Being Second
an Egoshipping fanfiction
by: i need sleep

Author's Notes: I have a job now! :D

On a side note, this chapter might not be the best quality. I really should come back and revise stuff; it's been so long, I don't even remember the format of my chapters!

No point in giving excuses! They don't change anything. Apologies for the wait though.

Thank you to everyone who added this story (and occasionally, me) on alert and favourites! You guys fuel my writing power.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. If I did, well, a lot of things would be different. But I don't own it. Sorry, guys.

Chapter 9: So, I heard Ash likes brunettes…

Morning came, and after breakfast Misty, Gary and Delia left to check the rest of the venues. Tracey had offered to stay home to "help" Daisy; the red-head shuddered at the thought.

Delia held a list in her left hand and a pen in her right. With a bright disposition contrast Gary's and Misty's sleepy ones, she excitedly hopped on the convertible and proceeded to talk the two teenagers' heads off in the hopes that they would at least waken a bit more. She was hard to ignore.

The first venue for the day was at a posh seafood restaurant in the heart of Cerulean City. The restaurant was very regal looking, and Gary mentally crossed it off and deemed it unsuitable for Ash.

Misty, on the other hand, was appraising the establishment. She knew of Ash's love of seafood. She mentally kept it on her 'considerable' list.

"That place was terrible," Gary commented as they got in the car, strapping themselves in. "I am proud to say Ash won't like that place."

Misty glared, "Excuse me? Personally, I think Ash will like that place."

Delia sat there silently, running the options through her head. Gary glared back. "It's too formal!" He argued back.

"But he loves seafood!"

"But it's too formal!"

"Children!" Delia countered, glaring at both teenagers. "I do agree that Ash loves seafood, but Gary is right. That place is probably too…" she thought of an acceptable word, "mature for Ash."

Misty opened her mouth, about to argue, but closed it. "Okay," she surrendered, "I understand."

The male sneered at her, only to shut his mouth after seeing Delia's glare, now directed towards him. He cleared his throat, looked ahead with an expressionless face, and started the car, driving towards the next venue.

The rest of the day consisted of awkward silences, and the occasional sneer directed at the other teenager. Delia opted to stay out of it and decided to let the two sort out their own differences.

They regrouped back at the Cerulean Gym, to drop Misty off and to plan the next day. They sat around the large, round, dining table of the Waterflower sisters, brochures and forms covering the entire surface of the table, trying to narrow down their choices.

"What do you think of this?" Delia asked, as she held up a brochure for Masters' Restaurant, a Cerulean restaurant they had visited a few hours former. "It wasn't so formal, and the name sounds quite appealing…"

Both the teenagers shook their heads, disagreeing. "No," Misty voiced. "The waiters looked like snobs."

Ash's mother nodded her head, her mouth in an 'O'. "Alright," she said, cheerfully, as if her idea wasn't rejected. Grabbing another brochure, she held it up and asked again.

"Uh, no," Misty said, as she looked through her copy of the brochure. "The food isn't much, really. They're not that filling."

"How about this?" Gary asked, as he passed Delia another brochure. She shook her head glumly, stating that the date in which she planned to throw Ash's party was already booked.

Reaching for a random brochure, she held it up for the two teenagers to inspect.

"I do think that's a good one," Gary commented, stretching his hand out for the brochure, which Delia handed over. He flicked through it, pausing at the page that offered the menus. "Look," he looked towards Misty. "They serve seafood."

She glared at him and grabbed the brochure violently. "Give me that," she demanded, as she scanned through the same page. Much to her displeasure, he was right. They did serve seafood…

And she also liked the restaurant.

She pushed the tiny booklet back into his hand. "Yeah, whatever."

Delia looked ecstatic. "So yes to this restaurant?"

The two teenagers nodded their heads.

With a gentle smile, she took the brochure back and grabbed her mobile phone, quickly dialling the number. "Hello!" She stood from the table to go outside, "This is Delia Ketchum, yes, I inquired about your restaurant today…"

Still miffed at each other, the two young adults sat in tense silence, which the young professor chose to break. "So, had a good day, Red?"

She glared at him, "No," she snapped.

"Aww, cheer up, Scarlett," he leaned back and closed his eyes. "That restaurant didn't really stand a chance."

She continued to stab him with her eyes. "I can't believe you made it look like I don't know Ash at all."

Gary looked perplexed. "What are you talking about?"

"What are you talking about?" She mocked, and the male's stare turned icy. "I bet you didn't even know he likes seafood!"

"What?" He replied, his voice starting to rise. "I knew that even since we were children!"

"Ohohoho!" She mocked once more. "Right, right. Sure!"

"Why are you doing this, Waterflower?" He spat, standing from his chair. She mirrored his action. "Stop acting like a little prick!"

She growled at him. "Stop acting like you know better than me!" A finger poked against the brunette's chest, "Tell me, Gary, did you know Ash and Pikachu both like ketchup?"

He was silent. This information was new to him.

Pleased, she looked up to him. "Did you know, oh great professor, that Ash hates onions?"

Silence greeted her. The memory was vague, but Gary is unsure wether Ash liked onions back when they were children.

"I knew that," she said, sounding victorious. "I do, because I was his best friend when you treated him like dirt." She sneered.

This was below the belt, Gary knew, but he stayed quiet. She was being stupid, but he couldn't help but ponder her words. Maybe he shouldn't bother trying to help. Maybe she was right.

Maybe he didn't know anything about Ash anymore.

For some reason, the thought depressed the young man. However, he wasn't one to let people overrun him.

"I can't believe you, Waterflower," he shook his head, faking pity. The red-head looked utterly shocked as she watched his reaction. This, certainly, was not she was expecting or aiming for. "I'll have you know that I'm straight," he emphasized the word with a cheeky grin, "I don't pay that much attention to trivial details because I'm not in love with Ketchum, unlike you." He walked towards the exit as she stared open mouthed at him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to be in my car. Please tell Delia to just come over when she's ready."

Pausing by the door, he turned back with a sneer – the sight was common to her now. "By the way, all of Ash's crushes were brunettes. I don't think you'll stand much of a chance."

With that, he left.

She stared at his back, her mouth wide open.

No. That bastard did not just-.

"Argh! Get back here, you!"

Author's Notes: Happy New Year folks! I hope this year will be awesome for you!