Misty paced anxiously back and forth in front of the video phone in her gym's foyer. The gym was locked up and her sisters were all out, but she was still worried. If she were being honest with herself, she was less anxious about being walked in on, and more concerned with the conversation she was about to have.
Swallowing, she steeled herself, slid onto the bench in front of the screen, and called up the coordinator academy her friend taught at in Hoenn. The phone rang a few times, then a familiar brunette appeared on the screen, the empty entrance to her school behind her. Excitedly she said, "Misty? It's so good to see you!"
"It's good to see you too, May," Misty replied genuinely, if with a bit less energy. She and the coordinator-turned-instructor had met briefly during May's time in Kanto, but had kept in touch on the phone and become good friends over the intervening years.
"It's so funny you called, I was just thinking about calling you," May said with an eager grin. "I have someone I want you to meet."
"Oh?" Misty asked, finding herself relieved at the distraction from her own reason for calling.
"Yeah, I think you'll have a lot in common, May explained. "Just… promise not to get mad. She can be a bit skittish."
"Me, angry?" Misty asked sarcastically. She was well aware of her reputation for having a temper, even if it was undeserved. Well, mostly undeserved.
"Just be nice," May said, before standing up and walking off-screen. A moment later she reappeared with a slim blonde sporting a somewhat rough-looking bob cut. "This is Serena, she's my best student."
Misty wondered why May would introduce her to one of her students, then the name clicked. "You're the girl who traveled with ash in Kalos!"
"Um… yeah," the girl said, somewhat flustered. "Nice to meet you."
"You too," Misty agreed. "One more for the club, huh?"
May chuckled. "Seriously. Honestly, that boy."
"Boy?" Serena asked.
"She means Ash," Misty clarified. "He's hardly a boy anymore though."
"Yeah," Serena said, more assertive than she had been so far.
May scoffed. "He still acts like one. Where is he now?"
"Alola," Misty said, idly amused.
"Kanto," Serena said at the same time. Confused, she asked, "Wait, what?"
"His mom's Mr. Mime won a trip to Alola. He was here maybe a week," Misty explained with an eye roll. "I'm sure he'll find another one over there."
"Her Mr. Mime won a trip?" May asked, confused.
"Wait, another what?" Serena interjected, saving Misty the trouble of trying to explain how a pokémon won a raffle.
"Another girl," Misty explained. "He picks one up in every region."
"No, there's no way he would do that," Serena said in disbelief, staring into space.
May placed a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "Oh, honey," she said with deep sympathy. "You really didn't know."
Serena turned to May and said, "I mean, I knew you…"
Misty sighed and raised her hand, "I was with him for three regions."
"And all of you… like him?" the blonde asked, starting to tear up.
"Ew, no way," May answered immediately.
"Not anymore," Misty said a bit slower, shaking her head.
"Wait, seriously?" May asked before Serena could get a word in. "As in, not just in denial, but actually over him?"
"Yes," Misty said exasperatedly. "That's actually why I called, but maybe we should—"
Tears streaming down her cheeks, Serena cried out, "I kissed him!"
"What?" both of the older teens asked in shock, turning to look at the crying girl.
The blonde flinched and Misty felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment. "Sorry, that's just…"
"Yeah…" May agreed, equally abashed.
"I just…" Sabrina took a moment to wipe her eyes. "He was so nice when we were kids, and we had this big adventure together. I just thought I could kiss him and maybe he would remember me. I mean, he's so dense—"
"Yeah," first two companions of the trainer in question agreed.
"I just wanted to let him know how I felt before we went our separate ways. I thought maybe we could talk on the phone and…" The girl sighed. "I don't know anymore. I think... I think I'm going to go do some training."
Misty watched the girl drag herself out of her seat and practically stagger off-screen. Turning to May, who was watching after Sabrina, she asked, "Um, should you go after her?"
May turned back to Misty and shook her head, "I think she needs a little space. I mean, wouldn't you?"
Misty thought about it, then nodded. "Yeah, I guess so."
"So," May said, steepling her fingers and grinning, "why did you call? I believe you said something about being over Ash?"
"Uh, yeah," Misty said, avoiding eye-contact as she nervously brushed away an errant strand of hair.
"So does that mean you're under someone else?" May asked.
"May! " Misty exclaimed, scandalized.
"What?" May asked. Suddenly realizing what she'd said, she giggled and said, "Not like that, although you're certainly old enough."
Feeling even more anxious than ever, Misty decided to just ask before she lost her nerve. "I'm not asking about that, but you and Drew have been going out for awhile now, right?"
Fighting an amused smile, May nodded. "A couple of years now, yeah. Took him long enough to ask me out."
"What do you, um, do on a date?" Misty asked, embarrassed beyond belief at asking her younger friend for advice on dating.
"Wait, you have a date?" May asked enthusiastically.
"Uh, yeah," Misty said in a small voice.
May grinned, "Do I know him?"
Misty sighed. Knowing May wouldn't drop the subject, answered, "You probably haven't met him, but I'm sure you've heard of him."
Leaning closer, her face filling Misty's screen, May insisted, "Who?"
"It's Gary Oak, okay?" Misty said in mild frustration, tired of beating around the bush. What did she have to be ashamed about anyway? "I went to Pallet Town to see Ash, he was gone, I met Gary, we had lunch, and he asked me out."
May sat back down on the bench, her eyes widening as she let out a low whistle. "Gary Oak. He is a catch. But wait, you already went on a date."
"No we didn't," Misty replied, confused.
"Misty, lunch is a date," May said matter-of-factly.
Misty shook her head. "No, he asked me out after."
"Yeah, on a second date," May replied.
"No… I…" Misty sighed and looked down. "It was a date, wasn't it?"
May chuckled, "Definitely a date."
Looking desperately back up at her friend, Misty said, "I still have no idea what I'm doing."
May smiled kindly. "Just be yourself and follow his lead. I'm betting he has the whole thing planned out."
It wasn't much, but for some reason it helped. Misty smiled weakly. "Thanks, May. I'll follow your advice, although it's not exactly much to go on."
"Just remember to be yourself, and have a little confidence. He asked you out, he's already interested," May said firmly.
"I'll keep that in mind," Misty agreed, her smile becoming more genuine. Remembering what happened earlier, she added, "You'd better go check on Serena."
May's eyebrows shot up and she hurriedly said, "Oh, wow. You're right. Promise to call me and let me know how it goes?"
Misty chuckled. "You'll be my first call, now go help that poor girl."
"Right, bye," May said before her image winked out.
Misty turned off her own phone, then stood up and stretched; sitting on a phone bench always cramped her up. She felt better after talking to May, if a bit worried about that Serena girl; she knew better than anyone what it was like to pine after Ash. She would have to talk to her and give her some advice some time. Thinking about Ash, something hit her. She really was over him. She hadn't felt even a twinge of jealousy when she heard Serena kissed him. Shock, sure, but not jealousy.
Misty stretched again and decided that an evening swim was exactly what she needed to get the thoughts of dates and former crushes out of her head. With a hopeful attitude, she headed up to her room to change.