Ash slams the phone back on the hook. He lies back on the bed. How could I have lost? He thinks as he forces himself to roll off the bed and stand on his feet. He walks over to the mirror and stares at his reflection. His hair is slightly messy and he tries to calm it with his hand. It doesn't do much, but he's not trying to look good right now.

He is suddenly startled by a knock at the door. He catches his breath, then creeps up to it slowly.

"Hey Ash! You ready?" Brock greets him.

"Uh yeah, let's go." He replied, closing the door behind him.

The boys set off down the hall towards the elevator. Brock immediately notices Ash's gloomy expression.

"Ash, it's only one match. It's not the end of the world. You know you're a great trainer and you know you're one of the best." Brock tries to encourage him.

"I know, it's just… I could have won so easily. I don't know what happened." He responds, pressing the elevator button.

"Just don't worry about it. You can only get better. Just let go and have fun with us tonight alright?"

Ash lifts his head up, then walks into the suddenly opened elevator doors. Brock walks in after him. He presses the main floor button.

"You're right Brock, thanks."

"Anytime, buddy."

The elevator begins to move downwards when something suddenly pops into Ash's mind.

"So uh Brock, there was something I have been meaning to ask you." He said.

"What's that?"

"Will you be my best man? For the wedding?"

"Really? Of course I will!"

"Thanks, that means a lot."

After their little bromance moment, the best friends exit the elevator, which has taken them to the lobby of the Indigo Stadium. From there, they head to the basement, where the party is happening.

Brock leads them down a flight of stairs that Ash has never seen before. He hears the music get louder as they descend into the depths of the underground level.

Walking into the party behind Brock, Ash notices couches, chairs, tables and people. Lots of people. This basement looks like it could be used as a storage place; there are little hallways and doors in random places. Ash had never been here before, let alone even knew it existed.

He notices May, Max and Misty sitting around a table together, playing some drinking game.

"Ash! Oh my god! I didn't think you would make it!" May cries as she runs up to hug him. She is noticeably intoxicated.

"Ha-ha…well I suddenly had a change of heart I guess" Ash says trying to escape May's grasp.

When she finally releases him, he looks around the room and sees many of the opponents participating in the Pokémon League. He's relieved he doesn't see anyone he has battled against.

His heart sinks as his eyes rest on the person he completely forgot about. Standing with a bunch of girls next to a table filled with cups, was Ritchie. Of course he would be here, he thought.

"Ash, do you want a drink?" May asks him.

"W-What? Oh, yeah. Sure." He said. His eyes still on Ritchie.

…

Ash joined his friends in playing some drinking games. About 2 hours had passed, but Ash had no idea. He was so drunk he could barely stand up. His head was spinning and he almost forgot where he was.

He walked over to a couch that was isolated. It was behind this concrete wall and nobody had seemed to go near it all night. He thought this was a good spot to chill by himself for a bit, maybe sober up a little. He plops down on the couch and immediately his brain begins to pound against his skull. For a minute, he thinks he's going to be sick. How much did I fucking drink? He asked himself.

He leans his head back and closes his eyes, when he hears his name being called.

"Ash? Ash are you ok?"

He lifts his head up slowly. His eyes are glazed over and his hair is a complete mess. The music is blaring and he can't even hear himself think. When he opens his eyes, he sees a figure standing in front of him.

"Yeah I'm fine." He snarls at Ritchie.

"Okay, I'm just making sure." He replies.

Ritchie moves in closer and sits right next to Ash on the couch.

"W-What are you doing, Ritchie?" Ash slurred.

"Making sure you don't pass out. You want me to walk you up to your room?" he asked.

"No! I'm fine. Just…just leave me alone." Said Ash as he struggled to move to the next cushion over.

Ash was beyond drunk. He could barely feel his limbs and whatever was left of them, felt like noodles. His head was aching and all he wanted to do was sleep. The only thing stopping him from leaving was being sunk into this enormous couch.

"So, Ash how have you been lately? I haven't seen you in a while." Ritchie attempted to make small talk.

"Yeah, and there's a fucking reason for that, Ritchie." Ash growled at him.

Ash didn't know why he was acting like this towards Ritchie. He hadn't really done anything wrong, they were just two young teenagers who had a horrible break up. Ash held no grudges towards the nasty things Ritchie said to him, but he was just never really nice to him after they had broken up.

"Ash, can we be adults about this? Can't we just forget the past and start over? As friends?" Ritchie pleaded.

Ash barely knew what Ritchie was even talking about. He wasn't really paying too much attention. He just shrugged off whatever Ritchie had said.

Ritchie began talking to Ash, about the past and the way he thought things should have worked out. Ash never really gave a straight response as he was on the verge of passing out. He couldn't really even understand anything Ritchie was saying over the loud music.

"I'm glad we can be friends again, Ash." Said Ritchie.

Those words were the only thing that Ash had heard Ritchie say that actually translated into his mind before he suddenly felt something on his lips.

Ash's world was a blur. His lips felt numb, yet he knew they were being kissed. He was being kissed by something. No, someone. Someone other than Gary. His head was drowned in the music and the ache in his brain. He doesn't resist, he convinces himself that maybe he passed out on the couch and this is only a dream.

He feels a hand reach under his shirt. His skin tingles and he suddenly knows what is happening. He regains his senses and pushes Ritchie off of him so hard, he collapses to the floor.

"What the fuck are you doing, Ritchie!?" Ash snapped at him.

"The fuck, Ash?" Ritchie pulls himself off the floor. "I just wanted to… rekindle some old feelings."

"What feelings? What are you talking about? We broke up three years ago, Ritchie! I'm engaged now! To someone else!" Ash bellowed.

"To who? To that arrogant prick? He never loved you Ash! He's just using you as a fuck toy. I heard what some girls say about him… Once he's gotten his fix he moves on to the next one." Ritchie bellowed back.

Ash's reflexes kicked in as he heard those words come out of Ritchie's mouth. His fist clashes against Ritchie's nose and he was on the ground in less than a second. He lies on the floor, clutching his nose which was now gushing with blood.

Ash walked up to the boy on the floor, rolling in pain. He bent over and towered over him.

"You're wrong." Ash growled at him in a deep voice that he never expected would come from his vocal chords. It was unlike anything he had heard before.

Ash staggered away from the mess of a boy on the floor and found himself back in the party area. There were less people and the party was dying down. His fists were clenched as he walked around the room, looking for Brock.

He finds him sitting at a table full of girls. Brock took one look at him and the smile that was previously on his face had faded away instantly. He got up from his chair and rushed over to Ash.

"Ash, what happened?" Brock demanded.

"Brock… take… take me home. Please." He slurred. His knees were shaking and he felt like he would collapse at any minute. There were tears forming in his eyes.

Brock immediately pulls Ash's arm over his shoulders. He steadily keeps Ash on his feet, guiding him up the stairs.

When the boys reach Ash's suite, Ash immediately plops himself on to the bed. The room is spinning and all he wants is this drunken feeling to go away. He wants to throw up, he wants to sleep, and he wants to forget everything that has happened. He doesn't remember Ritchie coming on to him. He tries to fit the pieces together. How did they end up alone together? Why was he talking to Ritchie when he hadn't spoken a word to him all night? It didn't make sense and all he wanted was to make it all go away.

"Ash, tell me what happened." Brock asked softly as he took a seat on the chair next to the bed.

"I…I… I think I did something with Ritchie." Ash began to drunkenly sob.

"What do you mean you think?"

"I.. felt.. Lips on my lips and…hands.. On me.. And it was just me and Ritchie and I don't know what happened and… I remember punching the shit out of him... oh fuck… Gary… oh fuck… Gary…" Ash put his face in his hands as the tears began to roll down his cheeks.

Brock moved from the chair to a spot next to Ash. He attempted to comfort Ash by rubbing his back.

"Ash, calm down. You just need some sleep to sober up. We will figure everything out tomorrow ok?" Brock tried his best to sound comforting, but he couldn't help but think this was his fault. He was the one who pressured Ash to go out.

"Thank you, Brock. You're… you're my bestest friend." Ash said drunkenly as he lied on the bed and closed his eyes.

Brock said nothing. He covered Ash with a blanket as he let him fall asleep.

.

.

.