Leaving your heart behind
Chapter twelve: "My sweet valentine"
Disclaimer: And again I say: I don't own pokémon…
Thank you time:
DaJollyMan: I'm glad you find this interesting! I just want to reassure you all that this story is an AAML, but I just want to make you wait a bit more… I can't just put them together like that, it would be too easy… And I'll show another side of Gary that you don't know (let's just consider that he matured over the years ok…?)… Maybe you'll even like him more… Anyway, I hope you like this chapter too and thank you for reviewing!
anoniemus: Don't worry, like I already said, this will be an AAML, but you'll have to wait a bit longer… Now we just have this sort of love triangle and lots of confused feelings… Anyway, I hope you kike this chapter too!
legolas liker: Thank you for reviewing again! I'm really glad you liked this chapter too, I'm trying to make them entertaining… Anyway, keep reviewing!
Smiley: Well, here it is, the update you wanted so badly… I hope you won't be disappointed! Thanks for reviewing!
Nozomi and Hotaru: Thank you so much! I had been planning this scene for a long time… I'm glad you liked it! I know, so many emotions… I showed the whole meal from their different point of views and I guessed that made the chapter even more "intense"… Sorry for the typos, I hope this one doesn't have any mistakes… I know I ruined everything between Ash and Misty (for now, don't worry!), but finally some of his confused (a word that will appear a lot in this chapters) feelings are already showing! I don't want to put them together just like that! This will be a gradual process, to make some sense… Anyway, I hope you like this one too!
alexis: I know everyone (or almost everyone) was expecting some sort of declaration, or at least something a bit more romantic between Ash and Misty and I'm sorry to disappoint you… I did give some hints, but the real relationship will take a while… At least the action is finally approaching, but it will take a few more chapters though. I hope you like this chapter too!
Liako: Oh, what can I say? Here you have! I hope you like this chapter and keep reviewing!
jade destiny: Well, I'm glad you like this chapter! About what you said… It would be a good alternative speech, but Misty did that a bit recklessly, trying to get rid of some of her problems and didn't think about her actions well… And, most of all, I want to pair her with Gary for a while, before the final chapters (it will help a bit in the action too…). I already thought of some scenes between them and Ash, so I guess I just had to write that… I think you won't be disappointed though (or at least I hope so!) and will prefer having Misty with Gary than having her alone… Keep reviewing!
The story…
"God, my head hurts…"
Misty covered her face with the blankets and turned to scream in her pillow.
Her life sucked.
Being completely in love with her best friend, knowing she couldn't have him, and at the same feel attracted to his former rival, was more than she could take…
Then, having to finally give up a fantasy she held for so long, finally realise that she would never date Ash and that he would never return her love for him, left her completely crushed…
And what was the best way to run from her problems, to forget the pain she was feeling?
Drink. And drink a lot…
Fortunately for her, the mall was right in the centre of Cerulean City, so she didn't have many difficulties in finding a pub where she could drink and, hopefully, put her chaotic love life out of her mind…
Everyone seemed to ignore her and it was just what she needed, some privacy and peace… And alcohol of course…
After her third drink, things became kind of fuzzy and Misty had some difficulties remembering what happened… She had the vague impression that someone helped her in the bar, kept her company and listened her babble endlessly, but she couldn't recall who exactly… She did know that it wasn't a stranger; it was someone close to her… And it was that same person that helped get in a taxi safely and never let her alone, accompanying her to the Gym…
"Was it Gary??" she asked herself nervously, hiding her face once more, but this time because of her burning embarrassment.
Anyway, when Misty returned home, she was completely drunk, crying and laughing, yelling and sobbing, all at the same time. Her heart was aching badly and she refused to remember the damned restaurant and the damned causes of her pain and agony: those stupid boys and the choices she had made…
But now it was finally over…
No more foolish dreams, no more silly thoughts, no more naïve words full of ridiculous hope written in her diary… It ended right there, her childhood and her first love…
She finally grew.
Fortunately, for once, her sisters understood her suffering and said nothing to her, leaving Misty alone in her room and letting her cry all her sadness and problems.
And even though she was feeling broken and completely exhausted, she wasn't able to fall asleep and let her poor heart rest. Instead, Misty spent a horrible night, turning endlessly in her bed, trying with all her might to find the peace she needed so desperately.
Some timid sunbeams glanced through her old, blue drapes, inviting her to enjoy the warm day that was settling in.
Misty held the pillow tighter, closing her eyes firmly to hide from the irksome light and the life that went on outside her bedroom.
"I need to sleep…"
The sound of a door being shut abruptly made her grit her teeth and scream once again in frustration.
Didn't anyone understand that she was feeling miserable?
After a few minutes trying to decide whether to scream until she felt better or rip her pillow apart and then scream some more, Misty chose to get up and start to work, in an attempt to forget what happened at the dinner…
And so, with an extremely large amount of courage and effort, she pushed the blankets aside and moved agonizingly slowly, frowning with every little move and the soreness that came with it.
Immediately after exiting her room, Misty noticed something really strange in the Gym, something that wasn't there for the last few days and she found quite comforting right then, but nonetheless awkward… It was mysteriously silent… Too silent even, considering that her sisters were there… Right?
No, wrong…
"Misty we went out shopping and visiting some friends. We all thought you could use the time to cool down, sort your feelings out (and hopefully cure that hangover). Don't feel embarrassed by all the things you did last night, we all been there (drunk) and don't blame you… See you later sis!"
Hmm…
'All the things you did last night'?
"I think I better drown in the pool…" Misty thought mortified, feeling her cheeks burning, afraid to learn about her past actions and find the consequences of her decisions…
But what could she do right then?
Nothing… She should just eat something and get to work, because the trainers wouldn't wait long…
Even so, she felt something bothering her… It weren't her past antics, she knew that, but it was something just as dangerous as that…
What could it be?
"St Valentine's Day finally!" Gary thought happily while grabbing his coat.
Yes, so the dinner didn't end like he had expected, but it wasn't that bad either… Misty confessed that she loved him and now they were certainly a boyfriend and girlfriend right?
"About time anyway…" he said in a low tone, searching for Misty's gift under the pile of clothes in his sofa.
So, the plan was visit her in the Gym, give her the chocolates and the flowers he bought, beat her and win the badge. Then, he would have to comfort Misty and her poor ego, so he would take her out to dinner in a fancy restaurant and kiss her… And again… And again if possible…
"Got it!" Gary said after grabbing the small heart shaped box and the bouquet he had on the table.
Now that Ash knew that she didn't love him he would certainly go back to his girlfriend and leave Misty to him… They would be able to finally start a real relationship and things would get better… Or at least he hoped so…
"Now let's see… Where are the car keys??"
Well, things were kind of calm in the Gym…
"Strange… Usually Wednesday is a busy day…" Misty said, sitting near the pool, looking at her pokémon.
The sound of someone knocking in the door caught her attention, making her turn and see…
"Ash…?"
"Hmm… Hi… Are you…better?" he asked nervously, trying to avoid eye contact.
"Better? What does he mean by that? He didn't see me… Drunk, right?" Misty thought, looking at him confused, hoping she wasn't right.
Ash looked at her and opened his mouth to speak, but closed it quickly.
"She probably doesn't remember I followed her to the pub… Better remain that way…" he thought sadly.
"I mean, if you're a bit calmer… I'm afraid you might attack me with a bucket filled with water or something…" he said smiling softly.
"Oh, that…" Misty mumbled, blushing slightly and looking at the ground.
"Don't worry, I needed the bath… And it was good to cool off…" Ash added, still smiling.
Just then Misty noticed that his left eye was slightly swollen and a bit dark…
"God, your eye!" she said worried, running to help him.
"It's ok, really… Ouch!" he said when she touched his face carefully.
"Oh Ash, why did you do that? It was stupid!" she lectured him, caressing his cheek gently.
"Because of you…" he thought but replied "I know it was… But you know what they say, 'old rivalries never die'…"
"They say that?" Misty asked smiling.
"I don't know… But they should, it's true!" Ash answered, laughing faintly.
They looked into each other's eyes for a few instants but Misty interrupted the special moment abruptly…
"Misty, remember, you love Gary… And Ash loves May…" she thought to herself bitterly…
"Hmm… Yeah… So… Did May like the present?"
"Oh… Yes, she said she loved it… Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it…" Ash replied, feeling a bit apprehensive.
"You're welcome… Everything to help you two…" Misty lied, adding a fake, painful smile.
Silence and uneasiness filled the Gym while they glanced around, trying to look casual and carefree, but failing miserably.
It was then that the Gym doors opened harshly and Gary entered…
"Hi Misty! Happy Valentine's day baby!" he yelled, bursting through and saving them from the painful atmosphere lingering in the air.
Misty and Ash looked at him surprised, blushing deeply under the burning gaze that he was now showing them.
"Ketchum, what are you doing here???" he yelled outrageous.
"I came to see if Misty was ok…" Ash replied calmly, or at least he tried to…
"Come on guys, not again…" Misty pleaded nervously.
"She already said she loved me Ketchum, isn't that enough to get you out of my way?" Gary growled furious.
"I'm her friend Gary, I won't back off so I think you should calm down… Now…" Ash warned in a low tone.
"STOP THAT! YOU'RE NOT FIGHTING IN MY GYM SO COOL OFF!!!"
Everyone stopped and Misty sighed with relief. She wasn't ready for this now…
"For you only Misty, it's because I love you that I'll ignore this brat and let him live one more day…" Gary said, glancing towards Ash discreetly.
"Yeah, yeah Gary, what do you want?" Misty replied harshly.
"First, give you your Valentine present…" he answered, handing her the bouquet and the chocolate box.
"Oh, so that's why the Gym is empty, it's St Valentine's Day… And that's why I had that bad feeling…" Misty thought out loud.
"What Misty?" Gary asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Nothing… And secondly…?" Misty replied snorting.
"Well, I want to battle you again to win the badge… And I'm sorry to inform you that although you love me, I won't pity you in battle…" Gary said smugly.
"Oh thank you Gary, and I was starting to worry that I'd have to win you… Again…" Misty answered sarcastically, unable to stop a few chuckles.
Gary coiled his swollen lips with untamed rage and used all his strength to ignore Ash's smiley face… But it didn't help…
Ash burst into laughing when he noticed Gary's enormous lips…
"At least that will teach him not to fight me…" he thought between chuckles.
Gary looked at the two laughing persons in front of him and tried to control his fury… But he couldn't do it… Ketchum was going to pay…
"Oh, and I suppose your eye looks much better?? You look like a racoon!" he yelled angrily.
Ash stopped laughing and eyed him dangerously.
"Do you want to settle this outside? We can finish what we started yesterday…" he said seriously.
"Yeah, I guess that's a good idea… Probably the only one you had for at least ten years…" Gary replied, glaring him feverishly.
Misty closed her eyes, trying to calm down… But she was unable to do it while hearing those stupid boys arguing again…
"Oh, they'll stop…" she thought while she grabbed a pokéball from her belt.
"Go Starmie! Use Watergun NOW!!!"
And then again silence…
Misty walked away from the puddle calmly to the kitchen, to grab a cup of coffee.
"And if you do want to battle me, start behaving like a normal human being… Same to you Ash…" she warned before disappearing from their sight.
"Your fault Ketchum…" Gary said glaring him.
"Stupid bastard…" Ash said, already sulking and decided to ignore him.
"STOP THAT!!!!" Misty yelled from the kitchen, making them shiver with fear.
"Better do as she says…" Ash said quickly, helping Gary getting up and searching for a towel to clean the mess they were.
"I have bucket…" Gary said nervously, ready to help Ash.
Misty peeked from the kitchen door and sighed exasperated.
"I hate guys…"
Ok, finally done!
Sorry if I took too long to update…
I hope you won't find the chapter too long…
Well, review please!!
Cosmik