Part IX – That Old (Annoyingly Unforgettable) Feeling
On the drive back to the gym, Pikachu fell asleep in the back.
"Wow, awful quiet huh?" Misty asked Ash. He seemed to be out of it, completely concentrating on driving and not much else.
"Hmm," he half-replied, but it was more of an acknowledgement.
"Uh-oh, that's the 'Ash is thinking' noise. What's up?" Misty questioned.
Ash was silent for a few moments before softly saying, "It's just, I guess I miss things, like camping out and not really knowing what were going to be doing the next day . . . I'm just really happy that we're travelling together again,"
It didn't sound like Ash to get nostalgic, but the sincerity in his voice showed that he had in fact been thinking about it for quite some time, it was rather touching really, "Oh Ash," Misty said quietly, trying not to tear up – she knew she'd look like a sappy moron if she did, "I think about those times too . . . and I . . ." Misty trailed off, not quite sure of what to say.
"Hey Mist, uh, do you think you might wanna go somewhere before I take you back to the gym? Like to just sit around and talk and stuff?" Ash asked apprehensively, not wanting to sound weird. Coincidentally, this might have defeated his cause.
Misty didn't notice, "Sure, I have a lot on my mind too Ash, I think it would be good for us to just get it all out," she smiled briefly at him before turning her attention back to the road, "So where to?"
"I think I know a good place . . ." he said without hesitation.
"You aren't kidnapping me are you?" she joked.
"Oh crap, now you've ruined my surprise!" Ash laughed lamely.
"So is this a secret location you're taking me to?"
"If it were secret I would have to blindfold you, right?" he pointed out.
"Oh, yeah, I guess so..."
A few seconds to ponder over that made her ask the first thing that came to her, and she tried to sound serious, "You aren't taking me to Makeout Peak are you?"
The sudden image of many old cars full of hormone-driven teenagers parked out in the woods brought stupid old images of urban legends about 'Lover's Lane' to his mind, "There isn't a place like that in Cerulean is there?" he laughed.
"I don't know, I guess there could be." Misty shrugged. "Although I highly doubt it."
"Why's that?" he asked, curiously.
"Because in this day and age, if people are out on dates they don't care if anyone sees them kissing in public," she concluded logically.
"I guess that makes sense. So why don't I just pull over to the side of the road so we can makeout?" he said in a deadpan voice.
"Wait a minute now, you'd better not turn into Brock on me, or you just might end up kissing my fist," she said casually.
"Strangely, I believe you." Ash sighed.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!" Misty glowered at him from her seat.
"I just don't see you kissing anyone, that's all," he rationalized, knowing that it would probably only annoy her more.
"Really? And why is that?!" she snapped, although, she was somewhat interested in the reason behind this statement.
Ash didn't really have one, but decided to make one up anyway, and try to get her angry. Mostly because he knew it probably wouldn't work.
"Because you are violent, hot-tempered, not to mention scrawny, and you scare everyone away," 'Wow,' Ash thought to himself, 'I was so into that whole thinking on my feet thing that I didn't even make it up, not good . . .' Although, he could relate to his past thoughts on Misty as being accurately summed up in his statement, they were not so true now. They were just kinda harsh.