Ash jumped off his Mukkuru and rushed into the train station, clutching the coat to his chest, feeling his pulse in every pounding footstep towards the platform as he searched for the crowd boarding the Cerulean train to catch up with Misty.
He caught sight of a redhead just about to get on the train. "there she is!"
"HEY!"
Misty recognised his startling call and jumped a little, before turning to see Ash, holding her coat and gasping for air. He looked exhausted and sleep deprived. "wow, I almost feel sorry for him"
"What is it, Ash?"
"Stay with me and Brock!"
"You came out here just to say that?" She put her hands on her hips.
"Well, at least take the Christmas present I got for you"
"You only bought that out of guilt. I don't want it"
"That's not true!" he protested "I remembered you told me in the hotel that you wanted to buy a new coat and I don't want you to get cold in this kind of weather. Please take it?" he waved it at her insistently.
Misty tried not to smile at his sincere kindness or show any gratitude, but she could feel a glow creep onto her face.
"Ok.. thanks Ash" she muttered.
"so you'll stay?" his eyes lit up
"no!" she snapped "look, my train is about to leave, you'll make me miss it..." she turned away from him and got into her carriage. She didn't want him to think she cared, for the sake of what was left of their friendship. "I can't stand showing him feelings that will never be reciprocated"
Ash hung his head in defeat and shuffled away "Alright, you win... Take care, Mist"
The whistle signalled for the train to go and with that, it slowly pulled away, separating Ash from his best friend further and further as time passed. He sat on a nearby bench for a few minutes, listening to his ipod and contemplating his relationship with Misty, just as his did the night before. Looking back on how she stayed at his side through all the years. "she was so supportive, but did I even notice it before? or praise her for it? maybe this is why everything changed between us. I suppose if this is what she really wants then I can't stop her. At least I managed to give her the coat in time, now she'll finally see things from my point of view"
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Misty's carraige rocked about as she tried to fall asleep, but she found it difficult. She was unable to lie in a comfortable position because her seat was so stiff and the chatter from surrounding passengers and their pokemon was keeping her awake. She took out her ipod and set it to shuffle, then rested her chin on her hand as she gazed out the window at the world drifting past her. "Things will be better when I'm not around. He can move on and become a pokemon master without my mixed signals getting in the way. He doesn't need me"
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I thought I did everything right
I thought I treated you,
The best way I know how
But where do I find myself now
Where do I find myself now
I look around,
And my friend you're gone,
What did I do wrong
I wish I could say
that if you change you're mind I'm here
that if you call for me, I'm there
if you're hurting, I'll run fast
forget about the past
I'll be right by your side
Be right by your side
I thought you cared for real
I thought that I was good to you,
And made you smile a lot
But this is what I've got
I look around,
And my friend you are gone,
I guess you've been for long
I wish I could say
That if you change you're mind I'm here
That if you-"
Ash ripped his earphones out in frustration as the lyrics of Lene Marlin's "Wish I could" was starting to sound a little too familiar to him. "enough of this. I'm going back to the hotel"