Chapter 3

(Ash)

Authors note:

Hey everyone, before you start reading may I ask that I receive a few more reviews? Because, I want to know if this is any good or not or if they're any mistakes I need to fix. Ok, that's all I have to say. X3.

"So, Ash, when are you going to the new region?"

The three friends were sitting in a small café in Pallet town; Brock and Ash were shoving cookies into their mouths like it was going out of fashion.

"Mmph, murf, Mmr."

An anger vein popped out on Misty's head, "Hey, chew and swallow first!" Brock smirked as Ash rolled his eyes and swallowed his food, "Sheesh, you're a real buzz kill. Anyway, I'm thinking of leaving next month, Brock and Dawn are coming with me."

"Dawn? Ooh, is she maybe your girlfriend?"

Ash blushed and looked down.

Brock smiled, "I just can't wait to get back on the road again. Meeting new friends, seeing different pokemon and traveling, also…" Hearts popped into the gym leaders' eyes, "SO MANY GIRLS! NURSE JOY! OFFICER JENNY-GAK!"

Misty punched him in the head, "If you even THINK about cheating on me, I'll wring your neck, you bastard!"

Ash snorted as he laughed at the two bicker.

It still seemed odd that his two best friends would start dating, but then again, it seemed so natural for them. A small ache formed in his chest, 'I wish…I wish someone would like me like that.' Though even as he thought that, the raven haired trainer knew that someone did feel that way about him. The same person he was trying so desperately to stay away from.

Gary Oak.

He looked up and noticed that Brock and Misty had stopped fighting…only to make out in front of him.

"Oy! WOULD YOU TWO MAKE OUT SOMEPLACE ELSE?"

Misty pulled away from her boyfriend and stuck her tongue out at her friend, "Oh grow up. Are you jealous because YOU still never had your first kiss?"

"MISTY DON'T SAY THAT TO HIM!"

Ash frowned and stared down at his lap, it was true. The one girl he DID try to kiss was May, but she pushed him away, saying she loved Drew instead. It wasn't like girls thought he was attractive anyway, but it still would've been nice. Now Misty was opening up old wounds again.

"Well, it's true! No girl wants someone like him, he's boring!"

"MISTY!"

"And plus, he has no sex appeal, he only cares about battling!"

Ash stood and pulled his baseball cap down over his eyes. "I'm just going to go now…see you guys later." Misty frowned, "Aw, Ash, I didn't mean it!" Brock glared at his girlfriend, "Shut up Mist, I think you've done quite enough."

"But…"

He shuffled out of the café, feeling like a piece of shit.

-Twenty minutes later-

Ash sighed as flopped down on his sofa and flipped on the TV, his mom and Professor Oak were out dancing for the day. His mom would be gone till at least tonight. Mr. Mime kept him company, but the pokemon mostly stuck to cleaning the already spotless kitchen.

Pikachu yawned next to him and curled her tail over her nose as she wearily watched the show with him, "Pika…"

*Ring, ring GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL, POKEMON!*

Ash sighed and flipped open his phone and put it to his ear. "Hello…?" A laughing voice sounded in his ear, "Hey Ashy boy, how are ya?"

Gary…of course.

"I'm not really in the mood to talk Gary."

"Aw, why? Did someone hurt poor Ashy's feelings?"

Ash gritted his teeth in anger, "It's not funny, Gary." Gary's laughter died down and was replaced with a serious tone, "Ok, seriously Ash. Are you ok? You sound worse than the time me and Umbreon defeated you in your second battle in your first competition."

"Just…shut up. I don't want to talk about it."

"Ash…"

For some reason Ash began to tear up, "I-I'm fine, it's just something stupid that Misty told me, ok?" He closed his eyes, forcing the tears back.

"…over."

"What?"

"I said…I'm coming over, I'll be there in a few minutes. *Click*"

Ash dropped the phone on the carpet, Pikachu looked up at him, "Pika, pika?" His heart started to pound in his chest, 'He's coming here? Just to check on me? He really cares…NO! He's just a player…just a player.'

*Knock, knock.*

"Ash open up!"

The raven haired trainer swallowed as he shakily opened the door. "H-Hi Gary…you didn't have to come over you know-"Gary rushed inside and hugged his old rival hard. Ash widened his eyes, tears formed up again as the brunette held him.

"I came as fast as I could…"

Umbreon leaped inside, "Umbreon!" Pikachu looked at the male pokemon, her eyes gleaming as she raced over, "PIKA!" She rubbed her cheek against Umbreon's, "Cha~! Pika pi!" Umbreon smiled and the two pokemon went out back to play.

"Pika!"

"Umbreon!"

Gary smiled gently, "Now, tell me the truth. Are you ok?"

The tears broke through at last as Ash soon found himself sobbing in his old rival's arms, clutching onto him for dear life as Gary soothed him. "Shh, shh…it's alright, I'm here now." Gary led Ash to the couch and continued to hold the crying trainer against him as they sat.

"Sniff…sob…"

"I'm here, now can you tell me what's wrong?"

-Half an hour later-

"Misty's a bitch, huh?"

Ash shook his head, "She's not all bad…but she's right. There's nothing special about me, and all those dumb prophecies about me? Pure coincidence."

Gary sighed and stretched, folding his arms behind his head. Ash had calmed down and the two of them were watching the evening news together. Apparently, Giovanni from Team Rocket had infiltrated the Unova region and had stolen some rare pokemon for his ranks.

Nothing new.

Ash blushed as he faced his eyes downward, "Thanks for coming over, Gary…"

The other boy smirked and ruffled Ash's hair, "No problem, Ashy boy." The raven haired trainer scowled, "Why do you keep calling me that?"

Gary shrugged, "I like calling you that, think of it as a pet name."

'P-P-P-Pet name?'

"Uh…yeah, sure." Ash murmured, he removed his hat and placed it on the table. When he looked up, Gary was looming over him. "WHA?" Ash yelped, the two of them were so close. Emerald orbs stared into light brown, the tension in the room had grown suffocating.

"Y-Your t-too close."

Gary leaned forward and laid a hand on Ash's cheek, "Your face is like ice. Are you cold?" Ash blushed, "No…"

Gary scooted over and held Ash close to his chest, the heat radiating off the other boy was enough to drive Ash up the wall. "You're lying again. As punishment, you are to stay like this till your all warmed up. Ok?"

"Isn't this…weird for you?"

"Not really, like I said, I've always wanted you."

"G-Gary…"

Gary smirked as he looked down at the raven haired trainer, "Sheesh, you're so childish." Ash narrowed his eyes as Gary pressed his forehead to Ash's.

"Of course, I LOVE it when you get like that."

Ash swallowed hard, Gary slid two fingers under the younger boy's chin and tilted up. Gary leaned down, his soft brown hair was pushing up against raven black locks.

"I really, really want you Ashy boy." Gary murmured as he began to slowly lower his lips to Ash's.

His heart leaped into his throat at the thought of his first kiss, and from a guy no less. He kept moving closer and Ash found himself beginning to close his eyes as Gary's mouth was inches from his.

"Ash honey! I'm ho-oh my!"

Gary and Ash jolted away from each other to see Delia and Professor Oak staring at them in shock. Ash blushed, "M-Mom! Professor Oak! It's not what it uh, looks like, oh crap…uh, tell them Gary." Gary frowned, "…"

"Gary?"

"Ash, honey…"

Ash looked at his mom guiltily, Delia had a hand to her heart and her eyes were wide like a Noctowl's. Professor Oak looked sternly at Gary, mouthing, 'What were you going to FORCE him?'

Delia recovered and smiled weakly, "Um…well, goodnight Professor." The pokemon professor smiled as he bent to give Delia a small kiss on the forehead, "Goodnight Delia…and Gary, I'll talk to you later when you get home."

The door closed, leaving the two trainers and Delia in an awkward silence.

Suddenly Delia squealed and hugged Ash and Gary at once. Both boys froze in shock, "EH?" They said at the same time.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you both! I always knew you would become friends again, but this is better!"

"Uh…so you're ok with this Ms. Ketchum?"

"Of course!"

Ash blanched and pulled away from his mom, "Wait…mom, you DO realize that you have a Gay son and this doesn't bother you at all?" Delia smiled meekly, "Well, it'll take some time getting used to. But honey, I've seen the way you've looked at each other and I kind of thought that maybe you DID have something for Gary."

Gary shuffled his feet, "Uh, we're not dating…really."

"Oh? Well in case you do, I give my approval, now I'm going to go to bed, night boys!"

The two trainers mumbled goodnight to Delia as she walked up the stairs. Ash blushed, "See you around, I guess?"

Gary frowned, looking majorly disappointed, "Yeah, gramps is probably going to lecture me…again." Ash smirked, "You better hope he doesn't break out his poetry or you'll wish he just lectured you." The brunette chuckled.

Gary looked at Ash and took a step forward, "Ash, tell me something, are you sure you have no feelings for me? Whatsoever?"

"…"

"Ash?"

"Gary, to be honest…I really don't know. I'm really confused right now, and I don't want to get hurt." Ash murmured. Gary cupped Ash's chin with one hand and smiled, "Then…can we at least take it slow? Let me take you on a date."

"A…date?"

"Yeah, something casual, I'll pick you up around lunchtime tomorrow, ok?"

Ash smiled shyly, his heart still racing, "A-All right, one date won't hurt." Gary smiled wide, "That's the spirit Ashy boy, I'll see you later."

Gary winked and dropped Ash's chin before sauntering out the door.

Ash blushed and watched Umbreon and Pikachu enter the room from the back. Umbreon, seeing his master gone, snuggled against Pikachu once before bounding out the door. Pikachu blushed and waved goodbye, "Pikachu, pi."

Ash smiled, "You're lucky you have it so easy, buddy." Pikachu tilted her head and smiled, "Pikachu!"