock was right, Ash must really care about this girl, it was probably only easier to believe he had simply just losing his mind at least there's a chance he could get it back but once someone steals your heart, it's over.
Misty nodded to show thanks to Brock and walked like a Zombie out of his room as if empty and lifeless. Togepi followed her not understanding what was going on. Misty kneeled down to Togepi in the middle of the hallway.
"What if Brock's right, what if all these accusations I made on Ash were untrue, what if he really likes this girl... What if he..." Misty's eyes grew even more wider, "Loves her." She looked down at her Togepi very worried.
"What am I going to do?" Togepi knew enough to understand the one he saw as his mother was really losin' it. After a moment of freaking out at all the possibilities, Misty finally got herself together. She stood up tall and took and deep breath lifting her Togepi along with her.
"I know what I'm gonna do Togepi, I'm going to follow my heart, I'm going to sneak on April's date and spy against her will, that'll teach her. I'll deal with Ash later." While planning all of this Misty had completely forgotten about the dinner with Jeremy she had promised him. But she didn't have time for that now.
Everything was taken care of, Brock was baby-sitting Togepi like he promised and as the time came near for April to leave for her date, Misty kept her eye on her but didn't follow her just yet. She waited for more time to pass to give less a chance of April finding her.
When the time came, Misty walked in to the restuarant she instantly spotted April with her date across the room, she tried to see who the guy was but still couldn't see his face and attempted to walk to the empty table near by but a waiter stepped right in front of her.
"May I take your coat, Ma'am," Misty studied the waiter for a moment as if he spoke a langauge she didn't understand.
"Huh?" Finally Misty noticed she had her coat on, she didn't even remember putting it on, she was too busy thinking about Ash's situation and April's and her anger was controling her more than anything else. The waiter's left eye brow arched up highly as his mouth grew small moved to the side of his face.
"Oh, no, I'll just keep it on."
"Would you like me to show you to your table?"
"Um..." Misty pretended as if she really had to think about it, "I'll just take the one over there. Thank you." Misty pointed to the table she was aiming for, the one of course near April and her date.
"Oh, no," Smiled the waiter in a more friendly tone, "That is a booth for more than two people, and there is only one of you, is there not? So we will send you to a table that's fit for one person and save that table for people who really need it." Misty's eyes narrowed at the waiter. But I need it! Misty wanted to shout.
"So... Uh... Can I at least get a table near that one?" The waiter stared at Misty in a curious face. He held his hand out.
"The closest table we have to it, is over there," He pointed across the room to the single table where hardly anyone was, what was worse is it seemed to be miles away from April's table, Misty's head turned back and forth calculating the distance between and whether or not she should take it. Misty just groaned, gave in and walked to the far off table when she was making her way towards April's table she quickly picked up a menu and buried her face in it to hide from being seen. The waiter followed Misty to her table.
"Ma'am, we have menus on your table, you did not have to take that one."
"I like this one," lied Misty as she found her table and sat down. The waiter stood there waiting for her to order and Misty waited for him to leave.
"Aren't you gonna go?" Misty finally asked anxiously.
"Not until you've ordered..."
"Why don't you just go and then come back like other waiters do?"
"Because I am not a cold hearted waiter, I like to stay near my costumers," Smiled the waiter proudly, probably wanting a big fat tip afterwards because of it. Misty glared at him.
"Lucky me," sighed Misty, "Okay, how about you just bring me some bread first." He nodded.
"All right, excellent choice," He walks away and Misty traces through the heads of people and finally finds April and her date. Misty peeks through her menu now and then trying to make out who that guy is and quickly hides back behind it if she sees their heads about to turn. The waiter comes back over with a basket of bread and waits patiently for her next order.
"What's the cheapest thing on this menu?" Asks Misty.
"I don't know... The salad?" Guessed the waiter.
"Fine, then I'll have that," answered Misty ignoring the waiter, not taking her eyes off April and her still unknown date.
"Which one?"
"I don't know, surprise me!" Snapped Misty getting frustrated. The waiter merely stuck his nose up in disgust and reached for her menu. Misty lost focus and set her eyes to find April again but somewhere in the middle of it saw Jeremy on the other side of the restuarant being seated too, he was probably waiting for her.
"Oh, no..." Misty said softly in fear the waiter gripped her menu, Misty snatched it back, "Um... I want to hold the menu."
"But Ma'am, you've already ordered."
"Well, what if I want to order again?" Commented Misty. The waiter simply rolled his eyes and left. Misty knew she wasn't treating him as good as she should and he probably would put a bug or something in her salad now, but Misty had no time to worry about that. She hid behind her menu again this time because of Jeremy then spied on him too. When her eyes finally found April she studied the boy she was with closer, the more she looked at the back of him, she knew, it was Ash!
Misty gasped and hid behind her menu again, how could she do this? How could he do this? A thousand questions and emotions filled Misty. So that's the big secret, the new love in Ash and April's life were each other? How could have Misty been so blind? Suddenly it all made sense now though. All the nights Ash and April were out at the same time, the way April seemed happier and was so extra nice to Ash, the way April didn't want Misty to meet her date. All you had to do was put two and two together. But Misty would have never want these two would be together. As much as it killed her she couldn't take her eyes off them.
Ash seemed to be enjoying himself, the more April went on, the more he'd smile here and there, he'd sometimes even laugh too. Misty's eyes weakened as she watched, she just wanted to get under her table, she felt smaller every minute. It was hurting to see Ash having such a good time with April, more than he seems to with Misty, but a voice then went inside her head, can you really blame him Misty? What have you given him worth taking a chance on? If you never told him how you feel... How was he suppose to know?
Misty fell down to the floor, she couldn't help herself she had to see what they were saying, she got on her hands and knees and crawled over to and under their table, folded her legs and sat underneath them trying as best as she could to stay quiet.
"So how did you and Misty meet?" Misty heard April ask as she sat underneath their table quietly.
"I kind of wrecked her bike so she followed me." April laughed at Ash's answer.
"Sure it was just the bike she wanted?" Misty rolled her eyes at April's smart-mouth comment.
"Huh?"
"Never mind," She said, "So you and Misty are friends, just friends... Don't take this the wrong way but I notice Misty can have a temper... Don't you ever get sick of it?" Misty felt her heart heating as she listened closely for Ash's answer. There was a silence then finally he spoke.
"There's some things Misty does I don't like too much, like when she sometimes might doubt me or start arguments with me and gets her temper higher than it should be, but then there's somethings Misty does that I do like, like how she seems to care about me if I fall or make a mistake, she seems to stand by me when she sees that I might really need her there even if I'm too stubborn to admit it. She accepts my faults and I accept hers." Misty smiled, she never knew Ash felt that way, probably because she never asked and he never told her. It was nice to know she was at least privately appreciated.
"That's sweet... But have you ever thought of her as more than a friend?" Misty tuned in closer.
"Like a sister?"
"No, like a girlfriend." Misty's heart sprung out as her head instantly flew up and slammed against the table not ready for such a question.
"What was that?" Asked April immedietly at the sound of the thump. Ash looked around.
"Ouch..." Responded Misty very softly rubbing her head.
"I don't know, it came from under the table." Right when Ash was about to look under and find Misty. Brock walked over and interrupted. Misty felt a sigh of relief as Ash took himself away from the floor.
"Have you guys seen Misty?" Asked Brock holding Togepi.
"Misty? Brock, why would she be here?" Questioned April annoyed.
"Well, because-" Brock then saw a body squirm underneath the table, "Uh... Gee, I don't know, April, I was just looking anywhere so I decided to come here too."
"Well, maybe she's lost or in trouble, I should help you find her," Said Ash getting himself up from the table. April reached out and grabbed his arm.
"I'm sure she's okay," She looked up at Brock, "Keep looking." Brock nodded and left. Misty couldn't believe what April was doing. Did she really want Ash all to herself?
"So what were you asking me?" Asked Ash forgetting about the noise he and April heard under the table.
"Did you ever see Misty as more than a friend?" Misty controlled her emotions this time so she wouldn't hurt herself and get herself close to being discovered again.
"Misty? I don't know... She's a good friend but..." Misty didn't get to hear the rest of the answer, she saw the waiter was looking for her and crawled back to her table hopeing to not get noticed.
"What were you doing on the floor?" Asked the waiter. Misty shrugged.
"Lookin' for pocket change."
"Well, I hope you have enough money for this meal or it's dishes for you." He put down her salad and left. Though Misty's heart was pushed her to go to Ash and April's table, she couldn't bare to see Jeremy all alone. She had to go over there and explain everything to him and she had to do it without April and Ash noticing.
"Don't you think she's pretty?" Asked April at their table.
"She's beautiful," Smiled Ash gazing down at his plate thinking about her, "Even when she's angry at me."
"Oh..." April said softly in disapointment not getting the answer she was looking for, "You really like her, don't you?"
"Yeah..." Ash caught himself and stumbled with his words, "I-I mean I guess so." April got up from the table.
"I can't do this, Ash..."
"Do what?"
"Ash, I really like you, but it's obvious to see, you two really like each other, she wants you, you want her and the only things standing in the way is me and you two."
"What do you mean?"
"You like her, Ash, you do, you just don't realize you do, you don't see what I see when her name is mentioned. You don't see how your face lights up, the way you smile just thinking about her even when she's driving you crazy. You don't see how strong you become when you're around her, whether it's in battling or everyday life. You don't see how much you care about her or how much she cares about you. But I do. Sometimes it takes someone else who's sitting on the side lines watching to see this. Just like in your pokemon battle, you don't see how good you really are because you're too busy battling but someone who's doing nothing but watching can see all of this, just like I can. I can see each and every feeling your trying so hard to hide."
"What are you saying, April?"
"I'm saying you and Misty could really have something special," She walked over to him and leaned on the table, locking her eyes on his, "And I don't want to stand in the way." Ash was surprised and didn't know what to say his eyes just began to roam around but came to a complete hault when Ash saw Misty sitting with Jeremy; talking. His heart started to boil once again.
"Ash? Ash? Say something..." Ash looked at April with cold eyes.
"April, I don't care what you think, I don't love Misty, I never did and I probably never will," It took a lot of him to say that but he said. April gave him a look that showed she didn't understand why he was saying these terrible things, a look that showed, fear, curiousity, questions and disapointment all at the same time. The kind of look Pikachu would probably give if he heard Ash say those things. Ash couldn't look her straight in the eye when he said that; it wasn't the truth.
"Ash, you don't mean that..." Ash looked back at Misty and Jeremy still talking and his anger was inflamed again.
"If I loved her, why would I be here with you?"
"Because...?" Ash stood up and walked over to her side of the table and sat beside her.
"Because I want to be with you, not Misty." April gazed into his eyes.
"Really?" Ash became a little nervous not knowing what he was doing, he leaned a little back, as his anger faded and cluelessness took over again.
"Uh... Y-yeah... S-sure." April threw her arms around Ash and squeezed him tightly.
"Oh, I'm so relieved to hear you say that, lets get out of here, Ash."
After Misty explained everything to Jeremy she was finally able to check to see how Ash and April were doing. But when she looked, she saw the worse thing to her, what she feared the most, they were gone.
To Be Continued.