Chapter 3
Double Date
Ok, here goes chapter 3. It finally gets good here. At least, I hope it does. Thanks to everyone for your ratings and reviews. I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoy this!
Misty tried to listen to what Ash was saying about his gym battle with Flannery, but she was too nervous to pay attention. She had to ask Ash out. On a date. It would be mortifying. But the date wouldn't be for real. As long as she made that clear, there wouldn't be a problem. At least, that's what she kept telling herself. What would he say? Would he laugh at her? Misty had no idea what to say to him. She went through a thousand lines in her head, but nothing sounded quite right. And she was running out of time. She and her friends had just recovered her Pokemon from the Pokemon Center, and they would be back at the gym soon. She knew that if she was going to do this, it had to be as soon as she got home. If she allowed herself time to think about it, she would lose her nerve. She tried to keep her cool, but she was growing more anxious with every step. Ash flashed Misty a concerned look.
"Are you ok, Misty?" He asked.
Misty giggled nervously. Her face felt warm, and she knew that she was blushing. "No, nothing's wrong. Why would anything be wrong?"
"I dunno. You've just been pretty quiet."
"What's wrong with that?" Misty snapped.
"Nothing. Geez, no need to bite my head off!"
Misty was about to make a comment to Ash about his head being too big to bite off, but Brock intervened.
"Drop it guys. You're acting childish." He said sternly.
Misty and Ash turned their faces away from one another and tried their hardest to look insulted. Misty cursed herself for being so stupid. Ash was never going to do what she wanted if she was fighting with him. Fortunately, this argument, like every one before it, dissipated in a short time. Ash resumed talking about his gym battle, and Misty fell silent again. They continued this way until they reached the gym.
At last they arrived. Misty wasn't ready, but it was now or never. She worked up all the courage she could find before speaking.
"Hey Ash, could I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure, Misty, what's up?"
May took this as her cue to make herself scarce. She opened the door to the gym and started inside, pulling Max behind her.
"Ow, ow, careful!" He protested.
May ignored him and turned to Brock, who was apparently as clueless as Max.
"Are you coming or not?!"
Brock was confused by all this, but he knew better than to cross May when she was irritated, so he followed her and Max inside the gym.
"So Misty, what did you want to talk about?" Ash asked when they were gone.
Misty took a deep breath. "Here goes nothing." She thought.
"I just wanted to ask you a little favor."
Ash, as dense as he was, could tell Misty was nervous. She was blushing again, and talking rather quickly. It was making him a little nervous too. What did she want?
"Yeah, what is it?" Ash thought aloud.
Misty then explained how Samantha had insulted her about her obvious lack of a boyfriend and she had lied to save face.
Ash didn't understand why she was telling him this. "So what does that have to do with me?" He asked innocently.
Misty face-faulted. How could anyone be so dense?! But she hid her frustration.
"Well, I was kinda hoping that you would . . . pretend to be my boyfriend?" There! It was out. Now all she had to do was wait for Ash's reaction.
Ash was stunned by Misty's request. Was he hearing right? Had Misty really just asked him out?
"What?!" He exclaimed. Misty just stared at him, waiting for an answer.
"No way!" Was what she got.
"Please Ash!" She begged. "It's not even a real date! And if you don't go, Samantha will know I was lying!"
"Well that's not my problem!"
Misty sighed. She had expected as much. It was a good thing she had a plan. She put on a defeated expression.
"Fine. I guess I'll have to get Brock to do it. It's too bad, you're going to miss the free buffet." She turned around and pretended to walk inside. "5...4...3...2...1..."
"Free buffet?" Said Ash.
Bingo! Misty faced Ash again. "That's right," she said, "I was gonna pay, but since you don't wanna go–"
"On second thought, I guess I could go, as long as it's not for real."
It was too easy. Persuading Ash to do something was a lot like fishing; you just had to know what bait to use.
"Great! We're going tomorrow at seven. Don't forget." And with that Misty went inside, leaving Ash with a dumbfounded look on his face.
"What just happened here?" He muttered. He had a feeling he'd been tricked. Truth be known though, he had wanted to go all along. But he couldn't let Misty know that. She might get the wrong idea. But he was glad to know that she wasn't totally repulsed by that idea. After all, she could've asked Brock. And he wanted to see what it felt like. He could finally have a chance to hold her hand, to smile at her, to say nice things to her, and she wouldn't think anything of it. Sort of a trial run. It was perfect.
Misty was so relieved that it was over. "That wasn't so bad." She thought. She was happy that she would be able to fool Samantha, but she was also glad that she would get to spend some time alone with Ash. Sure, Samantha and her boyfriend would be there, but it was a good fifteen minute walk from the gym to downtown. Misty couldn't remember the last time she had had Ash to herself. This was going to be lovely.
The next day passed quickly for Ash and Misty. They and their friends swam in the gym pool, took a walk to Ceruean Lake, and played with their Pokemon. It was 6:30 before they knew it. Misty headed up to her room and looked in her closet for something to wear. Nothing but hand-me-downs. She was beginning to think that this was a mistake. But it was too late to back out now. She decided on a teal dress that matched her eyes. It was a sleeveless knee length with a square neck line. Misty then put on her favorite silver necklace with the Horsea charm to dress it up. She let her hair down and inspected her reflection in the mirror. Not great, but it would do.
"How do I look?" She asked Ash when she got down stairs.
"Really . . . um . . . nice." Was what he said, but "Beautiful." Was what he thought. He couldn't tell Misty that, of course. Seeing her so dressed up reminded him that he was still in his jeans and T-shirt.
"You're not wearing that, are you?" Misty said.
"What's wrong with it?"
"We're eating somewhere nice. You can't go like that!"
Ash complained, but he did as Misty said and changed into his khakis and a red polo shirt.
She handed him a wad of cash when he returned from changing.
"What's this for?" He asked.
"I can't let Samantha know I'm paying!"
"I don't get girls at all." Thought Ash.
They were very careful not to be seen when they left. If anyone asked where they were, May was going to cover for them by saying they had gone to the PokeMart to pick up some antidotes. Finally they got out the door.
Both of them were all nerves on the way there. Ash didn't get it. It wasn't a real date, so why was he so anxious?
And Misty knew Ash didn't really want to be there. She wasn't sure quite what to say, so she said nothing at all. Neither of them did. They were completely silent for the entire fifteen minutes. It was torture being alone together, so they were relieved when they reached the restaurant.
Samantha and Kyle were waiting outside when Ash and Misty arrived. Samantha was dressed like a princess in her red floor-length qipao embroidered with gold Milotics. Her hair was done up in a bun held up by gold colored chopsticks. Misty felt plain standing next to her. Kyle looked equally royal. He wore a black tux with a white shirt and red tie. His wavy brown hair was the same color as his eyes. Samantha hung off his arm as she greeted Misty. She wasted no time in beginning her assault.
"Hi Misty! I like your dress. The vintage look is very in now, you know."
Misty couldn't come up with a good counter, so "You look nice too." Was all she said. "Oh," she added, "this is my boyfriend, Ash."
Samantha introduced Kyle, and everyone exchanged pleasantries before going inside.
The restaurant was beautifully decorated. Red carpeting covered the floor, and the tables were covered in pretty lace table cloths. The white walls were covered with Chinese brush stroke paintings. One painting in particular caught Ash's eye. In depicted Ho-Oh with a long, green Pokemon he had never seen before.
When the waiter came to lead the couples to their table, Ash asked about the painting.
"Oh," said the waiter, "that's Ho-Oh and Rayquaza. In Chinese legend, they represent a perfectly matched couple. Yin and yang. It's customary in China to give gifts adorned with those Pokemon to newlywed couples. Supposed to bring them good luck."
"Wow," Misty sighed, "that's so romantic!"
When they reached the table, Kyle pulled out Samantha's chair for her, but Ash took off for the buffet before Misty even sat down. Samantha smirked at her. Ash returned with piles of food: egg rolls, won-ton soup, sweet and sour chicken, mushu pork, and a variety of other things. Everyone sweat-dropped as they watched him stuff his face. Misty jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
"Ow! What was that for?!" He exclaimed.
Samantha and Kyle laughed at the little quarrel.
Samantha realized something was going on and she was determined to catch Misty in her little lie. She began an interrogation as soon as everyone else had gotten their food.
"So, how long have you two been going out?"
"A year." "Three months." Ash and Misty said simultaneously.
"Which is it? A year or three months?"
Misty had to think quickly."Oh, well we met a year ago, but we've been going out for three months." "That was a close one." She thought. "I need to be more careful."
Samantha followed with a cute story about how she and Kyle had met six months ago at a Pokemon Contest Exhibition.
"I spotted Sam across a crowded room. I guess it was just love at first sight." Kyle said sweetly. "How did you and Misty meet, Ash?"
Ash was glad he didn't have to lie this time. "It's kinda funny. I accidently destroyed her bike, and she said wasn't gonna leave me alone until I paid her back for it."
Samantha saw another opportunity to strike. "I remember that bike. It was so old, it couldn't have been worth much. You should've thanked him for wrecking it."
Ash began to notice that Misty and Samantha weren't exactly on good terms with each other. He didn't quite understand dynamics at work, but he could tell that Samantha was trying to shame Misty. It seemed to be working. Her cheeks were tinted pink, and her brows were furrowed in frustration. Samantha was teasing her mercilessly, but she was too angry to think of any comebacks. It was really starting to irritate Ash. Who did this Samantha think she was to criticize Misty? Misty was superior in every aspect: prettier, smarter, and a heck of a lot nicer. He made an attempt to defend her.
"It wasn't bad. It was a lot nicer than the bike I have at home."
But Samantha was ruthless.
"You know Ash," she started, "I've been thinking this whole time that you looked familiar, but now I remember where I saw you. It was on TV. You were in the Pokemon League, weren't you? You did pretty well."
Ash's big ego got the best of him, and he suddenly forgot to be mad at Samantha.
"I guess I did. I came in fourth." He tried his best to sound modest, but he wasn't very good at it.
"Wow, that's really great! But who was that girl I saw you with?"
Misty was so embarrassed. She knew she shouldn't have come. Ash saw her hang her head out of the corner of his eye. He tried to correct Samantha.
"Oh, you mean May? She's just a friend."
"Oh, don't be embarrassed Ash. I understand exactly what's going on now. So Misty, how much did you pay him to come with you?"
Ash turned toward Misty just in time to see a tear slide down her cheek. That tore it. He wasn't going to let her be humiliated like that for another minute. There had to be some way to prove that he was her boyfriend. He had an idea, but he couldn't do that. But it was all he could think of. "Misty!" he whispered to her. She turned her face toward him, and he did it. He kissed her. Right on the lips. It only lasted an instant, and it was over before Misty knew what was happening, but she was so shocked that she fell backward out of her chair.
Everyone in the restaurant turned to stare, and Samantha and Kyle howled with laughter. Misty was absolutely mortified. She turned a color red not included in a ninety-six pack of Crayola crayons. By now she was sobbing, which only made things worse. Misty wanted to crawl into a hole, but she collected herself just enough to get up and run outside.
Ash felt terrible as he watched her go. The plan had been: 1. Kiss her. 2. Get up and lead her outside. 3. Leave her snobby friends with their mouths hanging open. But because he did it on impulse, it went totally awry. He gave Samantha and Kyle an angry glare before standing and chasing after Misty.
"Wait!" Kyle yelled. "You can't leave us with the bill!"
Ash didn't hear him though. He found Misty just outside, still crying. She turned on him as soon as she realized he was there.
"I'm sorry, Mist–" Misty didn't let him finish though.
"What were you thinking, Ash?!"
He was taken aback. What was she mad at him for? He hadn't been the one making fun of her.
"I was just trying to help!"
"Well you did a good job!"
"Hey, this wasn't my idea! You made me come!"
"I didn't make you come; you came because I told you there'd be free food!"
"Ok, fine, but it was your idea!"
"Yeah, but I didn't tell you to kiss me!"
They volleyed back and forth like this for a while until one of them gave up. Then they began the walk back to the gym.
Misty was mad at herself for yelling at Ash. Why had she done that? She was angry at Samantha, not him. Ash had only been trying to help. She had started an argument though, and her pride wouldn't let her apologize.
And Ash felt like a total idiot. He couldn't believe what he had done. How was Misty supposed to react to that?
"I can't blame her for being mad." He thought. "She must have been totally disgusted."
So they continued walking, in silence once again.
Notes:
Qipao– A kind of Chinese style dress.
I took the story about Ho-Oh and Raquaza from an actual Chinese belief about the dragon and the phoenix.