Misty looked away and put her hands around her back. "You really have gown Ash," she said with a blush. Ash gave her confused look, not knowing how to respond to that. But before more could be said Harley jumped in and pushed Ash away. They both shouted "Hey!" but he didn't stop. Misty was about to go after him, but then Ursula came in.
"What happened?" she asked.
"I don't know. That guy just came in and took Ash..."
"Huh how odd... Well there's no reason to worry right?" Ursula laughed a bit.
Misty smiled a bit and said,"hah, yeah you're right!"
"Hey whats the big idea!" Ash shouted as he struggled free.
Harley crossed his arms and pouted. "I just wanted to talk," he said.
Ash then gasped and glared at him. "It's you! You're the guy that gave May all that trouble when she started her contest!"
"Yes, but that was five years ago Ashie-kins! I've changed lots since then! Lots!"
Ash crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at him. "I've heard that before..."
Harley sighed and rolled his eyes. "Come on now! It's been so long since we've last seen each other! I just wanted to chat and see how one of May's old pals is doing."
"Fine! I'm doing just fine!"
"Ah! That's good! So whose that pretty girl you've been talking to?"
Ash gave him a suspicious look. "Just a friend. Don't get your hopes up. I doubt she's into a creep like yourself!"
Harley turned around with his fist clenched and his teeth barred. "Creep? He thinks I'm a creep? Well see how much of a creep he thinks I am when I am done with him!" he thought to himself. He then busted out into laughter and turned around. Ash looked horrified and backed away a bit.
"Aw Ash! That's so cute! You really are protective of her aren't you? Don't worry I'm not thinking of taking your girl!"
Ash huffed angrily. "You're not worth the wasted time or effort! I'm otta here!" Ash started to leave.
"Come now Ash darling. You already let May slip away. Do You really want to lose out on another girl?"
Ash turned around and glared at him. "So you're encouraging me to go after Misty?"
Harley walked right in front of Ash with a huge smile. "Ah, so that's her name. But yes, yes I am. I mean not only do you look good together, but you compliment each other pretty well!"
"Compliment?"
"Yes! She seems like a mature individual, while you're more laid back and carefree! Ever heard of opposites attract?"
"Uhh... Is that were fire types attract water type pokemon?"
Harley composed himself the best he could. "Focus silly! We are talking about relationships!" Then Harley grinned as he got an idea. "Opposites attract is where two people who are opposite of each other are attracted to each other because they are most likely to lets say, complete and be most compatible with each other!"
"I see... So you're saying since me and Misty aren't at all alike, we should date?"
Harley put his hands on Ash's shoulder and got real close to him. "Yes exactly! You two are perfect for each other!"
Ash looked away from Harley with a frown. "Okay but..."
"Ash! Quit being so in-de-ci-sive! You don't want to hurt her like you did May, do you?"
He looked back at Harley with an unamused look. "So what makes you so sure she likes me anyway?"
"Ahh Ash! I can just tell by the way she acts! Like she looks at you longingly, and smiles and blushes at you a lot... Haven't you noticed?"
"Huh... I guess you're right."
"You guess? Gezz what a moron," Harley thought to himself. "So you should go out there and get her!"
"Yeah. Okay." Ash then walked away.
"Good luck kiddo!" Harley shouted.
Ash was now walking back to Misty unsure of what to do. It's been so long since he and Misty saw each other. He was also unsure if he should trust Harley. But he did wonder what Harley would gain from hooking him up with his friend would do. But from the way he always was with May, there was something he did to try to hurt her. Though Ash knew that he wasn't May, and Harley did have a point that it was years ago that he did all that. Then he heard some girl call out his name. He turned to look and saw that she was running up toward him. She stopped in front of him and cached her breath.
"A-Ash! It's good to see you again!" She said with a blush.
Ash gave her confused look and all he could reply with is, "uhh..."
She sighed. "You haven't forgotten again have you? Really, and I've been looking everywhere for you since I've stepped into school..."
"Ah! really? Well..." He tried to think who she could be. She seemed kinda familiar, but it's been so long and he's meet so many people through out his life.
"You never really change, huh? Well, at least you're still a great guy regardless!" She giggled a bit.
"Uh thanks. But really I'm sorry."
"Hmm... Well does the straw hat girl ring any bells?"
Ash thought about it a bit, than after a bit his mouth and eyes went wide and he starred at her. "Right! Serena! I did... I don't know what to say! I'm such an idiot..." He said while giving a nervous laugh.
She smiled and put her hand behind her and said, "hey don't be so hard on yourself. It has been a long time that we haven't seen each other and I'm sure you've been busy."
He looked away and put his hand behind his head. "But this is the second time!"
She giggled. "Well, I guess you'll try even harder to remember me, right?" She laughed, letting him know he wasn't serious. "Well, I promised someone I'd meet them in the library to help them with some Math homework. So I guess I'll see you later Ash!"
"Right! There's someone I need to talk to too, so I have to go too. But I'd love to hear how you've been doing and have a lot to tell you, so we've definatly have to meet up again!"
"Well then, how about we meet in front of the entrance to the library around time leave to go to school and we can chat on the bus then?"
Ash grinned big. "That sounds like a great idea! Then you can meet all my other friends as well!"
"Sounds great. Well, see you then." She gave him a sweet, longing look before with a blush on her face she left. Ash wondered what was that all about. Then he remembered what Harley has said about Misty. "Smiles... Blushing... Looking at me for a long time. She doesn't like me too, does she?" Ash wondered.
Ursula and Harley meet up by the river as they promised. Ursula had her arms crossed and glared at him as he came walking toward her.
"Gezz what took you so long?"
"Relax would ya? We still have like an hour an a half before departure right? No need for the fuss!"
"I have been here for like an hour waiting for you, you slowpoke! I told you to quickly, QUICKLY, convince him to go for Misty, then come back here and tell me how it went!"
Harley rolled his eyes. "The kid is dense, hun! I gotta say I did a pretty good job considering."
"Sooo, he's defiantly going to hook up with Misty, right?"
"Uh..."
She clenched her fist and shouted, "that doesn't sound too convincing! Are you completely worthless or what? You know what, if you can't do one simple thing than I don't know if I should help you!"
Then he folded his arms at her and glared at her "Hey, I'm not done yet! I'll make sure Ash and Misty get together if you do your part!"
"You better!" They both turned away from each other.
"Hey you two, I think you're in need of our assistance," Meowth said. Jessie, James, and Meowth were waiting with Ursula for Harley to return. "It would also help them to get together if more than one person pushes them together. Get what I'm saying?"
"You do have a point. Well, just don't mess things up this time," Harley said. "So how's it been going on your end?" he asked Ursula.
"Well, I've gotten it all pieced together. I plan on meeting him after school, and I should be all done after that if all goes well," she replied.
"Good. So Meowth, James, we shall get those two together today! Think you can do that without messing up?"
Meowth smiled, while James looked unsure.
"Of course we can. After all, we know a lot about them from following them twerps all the time," Meowth said.
While James perked up and agreed, Harley gave them a horrified look.
"And people say I'M creepy..." he whispered to Ursula.
"Guess I should consider myself lucky that I'm only dealing with one of them..." she whispered back.
It's almost time to leave and Ash is looking for Serena. He's already told Ritchie to tell the others to look for them around the buses. He's been avoiding Misty because he's still unsure how he should deal with all that's happened or who he should go for. After all, in the end both do seem to like him and he might have to hurt at least one of them. He also wondered if they'd be able to take rejection as well as May. Then he felt a tap on the shoulder. Once he turned around he saw Serena.
"Ready to go?" she asked.
Ash just blankly starred at her and asked, "do you think you can date a guy and a girl?"
She gave a confused look. "Huh?"
"You know, like would you be okay with going out with a guy with another girl?"
She gave an irritated look and shouted, "no way!"
Ash backed up a bit from her reaction.
She frowned as she put a hand in front of her mouth. "Sorry... I mean, I'd like to be with a guy who'd like to give me his full attention, ya know?"
Ash laughed nervously. "Yeah sorry just wondering. Cause one of my friends wanted a girl who wouldn't mind another girl with him, see?"
"Oh, yeah! I see."
"Yeah, so let's get to the buses now!" Ash then ran off to not continue the conversation.
"Hey! Ash wait!" Serena hurried after him. "Ash we are gonna get separated!"