Part XII – Venting
It almost was surprising. He was never this forward. Sure, he told her everything; she was his best friend after all. But somehow in the everything, some things got lost, left out simply because he had no way of articulating them. But here he was, and he could finally narrow down something at least to start on.
"You say that I've never been tied down – and maybe I've never really been tied down to a responsibility like you've been;" Ash looked upward, to the heavens, while she kept her gaze fixated on him, "But why do you think I've been staying so close to Cerulean the past three years? You may not realize that I'm tied down to you. I am, and it's been a choice to me, and a happy one . . ." he trailed off, his voice quieting after being steady and assured.
Misty didn't know if she should ruin the moment by speaking, so she didn't. She had many things to say, but thought that they would all come out fumbled up together. She simply scooted over closer to him and leaned against his side, causing him to look down at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Hm," she smiled and closed her eyes, leaning back against the windshield of his car, Ash following her soon after, not wanting to break the contact that they shared.
She'd never really wanted to read into it until now. The reason he stayed so close by; she thought that it would only be a waste of time to try and make anything of his nonsensical behaviour. If anything, it would have caused her more undue stress. Misty had long ago given up on her attempts to make something significant out of something so blatantly uncomplicated. But that proved that things changed over time.
Ash was growing up.
And maybe there was more to him than the over-eager boy set out on a practically insurmountable quest.