A/N: Heyyy. xD Being stuck with nothing to do makes me wanna write. So I got a jump start on the next chapter. There may be some scenes that are semi-limey. It's not a full-out lemon chapter, though...mainly flashbacks and such. Any thing that's just in italics is a flashback of some sort. Yepp. Just so ya know. :3

In truth, she hadn't wanted to tell him. She really didn't want to bring those memories back up to the surface. But his face…so concerned. She couldn't just leave him out in the cold like that, could she? Her body was moving on its own, now. Her mouth, forming words she wasn't even sure of.

"…He told me he loved me…"

"A-ash…not here!" But the raven haired boy didn't seem to hear her muffled cries. Lowering his head, he placed butterfly kisses around her collarbone, nipping at the girl's porcelain skin.
Letting out a small cry, the red-head used all the force she had to push him off, unable to look him in the eye. She could hear his groan of annoyance. She knew he was annoyed…she had stopped again. She knew he wanted to go further…

"What is it now, Mist?" Even in that irritated tone, her heart fluttered at the way he said her name…

"It's just…too fast…" Misty mumbled, slowly looking back up at him. When she did, she saw the small smile on his face.

"C'mon, Mist. After all we've been through…you know I'd never hurt you." His voice seemed to lower, "I love you, Mist…" This, however, came out much more huskily than his last sentence, and before she knew it, his lips were hungrily connected to hers.

Brock blinked oddly, looking at his friend as if she were crazy. That didn't seem like Ash at all…he was never one to express emotions in such a way. But he caught the small shiver Misty gave, and knew there was more to the story than she had told.
"How far…did you two go?" He wasn't sure why, but he held his breath after this, desperately hoping she wouldn't say what he feared…
But Misty smiled the same smile that warmed his heart. He let his breath go.
"We didn't go that far. I still didn't let him…" Her voice had been fairly calm up until this point, but after this sentence, took a turn for the worse. Shaking gently, the young female let out a rigid sob, shielding her eyes from him with her hands. "That's why…that's why…"

It had been over an hour. He was supposed to be here an hour ago… where was he? Wringing her hands together, Misty nervously stalked around the restaurant, her shoulder-length hair swaying gently as she did. The tomboyish female looked rather stunning, sporting a cerulean knee-length dress. The sleeves seemed to hang off of her thin shoulders ever-so-slightly, but didn't seem to bother her much at all.

A glare from the restaurant manager told her she'd waited long enough. Apologizing, she slipped out the door, and into the cool night. Her heart gave a sharp throb, but for some reason, didn't hurt as much as she thought it would. Maybe it was because she had be expecting it? No…he couldn't have stood her up. He must have gotten caught up with work. Yes… that was it.

Ash had taken over the Viridian City gym, and was often busy with gym-related businesses. Misty understood, because her sister's had left the gym for her to deal with. And being a gym leader was hard work…

Clutching her small, matching purse, the young female quickly took off to the gym's location, ignoring the hoots and winks men tossed off at her. It wasn't something new…the young mermaid had grown quite beautiful. Petite, thin, and equally proportioned, she was a man's dream-gal. Well…maybe if her bust was a tad bigger…but that part didn't seem to bother her that much; smaller boobs fit better into sports bras…and that was what she mainly wore while she was on gym duty.

Breaking off from her chain of thought, she halted when she reached the gym, surprised to see that the lights were off. Slowly tip-toeing her way around the side, the girl paused at one of the windows, hesitantly peeking in. What she saw would shock her.

"O-ooh…Ash, harder!" The brunette cried, and the man was all-too eager to comply. Hoisting her up against the wall, he pounded into her, enjoying the squeals and moans she made. With a scream of his name, she came; but he wasn't done yet. Laying her down on the ground of the gym, he positioned himself back at her entrance, and pounded into her again. The screams of "Harder" echoed through the walls and to the ears of the Cerulean City gym-leader. Hearing more and more of their moans and cries, the girl forced herself away, holding back the increasingly strong urge to vomit.

Unfortunately, she wasn't very good at holding it back, and when her stomach lurched once more, she let it out. The nausea teamed up with the heartache seemed way too much to handle. What had she seen? Was it true…? It had to be an illusion, a dream…something. It just couldn't be real, could it? Ash…would he really do such things…? And on their three-month anniversary, too? No…no. No, he couldn't have. He wouldn't…

But when she checked the window again, the answer was clear. Yes, he had. Yes, he could. And yes, he did.

She couldn't take it…and that's when she ran.


Brock didn't do as good a job this time when he held back his anger. Seething quietly, Misty could see his hands trembling. Eyes widening, she reached a hand out to him, but flinched. She had never seen Brock so angry before. It frightened her…it frightened her a lot.

"B-Brock…?" She stuttered, her voice unsure. He seemed to notice her discomfort, and stood, ruffling his medium raven locks. Stalking around the room a few times, he settled himself against the back wall, but it was clear he was still angry.

"Sorry, Mist." He muttered, sighing in frustration, "I just…" He was scaring himself, as well. He had never felt so angry…never felt the need to hurt, kill, and do anything to get Ash back for what he had done. "Ash…he really screwed up this time. I'm never going to forgive him for this."

"But Brock--"

"No, Mist. He's hurt you too many times…you almost died tonight…because of him." He clenched a tanned fist, looking away, "This time…I'm not forgiving him."
Glancing down, Misty let a few more empty tears roll out. Brock…he had always been the one to comfort her when Ash did something like this. She felt so selfish…placing all her troubles on him.
"I'm sorry…I never think about how this affects you…" In truth, Misty was blaming herself for the decaying friendship Brock and Ash had. By laying her problems on him, she was tearing them apart. "I'm…so selfish."

But at this, Brock intervened, stepping back towards her, and shaking his head. "No, Mist…you're not." He was standing beside her now, bending over so he could get a closer look. "If anyone here is selfish…it's Ash." Even at the mention of his name…the two displayed a number of strong emotions. For Misty it was remorse, regret…sorrow. For Brock it was; Anger, Frustration…hatred.

Misty moved to shake her head, but Brock cut her off before she could say anything against it. "Look at it all, Misty. Look at yourself…look what he's done to you…" A warm hand brushed strands of mud-ridden hair away from her face. "He's slowly killing you…"

All those tears, nights, days spent alone, used alone…they were all coming together. All that unused emotion, it was bubbling towards the surface. Misty was sure she had no more tears to cry, but they still came, spilling over as if there were no tomorrow. But this time, she wasn't crying for Ash. She wasn't crying over him…
She was crying because Brock was right. He was right…she was being torn apart, destroyed. She was crying because she felt so weak…so vulnerable. Crying because she felt worthless, useless, pathetic. Crying because she could…and that Brock let her.

Watching the frail girl in front of him cry, Brock couldn't help but feel his own heart ache. His friend, his beautiful friend…is crying over someone who was so worthless. It hurt him so much; he couldn't do anything to help her. He couldn't be Ash. He wasn't Ash…
And that's what hurt the most, unable to be the thing she wanted, the thing she desired. He figured he'd do anything just to see that smiling face of hers again. Anything…

But for now; all he could do was take a seat beside her, wrap a comforting arm around her shoulder, and let her cry everything out. For now…all he could do was be her rock. Be the thing she held on to.
"It'll be okay, Misty…" The masculine voice cooed, his heart shattering at every sob she made. "I won't…let you get hurt again…" No, that wasn't enough for him…he needed to say more.

"I promise…"

A/N: TBC... xD