Hi, guys! There's an update! I thought the story pace was kinda, you know, slow, so I sped up things. Hope you can bear with me with all these sudden changes! R&R

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or else I'd be a millionaire, but I'm not…so yeah. Lol

Chapter 6. Distance

"Ash, are you okay?" Brock asked worriedly as he watched his friend poke around his food.

"Sure," Ash replied half-heartedly as his poked his untouched pork shop and sighed," I'm going for a walk. Pikachu?"

"Pika." Pikachu shook her head and pointed to the ketchup bottle on the table.

"Alright, see you guys." With both of his hands firmly tucked away in his jacket, he walked out into the freezing cold.

"I'm gonna call Misty and see what's up." Brock declared and got up from his seat. He was halfway there when a Nurse Joy walked by with a tray full of pokeball. From there on, he forgot all about his best friend's problem.

Ash wandered aimlessly around the streets, stopping occasionally to admire the window display of various pokestores.

"Why am I so sad?" He muttered to himself and shoved his hands further deep down into his pockets," I think it's great that Misty and Ash…I mean…Gary are dating." But just thinking about it made him depressed.

Suddenly, a nearby store's window display caught his eyes-a few of the newest TVs on display with little mistletoes and wreaths hanging around.

"Misty?" He gawked at the screen, which was replaying some of the scenes from a singing competition.

At the moment, it was showing Misty performing on stage in leather jacket and heavy rock music blasting in the background.

After the event was over, Misty went back home despite the invitation of celebrating her qualification for the next round. Just as she entered the hallway, she heard the phone ringing urgently in the living room.

Worried that it might be an important call from the Kanto Gym Association, she rushed over and picked up.

"Hello, this is the Cerulean City Gym Leader Misty speaking," But there was no response from the other end," Hello?"

After what seems like forever, the person on the other end finally spoke.

"Hi, Misty."

"Ash? Is that you?" Misty gasped," I haven't heard from you in ever! How have you been? How's Pikachu and Brock? I miss traveling with you so much! Gary told me there was a huge snowstorm in Hoenn, are you okay?" Too excited, Misty failed to note the strange silence on the other end. As she paused to take a breath, she finally realized that all the time she was talking, Ash was just quiet on the other end.

"Are you okay?" She asked in a quiet voice," I'm going to turn the video on."

"Don't." Misty heard a low growl on the other end.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Instantly, she became worried.

"You were on the newspaper with Gary Oal."

Suddenly realizing the direction of this conversation, Misty hurriedly said," Ash, listen, it wasn't like that."

"You entered a singing competition," Without letting her finish her explanation, Ash went on," Why didn't you tell me? You're dating Gary, why didn't you tell me? I thought we were best friends! Why didn't you tell me!" He practically was shouting by the end.

"Ash Ketchum!" Misty's own temper flared up as well," You were the one who never called! You were the one who never replied to my letters! You were the one who never bothered to keep in touch! And now you're saying we're best friends? Is that how best friends are supposed to be? No call, no letter, no anything!"

"Oh, so that's why you have Gary as your new bestie?"

"That's none of your business!"

"Fine then! I hope you're happy with Gary! Goodbye!" With that, Ash slammed the phone down and whirled out of the phone booth. How could she not understand how busy he was? He was constantly on the road and there are times when he didn't have access to the Pokemon Center and had to camp out in the wild. She should have known! She has traveled with him before, for Pete's sake! Besides, it wasn't like he didn't treasure her friendship! He would read her letters until he had every word memorized, but he was just so busy with traveling, training, and battling that he didn't have time to reply. Just because he never bothered to contact doesn't mean he didn't care, right? His mom didn't mind and he didn't write to her all the time.

"Not my fault." Ash told himself firmly and muttered something about stupid girls as he trudged his way back to the Pokemon Center he, Pikachu, and Brock were staying.

Misty stared at the dead phone in utter shock. What has just happened? Why was he so angry anyway? She entered the competition in hope to see him again, didn't he understand that? Didn't he realize how important he was to her? And here, he was accusing her of not telling him everything! Why should her anyway? When he never replies to anything she writes? Misty was so tired of being the one taking the initiative. Why can't he be a man and step up?

"Stupid men!" She muttered and stomped her way back to her room.

Brock watched curiously as Ash paced around in the room they were sharing and muttered to himself.

"Something you wanna talk about?" He prodded gently.

"Brock," Ash plopped down on his bed and whined," Why are girls so complicated?"

"Ah," Brock smirked," You called Misty I see."

"Yeah, and now I wish I never did."

"What happened? I thought she'd be happy to hear from you?"

"Oh yes, ecstatic," His Pokemon Trainer friend replied sarcastically," She basically chewed my head off for not keeping in touch with her. Doesn't she realize I'm busy with training? Even my mom doesn't complain. What's wrong with her?"

"Ash…have you ever considered that Misty might just oh, a little bit, like you?" Brock commented nonchalantly.

"Don't be silly, Brock," Ash heaved a sigh," She made it clear today that she hates me."

"Really? What did she say?"

"I was just asking her why she didn't tell me she was in a singing competition or that she was dating Gary, and she just exploded. She said that I didn't have to a right to question her and that I was the one who never called."

Brock rubbed his chin thoughtfully and said,"Well, I wouldn't say she hates you. I think she's just hurt and frustrated by your lack of commitment to your relationship."

"Relationship?" Ash had a blank look on his face,"No, no, no. I am not in a relationship with her."

"Then why do you care whom she's seeing?"

"Because Gary sucks and Misty deserves better."

"Like who?"

"Like me!" Without thinking, Ash replied, and then stuttered," I mean…other people."

"Okay," Brock grinned," What about Tracy? He's a nice guy."

"No!"

"Todd?"

"No!"

"Who then?"

"Me!" Brock's grin grew wider and Ash paled," Oh man, I like her."

"Chu chu pika." Drowsily, Pikachu only heard the last part of the conversation and sighed in exasperation. It really took him this long to figure it out?!

"But she's going out with Gary." Ash sighed just as his little bubbles were frizzing around inside.

"Hm, that's true." Brock grew serious," I'm going to put in a call to Daisy and ask."

"Thanks, man."

"…And then!" Misty vented to her sister," Do you know what that brat said? He had the nerve to question me! Why didn't you tell me!" She mimicked, "He's the one that never called me! He never replied to anything I wrote! And now he's asking me why I didn't tell him? I should be the one asking that question!" She shrieked.

"Like calm down, Misty," Daisy twirled her blond hair and hid a smile behind," Just like give him some time, like I like think it's like just a total misunderstanding and like, he'll get like over it."

"But it's not fair," Misty pouted," Why am I always so proactive while he can just sit back and enjoy the attention? I want some attention too."

Just as Daisy was about to answer, the phone rang.

"Daisy, like it's your phone!" Violet's voice carried from downstairs.

"I'll like be right back." Daisy affectionately ruffled Misty's hair and walked out.

"What took you so long?" Seeing her sister finally returning, Misty asked.

"Oh, like an old friend called, but like let's continue this conversation like some other time. I'm like so tired right now."

"Thanks, sis. Going to bed just when your sis needs you for advice." Crawling off the blonde's pink-covered bed, Misty made a face.

"You'll like figure it out." Giving a little silver laughter, Daisy winked.

"Are we really going to Cerulean in this snowstorm?" Ash asked for the millionth time.

"Yep," Brock replied cheerfully," Daisy and I both agree that it's better if you and Misty can talk through things."

"But she's dating Gary."

"You'll see, you'll see."

So are they really meeting up again? Stay tuned! And sorry for updating so late!