Hello and MERRY CHRISTMAS even though Christmas day is over, the spirit of Christmas is still in the air and I still love every moment of it.
I hope everyone had an absolutely great Christmas.
Sorry about the delay with this chapter but it was the run up to Christmas, presents to buy, projects to have done for college...come to think of it I still have those projects due, ohh dear.
Well to make up for it, this chapter is jumbo sized, well it's longer than usual and I think some pretty important things happen in this chapter.
Please can anyone give me a good name for a kitten cause I'm getting one in the next few days, hopefully.
See, my old cat ran away about a month ago which had me heartbroken because I had her for about eight years and I was crazy about her.
So we're getting a kitten because now the mice are having a field day and our big black scary dog is much too softhearted to actually scare anything
Well I should finish this up because I got a game I really love and I want to get back to that and these are reallylomg authors notes.
Oh yeah, by the way, I'm thinking of writing another story that I've had in my head for a few days now. It's really different to what I usually write and it's darker than other stories of mine but thats all I'm going to say. I'm going to write it anyway cause I always write up stories I have in my head but I'd love some support so I get the courage to post it.
The characters don't belong to me but the story does.
Please read and review
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to everyone.
*******
The room was filled with a very uneasy silence
The tension was so thick, a scyther would have had a hard time slicing through it.
Brock was shaking his head in disbelief, unsure what to do.
Giselle bit her lip, suddenly realising what she had done to these people, Ash looked so helpless and confused and he cast a cautious look at Misty.
He could see her head bowed, her bangs covering her eyes.
Without a word she walked towards Giselle silently.
It was creepy, like she was possessed, and she stopped right in front of the brunette.
Giselle was scared; there was no way around it. She knew about Misty and her temper and had seen it in action but in all her days, she had never seen anyone react like this.
To test the water she opened her mouth to throw some caustic remark about what had happened.
Suddenly Misty's head snapped up and her eyes blazed with an endless anger and her eyes glazed over with unshed tears.
Ash and Brock both took a step back from the intense glare.
They had seen her mad but never like this.
Just as Giselle was about to speak, Misty pulled back her fist and sent the girl reeling a few feet with a left hook.
Giselle let out a scream of pain and clamped a hand over her eye.
The entire right side of her face was burning; she had never been hit like that.
Misty's head was lowered again and she was struggling to keep the tears from falling.
"How dare you?!" Giselle screamed at her.
Misty raised her eyes again to Giselle's, meaning the other two couldn't see her face and Giselle stared up at the hate filled eyes of the red head.
She was terrified, she had never seen anyone this mad and given her last punch, Giselle didn't want to push her.
"What in the world is going on?" the nurse cried, surveying the teens.
"N'other patient" Misty answered in a quiet icy voice and then walked away just as silently as she had approached Giselle.
"MISTY!" Ash cried, trying to run after her but she didn't even toss a look his way and he was still weak from his impromptu rendezvous with the bathroom.
He called out for her again and again she didn't look back and left the building, the door swinging shut behind her.
She left the grounds and paused, leaning against a wall around the corner.
Her knees buckled and she landed on her knees.
She pounded the ground with as much strength as she could, ignoring the stinging sensation spreading through her hands.
Sobs racked her body and hot tears streamed down her face.
She let out a loud wail and buried her face in her hands, crouched up on the ground.
*****
"Duplica, hey. No our favourite little runt isn't back yet" Daisy sighed and cast a worried glance at the door, hiding her concern with her typical exasperated tone she used when discussing Misty.
"Yeah I'll make sure she calls you when she gets in. Yeah buh bye"
Daisy gazed around the empty hall.
Dave had gone to visit his mother, a task which, while Daisy wouldn't admit it, she thought was incredibly noble.
She missed the guy, she missed having someone about who knew how to deal with Misty and having someone about to watch out for all of them and some who offered a helping hand wherever possible, but most of all, she just missed him.
Lily danced across the floor, twirling, her short pink fanning out behind her.
"Oh I just love Matt so much." she cried, joyously.
"What did he do now, Lil?" Violet asked with an exaggerated sigh, they were all happy for their sister and her new boyfriend but they always teased each other, Misty was just best at it.
"He sent me a single white rose" she giggled.
The door opened slowly and Misty trudged in, head hanging low.
She didn't want her sisters to see her red eyes.
"Oh go on, say it! Say how he only reason he got me one flower was because he too cheap to buy a bouquet or that this was just a downpayment!" Lily snapped at the younger red head waiting for her sisters' put-down.
Misty walked past them and ran upstairs, hand loosely brushing the banister.
The three sisters stared up the stairs in surprise, then jumped when they heard the door slam.
The only sound that could be heard was the ticking of the clock.
"Anyone else finding this weird and creepy?" Violet asked.
"Anyone up for a game of 'Figure out the kid'?" Lily asked, tilting her head to the side.
Daisy smiled as they began up the stairs.
"We've been playing that game everyday since we were kids. Why change now?"
Daisy knocked on the door softly and turned the handle finding it unlocked. Lily and Violet stayed outside, knowing that Misty would only talk with Daisy about this, but that wouldn't stop them listening at the door.
"Misty...sweetie? Something wrong?" Daisy asked gingerly approaching the lone figure, sitting with her legs tucked up to her chest and hiding her face in her knees.
The deep red liquid spilling off Misty's hands and staining her jeans caught Daisy's eye and she drew back.
"Why is your hand bleeding?" she shrieked.
"Run in with a path on the way home" Misty muttered.
"Misty, for the like the last time! You cannot fight cement. Its just doesn't work" Lily cried, snapping her hands on her hips.
"Why were you throwing down with a footpath?" Violet asked.
A hint of a smirk crept up Misty's face.
"Pftt. You should see the other guy"
The three sisters smiled softly relieved to see that their youngest sister still had her dry sense of humour.
Misty mumbled something and Daisy sat on the bed softly. Misty turned her head to face her older sister and Daisy was shocked to see the tears running down her young face.
Misty never cried, well at least until tonight she never did.
"Its Ash" she moaned.
Daisy wanted to roll her eyes. Those two were causing each other grief all the time, granted that usually it didn't result in this much heartbreak, it was still no biggie.
"What did the little brat do now?" she asked, trying to sound comforting.
"He kissed a girl that I hate and I thought he hated, right in front of me"
"WHAT?!" three shrills voices cried.
Lily and Violet burst into the room looking outraged.
"That little loser is going down" Lily growled.
"Yeah come on lets tear the slime limb from limb" Violet cried, making a beeline for the door.
"Yeah fun idea but altogether not helpful to the cause at the moment" Daisy interrupted, nodding at Misty.
Violet and Lily opened their mouths to object but the look their eldest sister stopped them in their tracks. They could tell that Daisy wanted to teach that kid a thing or two about hurting a Waterflower but she was holding it back for Misty's sake, so the very least they could do was not upset their baby sister.
"Misty, guys do this to us all the time. They cause heartache wherever they go, and I know this hurts like crazy but you'll find someone new who will know how to treat a great girl like yourself" Daisy soothed.
"Yeah who even likes a girl named after a deer? I mean, like, would like the whole explode with male hormones if like a girl named Bambi showed up?" Lily asked, folding her arms.
"Bet its her geography notes" Misty muttered with contempt.
The three older sisters exchanged puzzled glances.
"Maybe the student body takes, like, huge interest in their education" Violet suggested, shrugging her shoulders.
"Maybe we should have a word with this Bambi wannabe" Lily suggested.
"Don't bother. I can handle my own punching plans "
"Is it wrong that I'm proud our little sister punched another girl," Violet asked with a small smirk.
"See Misty good idea--punching Bambi girl, bad idea- punching footpath" Lily grinned teasingly.
"Sweetie, you'll get over this and it'll make that but stronger. I mean this happens to everyone, even your amazing sisters have struck out in love" Daisy continued, getting back to the topic at hand.
"But Ash is supposed to hurt me like this. He's not" Misty argued weakly, and her large sad pleading eyes begged them for an explanation.
"So we thought" the girls agreed.
*******
"WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?!" Brock practically roared at Ash.
"It wasn't my fault" Ash defended himself.
"How could you do that to me, man you were my friend and I knew I really cared about that girl. And Misty? How could you do that to her?"
"What you think I liked seeing that, doing that to her. Brock listen.."
"I can't! I have to get out of here" Brock stormed off but paused next to Giselle and gave her a brief look.
Even from that short glance Giselle could see and feel the anger form him.
"You're lucky all you got was her left hook."
With that, he walked away breathing deeply, trying to control his rage.
Ash stood and uttered a few choice words that he would never use in anyone else's company.
"So you ruined my life, any reason or was this all just to prove a point?" Ash demanded, glaring at Giselle.
"I...." Giselle found that she had nothing to say in her defence.
"You turned one of my best friends against me and my other friends won't forgive me for this either. And you turned Misty against me, Misty is.. so so much more than a friend and she's never going to forgive me. She's gotta be about the most important person in my life and you screwed that up for no reason. Don't you get that?!"
Giselle wrung her slender hands; suddenly the pain in her face was nothing compared to the pain in her chest. She knew that Ash and Misty cared about each other, she knew they cared about each other a lot, she knew what good friends they were with Brock and she knew how much she cared about Brock and she now knew the consequences of her actions.
"You know I don't know why I'm so surprised. You don't have any real friends so losing them wouldn't mean a thing to you, as long as you're happy..."
Ash couldn't go on, there was too much to be said and he had to talk to Misty to sort this out. He walked away wordlessly leaving Giselle to wallow in her own guilt.
Giselle began walking down the hall, unsure of where she was going.
"Oh my God! Giselle what on earth happened to you?" a female voice cried.
Giselle turned around and found a blue haired girl she didn't know too well but knew had taken up with Ash's gang.
A boy with black hair she recognised as Tracey peered out the door and froze when he saw her.
"Giselle, your eye" he said looking at her in shock.
"I kissed Ash and Misty punched me "Giselle answered then gave a small laugh. "Turns out she has a great left hook"
"Yeah I know... you kissed Ash?"
"Yeah I did and Misty saw us and punched me and in all honesty, I have never felt so low in my life. I completely wrecked things for them"
Tracey was staring at her, anger burning in his eyes. Lisa was confused.
"I need to do something to fix this, I need to fix this" she pleaded with them.
"Well you could kiss Misty but I don't think that's going help very much" Tracey remarked, sarcastically.
Giselle walked away from them muttering something about trying to fix this.
"Man I can't believe her...or Ash. He's always been so into Misty I don't get why he'd even look at another girl"
"I can't believe that your solution to every problem is to get some girl to kiss your female friends."
"It's making the best of a bad situation. Until I talk to Ash, I can't make a call on this"
Tracey slid down the wall onto the wall and sighed. Lisa sat down opposite, cross-legged with a small hint of a smile.
"But you can decide its one of those problems that can be fixed by Misty kissing some girl?"
*******
"Hey Duplica! Wait up!"
Duplica paused and looked around, her face lighting up with a smile as Snap raced towards her, trying to avoid the crowds of people.
"Hi" he panted, struggling to catch his breath. Duplica had to smile at him.
"How's it going with musical?" he asked once he found his breath.
"It's really coming together..but you should know, you're part of it"
"Yeah but not the acting part. I can't wait to see you in it" Snap replied sheepishly.
"To see me, huh?" Duplica asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well yeah, who else?" he asked, avoiding her eyes.
That one caught her off guard. He was thinking about her and he didn't even mention a certain red heads name, maybe he was noticing her inside of Misty.
"Hey guys" a voice called out, interrupting the moment. They both turned to see Richie walking over to them.
"Have you guys been able to get in contact with anyone. I tried calling the gang last night, Ash, Misty and Brock aren't picking up and Tracey's acting really weird?"
"Can't say I have, Rich "
At that moment, the bell rang and the small gang trudged off to class. When they arrived, they were stunned by what they saw.
Misty saw sitting with some girl she was pretty friendly with and was listening to her chat away, and would throw in the odd reply. At the other side of the class Ash was sitting with someone else he knew, resting his chin on his arms he had spread out on the desk. Brock was sitting with Tracey and neither seemed to be saying much. None of them looked to be very happy.
Giselle walked past, scuffling along; when she sat down they caught a glimpse of her face and noticed that around her eye, her foundation was much darker which could only mean.
"That girl got punched" Richie said in surprise.
The group was very puzzled and decided to enquire about this after class. The class dragged on and seemed like an eternity considering no one was talking to each other.
When the bell rang again, the group scattered so fast that Snap, Duplica and Riche didn't get a chance to catch anyone. Eventually they did find Ash and dragged him to an empty classroom to find out exactly what as going on.
Ash collapsed onto a chair and gave them all glares.
"I have stuff to do, you know"
"Yeah like explaining what is going on here?"
"What, don't feel like explaining?" a cold voice drawled from the door.
Brock stood there with Tracey who looked confused.
"Brock it wasn't my.."
"Tell them or I will. And it will sound a lot worse coming from me"
"Me and Giselle, she, we kissed. And Brock and Misty saw it" Ash mumbled causing a shocked silence to blanket the room.
"You JERK!" Duplica cried, springing to her feet.
"Its now how it"
"So what?! The girl pinned you to the floor and there was nothing you could do to stop her. Misty is so in lo.... aww man I can't believe you'd do that to your friends" Duplica stalked across the room and slammed the door shut. Snap shook his head and was followed shortly by Brock, leaving Tracey Richie and Ash.
"Aren't you guys gonna barge out?" Ash asked.
"I believe ya man, and we don't think that us turning on each other is a good idea. " Tracey replied.
"Yeah I say we just try to sort this out" Richie agreed.
******
"I was absolutely disgusted with your behavior. Using physical violence is never necessary. I expected much more of you and then you go about this degrading show and well I'm afraid that you will have to be punished. Now Misty, the last thing I want to do is expel you, you're a very bright talented attractive young girl who has her whole life ahead of her and I can see that your are destined for greater things and I would love to see make the most of your gifts while you're in this fine institution and the drama teacher has nothing but praise for you so I'm going to leave you off easily this time but this is it, young lady. Another incident and I will be forced to expel you"
Misty nodded absentmindedly trying her hardest to focus. She knew she should be grateful and relieved and complimented that she wasn't getting in that much trouble, a letter home, an essay. She'd have to make sure to bite her tongue for a small while anyway until the heat was off but all she could think of was how Ash could even think of Giselle and kissing.
"Yes sir" she replied automatically.
Misty headed towards the door and just as her hand rested on the door handle, he spoke up again.
"Misty, this will be the last time I give you an out, understand?"
She turned to face the red-faced man and nodded solemnly.
She left the office swiftly and let out a long-winded sigh.
"Misty!"
Duplica was running towards her, wearing a worried expression.
"Misty, um...I heard about what happened with Ash"
Misty let 9out a small harsh laugh.
"What is he boasting about it now?"
She walked away briskly leaving Duplica to hurry after her.
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing, Ash made his choice."
"But you have such history"
Misty spun around, eyes blazing.
"I know that! You think its not killing me that the guy I have known and possibly loved all my life suddenly goes after some girl that I hate and I thought he hated!"
"Misty I"
"I'm sorry but I'm just...its all so wrong and I can't really figure it out"
Duplica paused, opening her mouth to say something when a young man standing at the entrance of the school caught her attention.
"Ok how petty and forties-ish is it to swoon?" she asked, smiling dreamily at the man.
Misty looked and next thing Duplica knew, her friend had charged down the hall and flung herself into the arms of the young man, crushing him in a bear hug. The man in response hugged her back and swung her around, laughing.
"Wish I had thought of that" Duplica muttered, caught between shock and amusement.
"Dave what are you doing here?" Misty cried when the older man placed her back on the ground.
"I just wanted to collect you and.... see the old gang" he answered, flashing his most dazzling and disarming smile at her.
Misty raised an eyebrow, folded her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.
"Really?" she asked, her tone laced with scepticism.
"Ok cards on the table, I heard about what happened from Daisy and I wanted to collect you because I thought you and I needed to talk ...and I might have wanted a word with the as...Ash"
Misty looked at him with a joyless smile.
"If I wanted his butt ground into the footpath I'd do it myself"
"That's true" two voices agreed.
Duplica now stood behind Misty.
"Hey I'm Dave. I work for Misty's sisters and occasionally try to keep an eye on this one" he said with chuckle.
"Occasionally? Most days I can't get you to leave me out of the house on my own" Misty teased, smiling genuinely for the first time since yesterday.
"Anyway, you want a lift home or are you going to walk home. I got a really cool car" he boasted.
"Can you give Plica a lift home?" Misty asked, seeing her friend wouldn't be bold enough to ask.
"I'll take you ladies anywhere you want to go," he said with a wink.
"Lead the way then"
As they walked out of the school, Dave in the lead taking them towards a sleek deep blue convertible.
"Wow Plica, aren't you very quiet. Meowth got your tongue?" Misty teased.
Duplica stuck her tongue out at Misty and blew a raspberry.
Unbeknownst to them, a figure in the hall watched them leave, shocked by what he had just seen.
*****
"Wow, I have to hand it to her when push comes to shove, Misty really knows how to upgrade" Melody remarked as she and Giselle watched Duplica and Misty climb into Dave's car and taking off, giggling.
"How do you think Misty even knows such a little hottie?" she continued.
Giselle wasn't being too receptive, which cause Melody to look at her in concern.
"Are you ok?" she asked, sitting down on the small along the steps to the building.
"Yeah I'm great, why do you ask?" Giselle said automatically.
"You're not yourself, you've been so quiet and you haven't smiled once today not to mention you're sporting quite a shiner there. Is it about those rumours about you and Ash? No one in their right mind would believe that " Melody replied.
Giselle sighed and collapsed on the steps.
She shook her head and then looked up at Melody.
"I did something very stupid which I know it is now and I think my eye stands as testimony to that"
"You got punched"
It was more of a statement than a question.
"I kissed Ash to prove a point to Brock because he was becoming alarmingly likeable and I kissed Ash in front of Misty who was really torn up about it, well I imagine she was, never saw her punch anyone before. I've seen her kick guys in their sensitive areas if they did something to annoy but can't say I ever saw her punch anyone in the face"
"What?! I thought you were just kidding about that...what is it about that group?" Melody demanded.
Giselle shook her head.
"I don't know" she answered softly, while standing up.
"I'll talk to you later. By the way, are you ok? You look kinda flushed and you have some paint on your cheek"
Melody blushed deep red, a sensation she could honestly say she wasn't too familiar with.
"I'm fine" she squeaked.
"If you're sure"
With that she left, shoulders drooping.
******
"Awhh is poor lil loser left on his on his lonesome" Melody taunted.
Richie was just closing his locker when the brunette appeared next to him, making him jump.
"What kind of question is that?" he shot back, staring at her in disbelief.
"I heard a really ridiculous rumour and I want to know if it has any basis "
"Hmm, putting more research into your gossip than usual?"
"I heard that your friend kissed my friend!" Melody stamped her foot on the ground and her fists were clenched by her side.
Richie froze and turned slowly to look at her.
"Maybe your friend kissed my friend" Richie defended.
"My friend would not need to go chasing after anyone, especially your friend." she argued, her voice rising.
"Well she did because I happen to know that my friend didn't chase after your friend because he is crazy about someone else. Your friends cute but that's all that's she got going for her and even then there are prettier" his voice was raised to a yell.
"She has so much more going for her and she's the cutest girl in school, so why shouldn't any guy fall at her feet" she screamed at him, looking slightly hurt, like the words pained her to say.
"IF THATS SO TRUE THEN HOW COME I THINK YOU'RE ONE OF THE CUTEST GIRLS I HAVE EVER SEEN?!"
Both teens froze in their place, Richie shocked by his outburst and mortified that he had screamed that at her and Melody was shocked and secretly delighted by this revelation.
Richie's hand searched the door behind him frantically for a handle, which he gripped.
The sound of the click was the only sound in the hall and the door opened backward nearly causing him to tumble backwards. He stumbled backwards as Melody advanced on him taking confident steps.
Richie back-pedalled as far back as the wall of the small art supplies closet, Melody inches away from him.
"Well I happen to think your the hottest loser I know" she purred wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her body against his, finally placing her lips on his, a move which the male teen accepted readily.
Richie had placed his hand on a shelf and had accidentally landed his thumb is some blue paint.
He let out a cry of surprise and she drew back, still only being about five centimetres from his face.
"What?"
He grinned devilishly at her.
"Nothing"
She smiled and planted her lips back on his while he placed his hands on her face stroking her cheeks with his fingers, leaving a blue smear on her cheek.
"Eughh" she cried, reeling back and touching the paint with a finger, she narrowed her eyes at him and smirked.
You are so dead" she hissed and she practically dove on him, wrapping her legs around him as they continued to kiss.
Ten minutes later, they were both leaning against opposite walls, and looked at each other.
"You tell anyone this happened and I'll make things very hard for you" she warned.
Richie smothered a snigger and looked at her with a not so innocent smile.
"Perv" she muttered.
"Relax, I don't want anyone to think that I see you as anything but princess priss."
"FINE!"
"FINE!"
"This will still be going on, right?"
"Of course"
They both straightened up and peered out the door to make sure they were alone.
Once they had confirmed that, they both stepped out, trying to right their appearances.
They caught each other's eyes and blushed; Melody waked towards the door, throwing an uncharacteristically shy glance over her shoulder at him.
Richie paused when he heard giggles, he knew those giggles. That was Misty and Duplica.
He saw some tall muscular guy who looked to be in his twenties walking towards the door with his arm thrown her shoulder and she was leaning into him smiling and giggling. Duplica was on the guys other side but he didn't have his arm around her.
This was bad.
Melody jumped when she heard the front door swing open and stared in disbelief and some relief when Misty and Duplica emerged with some really cute guy.
"Not as cute as my boy" she thought with glee then mentally scolded herself.
*****
"Ash!" Richie cried, running after his friend who was walking up the hall the next morning.
Ash paused and looked at Richie puzzled.
"I really have to talk to you" he choked out between gasps.
"Oh ok" Ash said slowly, waiting for his friend to catch his breath.
"Hey guys what's up?" Tracey asked.
"Richie has something to tell me but he won't" Ash said simply.
"Gimme a break, I'm trying to breathe" Richie snapped.
"Tracey grabbed both his friends by the elbow and led them towards an empty classroom that wouldn't be in use for an hour or o.
Ash froze when he saw some fiery red in the crowd and watched as Misty walked past him. She was talking with Duplica when she looked over at him. She looked at her hopefully but she broke off their gaze and turned back to Duplica, once again disappearing into the crowd.
"I really don't know what to do here! She won't even give me chance to explain myself. I call her house she's not there but even if she is which she's not because she's much too good for my company, she would totally not talk to me, her sisters' words not mine. I go to her house, she's not there, I even tried writing her a letter, and I have no idea how that went. I send Pikachu around but Pikachu warned specifically if I ever cheated on Misty, I'd pay the price and I try to talk to talk to her in school and she won't even look my in the eye or go within ten feet of me"
"She's got a muscle bound guy," Richie cried out.
"What?!"
"I saw her yesterday with some guy. A guy who looks like he oils himself to sunbathe everyday"
"It's pouring rain today"
"Well he probably smears himself up in sun tan lotion and frolics in the rain, shirtless" Richie struggled to convey the gravity of the situation.
"Excuse me?"
A small shy looking black haired girl peered at them all nervously.
"Sorry wrong class" she whispered before scurrying.
"Well you scared that kid good and proper" Tracey stated.
Ash smiled at his friend while at the same time, looking utterly bewildered.
"Ok I really don't think I need to worry about some guy who frolics in the rain shirtless while smearing himself in sun tan lotion. For some reason it just seems that he wouldn't have that big an interest in Misty or geography notes" Ash grinned.
"You don't get it! This guy is.. he should he Chad or something in a Speedo"
"Dude do YOU want to go frolicking with Chad?" Tracey asked.
The bell rang piercingly causing the boys to jump.
"I'll talk to Misty after school, we have practise for the play and Crefell won't let her go anywhere" Ash promised.
*****
Ash took a very cautious step into the theatre, well aware that he was late.
He would have been on time if he hadn't been in trouble for running down the hall, trying to get to the theatre early which was kind of funny if you thought about it.
The theatre was in silence and no on even noticed him slipping in.
He sat in a chair at the back, hoping to climb over the rows of chairs one at a time so that he could end up near the front row and look like he had always been there. He looked up at the stage to see what the big deal was when his heartbeat quickened.
Misty was sitting on the small bench next to Aine whose fingers were poised above the keys.
Misty's eyes were closed and Ash could see her attention was completely on the music. Aine began to play and soon the sweet and powerful of one Misty Waterflower was filling the huge theatre.
He wanders off,
He's just lost without me
Doesn't matter what I say
I try to give advice
I tell him twice
He won't listen
He's gotta do it his own way
He drives me crazy
All of the time
He drives me crazy
He drives me out of my mind
So why do I worry about him?
Why do I care?
I don't know why I let it faze me
But he drives me crazy
Yeah yeah
He's here and there
Everywhere just lookin'
Always finding something new
I know he's kinda strange
He'll never change
Oh tell me what's a girl supposed to do
He drives me crazy
All of the time
He drives me crazy
He drives me out of my mind
So why do I worry about him?
Why do I care?
I don't know why I let it faze me
But he drives me crazy
Just go off in your own direction
And see if anybody cares
Just don't come running back to me
"ASH KETCHUM!"
Ash jumped up from his seat and could see Mr Crefell approach him.
"You're late" he said.
Ash nodded and began to splutter an excuse when Mr Crefell nodded towards the front of the theatre.
"Get a seat in the front row, now"
Ash obeyed and walked down towards the stage, ignoring the stares of everyone else, including Misty. Mr Crefell could sense the tension and soon put an end to the uncomfortable looks between Misty and Ash.
"Misty, that was good but we need to work on you stage presence. When you close your eyes, you're imagining that you're not here and that you're somewhere safe. I need to know that you're here and I need you to think of the stage as a safe place. Trust me Misty, its very safe place for you. Understand?"
"Yeah, thanks"
Misty walked off behind the curtains and Mr Crefell sent someone else up.
Ash waited till he was called and went up and talked about the progress of the Pokemon who were going to be used in the sow and also delivered one of his monologues that had the small group of students laughing.
He disappeared off backstage in search of Misty. He found her in the small soundproof changing room they had backstage.
She was playing with the costumes, obviously wasting time back here so she didn't have to see him.
"Misty?" he began tentatively.
"I don't want to see you" Misty replied, not even turning around.
By this stage, Ash had had his share of being blown off and ignored by his best friend.
"This is so stupid! She kissed me! And even if she did, what business is it of yours, you just can't stand the idea that maybe Giselle might be attracted to me"
"You don't get it!"
"What gave it away?!"
"I love you ok? I have loved you so for so long and then to see you kiss someone who means nothing to you, your first kiss, instead of sharing it with me. That just kills me"
Ash froze in his tracks. There was no way someone like Misty, someone as incredible as Misty could love him. This was just some manipulative trick she had pulled.
"How convenient that you suddenly love me when you see that Giselle might be interested"
"What?!"
"You don't care about me, you're just saying this because you don't want Giselle to have anything that's yours whether it be a dirty old sock or just some friend. You know I expected better of you Mist. You don't love me, hell I love you always have but you're just being a spoilt brat who doesn't want anyone to have anything she has even if she doesn't use it"
Misty was so angry with him that she dismissed the declaration of love form him, regarding it as insincere though many some tiny part of her believed him.
"You really believe that?!"
"Yeah I do"
"You are such a GRRRR... I can't even be in the same room with you" she stormed off.
"Who's asking you to" Ash roared after her.
Misty stormed offstage and only by intense determination, did she manage to sit down instead of walking out the door. Ash stayed in the changing room.
"Excellent!" Mr Crefell cried.
"The opening night is next Friday and I have no doubt that we shall everything worked out by next week "
"I do" Misty muttered.
To be continued
Yay! I'm finished this chapter which took my quite some time. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, it was so great to know that there were still people interested in this story.
Anyway, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and please read and review.
Lots of love
Festive Nibbs
I hope everyone had an absolutely great Christmas.
Sorry about the delay with this chapter but it was the run up to Christmas, presents to buy, projects to have done for college...come to think of it I still have those projects due, ohh dear.
Well to make up for it, this chapter is jumbo sized, well it's longer than usual and I think some pretty important things happen in this chapter.
Please can anyone give me a good name for a kitten cause I'm getting one in the next few days, hopefully.
See, my old cat ran away about a month ago which had me heartbroken because I had her for about eight years and I was crazy about her.
So we're getting a kitten because now the mice are having a field day and our big black scary dog is much too softhearted to actually scare anything
Well I should finish this up because I got a game I really love and I want to get back to that and these are reallylomg authors notes.
Oh yeah, by the way, I'm thinking of writing another story that I've had in my head for a few days now. It's really different to what I usually write and it's darker than other stories of mine but thats all I'm going to say. I'm going to write it anyway cause I always write up stories I have in my head but I'd love some support so I get the courage to post it.
The characters don't belong to me but the story does.
Please read and review
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to everyone.
*******
The room was filled with a very uneasy silence
The tension was so thick, a scyther would have had a hard time slicing through it.
Brock was shaking his head in disbelief, unsure what to do.
Giselle bit her lip, suddenly realising what she had done to these people, Ash looked so helpless and confused and he cast a cautious look at Misty.
He could see her head bowed, her bangs covering her eyes.
Without a word she walked towards Giselle silently.
It was creepy, like she was possessed, and she stopped right in front of the brunette.
Giselle was scared; there was no way around it. She knew about Misty and her temper and had seen it in action but in all her days, she had never seen anyone react like this.
To test the water she opened her mouth to throw some caustic remark about what had happened.
Suddenly Misty's head snapped up and her eyes blazed with an endless anger and her eyes glazed over with unshed tears.
Ash and Brock both took a step back from the intense glare.
They had seen her mad but never like this.
Just as Giselle was about to speak, Misty pulled back her fist and sent the girl reeling a few feet with a left hook.
Giselle let out a scream of pain and clamped a hand over her eye.
The entire right side of her face was burning; she had never been hit like that.
Misty's head was lowered again and she was struggling to keep the tears from falling.
"How dare you?!" Giselle screamed at her.
Misty raised her eyes again to Giselle's, meaning the other two couldn't see her face and Giselle stared up at the hate filled eyes of the red head.
She was terrified, she had never seen anyone this mad and given her last punch, Giselle didn't want to push her.
"What in the world is going on?" the nurse cried, surveying the teens.
"N'other patient" Misty answered in a quiet icy voice and then walked away just as silently as she had approached Giselle.
"MISTY!" Ash cried, trying to run after her but she didn't even toss a look his way and he was still weak from his impromptu rendezvous with the bathroom.
He called out for her again and again she didn't look back and left the building, the door swinging shut behind her.
She left the grounds and paused, leaning against a wall around the corner.
Her knees buckled and she landed on her knees.
She pounded the ground with as much strength as she could, ignoring the stinging sensation spreading through her hands.
Sobs racked her body and hot tears streamed down her face.
She let out a loud wail and buried her face in her hands, crouched up on the ground.
*****
"Duplica, hey. No our favourite little runt isn't back yet" Daisy sighed and cast a worried glance at the door, hiding her concern with her typical exasperated tone she used when discussing Misty.
"Yeah I'll make sure she calls you when she gets in. Yeah buh bye"
Daisy gazed around the empty hall.
Dave had gone to visit his mother, a task which, while Daisy wouldn't admit it, she thought was incredibly noble.
She missed the guy, she missed having someone about who knew how to deal with Misty and having someone about to watch out for all of them and some who offered a helping hand wherever possible, but most of all, she just missed him.
Lily danced across the floor, twirling, her short pink fanning out behind her.
"Oh I just love Matt so much." she cried, joyously.
"What did he do now, Lil?" Violet asked with an exaggerated sigh, they were all happy for their sister and her new boyfriend but they always teased each other, Misty was just best at it.
"He sent me a single white rose" she giggled.
The door opened slowly and Misty trudged in, head hanging low.
She didn't want her sisters to see her red eyes.
"Oh go on, say it! Say how he only reason he got me one flower was because he too cheap to buy a bouquet or that this was just a downpayment!" Lily snapped at the younger red head waiting for her sisters' put-down.
Misty walked past them and ran upstairs, hand loosely brushing the banister.
The three sisters stared up the stairs in surprise, then jumped when they heard the door slam.
The only sound that could be heard was the ticking of the clock.
"Anyone else finding this weird and creepy?" Violet asked.
"Anyone up for a game of 'Figure out the kid'?" Lily asked, tilting her head to the side.
Daisy smiled as they began up the stairs.
"We've been playing that game everyday since we were kids. Why change now?"
Daisy knocked on the door softly and turned the handle finding it unlocked. Lily and Violet stayed outside, knowing that Misty would only talk with Daisy about this, but that wouldn't stop them listening at the door.
"Misty...sweetie? Something wrong?" Daisy asked gingerly approaching the lone figure, sitting with her legs tucked up to her chest and hiding her face in her knees.
The deep red liquid spilling off Misty's hands and staining her jeans caught Daisy's eye and she drew back.
"Why is your hand bleeding?" she shrieked.
"Run in with a path on the way home" Misty muttered.
"Misty, for the like the last time! You cannot fight cement. Its just doesn't work" Lily cried, snapping her hands on her hips.
"Why were you throwing down with a footpath?" Violet asked.
A hint of a smirk crept up Misty's face.
"Pftt. You should see the other guy"
The three sisters smiled softly relieved to see that their youngest sister still had her dry sense of humour.
Misty mumbled something and Daisy sat on the bed softly. Misty turned her head to face her older sister and Daisy was shocked to see the tears running down her young face.
Misty never cried, well at least until tonight she never did.
"Its Ash" she moaned.
Daisy wanted to roll her eyes. Those two were causing each other grief all the time, granted that usually it didn't result in this much heartbreak, it was still no biggie.
"What did the little brat do now?" she asked, trying to sound comforting.
"He kissed a girl that I hate and I thought he hated, right in front of me"
"WHAT?!" three shrills voices cried.
Lily and Violet burst into the room looking outraged.
"That little loser is going down" Lily growled.
"Yeah come on lets tear the slime limb from limb" Violet cried, making a beeline for the door.
"Yeah fun idea but altogether not helpful to the cause at the moment" Daisy interrupted, nodding at Misty.
Violet and Lily opened their mouths to object but the look their eldest sister stopped them in their tracks. They could tell that Daisy wanted to teach that kid a thing or two about hurting a Waterflower but she was holding it back for Misty's sake, so the very least they could do was not upset their baby sister.
"Misty, guys do this to us all the time. They cause heartache wherever they go, and I know this hurts like crazy but you'll find someone new who will know how to treat a great girl like yourself" Daisy soothed.
"Yeah who even likes a girl named after a deer? I mean, like, would like the whole explode with male hormones if like a girl named Bambi showed up?" Lily asked, folding her arms.
"Bet its her geography notes" Misty muttered with contempt.
The three older sisters exchanged puzzled glances.
"Maybe the student body takes, like, huge interest in their education" Violet suggested, shrugging her shoulders.
"Maybe we should have a word with this Bambi wannabe" Lily suggested.
"Don't bother. I can handle my own punching plans "
"Is it wrong that I'm proud our little sister punched another girl," Violet asked with a small smirk.
"See Misty good idea--punching Bambi girl, bad idea- punching footpath" Lily grinned teasingly.
"Sweetie, you'll get over this and it'll make that but stronger. I mean this happens to everyone, even your amazing sisters have struck out in love" Daisy continued, getting back to the topic at hand.
"But Ash is supposed to hurt me like this. He's not" Misty argued weakly, and her large sad pleading eyes begged them for an explanation.
"So we thought" the girls agreed.
*******
"WHAT DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?!" Brock practically roared at Ash.
"It wasn't my fault" Ash defended himself.
"How could you do that to me, man you were my friend and I knew I really cared about that girl. And Misty? How could you do that to her?"
"What you think I liked seeing that, doing that to her. Brock listen.."
"I can't! I have to get out of here" Brock stormed off but paused next to Giselle and gave her a brief look.
Even from that short glance Giselle could see and feel the anger form him.
"You're lucky all you got was her left hook."
With that, he walked away breathing deeply, trying to control his rage.
Ash stood and uttered a few choice words that he would never use in anyone else's company.
"So you ruined my life, any reason or was this all just to prove a point?" Ash demanded, glaring at Giselle.
"I...." Giselle found that she had nothing to say in her defence.
"You turned one of my best friends against me and my other friends won't forgive me for this either. And you turned Misty against me, Misty is.. so so much more than a friend and she's never going to forgive me. She's gotta be about the most important person in my life and you screwed that up for no reason. Don't you get that?!"
Giselle wrung her slender hands; suddenly the pain in her face was nothing compared to the pain in her chest. She knew that Ash and Misty cared about each other, she knew they cared about each other a lot, she knew what good friends they were with Brock and she knew how much she cared about Brock and she now knew the consequences of her actions.
"You know I don't know why I'm so surprised. You don't have any real friends so losing them wouldn't mean a thing to you, as long as you're happy..."
Ash couldn't go on, there was too much to be said and he had to talk to Misty to sort this out. He walked away wordlessly leaving Giselle to wallow in her own guilt.
Giselle began walking down the hall, unsure of where she was going.
"Oh my God! Giselle what on earth happened to you?" a female voice cried.
Giselle turned around and found a blue haired girl she didn't know too well but knew had taken up with Ash's gang.
A boy with black hair she recognised as Tracey peered out the door and froze when he saw her.
"Giselle, your eye" he said looking at her in shock.
"I kissed Ash and Misty punched me "Giselle answered then gave a small laugh. "Turns out she has a great left hook"
"Yeah I know... you kissed Ash?"
"Yeah I did and Misty saw us and punched me and in all honesty, I have never felt so low in my life. I completely wrecked things for them"
Tracey was staring at her, anger burning in his eyes. Lisa was confused.
"I need to do something to fix this, I need to fix this" she pleaded with them.
"Well you could kiss Misty but I don't think that's going help very much" Tracey remarked, sarcastically.
Giselle walked away from them muttering something about trying to fix this.
"Man I can't believe her...or Ash. He's always been so into Misty I don't get why he'd even look at another girl"
"I can't believe that your solution to every problem is to get some girl to kiss your female friends."
"It's making the best of a bad situation. Until I talk to Ash, I can't make a call on this"
Tracey slid down the wall onto the wall and sighed. Lisa sat down opposite, cross-legged with a small hint of a smile.
"But you can decide its one of those problems that can be fixed by Misty kissing some girl?"
*******
"Hey Duplica! Wait up!"
Duplica paused and looked around, her face lighting up with a smile as Snap raced towards her, trying to avoid the crowds of people.
"Hi" he panted, struggling to catch his breath. Duplica had to smile at him.
"How's it going with musical?" he asked once he found his breath.
"It's really coming together..but you should know, you're part of it"
"Yeah but not the acting part. I can't wait to see you in it" Snap replied sheepishly.
"To see me, huh?" Duplica asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well yeah, who else?" he asked, avoiding her eyes.
That one caught her off guard. He was thinking about her and he didn't even mention a certain red heads name, maybe he was noticing her inside of Misty.
"Hey guys" a voice called out, interrupting the moment. They both turned to see Richie walking over to them.
"Have you guys been able to get in contact with anyone. I tried calling the gang last night, Ash, Misty and Brock aren't picking up and Tracey's acting really weird?"
"Can't say I have, Rich "
At that moment, the bell rang and the small gang trudged off to class. When they arrived, they were stunned by what they saw.
Misty saw sitting with some girl she was pretty friendly with and was listening to her chat away, and would throw in the odd reply. At the other side of the class Ash was sitting with someone else he knew, resting his chin on his arms he had spread out on the desk. Brock was sitting with Tracey and neither seemed to be saying much. None of them looked to be very happy.
Giselle walked past, scuffling along; when she sat down they caught a glimpse of her face and noticed that around her eye, her foundation was much darker which could only mean.
"That girl got punched" Richie said in surprise.
The group was very puzzled and decided to enquire about this after class. The class dragged on and seemed like an eternity considering no one was talking to each other.
When the bell rang again, the group scattered so fast that Snap, Duplica and Riche didn't get a chance to catch anyone. Eventually they did find Ash and dragged him to an empty classroom to find out exactly what as going on.
Ash collapsed onto a chair and gave them all glares.
"I have stuff to do, you know"
"Yeah like explaining what is going on here?"
"What, don't feel like explaining?" a cold voice drawled from the door.
Brock stood there with Tracey who looked confused.
"Brock it wasn't my.."
"Tell them or I will. And it will sound a lot worse coming from me"
"Me and Giselle, she, we kissed. And Brock and Misty saw it" Ash mumbled causing a shocked silence to blanket the room.
"You JERK!" Duplica cried, springing to her feet.
"Its now how it"
"So what?! The girl pinned you to the floor and there was nothing you could do to stop her. Misty is so in lo.... aww man I can't believe you'd do that to your friends" Duplica stalked across the room and slammed the door shut. Snap shook his head and was followed shortly by Brock, leaving Tracey Richie and Ash.
"Aren't you guys gonna barge out?" Ash asked.
"I believe ya man, and we don't think that us turning on each other is a good idea. " Tracey replied.
"Yeah I say we just try to sort this out" Richie agreed.
******
"I was absolutely disgusted with your behavior. Using physical violence is never necessary. I expected much more of you and then you go about this degrading show and well I'm afraid that you will have to be punished. Now Misty, the last thing I want to do is expel you, you're a very bright talented attractive young girl who has her whole life ahead of her and I can see that your are destined for greater things and I would love to see make the most of your gifts while you're in this fine institution and the drama teacher has nothing but praise for you so I'm going to leave you off easily this time but this is it, young lady. Another incident and I will be forced to expel you"
Misty nodded absentmindedly trying her hardest to focus. She knew she should be grateful and relieved and complimented that she wasn't getting in that much trouble, a letter home, an essay. She'd have to make sure to bite her tongue for a small while anyway until the heat was off but all she could think of was how Ash could even think of Giselle and kissing.
"Yes sir" she replied automatically.
Misty headed towards the door and just as her hand rested on the door handle, he spoke up again.
"Misty, this will be the last time I give you an out, understand?"
She turned to face the red-faced man and nodded solemnly.
She left the office swiftly and let out a long-winded sigh.
"Misty!"
Duplica was running towards her, wearing a worried expression.
"Misty, um...I heard about what happened with Ash"
Misty let 9out a small harsh laugh.
"What is he boasting about it now?"
She walked away briskly leaving Duplica to hurry after her.
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing, Ash made his choice."
"But you have such history"
Misty spun around, eyes blazing.
"I know that! You think its not killing me that the guy I have known and possibly loved all my life suddenly goes after some girl that I hate and I thought he hated!"
"Misty I"
"I'm sorry but I'm just...its all so wrong and I can't really figure it out"
Duplica paused, opening her mouth to say something when a young man standing at the entrance of the school caught her attention.
"Ok how petty and forties-ish is it to swoon?" she asked, smiling dreamily at the man.
Misty looked and next thing Duplica knew, her friend had charged down the hall and flung herself into the arms of the young man, crushing him in a bear hug. The man in response hugged her back and swung her around, laughing.
"Wish I had thought of that" Duplica muttered, caught between shock and amusement.
"Dave what are you doing here?" Misty cried when the older man placed her back on the ground.
"I just wanted to collect you and.... see the old gang" he answered, flashing his most dazzling and disarming smile at her.
Misty raised an eyebrow, folded her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.
"Really?" she asked, her tone laced with scepticism.
"Ok cards on the table, I heard about what happened from Daisy and I wanted to collect you because I thought you and I needed to talk ...and I might have wanted a word with the as...Ash"
Misty looked at him with a joyless smile.
"If I wanted his butt ground into the footpath I'd do it myself"
"That's true" two voices agreed.
Duplica now stood behind Misty.
"Hey I'm Dave. I work for Misty's sisters and occasionally try to keep an eye on this one" he said with chuckle.
"Occasionally? Most days I can't get you to leave me out of the house on my own" Misty teased, smiling genuinely for the first time since yesterday.
"Anyway, you want a lift home or are you going to walk home. I got a really cool car" he boasted.
"Can you give Plica a lift home?" Misty asked, seeing her friend wouldn't be bold enough to ask.
"I'll take you ladies anywhere you want to go," he said with a wink.
"Lead the way then"
As they walked out of the school, Dave in the lead taking them towards a sleek deep blue convertible.
"Wow Plica, aren't you very quiet. Meowth got your tongue?" Misty teased.
Duplica stuck her tongue out at Misty and blew a raspberry.
Unbeknownst to them, a figure in the hall watched them leave, shocked by what he had just seen.
*****
"Wow, I have to hand it to her when push comes to shove, Misty really knows how to upgrade" Melody remarked as she and Giselle watched Duplica and Misty climb into Dave's car and taking off, giggling.
"How do you think Misty even knows such a little hottie?" she continued.
Giselle wasn't being too receptive, which cause Melody to look at her in concern.
"Are you ok?" she asked, sitting down on the small along the steps to the building.
"Yeah I'm great, why do you ask?" Giselle said automatically.
"You're not yourself, you've been so quiet and you haven't smiled once today not to mention you're sporting quite a shiner there. Is it about those rumours about you and Ash? No one in their right mind would believe that " Melody replied.
Giselle sighed and collapsed on the steps.
She shook her head and then looked up at Melody.
"I did something very stupid which I know it is now and I think my eye stands as testimony to that"
"You got punched"
It was more of a statement than a question.
"I kissed Ash to prove a point to Brock because he was becoming alarmingly likeable and I kissed Ash in front of Misty who was really torn up about it, well I imagine she was, never saw her punch anyone before. I've seen her kick guys in their sensitive areas if they did something to annoy but can't say I ever saw her punch anyone in the face"
"What?! I thought you were just kidding about that...what is it about that group?" Melody demanded.
Giselle shook her head.
"I don't know" she answered softly, while standing up.
"I'll talk to you later. By the way, are you ok? You look kinda flushed and you have some paint on your cheek"
Melody blushed deep red, a sensation she could honestly say she wasn't too familiar with.
"I'm fine" she squeaked.
"If you're sure"
With that she left, shoulders drooping.
******
"Awhh is poor lil loser left on his on his lonesome" Melody taunted.
Richie was just closing his locker when the brunette appeared next to him, making him jump.
"What kind of question is that?" he shot back, staring at her in disbelief.
"I heard a really ridiculous rumour and I want to know if it has any basis "
"Hmm, putting more research into your gossip than usual?"
"I heard that your friend kissed my friend!" Melody stamped her foot on the ground and her fists were clenched by her side.
Richie froze and turned slowly to look at her.
"Maybe your friend kissed my friend" Richie defended.
"My friend would not need to go chasing after anyone, especially your friend." she argued, her voice rising.
"Well she did because I happen to know that my friend didn't chase after your friend because he is crazy about someone else. Your friends cute but that's all that's she got going for her and even then there are prettier" his voice was raised to a yell.
"She has so much more going for her and she's the cutest girl in school, so why shouldn't any guy fall at her feet" she screamed at him, looking slightly hurt, like the words pained her to say.
"IF THATS SO TRUE THEN HOW COME I THINK YOU'RE ONE OF THE CUTEST GIRLS I HAVE EVER SEEN?!"
Both teens froze in their place, Richie shocked by his outburst and mortified that he had screamed that at her and Melody was shocked and secretly delighted by this revelation.
Richie's hand searched the door behind him frantically for a handle, which he gripped.
The sound of the click was the only sound in the hall and the door opened backward nearly causing him to tumble backwards. He stumbled backwards as Melody advanced on him taking confident steps.
Richie back-pedalled as far back as the wall of the small art supplies closet, Melody inches away from him.
"Well I happen to think your the hottest loser I know" she purred wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her body against his, finally placing her lips on his, a move which the male teen accepted readily.
Richie had placed his hand on a shelf and had accidentally landed his thumb is some blue paint.
He let out a cry of surprise and she drew back, still only being about five centimetres from his face.
"What?"
He grinned devilishly at her.
"Nothing"
She smiled and planted her lips back on his while he placed his hands on her face stroking her cheeks with his fingers, leaving a blue smear on her cheek.
"Eughh" she cried, reeling back and touching the paint with a finger, she narrowed her eyes at him and smirked.
You are so dead" she hissed and she practically dove on him, wrapping her legs around him as they continued to kiss.
Ten minutes later, they were both leaning against opposite walls, and looked at each other.
"You tell anyone this happened and I'll make things very hard for you" she warned.
Richie smothered a snigger and looked at her with a not so innocent smile.
"Perv" she muttered.
"Relax, I don't want anyone to think that I see you as anything but princess priss."
"FINE!"
"FINE!"
"This will still be going on, right?"
"Of course"
They both straightened up and peered out the door to make sure they were alone.
Once they had confirmed that, they both stepped out, trying to right their appearances.
They caught each other's eyes and blushed; Melody waked towards the door, throwing an uncharacteristically shy glance over her shoulder at him.
Richie paused when he heard giggles, he knew those giggles. That was Misty and Duplica.
He saw some tall muscular guy who looked to be in his twenties walking towards the door with his arm thrown her shoulder and she was leaning into him smiling and giggling. Duplica was on the guys other side but he didn't have his arm around her.
This was bad.
Melody jumped when she heard the front door swing open and stared in disbelief and some relief when Misty and Duplica emerged with some really cute guy.
"Not as cute as my boy" she thought with glee then mentally scolded herself.
*****
"Ash!" Richie cried, running after his friend who was walking up the hall the next morning.
Ash paused and looked at Richie puzzled.
"I really have to talk to you" he choked out between gasps.
"Oh ok" Ash said slowly, waiting for his friend to catch his breath.
"Hey guys what's up?" Tracey asked.
"Richie has something to tell me but he won't" Ash said simply.
"Gimme a break, I'm trying to breathe" Richie snapped.
"Tracey grabbed both his friends by the elbow and led them towards an empty classroom that wouldn't be in use for an hour or o.
Ash froze when he saw some fiery red in the crowd and watched as Misty walked past him. She was talking with Duplica when she looked over at him. She looked at her hopefully but she broke off their gaze and turned back to Duplica, once again disappearing into the crowd.
"I really don't know what to do here! She won't even give me chance to explain myself. I call her house she's not there but even if she is which she's not because she's much too good for my company, she would totally not talk to me, her sisters' words not mine. I go to her house, she's not there, I even tried writing her a letter, and I have no idea how that went. I send Pikachu around but Pikachu warned specifically if I ever cheated on Misty, I'd pay the price and I try to talk to talk to her in school and she won't even look my in the eye or go within ten feet of me"
"She's got a muscle bound guy," Richie cried out.
"What?!"
"I saw her yesterday with some guy. A guy who looks like he oils himself to sunbathe everyday"
"It's pouring rain today"
"Well he probably smears himself up in sun tan lotion and frolics in the rain, shirtless" Richie struggled to convey the gravity of the situation.
"Excuse me?"
A small shy looking black haired girl peered at them all nervously.
"Sorry wrong class" she whispered before scurrying.
"Well you scared that kid good and proper" Tracey stated.
Ash smiled at his friend while at the same time, looking utterly bewildered.
"Ok I really don't think I need to worry about some guy who frolics in the rain shirtless while smearing himself in sun tan lotion. For some reason it just seems that he wouldn't have that big an interest in Misty or geography notes" Ash grinned.
"You don't get it! This guy is.. he should he Chad or something in a Speedo"
"Dude do YOU want to go frolicking with Chad?" Tracey asked.
The bell rang piercingly causing the boys to jump.
"I'll talk to Misty after school, we have practise for the play and Crefell won't let her go anywhere" Ash promised.
*****
Ash took a very cautious step into the theatre, well aware that he was late.
He would have been on time if he hadn't been in trouble for running down the hall, trying to get to the theatre early which was kind of funny if you thought about it.
The theatre was in silence and no on even noticed him slipping in.
He sat in a chair at the back, hoping to climb over the rows of chairs one at a time so that he could end up near the front row and look like he had always been there. He looked up at the stage to see what the big deal was when his heartbeat quickened.
Misty was sitting on the small bench next to Aine whose fingers were poised above the keys.
Misty's eyes were closed and Ash could see her attention was completely on the music. Aine began to play and soon the sweet and powerful of one Misty Waterflower was filling the huge theatre.
He wanders off,
He's just lost without me
Doesn't matter what I say
I try to give advice
I tell him twice
He won't listen
He's gotta do it his own way
He drives me crazy
All of the time
He drives me crazy
He drives me out of my mind
So why do I worry about him?
Why do I care?
I don't know why I let it faze me
But he drives me crazy
Yeah yeah
He's here and there
Everywhere just lookin'
Always finding something new
I know he's kinda strange
He'll never change
Oh tell me what's a girl supposed to do
He drives me crazy
All of the time
He drives me crazy
He drives me out of my mind
So why do I worry about him?
Why do I care?
I don't know why I let it faze me
But he drives me crazy
Just go off in your own direction
And see if anybody cares
Just don't come running back to me
"ASH KETCHUM!"
Ash jumped up from his seat and could see Mr Crefell approach him.
"You're late" he said.
Ash nodded and began to splutter an excuse when Mr Crefell nodded towards the front of the theatre.
"Get a seat in the front row, now"
Ash obeyed and walked down towards the stage, ignoring the stares of everyone else, including Misty. Mr Crefell could sense the tension and soon put an end to the uncomfortable looks between Misty and Ash.
"Misty, that was good but we need to work on you stage presence. When you close your eyes, you're imagining that you're not here and that you're somewhere safe. I need to know that you're here and I need you to think of the stage as a safe place. Trust me Misty, its very safe place for you. Understand?"
"Yeah, thanks"
Misty walked off behind the curtains and Mr Crefell sent someone else up.
Ash waited till he was called and went up and talked about the progress of the Pokemon who were going to be used in the sow and also delivered one of his monologues that had the small group of students laughing.
He disappeared off backstage in search of Misty. He found her in the small soundproof changing room they had backstage.
She was playing with the costumes, obviously wasting time back here so she didn't have to see him.
"Misty?" he began tentatively.
"I don't want to see you" Misty replied, not even turning around.
By this stage, Ash had had his share of being blown off and ignored by his best friend.
"This is so stupid! She kissed me! And even if she did, what business is it of yours, you just can't stand the idea that maybe Giselle might be attracted to me"
"You don't get it!"
"What gave it away?!"
"I love you ok? I have loved you so for so long and then to see you kiss someone who means nothing to you, your first kiss, instead of sharing it with me. That just kills me"
Ash froze in his tracks. There was no way someone like Misty, someone as incredible as Misty could love him. This was just some manipulative trick she had pulled.
"How convenient that you suddenly love me when you see that Giselle might be interested"
"What?!"
"You don't care about me, you're just saying this because you don't want Giselle to have anything that's yours whether it be a dirty old sock or just some friend. You know I expected better of you Mist. You don't love me, hell I love you always have but you're just being a spoilt brat who doesn't want anyone to have anything she has even if she doesn't use it"
Misty was so angry with him that she dismissed the declaration of love form him, regarding it as insincere though many some tiny part of her believed him.
"You really believe that?!"
"Yeah I do"
"You are such a GRRRR... I can't even be in the same room with you" she stormed off.
"Who's asking you to" Ash roared after her.
Misty stormed offstage and only by intense determination, did she manage to sit down instead of walking out the door. Ash stayed in the changing room.
"Excellent!" Mr Crefell cried.
"The opening night is next Friday and I have no doubt that we shall everything worked out by next week "
"I do" Misty muttered.
To be continued
Yay! I'm finished this chapter which took my quite some time. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, it was so great to know that there were still people interested in this story.
Anyway, I hope everyone had a great Christmas and please read and review.
Lots of love
Festive Nibbs