Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. Thanks to Amorous-Thunder for beta-reading~

The Part of Me I Will Never Forget

Chapter 7: Pressing Matters

"Psyduck! Will you EVER learn?"

It was a normal morning at the Cerulean Gym. All Pokémon were fed, the sisters were gallivanting off on their luxury travels of fashion: boys and make up, the odd puddle was seeping through to the lobby, and Psyduck was hopelessly dunked into the pool, trying to attempt swimming.

Oh, and thoughts were constantly dominated by Ash Ketchum.

'Yeah, like that's normal.'

It was times like this that it really took a hold of her. Being alone, just trying to survive. That was what it had been like, anyway.

Hours she'd spent - just moping.

Pining.

'Ugh, "pining." What a way to put it.'

But it was true. Misty had pined and pined for Ash. Even after leaving him, even after the interview. She just couldn't stop. Endless hours were spent holding a sweeping brush, back pressed up against the translucent glass walls of the gym and repeatedly sighing and scowling at her weakness.

"Psyduck. Just how many times do I have to tell you?" She held out her arms in a dainty but focused manner, fingers pointing towards the surface of the water. "Now, just watch me..."

Bending her knees, she made what some other swimmers performed look crooked and inexperienced in comparison. Every movement she made was expert-like as she fluently dived into the sparkling water with upmost ease. The crashing of the waves were seemingly ignored as she landed with toes delicately skimming the surface just before reaching into the depths of the pool.

"There." With lips pouted and arms crossed, she kept afloat by kicking her legs in a rhythm, bobbing up and down like a inflatable. "See? It isn't hard to do, just jump in!"

The Pokémon cocked its head to one side, responding with the same flat response Misty had always drummed into her psyche:

"Psy?"

"Ah, Forget it." Dismissing the hopeless student with a wave, she bobbed over to the pools edge, lifting herself out and drying her hair with a towel. "You'll never learn...," she muttered, watching as the idle Pokémon squidged the rubber ring around its plump waist, the same ring she had reluctantly let it keep, and cannonball into the blue lake.

Walking downstairs to the tanks that held several Pokémon she loved, she remembered how Psyduck always did this. Back then, it was a lot more infuriating, but now, because she was always studying, or just lazing around at home, she'd forgotten the many needs of her Pokémon friends. She always felt guilty for this, but then again, she couldn't handle everything.

Her sisters had to take care of the gym, whether they liked it or not. Misty wanted a normal life, with a successful career and Pokémon. But right now, that was her main focus.

'Hah, of course Ash isn't included.'

Tossing her ginger locks over her shoulder, she suddenly pictured herself breaking down in front of him, at the time of her birthday.

Just so... weak.

Weak. Awful. Disgusting.

'I can't believe I even...' Bringing her hand to her lips, she closed her eyes in thought. 'I'm not forgiving him. Ever.'

"He's made it even harder to bear now - stupid idiot."

Sitting down in front of the marine tank, she sighed at her reflection in the glass. She needed to fix herself up a bit; the last few nights she had barely slept.

"Schools gonna start soon... I can't go in looking like this..."

'I don't care what people think of me. They don't know what's going on. But why do I want to look decent? A scruffy ponytail, jeans, and a t-shirt are usually fine. Of course it's not because of him; it's not like he'd be dressed any smarter.'

Of course it's not because of him.

Sighing, she looked down at her current attire: a pale blue swimsuit, before looking down to the change of clothes that lay on the counter: purple-striped shorts and a t-shirt. 'I'm so plain compared to the other girls. Erika always wears something flowered and flouncy, whilst Sakura sticks to cute little outfits.'

She rested her head against the glass. "And then there's me: plain scruffy and a wreck."

Thump.

Turning her head, Misty saw a familiar purple Pokémon jump by her side. With its piercing eyes beaming up at her, it purred before knocking her arm with its head affectionately.

"Espeon, you need to stay by me; you can't be alone near this water," she whispered to the Pokémon whilst stroking its tufts of fur between her fingers. "You're only trying to help, I know." She hugged the tiny bundle in her arms tightly, watching the Pokémon swimming in the tank.

The marine shades of blue danced in the aquarium and Pokémon darted through several rocks and seaweeds, shouting their names to others. "Reminds me of travelling," she breathed. 'Ah, what I'd do to be out in the open air right now.' Smirking, she remembered. 'Just getting lost in a forest or setting up camp for the night, eating Brock's homemade special soup before drifting off into a damn good sleep.'

Knock knock.

Misty turned her head suddenly towards the noise. 'No one else is here. There's been no registered battles, no meetings, no calls...' The gym had been silent today up until now, it had been quiet all week, actually. 'Sakura or Erika would of called...' Her knees knocked together and a shiver ran laughingly down her spine. '...it's not him. It can't be. He wouldn't even dare...' Her face heated up at the hacking thought of him being there, cheerful with all the joys of Spring... Of course it wouldn't be like that now, but that was how she pictured him. She wanted it to be like that, back when they were carefree - so damn much - so she could greet him with a fleeting smile and a laugh, invite him in and talk about their day. No matter how boring hers would be, they would train their Pokémon alongside each other, take walks across the Cerulean Cape... Just ordinary things, the little things. That's what she wanted. To be just friends.

'But there's no way in hell I'm forgiving him.'

"Well, whoever it is, it couldn't be important." Brushing off her intruder, she focused back on the aquarium.

Knock knock.

Curling her lip and darting her eyes in that direction, she rose from her seat slowly. 'Persistent, aren't we?' She strode out of the door, picturing herself quite confident as she planned her words to every other person - except Ash that could be there. If it was Ash, she would tell him to stick his apology or whatever stupid reason he'd ever even thought to trespass on her personal space. Then she saw the shadow of a figure at the door. Halting, she squinted to try and make out just who exactly was calling for her. 'Or maybe it's one of my sisters' unrequited admirers,' she thought with disgust, remembering the many past encounters with several hundred teenage boys, all caught up in a little fantasy world with only one of the three actually being serious about dating. Shaking her head, she rubbed the tiredness from her once perky eyes. They showed no sign of leaving, and...

'...oh great, another damn reason it could be Ash. Stubbornness.'

He was in her mind again. She could of kicked herself (and several times had done), for her mind was wandering yet again back to him.

Knock knock.

It was louder this time, and sighing, she reluctantly edged to the door. 'Here we go. Deep breaths. Come on Misty. You can do this.'

Reaching out for the door handle, she snapped back her hand in worry. 'What if... it is him? What would I say...?' Color dawned on her cheeks once again as she let herself stop fighting it. She stretched out her fingers for the door once again.

"Well, if it is, I'll..."

The door swung open as she gasped at her visitor. The woman was wearing a petite rose-dress and small heels with a tied flower-headband and hair clipped into a ponytail. Her face was occupied by a very light hint of makeup and mascara; the whole outfit made her look even younger than she already was, to which she acted like.

"D-Delia?"

"Misty! How nice to see you once again! I was beginning to think no one was home!" The mother-like woman wrapped her arms tightly around the girl's shoulders as she tried to juggle the hamper she'd brought between her hands. Letting the shocked girl breathe, she pointed a finger at her in a strict manner. "Don't you make me worry about you ever again, do you hear me?"

Nodding with enthusiasm, Misty smiled, relieved that the visitor was someone she most definitely wanted to see. "I won't, I promise." Waving her arms to point to the lobby chairs, she tilted her head towards the gym's 'cafe' area. "C'mon, I bet you need to sit down and drink; that basket looks heavy..." She trailed away, peering at the cloth poking from the wicker. "... And what might it be?" She couldn't help questioning as Delia looked pretty pleased at her curiosity.

"You'll just have to open it and see!" Delia giggled while Misty raised a susceptive eyebrow.

"Well... Okay..."

You had to be wary around Mrs. Ketchum; when she was mad, she was mad; when kept something hidden, you really didn't know what to expect.

"So," finding a seat near the window, Delia clasped her hands together in interest, "How've you been? We didn't really speak last time... and this beats the videophone by miles!" Her enthusiasm rubbed off on everyone around her, making Misty feel better already.

"I... well... I've been fine, y'know - handling the gym and Pokémon with the care and respect they deserve. My sisters have left me today, so I'm fending for myself, hoping trainers won't pass by." She chuckled at her own cowardness. Truth was, she was exhausted, and just didn't have that usual spark of energy that lit her eyes.

Delia chuckled too, but soon became serious with a frown forming. "Oh, Misty, you truly look worn out!" Her eyes scanned Misty's tired features as Misty breathed out a sigh.

"I know. And I bet you can guess why." She glanced to the side as Delia shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Ah, yes. Well, I... I actually wanted to talk about that." She began, and Misty didn't respond, staring out into space.

"Hm?" Her idle response made Delia think twice, and she resorted to another plan in order to cheer the tired girl up.

"... But I want you to have a look at this first!" She beamed, trying her best to look pleasant, nudging the parcel towards her. The girl whipped her head around to look at the basket once more, glad to know that she could finally find out what it was.

"Mm, well, okay..." Misty pressed her lips together as she looked for a way to tackle the present. Placing her slender fingers around the lid, she lifted both the blanket and top to reveal yet another fabulous present: a small trinket bracelet was laid on the soft fabric, turquoise beads and silver charms dangling from the thread. The beads were different shapes and sizes, all complete with green star patterns laced around the edges. "Oh my, it's wonderful!" Delia smiled, as the mere sight of Misty's ecstatic face was enough for her. She daintily slipped it over her thin wrist, posing with it and making her audience giggle.

"It suits you, Misty. Beautiful as always," Delia soothed, making Misty blush a pale pink and smirk.

"Well, I don't know about that..." She sat down again, still grinning.

Smirking at Misty's cute embarrassment, Delia continued. "I've brought cupcakes too, especially made for you!"

"Oh Delia, you didn't have too! I'm spoilt enough!"

"Yes I did. You need just as much care and attention as what you're giving this gym, which is one big handful!"

They both moved from their seats, Misty pouring drinks while Delia opened her box of delicious-looking homemade cakes.

"Right then, tell me what you want to say." Misty was serious, not forgetting Delia's announcement before the unwrapping. She bit into a delicately iced cake, watching like a hawk.

"Well, Ash, he... he misses you, Misty." Delia had announced just about the most obvious thing in the world. But it was not obvious to Misty.

"Misses me? He's got a damn funny way of showing it," she huffed, sipping a lemonade before biting into the cupcake again.

"Misty! He wants to be friends with you again more than anything else! Have you SEEN the way he mopes? Really, you two need your heads banging together."

'He needs his banging against a brick wall,' she thought secretly. Ash was her son after all, and Misty didn't think she'd be too pleased with her sinister thoughts towards him. "Nope. He does not mope. Whenever we cross paths, it's a disaster. Delia, I cry. I cry in front of Ash."

"There you have it, Misty, you cry. You've got to come to a resolve with him. It's tearing you both apart."

"Not until I have an apology."

'A well-planned, 50-page long one, describing all of his stupid arguments with me and why I was right in all of them.' She bit her lip, knowing she would probably fall asleep through something so absurd. Delia broke the awkward silence:

"Misty, I'm warning you, I can't handle two stubborn teenagers; Ash alone is enough to put up with."

Misty sighed, knowing she probably looked like a six year old, or at least someone overly immature. "But, Delia, he really hurt me. Is it wrong to want some kind of 'sorry' for that?"

"No, but you have to end this sometime."

Misty sighed for about the hundredth time that day, all for the same reason. 'I know, I know,' her mind was adrift again. 'I can't escape from it... but I actually...' She shook her head in desperation.

"I'm beginning to think both of you need to accept this; you're two best friends, you're perfect for each other and, quite frankly, in your sisters words...: kiss and make-up already."

"You're such a schoolgirl," Misty spluttered and teased the young mum, knowing she was a gossip queen at heart. "I wish it was that easy..."

"See! You even admit it, Misty!"

"I... never even-!" She folded her arms over her chest, huffing and blowing her hair out of her eyes. Delia smiled knowingly, before subtly reaching into her small shoulder bag she'd hastily dropped around her shoulders.

"Misty... I have something else; he'll go crazy but I thought, well..." Delia placed a few different colored envelopes on the dining table, looking uneasy as she withdrew her hand. Misty cocked her head to rest on her shoulder, scanning the envelopes, before giving her a questioning look.

"And these are...?"

"They're Ash's. To you."

Misty's mouth quivered in shock as she slowly brought her fingers to stroke the paper, which showed it's age through several rips and tears, looking like it had been shoved back into far too many drawers in a hurry.

"I-I don't know what to say," she gulped as she picked the top one gingerly from the pile. "I didn't think he'd keep these."

'Why didn't he send them?' Her mind whirred as her eyes bored into the papers fibres.

"He always kept them quiet, away in his room." Delia chuckled inwardly upon the memory, but appearing wistfully. "I haven't read them, so don't worry," she added quickly, locking eyes with Misty, who in turn licked her lips whilst furrowing her brow in thought.

'I kept the ones he sent me. I just couldn't get rid of them... No matter how much I tried.' Her fingers flipped the envelope to the front, which read her address in scribbly handwriting, also her name.

Misty.

Her name had been wrote somewhat neatly, which made her groan in disgust. 'I never read the letters. Just kept them. The temptation was too much sometimes, and I'd rip it open desperate to read it, but I'd stop. No matter what, I wasn't about to give in to some idiotic letter I'd received from someone who just doesn't care.'

"Oh god. I shouldn't of, I just..." The woman sat in front, knocked her from the reverie with a whisper, and cupped her perfect face in her hands without any warning. "I just... want you to be happy!"

The wail surprised Misty, and she instantly dropped the letter to rest back on the table. "Delia! I-"

"I'm so sorry, Misty! I just can't stand seeing you two like this! It breaks my heart, and you know it's breaking your own!" Her shoulders shook as she visibly tried to keep herself stable in front of Misty, but a cry escaped between her fingers.

"Delia! It's not your fault!" Misty dived for a cupped hand that was plastered over one eye. Her face was scrunched up behind the shield, and upon seeing her distress, Misty felt like crying too.

'I've done this. I've made Delia cry. Maybe it's not Ash's fault at all, and maybe it's me.' She tightened her claw grip on the slender hand. 'It is me. The stupid, plain, ugly, idiotic brat. It's my fault.'

"I'm sorry, Delia, I-It's my fault. All of it. I keep blaming Ash for everything, it's not him, is it? That's what everyone's been trying to-"

"Oh, Misty." Delia removed the other shaking hand from her face, revealing puffed eyes and blotchy cheeks. "There you go, blaming yourself again." She turned the girls head to face her own, looking into afraid, confused cerulean eyes. "It's not your fault. It really isn't. But it isn't Ash's, either. You both need to make the right decision, that's all." She wiped her cheek quickly, stopping herself from quivering shakes. "Just... take your time. I know you need it." She winked reassuringly before quivering again, shifting back into her seat.

'I need to resolve this - at least for Delia's sake; but I'm not forgiving him! How can I possibly do this...?' Misty pondered, ashamed of herself for thinking only of herself. 'Well, I'm definitely not walking up and explaining my heart to him...'

After an eerie pause that seemed like forever, both found the courage to speak again.

"I-"

"Well-"

Misty nodded her head, letting her speak: "Well, I think I'll be off, then. I think I've said quite enough, don't you think?" They giggled halfheartedly - but the tense feeling in the room depicted it's fakeness, resuming back into silence.

"Yeah, let me lead you out."

The rain was tipping down heavily, bouncing from the sidewalk's empty paths in massive leaps and bounds, trickling down the gym's frail window panes and dripping from black drain pipes.

Misty Waterflower sat alone, hands resting on a pile of letters, watching the storm brewing about outside, pondering her decisions after the day's events.

"To open, or not to open?"

She sighed, disheartened by the options of her head and her heart. She had no idea of what could be inside.

"He was only young, probably just scribbles about battles...," she snorted, remembering his 'one and only' priority. That and food, of course. "... I always admired that burning passion..." Espeon joined her side, looking up with gigantic purple orbs that shone with worry. "Ah, don't worry about me, Espeon. I'll be okay." She returned her friend to the inside of it's poke ball, snapping in shut and pushing it into her denim shoulder bag with care. "I'll be okay," she repeated again, shoving in the letters in with distain, following with the poke ball. She sat up and tied her hair back into a tidy ponytail before turning on her heel and opening the door out of the gym, into the rain.

Oh my, darkness.

Change of scene next time, R&R please you're all a massive help!:3