Hey guys! SUPER DUPER SORRY FOR THE REALLY LATE UPDATE!!!! OMG, this always happens…I tell you guys that I'll update faster, and really, each time it gets slower…and slower……and slower…..lol well, sorry about that. Neways, still love you all, and still now, and for always, I LUV POKEMON! So don't ever think I'm just abandoning this fic for my others, cuz I'd NEVER EVER do that! I just get stuck in writer's block mode, and when that happens, I work on another fic until I think of something. So, sorry again guys! BTW this IS the last chapter, cuz you know, yeah…so there WAS a reason this time for the late update. I wanted to ATTEMPT at making this a really good chapter. So, enjoy! And PLEASE leave me a review so I know what the hell I need help with and what I don't…and what you like and what you hate…and what you think I should change or not…lol you know…that whole bit…lol
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in relation with Pokemon, just this fic and soon some others! So look out for those and some possible Pokemon poems as well! Neways, on with the fic!
-OoXoO-
Things Change: Chapter 10
New Hope
My deep emerald eyes shone brightly across the room. I soon came to realizations with my present location and the reason for the banging headache that plagued my head. I was sprawled out neatly across the fading blue couch in the center of the abundant living room that lay nestled between the stairwell, a hall, and the kitchen.
Remembering the painful memories of the 'branch and fist meeting head' incident caused the annoyingly continuous thump in my head to beat louder. On impulse I shot up wide awake, fling my hand recklessly to the bruise that was bound to engulf my entire head, only to find that a soft bandage was wrapped all the way around my entire forehead.
Then, my eyes began scanning the room's ancient interior four times before it hit me that everyone's eyes were staring at me with shock outlining their troubled faces. This emotion was clearly masked with an outer layer of pure joy. Gary bounded to my side happily, a smile danced across his face from ear to ear. "Oh Misty! You are alright, thank God! I was so worried…Misty I am so sorry! I never meant to hurt you!" He threw his arms around me in a hug that was so tight it felt as if I were bound by chains.
May handed me a small plastic cup with water, and an obese white pill, "Here, it'll ease the pain a bit." I would have refused, but she flashed me that 'I just want to make you happy' smile, so I took the cup and downed the pill quickly trying not to taste its bitter poison-like flavor.
"It's okay, Gary. I'm fine." I lied, subconsciously holding down a groan from the pain. "We were gonna call an ambulance and take you to the hospital, but Brock said that that would just make things worse for you. So, he fixed ya up instead!" Gary said happily still holding me in a death grip.
Brock walked closer, his face and tone complex as he analyzed my every expression, "Of course if you think you need to, we could still get you to see a doctor. I just thought, knowing you personally, Mist, that if we were to take you, it would be hell if you were to wake up on the way there."
I shuddered at the thought of doctors surrounding me, jabbing me with needles and IV's. Then, I stifled a nervous giggle, "No! No, I'm fine, just a few scratches, a bruise or two maybe." My voice suddenly grew more serious, "But you know, Gary, you shouldn't have been trying to harm Ash either. You two are so reckless sometimes, why are you so stupid? Wait….where is Ash…is he…" I paused fighting against the lump that was forming in my throat before I choked out the last part, "Is he…okay? What happened?"
Gary freed me from his strangling embrace and glared at me from behind those warm nutmeg eyes, "Misty, he feels awful about this…he really didn't mean to. Not that I did! It's just that…." Gary gaze traveled to the other side of the room, "…He is being way too hard on himself about it. Please, Mist, forgive him."
I smiled at him half heartedly, "Where is he then?" My voice became harsh, "I mean, if he cares so much why is he not here right now? He should be apologizing to me instead of making you. I want to see his little pathetic excuses for 'caring about me' while he racks his brain over ideas to make me cry some more…that jerk…" I stole a glance from May. The look on her face told me that I had taken it too far, so my voice softened, "I'm sorry…I'm just aggravated. So, you never answered me, where is Ash?"
Gary forced out a tiny smile, "Well, he couldn't stand to see you here, like this, not if he is the reason for it at least. He said, 'I must do something for her…I didn't mean it…' So I actually have no clue where he is. Sorry Mist," I could tell he meant it. Unlike Ash, Gary doesn't hate me for having feelings for the people in my life. Ash just gets over agitated and frustrated. Gary was always so compassionate and caring towards me…but Ash is…
"Hey Misty," Brock pulled me back from my daydreams when he kneeled down beside the couch, "Is your head okay? Cuz you got hit pretty hard…" He trailed off trying to find a weakness behind my masked eyes. I had to conceal any pain I felt unless I wanted Brock to baby me for the rest of the visit, or worse, decide that I do need to go to the hospital. "No Brock don't worry about me," I tried to sound as cheery as possible, hoping to get away so I could find Ash and tell him….
"I'm fine, really. Just worry about yourselves." I mustered up a small convincing grin. He stared at me unconvinced for a moment before staggering off into the kitchen to fetch me a new set of bandages for my head. Max, his chagrin face was stone and as if he'd just seen a ghost, before rushing off after Brock into the next room.
Once I knew they were gone I turned to May, "May? Um, can you please go get me a blanket? It's a bit cold in here…" May smiled warmly at me, apparently happy to help. "Of course, Misty. I'll be back in a second!"
We can't have that, "No wait I want the one that's in the far back part of my closet." I was actually not cold at all. In fact, I was perfectly finel. But, I needed her to leave so I could speak to Gary. Alone. Telling her this would be a mistake, for then she would purposely listen in and then there would be no point whatsoever. She smiled again, brighter this time, "Okay, sure," before dancing up the stairs.
As soon as she was out of site, and past the threshold I turned to Gary, who was apparently wanting to be alone with me as well. "So, what is it Misty? What do you want to ask me?" I was startled by his knowledge about what I was about to do, but continued, "Well, first of all, what happened? And do you know….why Ash hates me so much now?"
Tears welded up in my emerald eyes before one escaped and rolled down my scarlet cheek for a moment before Gary's protective finger wiped it away. "Misty," Gary took my face in his hands, creating circles with his thumbs around my cheeks, "Listen, Ash doesn't hate you. Don't you ever say that, or think it. He loves….I mean….I-I…" He trailed off before meeting my gaze.
His eyes became fierce and serious, they changed from their usual chocolate color into a warm topaz color, "Misty, I don't know how to put it exactly. But here it goes…..Every time I see you upset, I just want to take you in my arms and never let you go. You don't know what it does to me to see you in pain. You're beautiful, and perfect, and someone that deserves better than Ash. He doesn't treat you right; it infuriates me to see him do this to you, to hurt you."
He flashed me a quick smile that was so fast, I didn't know if it really happened or if the pain killers were kicking in and I was having hallucinations.
"Misty, don't get me wrong, I will not try to run your life. This is your choice, but, I just don't want to see anything bad happen to you. You're different from the other girls I've met. You don't talk to me because I have money or a car, or merely because my grandfather is Professor Oak. You talk to me for, well, me. I can be myself around you so easily, and the way you look at me….it's so amazingly wonderful the way you make me feel by just smiling at me. Misty…..I told you before; I will not stand to see you get hurt, especially if I can do something about it. But,"
Gary leaned in; his sweet breath filled the air around me. Then, his lips met mine, lingering for a moment as I sat motionless. He continued to kiss me, but I refused to kiss him back. I couldn't kiss him, not while Ash…then, an image of Ash flashed through my mind for only a mere fragment of a second.
Gary freed me from his trance as his lips left mine only long enough for him to whisper the three little words I would die to here Ash say to me, "I love you," The tears filled my eyes again as the truth finally sunk in. I was stuck in a love triangle that could never be completed. I loved Ash, he loved May, probably, and Gary loves me. Gary sensed my suffering automatically as he let his fingers glide through my hair, placing a single strand behind my right ear. Neither of us spoke for what seemed like an eternity. Then, he mustered up a crooked grin that I could tell was being forced into place, "You are still in love with him, aren't you?" His whisper cracked so I knew he was trying to hold back tears, as I had been for years now. I could not look at him, not now.
I waited as I silently quelled my tears from breaking the invisible barrier that I would not allow to release them. Then, I answered in a hush whisper, "Yes….of course….I am," I wiped away the traitorous tears that made their way down my face with my forearm, "I am so sorry, Gary. Truly, I love you too….but it would be too painful. I love him so much-too much. I could never stop loving Ash, I've loved him forever…he is…."
The tears flowed down my cheeks like a canal. He caught me in an embrace silencing all of my fears and emotions at once, "Shush, it is okay. I promise, just please don't cry, Mist. I love you, it's okay. You love him though….." Gary smiled before continuing, "And he loves you….trust me….just give him another chance, for me, you'll see." I could not help but believe him. His alluring voice was not easily forbidden from telling the truth. But there was still doubt in my mind that the words Gary spoke were not correct, nor plausible.
May and Brock returned soon after Gary let me go. I don't know where Max was; I guess he was still in shock over the whole incident. I thanked May for my blanket and waited patiently while Brock changed my bandage, only wincing at the pain when I thought he couldn't see me.
Then, I asked them to leave the room so I could try to sleep. I really wanted to be alone to think about everything, there were so many new things bustling around in my head and rattling my unnerved brain. Then, within moments of my friends' departures, someone new emerged from behind the tall frame of the door at the bottom of the opposite stairwell that May and the others went up only moments ago. My entire body went numb as my eyes glared at the figure now soaking wet from obviously being out in the storm.
I mouthed the words as fresh tears broke free again, "…Ash….I…." I lowered my gaze to my lap, where my hands lay resting. A blush began spreading from my nose to my cheeks. I looked up at Ash once to see his expression, but instead of being angry, he looked happy. I knew he heard what I had said, so why wasn't he mad at me? We were like that, motionless and speechless, for what seemed like an eternity, until he cautiously walked over to me and sat down on the comfortable couch I had been resting on all day.
His aroma floated through my nostrils, his body only feet away from mine. I resisted the urge to fling my arms around him and beg him to forgive me, to love me. After what felt like hours, he turned to me, his dark eyes burning into mine, "Misty, I am so sorry…I really didn't mean to, you know. But Gary-and you-and you two together," His anger was visible through his pained eyes.
He drew in a deep breath to calm himself before continuing, "Look, you know me, I'm not good at words. My feelings, for you, have been overpowering me this whole trip. Every time I'd look at you, I just wanted to be there for you, in a way I knew you would never accept…not from me at least." His face dropped as a crushed and saddened expression took over his features.
I blushed slightly, cautiously laying my hand over his, "Of course I would. Ash, don't you get it?" I smiled at him somewhat shocked and annoyed at his stupidity. A puzzled look replaced his upset one, "What do you mean?" I giggled under my breath and sighed to myself, "Oh Ash, you really are dense aren't you?" I teased.
He chuckled, then took my hands in his and moved closer to me on the couch. "Misty, ever since I met you, I've wanted to tell you one thing." I blushed wildly feeling his cool breath on my face as he closed his eyes. His lips hovered near mine for only seconds before crashing into them for a deep kiss that I had been dreaming about since I was ten.
My heart was pounding so hard, I feared it was going to leap out of my chest, but I didn't care. I was with Ash, I was his, and he was mine. We were together, at last. And for the first time in years, I felt complete, as if the hole in my heart had never even been there in the first place. I threw my arms around him, and kissed him back passionately. His hands moved freely around the small of my back, forming small circles with his finger tips along my spine.
His lips left mine for an instant, but he continued to hold me close to him. I felt safe in his protectively strong arms, I was happy for the first time on this entire visit, I was with Ash and he was happy too, that's all I have ever wanted.
His mouth formed a small compassionate grin before those words left his beautiful lips, "I love you, I always will," I pulled myself closer to him, and gave him another intoxicating kiss before replying, "I love you, too." He then enveloped me in a trance-like kiss that didn't end for hours.
-OoXoO-
FINALLY. It's FINALLY over. YAY!!! Lol Actually it's kinda sad personally, you know, for me. Cuz this was my first fic EVER…. Sorry it took so long, I just wanted to try and make it really good, so it wouldn't disappoint anyone…so hopefully you guys don't hate me! lol just kidding, well thanks for reading, now review please! Cuz I'm depressed now….my first fic is finished….Actually I'm really happy, ONE FIC DOWN, TONS MORE TO GO!
BTW
I AM going to make an epilogue so, yeah…don't think you're done with this fic yet buddy! Lol so, look forward to that!!!
Love always,
Shelby
I luv you all, and Michelicious, please update ur fic! I know I took 4ever 2, but I'm anxious!!!