The stars in the sky sure were beautiful, but rather boring to stare at for more than an hour. The minutes seemed to last an eternity. But finally, it was midnight, and both boys were breathing in a steady, peaceful rhythm. Quietly I sat up and slid out of my sleeping bag. The bonfire was slowly growing dim.
Outside our campsite it was dark, even though the sky was clear. My way was lid by the stars rather than the moon, which was at its first quarter. Only now did I realise I might have been walking straight into a trap. But Team Rocket are after Pikachu, I reasoned in my thoughts, so why would they possibly set up a trap for me? Jesse would have charmed Ash out of his mind, instead of me, if she was thinking about traps. Knowing my logic was vague if not unexistent, I went on walking. After all, if I had skipped this and just remained sleeping at the campsite, wondering what might have happened, that very same wondering would have haunted me all my life after that. I had to find out. If this was a scheme, I had to witness it by my own eyes. And if this wasn't, I wanted to witness this with my own eyes.
Suddenly, my thoughts came to an abrupt stop. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and shivers started running down my spine immediately.
"Right here," came a sultry, husky voice in a form of a whisper, and suddenly she was so near, pressing her body against my back, her hands on my hips, her lips on my neck. I closed my eyes.
Her hands wandered on my body, touching me in places no one had ever touched. Eventually, she had me on the grass beneath her, enjoying my first sexual act ever and screaming her name in euphoria. And when I returned to Earth, panting and more vulnerable than ever, she just held me close and made me fall asleep listening to her heartbeat in a sleeping bag she had brought with her. That night, I found a new meaning to the word 'happiness'.
It was hot, uncumfortable even. I didn't want to wake up just yet, but the sun was shining into my eyes. I felt someone's arms around me, I felt safe, and somehow I knew that waking up would break the charm. But I had no choice."Good morning, little one," she said softly as I opened my eyes and yawned.
The memories of last night slowly came back to me, making me purr unintentionally.
"Jesse?" I breathed, snuggling up close. She patted my hair with her left hand and replied,
"Yeah?"
I was dazed. How can this be happening? I thought. She's so...soft. So caring, loving and attentive. I've never seen her like this. Why? And why me?
I wanted to ask her those questions. But maybe I was afraid of what she might answer, or then I just lacked the courage to ask. Either way, I chose to splutter.
"I think I love you," I managed.
She gave a small, almost sad laugh.
"You'd better not," she replied thoughtfully, playing with my hair. I had let my orange hair grow a little since my pre-teen years, and I kept it loose. It now reached my shoulders.
"Why do you say that?" I inquired, lifting my eyes to see her face. She was wearing a melancholic expression.
"Because it is the truth," she answered my question.
"Why?" I asked, appalled. "Was this all just some sick game?"
She sighed deeply.
"No. I swear to God Misty, it was not. But no matter how much I do feel the same for you, there is no future for a couple like us. You do realise that, don't you?"
I gave that some serious thought.
"So you're, what, gay? Or bisexual? And still in the closet?"
"Well, depends on what counts. I'm gay, and James and Meowth know. And my exes of course. But no one else."
"Your exes?" I inquired.
"Yes, there have been a few," she just replied. "Anyway, that is not the reason. But you and me, we are enemies. Or at least playing in different teams with opposite goals. Are you willing to join Team Rocket, to turn against your friends and start a life of crime?"
"No," I said straight away, without thinking.
"So I thought," she said. "You see?"
"But... How about you swapping teams? How about you joining our bunch, to travel with us to see the world and follow Ash as he becomes a Pokémon master, to gain new Pokémon and...to..." my voice died off as I realised all I was saying was futile.
"And to turn against my friends and defend my enemies against them?" she finished my thought.
I sighed. After a long silence, I asked,
"Then, why all this? Why take me up to heaven one night, just to tell me the next morning it never was for real?"
"It was for real Misty, believe me. And I know it was selfish of me, and I am sorry. And if I could make it possible, I would do anything, but now the situation is the way it is. And it's not my fault either."
Her words brought tears in my eyes. On the other hand, I wanted to steal the last seconds we had left, to stay in her arms as long as possible. And on the other hand I wanted to get up and walk away, to pretend I didn't care. I ended up sliding out of the sleeping back and getting on my feet, swaying a little. She quickly got up, too, and looked at me with agony in her eyes.
"Misty, I know it doesn't help, but I love you too."
"It just makes it worse," I told her.
I placed my hands on her shoulders, and my lips on hers, and with tears in my eyes shared our last kiss. When it ended, she gently wiped the tears from my face, and with a sad smile told me not to be sad. "True love is waiting for you, somewhere along the way. Be brave," she soothed me.
I wanted to argue. I wanted to tell her she had been my first, and the most wonderful person I had ever met. That she would always be in my heart, so there would be no room for anyone else. A childish thought maybe, but that was how it felt.
She returned to James and Meowth, and I returned our camp. This time, Ash and Brock were curious about my night away and the marks of the red lipstick on the corner of my mouth. I remained silent of what I had experienced, aware of that they would never understand.
The End.