Chapter 9


"In this world you are one person, but to one person, you just might be the world."
--

"I told you that asshole was bad news, but nooo, nobody listens to me!" Ash exclaimed sarcastically to Brock for the millionth time the next day as he paced back and forth across his apartment. He had recently informed his friend of what Rudy had told him and was becoming more and more surprised by the minute upon noticing that he seemed rather skeptical to believe his story.

"Ash," Brock sighed. "Come on, man, do you really think Rudy would do that? He loves her..."

"No, he doesn't," Ash interrupted. "He loves what she can give him. Okay? All he wants is the perfect wife who will cook and clean while he's off doing other women behind her back."

"Ash, no he doesn't," Brock responded heavily once more. "I know he may not be the nicest guy in the world all the time and the two of you don't get along that well, but you don't have to be making up shit like this..."

"W-W-What?" Ash stammered. "You..." He let out a humorless snicker before asking his best friend of fourteen years incredulously; "You don't believe me?" Brock said nothing; he just simply turned his head to avoid his hurtful gaze.

He knew that Ash had never lied to him during all of their years of friendship but this was Misty he was talking about. The girl he had been in love with practically forever, it did seem reasonable that he would exaggerate on things that were not the entire truth about her fiancé in an attempt to persuade Brock that the two of them should not be getting married. And although he loved and trusted Ash and only got along fairly well with Rudy, he could not help thinking that what he was being informed of by his old friend was nothing more than a figment of his imagination that he wanted to be true so there would be a reason of why Misty should not marry Rudy.

"It's not that I don't believe you..." Brock started slowly but was abruptly cut off by another gasp of disbelief from Ash.

"Yeah it is, that you don't believe me," he stated and once again Brock did not deny that fact. "Dude, I don't understand this. I'm your best friend, I've never lied to you once and you're gonna believe this scumbag over me?"

"I know you've never lied to me, Ash," the older man blurted out. "But this is a completely different situation. The woman you are in love with is marrying another man, it is possible that this is just something that you want to be true, not something that necessarily is..."

"Brock, he fucking told me to my face that he cheats on her!" Ash cursed loudly, anger and agitation growing in each one of his words.

"Isn't it possible that you took it the wrong way?"

"Oh, yeah, because the 'hot chick he was with three days ago' was just a business associate," he muttered sarcastically. Ash raked a hand through his ebony hair as he sat down on the nearby sofa. "I know what I heard, man, and you should know me good enough to get that I don't make mistakes like this."

A beat of silence passed before Brock sighed and moved over to sit next to his distraught friend. "Okay..." he began slowly. "Let's say you're right," he stated in a somewhat unconvinced tone. "What are you gonna do about it?"

"I'll tell you what I'm gonna do about it," Ash exclaimed while standing back up again. "I'm gonna go over to Rudy's and kick his ass!"

Brock rolled his eyes while standing up as well. "Ash, I don't think you getting your ass kicked is going to help the situation at hand."

Ash shot him a dirty look before speaking again in a more calm tone. "Fine, I'll go and talk to Misty first."

"I don't think that's a good idea..."

"Well, it doesn't really matter what you think, does it Brock?" he inquired in a harsh tone. "This is my problem, my friendship, and my heart that we're dealing with here... not yours," he finished softly.

Brock stared at his friend for a moment before taking a deep breath and moving closer toward him and displaying an affectionate expression trying to show that he was genuinely sorry for the cold harsh reality that he was about to state. "Look, I honestly don't think there is anything going on here, and if you get involved and start making accusations it is just going to create one big problem that will result in someone getting hurt."

"Brock..." Ash muttered in a choked tone while glancing up at him with desperate eyes. He firmly placed both of his hands on his shoulders before speaking toward him in a serious tone.

"I'm sorry that you and Misty never got a chance to be together. I think the two of you would have been an amazing couple. But you have to understand that she's moved on and that she loves someone else. We both know this is the life that she has always dreamed of... do you really want to take away your best friend's chance for happiness?"

Ash didn't respond, although the look on his face was enough to show that he disagreed with the question asked.

"If you really love Misty as much as you say you do, and I know that you do, man, believe me," Brock added toward the end before finishing his statement as gentle as possible to try and soften the bluntness of his next words. "... you'll let her go."

A dreaded moment of silence passed as Ash allowed Brock's words to sink in and register in his mind. The thought seemed unbearable for him to even comprehend. He had tried his hardest to try and come to terms with the fact of Misty winding up with another man, and a part of him was slightly okay with it as long as it was someone who would love and respect her. But to lose Misty to someone who was taking her kind heart and gentle soul for granted was not something he could bear to deal with, no matter how happy she may have been with him.

"I can't," he whispered, shaking his head feebly. Brock stared at him sympathetically before he averted his hurtful gaze from him by turning around and heading for the door. He barely had a chance to reason with his younger friend once more before Ash briskly swung his jacket over the shoulder and exited briskly.
--


Ash took heavy, self-calming breaths as he climbed the stairway of the Cerulean Gym which would lead to Misty's room. Lily had let him inside like normal unbeknownst to the bombshell that was about to be dropped on her younger sister from her best friend about the guy she was marrying. And Ash did not have the slightest idea on how he was going to do his task without breaking Misty's heart in the process.

Okay, you can do this, just break it to her gently. He thought to himself but soon realized that it was nearly impossible to try to lighten the heaviness of this situation.

He eventually reached the stop of the steps to where he was standing outside the door. He exhaled strongly once more before gathering up the courage to knock.

"Misty," he called, his voice coming out hoarse and unrecognizable to himself and probably another.

"Wait, no, don't come in here!" she exclaimed from inside of the room much to Ash's puzzlement.

"Okay," he responded confusedly. "But there's something really important I need to talk to you about," he informed her while sighing.

"Ash?" she spoke again from the other side of the door. "Is that you?"

"Yeah?" he half stated/asked in the same stumped tone.

"Oh," she laughed. "Sorry, I thought you were Rudy." Ash clenched his fist angrily at that statement. "Please, you can come in its fine."

With that, he opened the door keeping his eyes fixated on the ground as he struggled to begin with an opening sentence. "All right, I really think you should be sitting down for this..." Ash interrupted himself the minute his eyes moved from the floor up to where Misty was standing. His mouth went agape and he stood there simply speechless in the sight of her in her wedding dress.

It was a simple satin gown with no big, puffy or unnecessary components. Flowers and other intricate designs were sewn into the delicate fabric and it was held up by two thin straps of the same texture. Her hair simply hung loosely having she did not put on her veil or any other articles of clothing that would be worn during the wedding. She just stood there in her dress, looking more gorgeous to Ash than he had ever seen her before.

"Well, what do you think?" Misty asked cautiously upon seeing her friend's stunned expression. Her eyes displayed a hopeful look which seemed to say that she would be lost without his approval.

"You..." Ash managed to stammer. "You're beautiful," he murmured before being rendered speechless once again. Misty was somewhat surprised by his reaction and she still was not sure if he had been taken aback because of her beauty or just because the sight of her in a wedding gown was something he had never witnessed before.

"Really?" she inquired with the same insecure demeanor and Ash nodded in response while moving closer toward her and taking her hands in his.

"Really," he murmured while staring deep into her eyes. Her aqua orbs seemed to light up with happiness for she was, as usual, overwhelmed by a single compliment from him.

"Thank you," she whispered toward him gratefully while wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight hug. Ash returned the gesture, one that he had been drawn into many times before. He breathed in the sweet scent of her strawberry shampoo as let one of his hands rest on a piece of bare, flawless skin. He could have stayed like that forever, especially due to the fact that he was so enticed by Misty, herself, that he had not noticed that she was dressed for the day that she would be indebted toward Rudy for the rest of her life.

They eventually broke apart and he was surprised to see her eyes brimming with tears which he concluded were either purely out of her emotion or what he hoped was the fact that she really wished she would be walking down the aisle to him the day she wore this gown.

"Sorry," she muttered sheepishly, while wiping her eyes and trying to keep her make-up on straight. "I've just been getting emotional over everything lately," she laughed slightly while still struggling to regain her composure. She sniffed and turned up to Ash with a less intense and more quizzical expression. "So, what did you need to tell me?" she inquired and he immediately face-vaulted at the question.

Had it been one minute ago Ash would have instructed Misty to take a seat next to him on the bed and with an apologetic expression before giving her the piece of information as cautiously and softly as he could. But now he felt all morsels of courage regarding the situation at hand disappear and vanish without a trace.

There was absolutely no way he could will himself to tell Misty while she was standing there in her wedding dress that the man who she would be exchanging vows with when she was wearing it next was one who would be dishonest and not respect her in there future. She seemed too happy and Ash had once told himself that Misty's happiness was more important than his own. He did not want to be the one to break her heart and who knew... maybe Rudy would change his ways and they would end up being truly happy together... despite how miserable Ash was himself.

"Um, nothing," he blurted out. "It's not important, never mind." Ash sighed longingly to himself and Misty simply shrugged.

"Well, okay then," she smiled, walking over to her dresser to remove the earrings that were beginning to bother her. "Hey, are you free tonight?" she inquired randomly while taking off her jewelry.

"Well, let's see," Ash began as he strode over toward her. "I did have an appointment to fall asleep in front of the television with a bucket of fried chicken next to me," he told her impishly. "But I guess I can always reschedule."

Misty giggled. "In that case, would you like to join me for dinner? I actually have something I need to ask you about myself."

Ash shrugged after wondering for a moment of whatever she had to question him about. "Yeah, that sounds fine. How about Francesco's at seven?" he suggested a rather upscale restaurant.

She nodded in agreement and moved over toward him. "Great, so it's a date," she concluded while kissing his cheek before heading in toward the bathroom to change leaving Ash with nothing but his own thoughts.

--

If you're not the one then why does my soul feel glad today?
If you're not the one then why does my hand fit yours this way?
If you are not mine then why does your heart return my call?
If you are not mine would I have the strength to stand at all?

I never know what the future brings
But I know you are here with me now
We will make it through
And I hope you are the one I share my life with

I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

If I don't need you then why am I crying on my bed?
If I don't need you then why does your name resound in my head?
If you're not for me then why does this distance maim my life?
If you're not for me then why do I dream of you as my wife?

I don't know why you're so far away
But I know that this much is true
We will make it through
And I hope you are the one I share my life with
And I wish that you could be the one I die with
And I pray in you're the one I build my home with
I hope I love you all my life


I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?


Cause I miss you, body and soul so strong that it takes my breath away
And I breathe you into my heart and pray for the strength to stand today
Cause I love you, whether its wrong or right
And though I can't be with you tonight
And know my heart is by your side

I don't want to run away but I cant take it, I don't understand
If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?
Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

--

Rudy paced back and forth, his shoes hitting the hard wood floor of his apartment in perfect timing and rhythm.  He glanced at his watch decorating his left wrist and anticipation arose up within him again upon noticing that she was five minutes late.  She had agreed to meet him back at his place on his lunch break, but was still confused with the 'important thing' he had refused to discuss with her over the phone.  He had hung up when she agreed, the same prayer ran through his anxious mind.  Please don't let her talk to Ash.

Rudy mentally cursed himself for the millionth time that day, frustration and anger arising.  What the hell had he been thinking the night before?  Telling Ash of his true nature, blurting it out like they were buddies who understood each other?  He should have kept his big mouth shut and continued to indulge in awkward but polite conversation until Misty and Lily got back from their bathroom trip, but no, he was too goddamned stupid to realize that.  Usually Rudy could hold his liquor well, a few beers didn't get him drunk but did make him extra-talkative.  There were situations in which he would blurt out things he should not have been mentioning at all or reveal secrets that he normally wouldn't even speak of had be not been drinking.  Last night had been one of those situations.

It was beyond obvious that Ash was going to tell Misty what he had been so bluntly informed of sooner or later.  He was perfectly aware of how close the two of them were, being friends for such a long amount of time.  There was no way he was going to sit by and watch her go on with her life oblivious to what was really going on.  Unfortunately, that did not bode well for Rudy who needed his fiancée to be nothing short of completely ignorant of his actions.  He only hoped that Ash had not gotten to her first, revealing the truth and ruining his plans in the process.

The opening of the door interrupted Rudy from his musings and he looked over to see Misty entering.  He immediately approached her, relief washing over his features upon seeing that she was clearly not angry.  She was not going to start throwing things at him while crying and screaming, ripping her engagement ring off her finger with drama only seen in the movies.  She looked the same as she had last night and it was clear that nothing had changed, she still had no idea of Rudy's true nature and he was planning on keeping it that way.

"Hey, baby," he greeted her, trying to act extra nice as he walked over and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

"Hi," Misty answered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.  "What's up?  You sounded so weird on the phone, what's so important that you had to tell me in person?" she questioned and Rudy decided in his mind that it was best to slowly ease into it and not look suspicious by immediately jumping into his well-rehearsed and carefully detailed dialogue.

"Um, how was your morning?" he inquired and Misty looked at him with a confused expression.  Was Rudy actually asking how her day had been?  Usually she was the one who sat there, listening him to go on and on about the boring events that had happened at his work, desperately trying to tune them out with thoughts of Ash.  He never wondered about what was going on in her life, it was all about him and his agenda, everything had to be worked around his schedule, Misty was simply a part of his daily routine.  But now, he was curious about what she was up to?  That was most definitely a first, and the shock she experienced was unavoidable.

"Uh, good," Misty finally responded.  "Yeah, I beat two trainers in battle this morning."

"So, you've been at the gym this whole time then?" he queried, his eyes narrowed carefully.  "Y-you haven't talked to anyone but your sister then?"

"Um, actually, Ash came over for a little while," she informed him and Rudy's heart jumped in his chest.

"Well, what happened?" he demanded.  "What did he say?"

"Nothing," Misty replied, surprised as well as confused at his sudden anxiousness.  "We just talked, I'm also having dinner with him tonight, by the way, so I'll have to take a rain check."  A ghost of a smile formed on Rudy's lips.  Perfect, he thought.  "Why?" she asked, looking at him curiously.  "Rudy, what is going on?"

Rudy sighed.  "Misty, come here," he said, taking her by the hand and leading her to sit down beside him on the nearby sofa.  "It's about Ash," he spoke up and Misty's full attention was suddenly on him.

"Ash?" she questioned, her voice going an octave higher.  "Wh-what about him?"  She shifted in her seat uncomfortably, fear invading her mind.  Fear that Rudy had realized her feelings for Ash and she was going to wind up alone once again.

"Last night," he began slowly, "when you and Lily went to bathroom last night at the club Ash and I got to talking and," he paused dramatically for affect, "he was saying some pretty weird stuff."

She was taken aback.  "What?  What kind of stuff?"

"I don't know, I was pretty surprised to hear it myself.  He usually seems so levelheaded," Rudy shook his head and Misty watched him with wide eyes, hanging onto his every word.  "But he started telling me how he didn't want you marrying me or anyone else for that matter."

Her breath got caught in her throat and she gripped the cushion she was seated on his her fingers.  "Why was he like jealous or something?" she wondered, trying not to sound so eager.

"Yeah, but it wasn't in like any romantic kind of way," he answered and Misty tried to hide the facevault that involuntarily occurred when her heart sunk.  "It was like, he didn't want you to be married because he wanted you all to himself, like you were his possession or something."

"Well, honey, maybe he's just afraid we're not going to be as close of friends after the wedding," she responded, trying to find a logical explanation.

"That's what I thought at first too but he just kept going on and on about how you were his, and that nothing was going to take him away from you, it actually started to get kind of creepy…"

"Maybe he was just drunk…"

"Misty, he had like two beers all night," he reminded her.  "Anyway, he shut up when you came back but he kept glaring at me all night.  I really thing that he might do something to sabotage our relationship."

Once he had finished, Misty sat there motionlessly, trying to comprehend what she had just been informed of.  The logical part of her tried to think that this had all been a misunderstanding, that Rudy had taken what Ash had told him the wrong way that nothing weird was going on with him.  But then, there was that little voice in the back of her head telling her to look a little deeper.  The same little voice that convinced her to stay with Rudy and also convinced her that her friendship with Ash would be ruined if she ever were to tell him how she really felt.  Was it possible that Rudy was right?  That Ash did think of her as some sort of property and did not want to see her belonging to anyone else?  There past conversations had been more meaningful and deep than usual and consisted of him saying how he did not want to lose her when she was married.  His intentions had seemed genuine with nothing peculiar behind him, but now…

She shook her head to herself, feeling guilty for being allowed to be persuaded by such ridiculous ideas.  She knew Ash better than anyone and she knew what he was like.  He thought of her as his best friend, nothing more, nothing less.  He couldn't possibly have some creepy interpretation of her being his that he would try and prevent her from getting married especially after how supportive and helpful he had been with everything.  Rudy had clearly been mistaken.

"Misty?" Rudy spoke up and she faced him, upon realizing she had been sitting there in silence for almost a minute.  "Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah," she managed to answer.  "I'm just a little surprised, that's all."

He made a noise of agreement.  "Believe me, I was too."

"Look, Rudy," she sighed.  "I don't know what Ash told you but you obviously must have taken it the wrong way," she stated.  "I know him."

He sighed, the final part of his speech rapidly approaching.  He had known that she would deny whatever accusations he made about Ash, his only job was to put that idea in her head so it would creep back to her if Ash ever were to reveal the truth.  "You know, it's funny," he began, "how you can think you know a person and find out… that you really have no idea who they are at all."  A shiver ran down Misty's spine at his statement and Rudy tried to hide his satisfaction upon seeing her expression change.  He checked his watch.  "I better be heading back to the office, my break's almost over."  He kissed his fiancée's cheek before standing up and heading back over to the door.  "Bye, babe." 

Misty waved in response before resting her head in her hands, her brain racing with ultimate confusion.  Rudy glanced over his shoulder, saw her obvious distress, and smiled.

TBC

--

A/N: Wow, Rudy's an asshole isn't he?  Hehe, I was originally going to cut out that last scene but then decided to add it so there would be an actual reason of why Misty could be persuaded not believe in Ash.  I', sure most of you know but the song in there is 'If You're Not the One' by David Bedingfield, I just had the strange urge to add it in there.  Next chapter's a big one, I should have it up within a week or so ;)

Also, I wanted to thank everyone who has taken time out of their lives to read and review this story.  I still can't believe I've gotten over 100 reviews!  But, seriously, thank you so much for your words of praise, they really make my day.  Please, keep reading! =)