Day 4 of being in the wrong rooms
"Hey Ash, have you seen anyone?" Goh asked walking into the lounge.
"Seb picked up Chloe about an hour ago, Serena has a friend visiting Celadon, Professor Cerise and Talia are taking the day off, Ren said he's off to battle robots, and Chrysa I have no idea." Ash said.
"What about Eva, I haven't seen her lately." Goh pointed out.
"She finished her time here, and is working full time in the Orange Archipelago now." Ash said.
"And what are you doing?" Goh asked.
"Making waffles." Ash said, completely emotionless, holding up a physics textbook.
"Sorry, anyways I was wondering if I could get your help." Goh said.
"Anything's better than this." Ash said, setting down the book.
"Ash, that book is still sealed." Goh said.
"Yeah, and?" Ash said.
"Aren't you almost done with school?" Goh asked.
"Yeah, why do you want to read it?" Ash asked.
"Have you just been using Serena's book this entire time?" Goh asked.
"No, I just haven't needed to open it yet." Ash admitted.
"Back on topic, Marnie is coming tomorrow, and I want to get her something special, it's the first time since I rejoined the lab." Goh admitted.
"Wouldn't Chloe be better at this?" Ash asked.
"Well, I don't exactly have a lot of options right now, and she just told me she'll be in port tomorrow." Goh admitted.
"Fair enough, let me grab a bag." Ash said, hopping out of the chair.
Later in Saffron
"So what are you thinking of?" Ash asked.
"A necklace, maybe a bracelet or something." Goh proposed.
"Is it a special event tomorrow?" Ash asked.
"No, just a visit." Goh said.
"Does she normally wear jewelry?" Ash added on.
"Well, no I guess not." Goh said.
"Then don't do jewelry." Ash said plainly.
"Then what would you recommend?" Goh asked.
"Goh I spent all of a day with her, in the midst of a crisis no less. Think about Marnie, and what she would love to get." Ash said.
"I'm sorry, I haven't exactly been in the normal lifestyle for a few years, I don't know what I could get her that she'd like. This is going to be the first thing I get her." Goh said.
"I have an idea, come on." Ash said grabbing Goh's arm.
"No offense, but nothing in here is going to fit you or Marnie that well." Goh said, looking around at the men's clothes.
"It's not supposed to." Ash said, looking in a rack of clothes. "None of these are right, let's looks over there."
"Ash, why are we looking at jackets, it's like 70 and humid out?" Goh said.
"Just trust me on this." Ash said, grabbing a black one. He walked up to Goh and sniffed. "Yeah, this will work."
"What will work? Why did you sniff me?" Goh said more confused than ever, before doing a sniff check. "I smell just fine."
"Okay, buy this and wear it." Ash said, handing him a jacket.
"Why? I thought I was getting Marnie a gift." Goh said confused.
"Poor thing is clueless, isn't he." The girl at the register said to Ash.
"You have no idea." Ash said with a knowing smile.
Back outside the store
"So now what?" Goh asked.
"Wear it for a few hours then we go home, once there, I'll give further instructions." Ash said, taking the lead.
"Because you've explained so much already." Goh said defeated. "Maybe Chloe would've been better for this."
"Ooh, I've got an idea." Ash said.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Goh asked.
"Just for once, don't question the method." Ash said, looking at his phone. "Perfect, come on."
Goh had to try hard to keep up with Ash as the smaller trainers maneuvered through the mall, and into a women's clothing store.
"Ash, we're here for Marnie." Goh said, "And I'm not buying you anything."
"No of course not, but we have time to kill." Ash said sticking his head out from behind the curtain. "I can get something too though."
"Just, hurry up. It's weird for me to be in here." Goh said.
"Oh no, you're easily an 8/10 guy in a store full of pretty women." Ash said sarcastically.
Under the curtain, Goh could see Ash's heels lift slightly, as a grunting was heard.
"You alright in there?" Goh asked concerned.
"Fine, just stuck my arm in the wrong spot." Ash said, a bit muffled.
"Umm, okay." Goh said.
Moments later, Ash came back out of the changing room, wearing the same clothes he'd gone in with.
"Okay, I'm going to pay for these." Ash said, taking the items up front.
Back outside the shop
"Ash, come on we're burning daylight." Goh said annoyance in his tone. Ash had chosen to change into the clothes he'd just bought, delaying them once again.
"Oh calm down." Ash said, walking back out of the restrooms. He had on a blue spaghetti strap sundress, and some wedge heeled sandals. "How do I look?"
"You're asking me? What am I supposed to say?" Goh said.
"You're supposed to say nice or pretty. Marnie might ask you that, remember." Ash said.
"So that's what this was all about, one lesson." Goh said.
"No, I also have wanted this dress for a while." Ash said. "The lessons were just an added bonus."
"So now what?" Goh asked.
"Lunch?" Ash offered.
"You're still the same old you." Goh chuckled. "Lead the way oh hungry one."
The next day
"What are you smiling about?" Serena asked.
"How brilliant I am." Ash said.
"Some clarification would be nice." Chloe pointed out.
"Goh helped me pick out a gift for Marnie yesterday, and she's already wearing it." Ash said.
"What jewelry did he buy?" Chloe asked.
"Thankfully none, take a look." Ash said leaning over the balcony.
Down below was Goh and Marnie about to leave, Marnie already wrapped in Goh's jacket, her face buried in it.
"Smart, how'd you think of that." Serena said.
"Chloe had three of Seb's hoodies, a jacket, and a tee shirt. And I'm pretty sure I still have more of your jackets than you do. It was just logical, she got a gift without being given it." Ash said. "It's the benefit of being the girlfriend."