Sorry this took a while! I've been busy with finals and exams.

Note: Leaf is in this. I know I portrayed her as a bit of an airhead, just go with it.

I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING!

I checked one more time in the mirror, straightening my suit jacket and admiring my brilliant fashion sense. I was wearing a dark red button down shirt under a crisp black jacket. There was even a white carnation in the front pocket for decoration. The Gala would start in thirty minutes and I was expected to make a speech at dinner. A speech that I haven't written yet and probably won't. Procrastination at it's best…

"You ready, Gary?" Leaf buzzed from behind me, slipping her hands on my shoulders. I turned around and gave her a quick peck on the nose. "I take that as a yes?" She laughed and led me out the hotel door by hand.

I had been "going out" with Leaf for about a month. It was an impromptu thing. Actually, I wasn't planning on asking her out when she came by to talk to my grandfather. She didn't know he was apart of a research project. I don't know what came over me, I guess it was loneliness. What? Me, Gary Oak, lonely? Yeah, I know, impossible...

"You look great tonight," I complimented her on her dark blue ball gown. She blushed and whispered thank you, squeezing tighter on my hand. I can't say that I haven't been happy because I have. Leaf was pretty, sweet, smart, all of that. The one thing I can say is I haven't been…enthralled. There was no passion in our relationship, no friction. We never got in arguments because whenever we got close, Leaf would back down. It was kind of boring.

"Gary!" My grandfather called and waved us over, "Many of the other researchers here want to talk to you about your Eevee study. Make sure you find them tonight, okay?" Of course Gramps was giving me job-related advice during a party. I rolled my eyes and gave a 'can you believe this?' look at Leaf. She wasn't paying attention though, instead she was watching the floods of fancy-pants wearing intellectuals coming through the door.

Leaf suddenly grabbed my hand, "Oh! You didn't tell me that that BROCK was going to be here!" She squealed and pointed to the famous Pokémon breeder who had walked in.

I gave her an incredulous look, "Really?" My eyebrows rose.

Leaf waved away my expression and hurried off to go meet him. Okay, so she wasn't perfect but who was?

"I have a date yet I am by myself…super," I muttered and scanned the room. My eyes drifted until they were met by a blue-green gaze. My heart stopped and blinked hard, taking in the red hot hair and the dark green cocktail dress. Misty.

Misty POV

I feel ridiculous. This dress, that I bought last minute, was not my style. When I complained about it being strapless, Daisy scolded me saying it's just like wearing a bikini. Also, it was way too short, about mid-thigh. As soon as I bought it, I called Mrs. Ketchum again to ask about dress code. She said it wasn't white tie or anything and casual formal was fine.

Mrs. Ketchum needs to be ordained as a saint. She asked no questions when I asked for tickets and that I was going alone, even when I added for her NOT to mention this to Gary. I'm not completely a hundred percent sure why I asked that, maybe because I was afraid he'd call me up and I'd chicken out.

Ash's attitude was no better, even up to the day I left for Kanto he tried to make me stay. Honestly, the more he tried to pull me away, made me want to go more.

"Misty?" A female voice beckoned me from behind, "Is that you?"

I cautiously looked around and saw a short girl with her light brown hair twisted into a bun, "May!"

She has grown up since I last saw her. To be honest, I didn't know May too well, probably because of my irrational resentment towards her. Ash replaced me in less than 2 months, an obvious slap in the face. May lasted for about two years and then was succeeded by Dawn.

"Um, is Ash here too?" She bit her lip and spoke in a hushed voice, like someone would over hear her.

My smile faded and morphed into a sort of scowl, "Just me, I'm afraid. Hope that's no inconvenience." The last few syllables were uttered with a bitter tone, showing that some of my previous resentment still lived within.

May's eyes grew wide, "Oh no, quite the opposite actually. I don't know what I'd do if he tried to talk to me or tried to patch things up. It's been a while but the whole situation gets me riled!" A wave of relief came over me; at least she isn't hopelessly in love with him. Another doting fan girl, only talking to me to get to Ash, would push me over the edge.

"You know, I was never told what exactly happened between you two," May and I started walking together around the ballroom, "Ash doesn't like to talk about it."

"Well, you should know, even if it is a bit embarrassing," May's voice deepened into seriousness, "Because, I guess it was because of you."

"Me!" I stopped walking and put my hands on my hips, "I was in Cerulean, and I had no part of whatever mess you got into!"

May noticed her mistake and probably forgot about my easily set-off temper, "Oh gosh, I meant that you were the topic, not a conspirator. It had more to do with Ash's…attachment to you." She paused for me to interject but I just stood there, "It was hard, becoming his companion after all of those years with you. Especially since you were so good with Pokémon. I was kind of a disappointment in that particular area. All he would talk about was, 'Misty that' and 'Misty used to' and so on. It drove me crazy."

I never thought about how May must have felt, I just assumed she filled in happily. I saw her as a spoiled brat who didn't even care about the journey, didn't have the passion, didn't get that rush of accomplishment when a new Pokémon is caught...

"It didn't help that Max tagged along everywhere. I tried calling Ash out on it one time, and the last time, and we got in a huge fight. That's when I decided we should part ways; I didn't want to be a trainer anyways." May murmured the last part as she fumbled with her bracelet, caught in her own memories, "It's hard when someone…someone you thought you really cared about, openly loves another."

I froze and drew a sharp breath in. May snapped her head back up and shook her head, "Sorry, will you excuse me..."

So, May did like, maybe love, Ash. And, from her point of view, Ash loved me. Even back then.

Well, I know that wasn't true, he had no interest in awkward, adolescent me, especially since he was so awkward himself.

"Okay, so now I'm alone again. The pains of going to a party without a date." I sighed, scanning the room for a potential conversationalist.

Old, old, boring, don't know, creepy, don't know, old, way too creepy…wait. I darted my eyes back to the last person I had looked over, who was staring at me.

"Glad you made an appearance, Oak." I muttered.

Next chapter, they will have their reunion, I PROMISE! Reviews are always welcome:)