Part 3

The early morning around five o'clock, Misty gathered all her other remaining things, called Lily, her sister. She stalled a little. I rushed down the stairs and stood outside, carefully sneaking around so she wouldn't see me. I went outside and it was perfectly foggy so that no one would see me. I sat in the garden bench in Ash's mother's garden and was stiff like a stick, but very nervous of what she would think. She finally came out, with her luggage, waiting for her sister. I waited for her to approach me. She walked two steps and noticed me.

" Gary? What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I was um…doing something" I blurted.

"What was that something?" she asked.

"I was…"

"Yes?" she asked again.

I quickly tried to think of something to say. "…Training, yeah, training!" I blurted.

"At this hour?" she said awkwardly.

"Well, yeah, I like to train very early." I said, feeling ridiculous at the answers I gave her.

"Will you ever come back again to Pallet City?" I asked, very suddenly.

"Well, I don't know just yet. Why?" she asked.

"Because, well just wanted to know. Just to see how long I have to shush up from Ash," I stuttered

"That's very genuine of you, Gary," she said, while putting her luggage down, and put her warm hand on my cold, icy hand.

Misty sighed and stared at her watch and gasped.

"Where is that stupid sister of mine? It's already six-thirty! Ash could be up, for all I know."

"Oh," I said, not knowing what else to say.

"Can you drive me there?" she asked very instantly.

"What?" I asked, embarrassed, surprised, and several other mixed feeling.

"I said, can you drive me there, or are you too tired?"

"No! No! I'm not tired," I said quickly, not letting the chance fly by, although I only had about four hours of sleep.

"What an improvement," I thought. "I gained one hour of sleep."

"Well, my car is at my grandfather's house. I left it there, since I've been traveling with you guys. So we'll have to walk for a little bit."

I walked to my grandfather's place along with Misty. It wasn't too far from Ash's house. My car was there at my grandfather's house, and I didn't use it as much, despite the fact that I am seventeen already. I got my keys from my pocket, opening the trunk and said,

"Give me your luggage." I told her.

"Oh, here," she said, handing them to me. Her bags were surprisingly light, but I didn't mind and threw them in there. I slammed the trunk and opened the door. Then I clicked to unlock the doors. She just stood there, and then I rolled down the window.

"It's open, you know."

"Well, I was expecting you to open the door for me."

"Do you know how to open the door?" I asked rudely.

Misty just scoffed, while frowning and opened the door herself.

"Which way to Cerulean City?" I asked.

"Just take this road, and I'll give directions," she said quietly, like she was feeling guilty, but looked like she was pouting.

I didn't say anything and drove quietly the rest of the way to Cerulean City.

Ash, who was staring at the road, from atop of his balcony from his room, was furious and full of questions. But I didn't know that.

While we were driving, I was really getting sleepy, but kept awake. Misty was staring out the window; her expression looking deeply troubled.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, while yawning.

"…No. You seem tired. Let me drive."

"No, I'm fine. Which way?" I asked her, as we approached an intersection.

"That street," she pointed, and continued looking out the window. She suddenly asked,

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

I instantly turned red. "I uh…"

"You always have that prideful attitude, and always throw insults, so why the change of heart?"

I kept my mouth shut and kept driving. I thought of something to say, then said coldly,

"I've been the same, what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about no appetite, not even bothering to torment Ash, and you're actually friendly to Tracey now," she said with deep concern.

"What are you talking about? I'm just tired, that's all," I said frankly.

"That's what sleep is for. And it doesn't seem like you've been getting any at all."

"I'm fine! Will you stop with the dinky questions?"

"I'm just trying to help, you know."

"Why does everyone come to aid me? I'm not a kid."

"I didn't say you were. Why are you refusing my help?"

I looked straight ahead, and had nothing to say. I continued driving like she hadn't said anything.

"I know you're arrogant and cold, Gary, and I know you like being like that way, and that's the way you are. And you can't change that. But, sometimes, there are times when you need help. And I think this is one of them."

"Well, I don't need it. Since you're the one asking so many questions, let me ask why you are so concerned about my well being?"

Misty didn't answer and kept looking out the window and watched the scenery race by her like life was surpassing her.

"Well, are you going to answer me?" I asked dully.

She looked down, turned her head slowly, and said,

"Because, I care for yours and other's well beings."

I instantly turned red and look straight ahead, and couldn't move. It was like I was paralyzed. I kept driving though, like nothing had happened.

"Didn't you hear me?"

I still didn't answer. She also became quiet. It felt like I rejected her, but I didn't want to tell her because of Ash's situation. "I don't get it," I though. "Here I am caring for what stupid Ash thinks. Yet Misty is here ready to whimper, thinking that I hate her."

"I… I don't care…"

"What? You're so insensitive, even to people in pain, and for those who care about you"

After thirty seconds of not replying, Cerulean Gym was right in front of us. I stopped and pulled the brakes in front of Cerulean Gym. I stared hard into the leather dashboard.

"Here, I took you to Cerulean Gym, like you wanted," I muttered quietly.

"Fine. I hope you don't treat the people you care about like this in the near future," she said silently, slammed the door, and walked into Cerulean Gym.

"I just did," I thought to myself. "I'm injuring my pride like this, bowing down to Ash, only because I want to be nice to Misty and let her know how I feel, but I just rejected her. But I don't want to feel stupid, because I'm not like this."

I drove away very quickly at about sixty miles per hour. After about twenty seconds, I realized she left her bags in my trunk. Misty walked quietly through the halls of Cerulean Gym, her shoes making sounds on the marble floor and echoing though the halls. She stopped and realized she forgot her bags.

"Damn it, that insensitive person took off with my belongings. What does he plan to do with it? Auction it?" Misty though.

I pulled onto the shoulder of the street. I stared into the wheel, then put on an angry and depressed expression at the same time. After that, I made a sharp U-turn and went back to Cerulean Gym, driving back slowly, trying to think of an apology and a way to not sound stupid to her.