Spitfire, Chapter 10: Back in time

"So wait, just wait one damn minute." Misty held up her hand, her side pony tail from her girlish fifteen year old bob bounced up and down as she paced the dining area of the gym. In her other hand, being squished beneath her icy fingers and white knuckles was a ;telephone behind held close to her ear; Misty grit her teeth together.

"What do you mean you aren't coming back? You can't leave me here at the gym! I have plans!" Misty's voice was strained whilst she finally stopped pacing; her fist trembling as her eldest sister tried to explain the situation.

In Misty's mind, however, there was no excuse; there was no good reason. They asked for Misty to take over for a year, and it had already been a little over that; she would not take care of the gym for a second longer. She pulled on her yellow hoodie collar as her sister explained that:

"They were offered a long-standing gig in Hoenn region for modeling and acting. They just absolutely couldn't leave their only opportunity, and Misty still had yeaaarrs that she could work to become the greatest water pokemon trainer; they would only have this opportunity once." Still, Misty was furious.

She coudln't help but feel swindled, like she was lied to. She growled under her breath while Daisy, Violet and Lily all pranced about in the background trying to coax Misty into their side.

"Please little sister, this could be like, our only chance." Daisy's voice boomed quietly from the other end of the pink phone. At that point, Misty had leaned forward against the wall where she sucked in sharply, and then exhaled just the same. She should have known better; coming back the gym was a life sentence, not a temporary fix. Daisy, Lily and Violet never had any intention on returning to become gym leaders. They were always focused on the things that would make them renown other than pokemon battling. They never enjoyed it like the youngest sister did. Misty knew that, Misty knew this would happen.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, though; she hoped that her three sisters wouldn't have done this. But she knew better; she knew.

"I..." Misty started as she glanced down at her ticket which read "One way train ticket to Sinnoh" along the bottom; a situation she had discussed with Brock prior to surprise Ash; she and Brock would meet up once again with their old travel companion, and it would be like their old adventures. But like most things right now; that idea was shot to hell and then carried off in a body bag.

Even if Misty said no; her sisters would not come back. They would sooner shut down the gym than sacrifice their chance at hitting it big on the red carpet... And Misty, she couldn't see the gym shut down, or ownership changed just like that. So, sadly, Misty hung her head low, and exhaled.

"Okay. I'll...take care of the gym." Misty spoke slowly, sacrificing her own adventures so that her sisters would have the chance to redeem theirs. At the same time; she slowly shuffled the train ticket under another paper; and then slid it off into the garbage can beside the counter as cheers of glee came from the other side of the phone before an abrupt click. Misty gulped down the knot in her throat; and then set the phone down quietly into the receiver. Water pooled in her eyes—but she had enough of crying. She was done with that. She refused. Misty wiped away her tears with the back side of her wrist, and then took once more glance at the train ticket in the wicker basket.

"Damn it!" She screamed as her foot flew forward into the basket, causing all the paperwork to fly about the room.

No; Misty, this was a life sentence. She would be the "gym leader" forever, or until she decided to end her reign to another trainer...and that, she knew her pride would never let happen.

LINEEE-

In the time away from Ash; being a teenager who spent most of her waking hours working; she grew up. She matured her short little rants and fits were a thing of the past. Alas, as Misty glared into the living room watching Serena stick her nose up at her; and Ash stroll away like he was the one who was offended by her actions. A little spark ignited inside of her brain. The smallest of her childhood rage seeped into the years experience and maturity. The smallest crack formed in her great walls as she glared from Gary, to Ash; and then her teeth grit down tight. Her eyes flooded with rage—the only thing to match it was her intense glare.

No, that small rage Misty pounded into insignificance for years until it was the size of a small pea; planted a seed in her heart, and as the intense rage grew, her fists clenched; her blood boiled. She was pissed. She was outright, pissed.

For the first time, she forget her place and she, Misty Waters, exploded.

Least, that's what she wanted to do. To call Ash out for his hypocrisy, to demand an apology for years of improper rejection, until finally, Misty swallowed her rage down; her trembling fist hidden well behind the curtains of her own bravery, and that's when Delia's voice cut through; successfully stomping out her lit fuse.

"Dinner is served, why don't we all take a seat at the table! Cilan and Iris are late, so as they say in France—thirty minutes late, eat without them!" Her cheerful voice cut the thin air and Misty's malicious intentions; and as Misy's glare eased off the dark haired boy and onto Delia's soft, smile; she exhaled sharply.

"Calm down." Gary cited, while squeezing her shoulder; but Misty couldn't calm down; she was tense; and it wasn't until the slow trickle of blood oozed it's way down her fingertips did she realize just how tense she was. Crescent shaped marks from her finger nails filled her fist with blood.

"Oh my god, Misty, you're bleeding." Max, who she hadn't even realized was standing next to her until that very moment, commented as he watched the blood drip from her finger to the floor. Max's voice pulled her from her anger, and she exhaled releasing her grip, allowing the flesh to stiffen and the blood to begin to curdle.

"Must have cut my hand in the kitchen." Misty added quickly, covering up her own steaming rage with a well placed excuse. This wasn't something Delia could let go of, however, and Max's quip caught most of the living room dwellers attention.

"Oh dear, why don't you come to the bathroom and we'll patch that up quick while everyone else gets settled in for supper?" In a very motherly way, Delia moved to Misty and pushed Gary gently out of the way as she locked an arm around Misty's shoulders to lead her to the bathroom. Misty was stiff still, through; the adrenaline pumping through her veins was like a drug she had long forgotten, and as she let Delia lead her to the first floor bathroom; she let all questioning eyes glare at her figure as she left.

–

"Good job bird brain." Gary nagged to Ash while said boy watched the door where Misty was standing moments ago with a half-jarred facial expression. Brock, too, turned to Gary with expectant eyes, as if catching the cue to intervene.

"What did I do?" Ash grumbled, but he knew well his reaction to Misty was a bit childish and rage invoking. He hadn't see something like that-he watched her as the rage started to simmer into her eyes-in years.

In response, Gary turned his heels while rolling his eyes. Since Misty arrived, she had done nothing but play the support group for Ash, trying to confidently lead all the girls into their own confidence while tossing her own emotions to the side. Her act was noble; while it was also stupid; Gary acknowledged as he made his way into the dinning room. From the entrance door, he could see Misty leaned up against the counter-top inside the bathroom, looking sullen for her reaction to Ash; but Gary didn't think her reaction was wrong—she deserved to get angry that time; no one should feel less than another person, regardless of who they are.

And that was coming from Gary fucking Oak. He sighed as he stepped into the dining area, and then approached his own seat. It took Gary years to acknowledge the idea that people were more than just dirt beneath him. And much of that started from Ash and his friends. To see Ash stick up his nose to someone like Misty was just... Gary grit his teeth while searching for Misty's name on the table—it was placed beside Brock; but he took it and switched out for Tracey who was beside him; that way, he could at least talk with Misty over dinner to see how she was feeling.

He helped Misty admit that she still liked Ash, and admit that watching him pick Serena over her was awful—then in the same breath, watched Ash be the biggest douche nozzle in the area. Like hell he was going to isolate her over there.

As he plopped Misty's tag down beside his chair, Ash and the rest of the group started to funnel in; taking their seats slowly around the table. Ash made the comment that dinner smelled delicious, but Gary could only roll his eyes as everyone sat down.

As he watched Serena move away from Ash's seat, to around the table approaching him—he realized he may have made a fatal mistake by moving Misty's seat, after all.

LINEEE-

Ash did feel bad, he really did. But he wasn't exactly sure how to view, or handle the situation with Misty kissing Gary. He felt so angry and betrayed all at the same time of sadness. Betrayed because Misty didn't tell him that they were dating; and angry because Misty broke the 'friend code' that states rivals are off limits. As Ash took his seat, he stared longingly at his empty plate until his mother stepped into the dinning room, then through to the kitchen where she started to set the table.

Sadness; however, that was the emotion he couldn't quite understand. He wasn't sad at first, not until he went outside for a breath of fresh air and then the cold wind stung him like a bee-drill. Sadness was what made him look and walk away from Misty and Gary; he couldn't even stomach to look at her, let alone look at Gary; look at them together. It was the weirdest feeling; and something he was a stranger to.

He couldn't exactly explain that to Serena; though, he wasn't sure why; Ash just felt that such a comment would not sit well with the blonde who sat across the table from him.

Ash clenched his stomach; he was starving, but he wasn't hungry.

Something just wasn't right.

–

Author's Note: Sorry for the late ass update. Life has just been freakin' crazy, so has school. I just experienced moving three times in one month; as well as my first time taking a C in one of my classes—so on top of the stress, I haven't been able to update. Plus, I contemplated what I wanted the next couple of chapters to be for awhile now, and while I know the direction I'm leading the story. I want more substance. Lots of editing and revisitng already written chapters. Whatevs. Hope you all enjoy!

Also, tempted to change this from Romance/comedy to Romance/drama; because I'm so much better at drama; but I don't want anyone to take any of this too seriously (because to me, this is all like a big joke lol). Dunno yet, I'll see how it goes.

Also, excuse the bold "LINE" in there, I'm too lazy (more like my computer is a piece of shit) to put the fanfiction line in there. I can't load up the editing screen, so you get that shitty transition to let you know that the POV is changing. lol

Furthermore; I had someone tell me that Misty was so "mature", and I felt guilty about writing this chapter lol. I even tried to re-write it several times, but come on; it's misty. If someone stuck their nose up to her; you really think regardless of her age she's just going to smile and laugh it off? Plus, I needed a way to express that while Misty will still approach the situation with care; she's not in any way going to stand by and watch things anymore.

This story is called Spitfire (look up the definition), there is going to be some fun.