After everyone was finally settled into their rooms, Ash made his way back downstairs and settled down on the couch next to, who else, May. I sat in between Brock and Max. Every one was silent for a moment or two, but then May started in about her stupid coordinator contests.

"I can't believe I only need one more ribbon before I can make it to the Grand Festival! I'm so excited!" She squealed as a wide smile inched across her blushing face. Then she turned towards me, and the smile faded. "So, Misty, what do you do? Contests? Training?" She asked coldly.

I shot her a fake smile, "Actually, I run this gym. So far, ever since I came back home, every one that has challenged me has lost. So, does THAT answer your question?" I grinned from ear to ear by the shocked look on her face turn to rage. "Is that a challenge?" She asked as she rose from her seat.

"Um, no. But if you REALLY want to be imbarrased in front of everyone, then bring it on." I smiled once again. "Alright, fine. We'll battle. But let's make it interesting, alright?" I wanted to hear this, "Okay, what did you have in mind?"

She smirked, "Well, if I win you have to help ME", she stopped and glanced at Ash. Then she whispered the last part to me, "Get Ash to go out with me."

'I knew what she was doing. May was trying to get me out of the picture and to leave her and her little boyfriend alone. No fair, I knew him first, I liked him first, and--oh well Misty, don't worry. This battle's in the bag, May probably sucks at pokemon battles. After all she IS just a stupid COORDINATOR...'

"fine, and if I win, you leave himoutof your 'dating category', deal?" She pondered for a moment, and then placed her hand out for me to shake, "deal." We all made our way out to the gym. 'Of course I had an advantage because of the pool in the center of the marble floor in the enormous gym.'

"Okay, Brock? Will you be the judge?" I asked as Max and Ash took their seats up in the bleachers. "Sure, okay, you will each use one pokemon, so choose wisely." Brock announced. "Alright, go ahead and choose Mist." May's shouts echoed off of the giant walls from across the pool.

'Don't call me Mist. Only my FRIENDS can call me that', I thought, "Okay, fine, go Gyrados!" I threw my great ball towards the pool as a tall, blue/green dragon type pokemon appeared. "Oh my," May whispered to herself in shock.

She snapped away from her thoughts and glared across the glimmering pool towards her opponent. "Okay Misty, get ready to lose. I choose you, Beautifly!" May tossed a pokeball into the air as a flash of light revealed her bug/flying pokemon, beautifly. May wasted no time to attack,

"Alright beautifly, attack with Steel wing!" I quickly shouted back to Gyarados, "Okay Gyarados get ready! Attack that Beautifly with, Hyper Beam!" "Beautifly, dodge it!" But it was too late. Gyarados had attacked Beautifly with a direct hit. Misty threw her fist into the air in victory.

"Alright, now Gyarados, finish it off with Dragon Rage!" Gyarados raised his head getting ready to strike the defenseless pokemon. "Hang on! Beautifly, use stun spore!" Again, it was too late. Gyarados had already made his strike on Beautifly and sent the poor, bug pokemon flying through the air straight down towards the icy pool water below.

"No! Beautifly, return!" May shouted in fear. "May's Beautifly is unable to battle. Misty is the winner!" Brock shouted pointing towards me. "That was TOO easy." I gloated as I approached the others on the sideline.

I stopped and turned around towards Gyarados, "Awesome job, Gyarados. Here, return, you need to rest. You've earned it!" a flash of light appeared from the great ball and Gyarados soon disappeared inside of it.

"Hey, that was an awesome battle you guys!" Ash said as he ran up to meet us. "Yeah, I learned a lot about how rivals compete against each other", Max replied in his 'Matter of fact' tone.

"Oh, speaking of rivals, Ash, Gary's in town. He told me to tell you that he was expecting a match out of you." As I announced this, it grew silent.

Until, "WHAT! When did you talk to that jerk? And further more, WHY did you talk to him! Another thing, why didn't you tell me before! What kind of friend would do that!" Ash shouted as he flung his arms in rage.

'I was appalled! Since when does he tell me what to do? Or even CARE what I do? If he CAREDSOO much now about something SOO little, why didn't he care more when I had to leave the group before?'

"Well, Ash, for your information, while I was sitting at the bus stop for over three hours waiting for YOU to arrive, Gary came over to me on the bus bench to say hi. But, then he started to annoy me, and I really didn't want him to stay at all, but he wouldn't leave. So, then, I finally told him why you were coming to visit me FOR ONCE, and so he took me- um, out to eat to celebrate my birthday because he, unlike some people, felt bad that I was wasting my WHOLE birthday sitting at a bus stop in the rain! So don't even yell at me about not being a good friend you jerk!"

I shouted this as loud as I could to prove my point. Once I knew he wasn't going to say any thing more, I began walking towards the gym doors to leave so I could cool off.

I inched the heavy door open to make my dramatic exit to once again prove that I ALWAYS get the last word in a fight. The metal doors flung open all the way to reveal, no one other than the snob himself, Gary Oak, grinning back at me. "Hey, Mist. Miss me?"

So, what did ya think? R&R me PLEEAASEE! Love always, -Shelby