Disclaimer: Don't own 'em

A/N: Thank you for reviewing!!! And they were all good, too. Thank you so very, very much!! Here's the next chappie-enjoy.

Kasagi Onaso

Call me Back-stabber

Part Two: Strawberry-Banana

It stood tall, a skyscraper against the plush sky, a metallic white in color and strewn with wide windows. The building wasn't the tallest one she'd seen on her adventures with Ash and Brock, but the sight of it made her smile and sigh with happiness.

"It's almost eleven now," Mrs. K was saying. "How about I pick you up at three or four?"

"Three," Misty said. "I'm not wearing very nice walking shoes. I wore the soles out of my old ones. I guess that's the first thing on the list."

"That'd be a good idea," Mrs. K said, extracting something from her purse. "Take this, all right? And call me if you want to be picked up sooner or stay longer. Keep in mind dinner's at seven and it's two hours here and back."

"Thanks, Mrs. K!" Misty squealed, taking the solemn black cell phone. "I'll take good care of it, okay?"

"I'm not worried about that," said the woman with a wink as Misty slid from her seat. "Have fun, all right?"

"'Kay!" called Misty as she pulled away. She waved at the car as it disappeared into the horizon and quickly turned on a two inch heel to nearly skip into the mall.

The first thing she noticed was the immense noise.

It riveted off the walls like a bullet and she looked up, gasping in surprise and delight as she saw the floor above her was transparent like glass.

"Welcome to the Viridian City Mall!" came a voice. Misty whipped around to match the voice, light and feminine, to someone who matched the voice exactly. She smiled, as did the girl. "Can I help you with anything?" she asked, handing a flyer to Misty.

"Actually, yes," Misty said. "I was looking for walking shoes."

"Yes, that would be the second floor on the left side," said the girl, spewing the information as if it was programmed into her head.

"And the junior's section--"

"Seventh floor, also left side."

"Thanks," she said, finding the girl's automatic information odd, and skittered off towards the elevator. To her surprise, she found no one in line for the machine and noticed, with only a little guilt, that they were all taking the stairs. When she got onto the elevator, her mind told her to press the button for the second floor but her fingers disagreed and pressed the seventh. Misty chortled as the elevator shot up.

Looks like she would be getting a new outfit first!

That was better, anyway, she decided. Then she could pick out some shoes to go with it!

The junior department was only a couple paces away from the elevator and she happily browsed through their giant selections of shirts, picking out ten to try on as well as two pairs of jeans, one dark blue and one light blue.

As she was heading towards the dressing room, she suddenly felt herself falling as someone appeared in front of her. The clothes in her arms went flying, scattering the floor around her, and she rubbed her toe, which she had stubbed. The shoe lay somewhere underneath a shirt but she couldn't find it anywhere.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Mrs. Ketchum." She snorted and ignored him. "What? No greeting for me?" he asked, lip pouting.

"You just bowled me over and you haven't apologized," she pointed out. "I'm not exactly going to greet you with open arms, Gary."

"Whatever. What the hell is this?" he asked and she whipped her head about to see what he was clamoring on about. He was holding up a pink shirt, its sides scrunched up and a pink tie on each side.

"Give me that!" she snapped, snatching it from him. "What are you doing here, anyway? Replacing your thong? The lingerie section's that way."

"Ouch," he said with a big, mock wince. She was surprised when he began helping her pick up her shirts and pants, stringing them over his arm. "Actually, I drove Mae and her friend here." He nodded his chin behind him.

"You?" she asked, squinting at him. "But you're only fifteen!" He grinned at this but said nothing and picked up another shirt. She paused for a moment, glaring at him. She hadn't seen or spoken to him since she had been thirteen and it didn't surprise her that he hadn't changed much. His hair was still orange-brown, spiked and gently falling into his eyes, eyebrows seemingly permanently set into a glare. His nose was slightly pointed upwards and his lips were smirking. He seemed to know he was good-looking, though he said nothing else.

"Is this yours?" he asked suddenly and she jumped, jerking her gaze from where it had been scrutinizing his looks. "Hello?" He waved her shoe up and down in front of her nose.

"Gimme that!" she snapped, snatching it from him and shoving it on her foot. Caked blood winked up at her from where her nail had split slightly on her toe. "And gimme my clothes," she demanded. Gary shrugged and dumped the clothes into her arms. She grunted, surprised at the weight, and quickly turned away. She heard him snort behind her and suddenly, she didn't feel like shopping much anymore.

Handing the clothes to an employee nearby with a sincere apology, she stormed out of the store and headed towards the food court.

With a irreverent hand, she bought herself a strawberry banana smoothie and eased herself into one of the chairs.

What an ass!, she thought, angrily twisting the straw around in the thick smoothie. Hadn't he seen her coming towards him? What was he doing in there, anyway? He didn't have to wait around for his sister to finish shopping. Why didn't he go into another store or something?

She angrily sipped at her smoothie, barely tasting its intoxicating flavor.

Still...he had helped her pick up the spilled clothes, though he hadn't apologized. And he was rather good-looking...

She gagged on her smoothie, almost bursting out in laughter. Was she crazy? Gary? Gary Oak? Misty pushed the smoothie away from her, her stomach churning. Somehow, the thought didn't feel as revolting as she thought it should.

She didn't...like Gary?

No! Of course not. Stupid, stupid... This time, she did laugh softly and took a gentle sip of the beaten smoothie. Somehow, taking out her anger on food helped. Now, she could finally taste the strawberry banana of the smoothie.

Gary, of all people. Not only did Ash hate his guts, but he was nothing but a self-absorbed loser with nothing but himself on his mind. That was it.

"Imagine finding you here," came the familiar voice and she looked up, eyes narrowed.

"Why are you stalking me?" she snapped, drawing the smoothie back to her as Gary took the seat across from her. He leaned back in his chair, eyebrows raised and arms crossed. "And why are you sitting there?"

"I'm not stalking you," he said, rising. "And if you want me to leave, I will."

"Then go!" she said, taking a stubborn sip of her drink.

"I thought you might've wanted this but I guess I'll just keep it then," he said airily, his hand uncurling from where it had been clenched in a gentle fist to reveal a flash of gold.

"My watch!" gasped Misty, her eyes widening and her mouth forming a small 'o' of surprise. She cupped her hands and held them out to Gary, where he slid the watch into her palms. "Is it broken?" she asked, quickly pulling it to her to examine it.

"No," Gary replied with a small scowl. "Did Ash give you that thing?"

"Yes," Misty said curtly, her eyes flickering to where Gary sat. "Why?"

"No reason."

"Good," said Misty, sliding the watch onto her wrist. "It wasn't your business anyway." Gary snorted but said nothing as she stood and grabbed her smoothie. "I think I've wasted enough of my time here," she said coldly. Gary said nothing, amber eyes glaring holes into the floor. Realizing he had no intention of replying, Misty sniffed softly and made her way to the elevator.

"Second floor," she muttered, slipping into the machine. This time, the elevator was crowded entirely with passengers and Misty squeezed her way into the center. As the elevator hurtled downwards, a cold chill ran through Misty's body and for a moment, she felt a strong confusion.

She had forgotten to thank Gary!

Let be, said one side of her, scolding her for even thinking of such a thing. He doesn't deserve it, anyway.

On the other hand, the other side spoke the opposite.

If he hadn't found the watch, you wouldn't have it now, it reminded her. It would still be lying on the floor of the department store, under a rack of clothes, waiting for someone else to pick it up and claim it.

Misty clenched her eyes shut and bit the straw to keep from crying out.

Part of her was in disbelief, but after a moment, she was on her way up to the seventh floor once again to thank Gary.

"You're crazy," she muttered, storming out of the elevator. "Blinking crazy."

How was she supposed to find him in this mess?

Turn back!, screamed her practical side. It's not worth it!

"I've come this far," she whispered, turning to see if the elevator was still in view from where she stood, buried in the crowd.

It wasn't.

"Shit," she muttered, clenching her hands and feeling the cool metal of the watch in the heat of her sweating palm. Standing there, amidst everything, she felt defeated somehow and froze upon the spot, looking for some sign he had been near.

As she turned to go, a flash of what looked like amber stuck out amidst the crowd and she froze, her breathing suddenly echoing in her ear, her heart beating like a drum in her head and she heard nothing else.

He stood leaning against the front of the shop, wearing an irritated, bored countenance, and his arms crossed as his sighed, never taking his eyes off the tiled floor.

Just thank him, she scolded herself. And be done with it!

Amused surprise filled his eyes as he spotted her, storming towards him as if she were so furious she was about to take him out. Instead, she stopped a couple feet away, glaring at him. He uncrossed his arms, standing, and stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking mildly interested she should be standing in front of him.

"I just wanted to say," she began, and turned bright red, embarrassed at how raspy and weak her voice sounded. "I just wanted to say," she repeated, drawing herself up. "Thanks. You know, for finding my watch." He chuckled.

"You came all the way up here just to tell me that?" he asked, eyebrow cocked.

"No," she lied, looking down. "I was looking for a top and saw you standing here…"

"Whatever," he said and dismissed her with a flick of his chin. Two giggling girls, arms leaden with crinkling bags, stumbled out of the room, laughing as they held each other's wrist up to smell the perfume they had sprayed upon themselves. "Later," he said, half-smiling at her before disappearing into the crowd behind his sister.

Of course she was in a new mall. There were maps everywhere.

Why did she feel so lost?

Jeez, sorry I slacked. Summer's come and everything's so HOT OUTSIDE!!! Trying to get a nice tan…succeeding so far . Thank you for all the gr8 reviews! They made me smile XD Misty's finally met Gary…and is having mixed feelings. Not as well-written as I would have liked but what can I say. Summer makes me v.v. lazy. 11 reviews b4 cont., please!!!

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Anonymous Kitty Lover: Don't worry about it!! Thanks for reviewing and I'm glad you liked my other story, too XD

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# Kasagi Onaso #