Part 4

Back at Cerulean Gym, Misty's sister, Violet came out and yelled out,

"Oh you're here, you little stupid girl."

"Leave me alone," Misty said quietly and walked away.

"What's wrong?" Violet asked.

"Since when do you care?" Misty said loudly.

"Sorry, you don't have to get an attitude about it," said Violet, and walked back to the pool.

Misty looked down. Now she was the one being mean. She went into the kitchen and cooked some dumplings.

As I drove back to Cerulean Gym, I thought for once he should make an apology, despite the fact it would hurt my pride, although I did have feelings for Misty. I made a sharp turn at an intersection, where another car honked back at me, but I didn't care. I finally pulled in front of Cerulean Gym. I had no idea what he was going to tell her. I walked slowly to his trunk and took out her luggage, then closed the trunk. I stared at Cerulean Gym, and reminisced of that day I earned my badge here, easily defeating Misty's sister, Lily. I slowly blinked, and went into Cerulean Gym. It was exactly as I remembered it. Same performing sisters at the pool and water tanks everywhere. He stood alone in the hall, looking for Misty, luggage in hand. The quietness of the hallway was soothing. I walked around, his shoes making sounds throughout the marble hallway, and walked into the pool area. I stared around for a moment. Then a voice interrupted the quietness.

"What are you doing here?"

I immediately spun around. "Huh?"

Misty stared at him with cold emerald green eyes. I stared back even colder with brown eyes.

"What are you doing back?" She asked again, quietly and coldly.

"Here." I said, handing back her luggage bag back to her. Misty reluctantly accepted and looked at the floor.

I stared at the floor and mumbled, "I'm s-sorry…"

Misty looked up and stared at me like she didn't believe me. " Gary would never bow to anyone or even apologize to anyone," she thought.

"Please forgive my insensitiveness," I said again, looking at the floor.

Misty still thought. "Why is he being so nice to me?"

I finally looked up from the cold marble floor and looked up at her. "Did you hear what I said?" I asked.

"Yes…"

"Don't you have anything to say about it?" I asked again.

"Yes… and no."

I just stared at her. I wanted to say what I truly wanted to say, but walked away into the hallway leading back outside of Cerulean Gym. I felt it was for the best.

"Wait!"

I turned around and looked at her, with her Togepi in hand.

"I accept your apology."

I stared at her, with joy in my mind. "Thank you," I said gratefully, and walked back towards the exit of Cerulean Gym, although I didn't want to leave.

As my footsteps made noise though the hall, Misty caught up to me and patted me on the shoulder. "Well, since you took me here, I'll make you some dumplings so you won't be hungry on the way back," she said in a calm manner.

I accepted and followed her to the kitchen, where she started cooking. I just sat there where the dining table was. It was just so different and weird that she was being nice to me. I would always hear Ash tell her, "Never tell things to Gary. He'll just insult you," although Misty didn't mind or bother what he said. Misty was always nice to me and Tracey while traveling. She's usually fight with Ash over pointless things, like who was right over the decision of who's hair was sloppier. I found it quite amusing. I don't even get the whole reason I decided to join Ash and his group. I've always made fun of Ash since we were ten, but I never acknowledged Misty, or his other friends. I noticed Misty had feelings for Ash, though, but she was hot tempered when people made fun of her appearance or Ash's stupidity. I hoped things would get better. All of a sudden, Misty's sister, Violet came in the kitchen.

"Who's your boyfriend, Misty?"

"He's …just a friend," Misty said, while cooking.

"Yeah sure. Whatever you say." Violet said, grabbing beer out of the refrigerator, and walked back to the pool.

"Just a friend…" those words echoed through my mind. That's all I was to her? A friend? But there's nothing I can do… her feelings go towards Ash. Although I'd like to win and him to lose, this isn't one of those lousy matches where I can easily kick his butt with his annoying Pikachu. I should let time pass by.

"By that time, everything would be all right. And I'll be over her," I thought. "I sound so stupid and lovey-dovey. Why couldn't I fall for one of those stupid cheerleaders who used to cheer me on? Why'd it have to be Misty?"

"Here's your food," Misty said, as she set the plate in front of me, and some chopsticks. She turned to leave the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"I have some pokèmon to attend to, you know," she said in a stern voice. She didn't seem at all interested in talking to me. But she was, I just didn't know it.

"Why isn't he talking to me?" she thought to herself, walking past the water tanks.

I quietly ate the food she made me. While I was eating, Violet, came in again, still drinking.

"Hey, I thought Misty was with Ash, so who are you?" she asked me.

"She is. I'm just a friend," I said, chomping on.

"Then, wouldn't Ash be here instead of you?"

"Ash is in Pallet Town."

"Then who are you?"

"Why do you ask so many questions?"

"Because I always question people I don't know who are in the Gym."

"No wonder Misty thinks your so annoying."

"Misty only talks about us to her real friends. Why would she tell you that if you're just a friend?"

"She just told me because she told me, that's all."

"Then who are you?"

"Gary Oak, now stop asking me a lot of questions," I said, putting more in my mouth.

"Hey, you're that one kid who beat the crap out of our Staryu a long time ago. He's still impaired now because of the match you requested."

"Well, it's your fault you didn't train it well enough."

"Hey, that's not a nice thing to say."

"It's true," I said, putting the last dumpling on the plate in my mouth. "Anyway, please excuse me," I walked off, leaving the kitchen and looked for Misty.

"You're so rude!" Violet yelled from the kitchen. I ignored the comment. She was too nosey, so I backfired a comment at her. I looked around. There were a lot of fish tanks around surrounded by coral. It was pleasant to look at, but I couldn't find Misty. I kept walking throughout the endless hallway of tanks, until I reached the backdoor of Cerulean Gym. It was a grassy outside with many flowers littered everywhere to the eye could see, cherry blossom trees, and there was a sparkling fountain in the middle. That's where Misty was, sitting on the edge, feeding her Togepi and other water pokèmon. I walked towards her.

"Thanks," I said, and left.

As I neared the door, she said, " Gary, please don't tell anyone."

I turned around and said, "I won't say anything to anyone." I stood there, still longing to say what I really wanted to say, as the blossoms fell between the wide distance between us.

"Well see you, Misty. I'll see you sometime soon," turned around and left. As I walked through the quiet halls, I heard Misty's footsteps.

" Gary! Wait!" I turned around. Maybe she was going to tell me something valuable.

"Yes?" I said tranquilly.

"Thanks for all your help, Gary," she said, as she gave me a very small hug. I was very stiff and didn't know what to do, but just broke away.

"Anytime," I said squeakily, and I could feel myself go red in the face. I turned around and kept walking fast.

Misty stood there, watching me walk away, but I didn't notice her. I walked until I reached my car. "We are nothing more than friends," I thought. "She has no interest in me, only Ash." I got into my car and drove back to Pallet Town.

"He has completely no interest in me. Such arrogance, but yet, he helped me in this situation with that Ash," Misty thought, still standing by the fountain since he left.

I finally reached Pallet Town. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon by the time I got home. I was really sleepy. As soon as I parked my car and got out, Tracey approached me.

"Ash is angry… at you," he told me quietly.

"Why? I didn't do anything," I said, slamming the car door.