Hello :P It is Wednesday and I am back to upload the first winter chapter of the month! It feels strange to be uploading this because after all of the PokeShipping themed ones, I only really wrote this a week or so ago. I usually have a little delay. With this one, I really wanted to revisit ideas and concepts that have been in my mind since the beginning but not really written about here. This chapter is about James and Misty and like the title suggests, they revisit some old times. I hope you enjoy :3
Ages:
James: 40
Misty: 33
Disclaimer: I own the story and the OCs mentioned!
The lavender haired male stuffed his hands further into his pockets as the cold of mid-December started to get the better of him and he headed back to his own parked car, trying not to smirk. I was sat on the lap of the woman in the passenger seat and enjoying the tickles from her as well as gentle Christmas tunes on the radio but didn't hesitate to look up when she wasn't able to stop herself from sitting further up in her seat upon seeing her best friend.
Straight away, her curiosity piqued. That light-hearted and mischievous intrigue grew all the more when she saw his sucked in cheekbones as he tried to keep his own mischief to a minimum. Misty leaned further forward in her seat and with me in her lap when James finally approached the window of his side of the car and his best friend used her spare hand to crank the window down for him. As he rested his black coat clad elbows on the window ledge, the orange haired woman's head tilted. She tried not to laugh.
"So what happened? Did you manage to sort it out?" she asked and stopped leaning so far forward in her seat when the seatbelt pressed firmly against her body but it was to get a better view of her best friend rather than discomfort. She wanted to spot the twinkle in his eye. He was doing his best to keep it at bay. The lavender haired male sucked in his cheeks all the more and made a clicking noise with his teeth, gesturing with one hand as the other continued lying flat against the opening of the car window.
"Oh, I managed to sort it out." James began and straight away Misty's eyes lit up even though the older male opposite her was doing a very good job at keeping it as chilled as the brisk but enjoyable winter we were having. He pushed a lock of his hair from his eyes when that point-proving wind brushed it across his face before he continued. "They said we might as well stay in line for the drive through though and keep on circling; it may take a while. So we should pick up our other stuff and wait for a good while after that."
And it was then after that the lavender haired ex-rocketeer gave this explanation to the younger female that he stopped lingering outside, pulling his arms off the side of the car and opening the handle. He proceeded to climb in to the driver's seat at the same time that I decided to hop off Misty's lap following giving her hand a nuzzle with my cheek to climb into the back seat. They were always a duo best left to themselves and observed (and admired) from a distance also.
The orange haired woman waited until James stopped being so lightly playful with her for the time being and gave her a laid-back smile, starting the engine all over again just to move a bit forward in his car so the people behind them could at least feel as though they were getting somewhere. While I seated myself comfortably in the back middle seat and tried not to get too distracted by the gentle hum of the festive tunes on the radio, Misty waited. Misty waited to speak. And then she couldn't hold it any longer.
Even though her lavender haired best friend's teasings and wit had faded, hers couldn't refrain from returning. She shook her head slightly and smirked, reaching her hand out to James' arm to get his attention. He turned back to her straight away after shutting off the car for the time being but leaving his seatbelt on. Misty persisted. She hadn't got much out of him the first time.
"So you really managed to sort it out? What did they say?" Misty asked and after she saw the older male managing to resist rolling his eyes in a carefree way, she grabbed hold of his arm further with her hand and laughed. She narrowed her eyes, shaking him gently. "I just really want my ice cream! I just really want it to be like old times."
"And you will get your ice cream, Munchkin." The ex-rocketeer replied to the younger female in a much more relaxed voice than she was letting out even though hers was in the same playful manner. He merely just turned to her and smiled, shaking his head insistently at her, referring to how he had gone round to the main building of their favourite dessert takeaway place to try and purchase something that was out of season. After Misty let go of his arm and stopped gripping it, James decided it was then his turn to be a little bit cheeky. "I really sorted it out for you. I just went in there and said that the special seaside sundae edition could potentially be for the man who inspired it and his very own daughter. And they would both be really disappointed without it. They understood. I sorted it."
I tilted my head upon hearing this while Misty just laughed, pushing her bangs out of her eyes at the words that came out of the lavender haired male's mouth. He could certainly be persuasive when he wanted to be! But then it dawned on her. At the same time that James took his beanie hat off from upon his head and loosely threw it towards one of the other back seats and ran a hair through his long locks, Misty's eyes widened a fraction. Her hand went to the older male's shoulder with contained embarrassment.
"Oh no, you didn't get me special treatment, did you? You didn't mention Pokemon Master or Pokemon Master's wife, did you? You didn't-"
"Why would I mention Pokémon Master's wife if I wanted to wrap anybody around my pinkie?" James interrupted by asking and I could see from the that time serious eye narrow that took over most of Misty's expression that she believed her best friend meant this as a dig towards her husband – rather than pointing out that she had titles and accolades of her own. The lavender haired male's hands rose in the air in defence when he too saw this. He explained, giving her a reassuring yet unmoving glance. "I didn't want to put them out. I just wanted to get you your ice cream. It was all very above board."
I let out a sigh upon hearing this at the same time as my best friend's wife but mine was for a very different reason compared to hers. Misty's was out of pure relief. Though she had inherited the Cerulean Gym from her parents and the love of all things oceanic from them both as well, she never wanted anybody to think that she was using any of her luck to get special treatment. And mine was out of admiration for that. Both of those two people that I was in the car with were very much the same people that I had met a very long time ago. But they had also changed greatly. And in the case of the lavender haired male – thank goodness for it!
James had his own silent smile when he observed the same things as I about our beloved red headed companion and he took the time to reach out and poke her cheek innocently with his finger. At first, Misty playfully batted him away. And then after she saw the twinkle in his eye returning – out of the contentment of being by her side – she couldn't help but ask him.
"You didn't lay on the old James Morgan charm, did you? No charming smiles and special tac-tics, right?" she questioned to humour him and then she was the one left humoured with the way he stopped reaching out to her and gave her quite the dead-pan expression.
"If I gave them anything like that then they'd quit their jobs without a moment of hesitation." He replied in a level expression with amusing deprecation towards himself and after Misty let out a close-mouthed chuckle, he finally rolled his eyes and turned back to face her. It was done with a fair amount of fondness nonetheless. "Enough with the questions though, yeah? I got it sorted. Now let's wait. It's looking pretty nice out there."
And proving that things had indeed progressed since I had met her at ten years old, Misty knew when enough was enough. She reached to unclip her own seatbelt momentarily when it became obvious that they would be waiting in the car a while and following that, her own eyes travelled where James was looking outside of the window. Mine did too.
Yes, it was looking pretty out there. It wasn't snowing at that moment in time and hadn't been doing so moments before that but the world outside of our little car bubble definitely had a lovely frosted appeal. There were lots of decorated lights as well. Swimming through the trees surrounding us. Twinkling off walls on houses in the distance. Flashing off the sign of their favourite dessert takeaway.
I didn't know about James and Misty but I felt as though the world was our very own snow-globe! Just there for us to see. Just there for us to enjoy. It often felt like a bubble when I was in company that was so entertaining yet easy going. Time always passed very quickly. And coincidentally, that was one of the reasons that the orange haired woman had suggested this little adventure – as I would soon find out.
The lavender haired male stopped looking out of the window at the same time as his orange haired best friend and as he prepared to smile at her, it was obvious that she was looking at him for a very different reason indeed. She wanted a reaction out of him.
So before he had the time to open his mouth to speak, Misty's hand reached out to the volume button on his car and twisted it all the way up. A very cheery and twinkly Christmas song came out! James was evidently (albeit comically) unimpressed. He squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his lips together at the side of his face, shaking his head. Wordlessly, he reached to switch channels before turning the volume back down to the more appropriate level that it had previously been set to.
The orange haired woman giggled. She always liked to have a lot of fun! But she was never the type to silence anybody. She reached out to return that cheek poke to her older best friend and after he opened his eyes once more, he spoke the words that he was about to utter before. Knowingness and gentleness came back onto his face, like he hadn't been interrupted at all.
"So you really want it to be like old times, do you?" the lavender haired male asked and he referred to the way that Misty had asked him on a spontaneous just them trip to the dessert place that they always used to swing by. He copied her by taking his own seatbelt away from his body before pushing his hands back into his pockets to keep warm.
The orange haired water Pokemon enthusiast didn't hesitate to nod her head, her own hands sliding into her pockets as she slid down in her seat at the same time, resting the back of her head against the back of the seat behind her. However, she still turned to look and make eye contact with the ex-rocketeer.
"Of course I do. The ice cream here cannot be beat!" she announced and from the middle of the back seat and curling up with James' discarded beanie hat I couldn't help but notice how he didn't notice at all that she complimented the treat rather than the company of him. In fact, he didn't think anything of it at all.
James merely tilted his own head to look at her while his body faced his steering while, his eyes looking back at hers. His fingers played with the inner material of his jacket pocket.
"Really, that good?" he asked with an endearing amount of innocence but before Misty could point out that she had been subtly winding him up, James added, another smile forming on his lips. He slid down in his own seat. "I thought you'd be like me. It is Christmas time, after all. It's a time for family. And I can't seem to get away from mine."
I looked up at the same time that Misty glanced in the rear view mirror and her eyes searched for mine. We shared a knowing look and wordless chuckle. It was apparent from James' tone that, despite his ambiguous last few words, he had been enjoying the month of December.
With some of his children quite a bit older than Ash and Misty's – that meant that they were always coming and going and often times going more than coming. But the holidays were a time to spend more together. And with Jazmyn back from university and Justin returned from his continuous touring and Jayme and Jayde visiting from their own homes with their own families – needless to say, James was enjoying himself.
The orange haired woman pointed out the difference between those two with a comical eye widen and smirk, acknowledging the age gap between themselves and their offspring.
"It's not the same for you. Apart from one, all of mine have been home! Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't be without them at all. But sometimes someone needs a full fridge. The sound of just one thing at a time. And, I don't know, just some peace and quiet? The craziness of the holidays and the craziness of Ketchum kids does not leave a lot of room for that, believe me."
And upon hearing that, James couldn't help but chuckle knowing towards his best friend, squeezing his face up in an understanding manner. It was true that it was different for him and his did enjoy the holiday festivities because it bought everyone nearer. However, that's exactly what it did. It bought everyone nearer! And that meant a lot of chaos and not much calm.
Hearing the laughter from her best friend was like a breath of fresh air for Misty because she understood that she wasn't alone. And then after she saw the way that his face scrunched up relatedly, she felt able to focus on more of the positive. She focused more on the positive when she felt James' hand coming out of his pocket all over and touching her lightly on the cheek. In fact, then they focused on it together.
Yes, it was crazy in the Ketchum household at Christmas. But it was so, so fun as well! Ben had returned from his prolonged Pokémon Journey along with Eddie and Melissa and so was reunited with Katie, who called it a day a little earlier. It was certainly entertaining seeing those twins back together once more and all the antics that ensued and were unique just to those two!
And then there was James and Jessika with such a small age gap. They always wanted to do and get up to exactly what the other was doing and just like their namesakes, there was a huge amount of double trouble!
Then of course there was Rey – dear sweet Rey. She had been born in the months before Christmas just three years prior and it certainly wasn't a merry time like it was usually meant to be. So there was sometimes this added pressure to be grateful and make the memories last and be jolly. However as the years passed and everything became a little more relaxed, she was simply able to join in and create havoc with her brothers and sisters and all of the other youngsters in our group!
To be sure, there was a lot of time for no peace and quiet. And even though Misty needed to escape for some time to have dessert with her best friend, she knew that she couldn't be more thankful and grateful. But in addition to this, there was one more reason that she knew that she had to hold on to the time with no just her family but the other people close to her as well. So she expressed this with what happened next.
"And aside from that…" the orange haired woman started again and because James had since occupied himself with sitting back up in his seat and trying to find a music radio channel better suited to them both, he had to turn and look at her when he heard her continuous words. I wondered if Misty would have been put off but I stood corrected. She pushed her bangs from her eyes and spoke honestly. "I've missed ya. It feels like ages since it's been just us. And I know that having little Jorgie around now has bought us closer than ever. But I'd like to hold onto the things that made us – us – before her as well. I'd hate for that to slip away."
"That's never going to slip away." The lavender haired male answered swiftly out of certainty but for a moment, Misty wondered whether he would soon become a little defensive. With a lot of responsibilities on his hands and people to tend to, the last thing the orange haired woman wanted to come across was was needy or demanding. She sunk a little lower in her seat. But James knew her almost better than anyone and continued with even swifter words. His face softened into a smile as he reassured her, pushing his hair from his eyes. "I care about you too much, Munchkin. And I care about you too much to push you to the bottom of the pile even though it may seem that way with my own crazy lot. But I'm glad you suggested this. It would be nice if it was like old times."
The lavender haired male concluded and with that, after he settled on a radio station for them both even though he did not turn it all the way properly up, he sunk back into his seat with one intention and one intention only. To be nearer to his best friend. When James' back was pressed firmly against the seat of his car, he wrapped his arm around her and gestured for her to come closer.
Needless to say, Misty didn't hesitate to comply. She shuffled nearer the older male herself and rested her head against the crook of his neck, allowing him to wrap his arm all the more so around her and give her a squeeze and even press a light kiss to the side of her head also. The orange haired woman shut her eyes when she felt this and she stayed near to his side as he felt him switch on his car once again and pull up to the second drive through window and collect the first lot of their food. I wondered if we were having the same thoughts. I wondered if even James was thinking similar things as well, even if he was politely accepting their treats and making small talk.
There was something nostalgic and almost desperate of wanting things to be like old times. Of course, they could never truly be in any sense or any circumstance in life at all because it was always evolving and changing. Even if one thing went back to how it was then other things would be knew and evolved and so even that thing would feel different.
But even so it was a thing that people often wished for and some people even strived for. Whatever the reasons or whatever the emotions involved, I kind of almost wanted things to be like old times for James and Misty as well. Life could be crazy. Life could be complicated. Sometimes people needed to set some of the chaos aside and pause and refresh. It made them better people. Both of those two parents deserved to replenish. And perhaps selfishly, it would make me feel a little bit younger also.
I curled up closer against the lavender haired male's beanie at the same time that Misty's eyes opened when she felt her best friend saying goodbye to the people after he was handed their treats. He proceeded to head towards the main car park where he intended on stalling before driving round the drive through again a couple more times, patiently waiting for Misty's specialised snack.
But before he could even head to that car park or he could make the first round in his car at all, the orange haired woman's eyes fluttered open. In the midst of driving, James caught this straight away and he gave her a gently amused smile, wordlessly conveying that he believed that she had fallen asleep. She shook her head. She felt a little sheepish about it but she moved closer to him, giving his shoulder a squeeze. She told him what she wanted.
"Just keep driving, Jimmy. That will really make it feel like we're back in time again." She told him and because the ex-rocketeer was only driving out of a little narrow road, he didn't have to concentrate too heavily. He couldn't stop his eyes from widening as he glanced to the car park where he thought he was heading and his gaze flickered between there and where Misty was close to him. Misty understood his expressions. She put a stop to them. She shook her head, resting further against his shoulder. "We can pick up my ice cream anytime. Let's do this instead. It is so nice out."
And when the lavender haired male heard his younger female friend repeating the words that he had uttered earlier in their time together, he knew that she knew what she wanted. Well, she usually did! With a quiet chuckle and realisation that he wanted to do that as much as her and was very unwilling to change her mind, soon enough, James nodded his head.
He checked the view behind him in the rear view mirror to check if there was any cars behind him before he pulled out of the dessert takeout area completely and proceeded to drive along another lane.
Misty let out a contented sigh when their usual old plans were being revisited and she shut her eyes once more, forgoing looking at all the pretty Christmas lights and the snow that was starting to gently fall for the time being and focusing on the hum of the vehicle instead. She could also hear the distant vocals of a song on the radio. But because it didn't interest her in particular, she just let that one go. And she focused on the company. She understood that she had never imagined that she would end up with such close people in her life.
In many ways, the lavender haired male was the complete opposite to her and I was thinking these things myself as I caught his eye in the rear view mirror as he looked in it for the second time. James was careful. James was subtle. James was laid back. And then in the same breath, he and Misty could be the same in many ways.
They were emotionally led. They were runaways. They were black sheep in many ways – outcasts. But they had found companionship in one and other and solace and themselves too. They had been through ups and downs. Truthfully, they had been through many, many downs and many, many ups! But they were still strong. They still looked to one and other. And they still looked for one and other. They tightly held onto their time with one and other.
Because somehow, they still had it deep in their hearts that it would suddenly end. That people would find it distasteful once more. And it would be ruined. But I was confident that that never would be the case. And that was something that I surprise myself to admit all these years later.
Only proving his quiet and delicate self, the lavender haired male allowed quite a bit of time to pass before he nudged Misty with his cheek while he continued driving, encouraging her to open her eyes so he could ask. Her aquamarine orbs fluttered open and her gaze searched for his. He didn't smile. His meadow green orbs didn't twinkle. He simply questioned.
"Where are we going?" he uttered and though I was certain that she wasn't going to admit it, I got the impression that it put a bit of a tingle down Misty's spine to remind her of how in control she had always been when it came to those two. He always put her at ease. He often let her decide. That was evidently the case there and then.
The orange haired woman had a bit of a smirk out of habit. But after she shook her head and let that die down when she felt his eyes starting to widen with wondering, she answered him. She gestured by flicking her head towards the quiet but open and softly growing snow covered road.
"Just drive. We'll end up where we end up." Misty uttered in response and because there was no point in saying anything in return, James didn't. He merely nodded his head and his mouth quirked briefly downwards to show that he was complying. It was also evident that he was comfortably slipping back into her taking control. And he didn't mind at all!
The water Pokémon enthusiast showed off a bit of an oncoming smirk when she perhaps noticed this but she didn't address it. Instead, her hand outstretched towards the buttons of James' car as he continued driving and she continued leaning against him, cranking up the volume just a little bit. She recognised the song straight away. She couldn't not! It was a popular one to be blasting out during that time of year. She hummed along. The lavender haired male gave her a look but once more, he didn't say anything. His gesture amused me more than it did Misty.
It was almost like a game between those two. It was funny because he didn't have an eversion to music – far from it. But potentially she teased him often by singing in public places. That seemed like them. And I was once again glad that they were trying to recreate what they once were. Because it was somehow helping me know them even better.
More comfortable silence between the two of them in the front two seats passed and after the song and Misty's humming came to an end, once again she returned the volume to James' preferred level. His eyes remained on the road. The snow was really starting to come down but not dangerously so. The orange haired woman prepared to let out a nonchalant sigh. She was about to nuzzle closer to her male best friend when he found himself breaking the silence with a glance.
He couldn't help but give it to her. James had thought about something she had mentioned in passing earlier on and he had decided to address it once again. Though he continued driving and driving safely was his number one priority (one of the things that had evolved onwards) he spoke to his best friend. He nudged her with his shoulder while concentrating, encouraging her to look at him.
"You really think that Jorgie has bought us together? Who would have thought it." He commented with such ease to his words but knowing him almost better than anyone, Misty could sense his underlying knowing! She openly rolled her eyes at him and his obviousness but he was driving her where she wanted. So she couldn't be too short with him. She sighed yet again (playfully) and pointed out.
"It was only so long before you wanted to gush about my mother and all the miracles you share." Misty deadpanned and the lavender haired male's eyes widened innocently even though there were no accusations being flung anywhere. The orange haired woman adjusted her bangs and moved her shoulders for effect but then she didn't refrain from answering truthfully. She smiled wanly. "I'm fond of that kid, I must admit. I think she has the power to push us away from each other, certainly! But she bought us closer together for sure. And I wouldn't change her or that for the world."
"I did put you through hell when I decided to fall for your Mom." James answered quickly and in a serious tone and I noticed the way that the orange haired woman gave him a bit of a glance that expressed that he didn't exactly choose that for himself. Both Misty and I certainly believed that that kind of thing was uncontrollable and the lavender haired male agreed. But he was too busy in then acknowledging Misty's sincere words and adding his own. "But I know what you mean. I know that you can't really choose the people in your kid's life and you can't exactly choose their siblings. But I feel like I did. And either way, I'd definitely choose you."
The orange haired woman upon hearing this couldn't help wrinkle her nose up as she wondered if her best friend was making a cheesy pun. But when she saw him focusing on the road and using his wind screen wipers to get snow from being so close to their proximity as well as absentmindedly humming along to the radio, she knew that he was being serious. She smiled.
However, she took her time before adding more words and she didn't know why. But when she finally glanced out of the side windows and saw the street signs they were passing as well as the familiar sights surrounding the road, she knew that it was time to break the silence. In addition to this, she sat up as well. At first, she waited a little longer for James to catch onto her knowing smirks and her gesture of glancing between him and the world around them but when he did not, she encouraged him down that thought path.
"No way… Do you not realise where you've driven us?" the orange haired woman uttered and because James was indeed so busy concentrating on the road, at first he didn't even know that his best friend was talking to him! He assumed she was singing along to the radio. And because of this, he drove them nearer and nearer to where Misty was pointing out. A grin started to take over her face.
Following a few moments of not answering, the male ex-rocketeer at last realised that he was being spoken to and the words that had been uttered caught up with him. He shook his head to dismiss being in his own world and his eyes widened. He glanced around as he drove and then he too realised as the high street of Pallet Town came into view and they passed its many frosted windowed shops.
"What? Oh crikey… Wow. I guess I didn't realise where I've driven us." The lavender haired male mused and it caused Misty to smile. I observed from the back seat while she momentarily pressed her cheek against his shoulder all over again. James showed off a bit of a sheepish smile, slowing down his driving down the quiet road. "I didn't realise that it's second nature."
For once in my life, I was utterly oblivious to what was going on. Of course I recognised the town and the town square and the familiarity of Pallet Town – I had lived there for many years. But I didn't know what James and Misty were getting at. And I didn't know the significance either. But I knew that I was soon to find out.
Following the older male pressing his own cheek lightly against Misty's head as she continued lulling against him, she suddenly sat bolt upright, a youthful lease of life taking over her. Out of habit, she gave her best friend a gentle shove with her hand. She grinned all the more at him, her eyes sparkling. She tried not to bite her lip.
"Then we have to go! Second nature or not, we need to check it out. It really will be like old times." The orange haired woman's eyelashes twinkled at the possibilities running through her mind and although I was clueless to it, it was running through the lavender haired male's mind the possibilities that it wasn't going to be like old times. Times had moved on. A lot of time had moved on. It couldn't possibly be like it had been, could it?
After turning his car steering while and proceeding to park at the back of a rather rundown building that I didn't recognise in the slightest and he cut the engine off, James took a moment to focus on his best friend. She was then gripping his arm once more. She was still grinning. She was still trying not to bite her lip. And her eyes were continuously sparkling. That was what did it for him. How could he dull that sparkle in her eyes? He simply could not.
Though I did not know what it meant to them, it obviously meant the world. So I joined in with their little adventure when James gave in.
"Your wish is my command as always, honey." He humoured her but part of him was being serious and he discarded their treat bag into the backseat along with his beanie and I and he started to get out of his own car. He got out and with his long coat billowing around his ankles; he went to Misty's side and opened the door for her. She shook her head. She giggled. She obliged. She got out of the car and I had to be quick to follow them in to the old diner.
It was then that it seemed that Misty finally noticed the snow falling as well and she gasped, glancing upwards as it floated from the sky. She held her hand up. I looked up from the ground also and part of me wished I had socks and boots as warm as hers. Misty held her hand up and intended on catching the flakes that fell. But there and then she only caught one thing. James' hand as it slid into hers and he tugged at it, nodding his head encouragingly also. He showed off a smirk.
"C'mon! Wishes can be undone, you know." He teased her and upon hearing that, the orange haired woman let out another gasp. And then after that, she allowed herself to be tugged round to the entrance of the diner. And I couldn't help but notice that there had been a transformation between them both. They somehow appeared even sprightlier. They somehow appeared all the more mischievous. They somehow appeared all the more youthful. They somehow appeared all the more like themselves. I had to run to keep up! They were truly reliving some old memories.
I followed on their heels as James and Misty went round to the diner entrance and barged in rather clumsily but respectfully nevertheless. It didn't matter either way. There was no one around. You could hear the droning sound of humming coming from the kitchen in the back but there was no one else in sight. James and Misty glanced at one and other.
I didn't know it but they were wordlessly exchanging that it most certainly did not look the same. It wasn't as alive as it had once been. Granted, it had always been a shabby little place and they were the only regular customers! The bright red of the tiles on the floor and sofas and seat were much duller. There wasn't the smell of sweet food – only far off frying. There wasn't any music playing.
But only the lavender haired male knew and the orange haired female knew that it did used to be that way sometimes. It did used to be that way when they arrived. But when they were there, it most certainly was the opposite! It became vibrant and alive and full of conversation and all because it was their favourite place to come.
Their eyes were filled with a little bit of nostalgia, I noticed, as they glanced at one and other. But then they knew it was up to them to make it right. The orange haired woman was the first to act. It was James' turn to be tugged and he was tugged over to one of the tables before Misty let go of his hand and climbed up onto one of the tables!
My jaw dropped open at the same time that the greasy and rickety door finally shut behind us all. I knew that she could be the life of the party but I thought that was reserved to our family get-togethers rather than the everyday! Apparently not. Apparently the past and the lavender haired male bought out a whole other side to us. She grinned all the more, anticipating her best friend's shake of the head so she already planned on showing off some small dances.
"Come up here, Jimmy, you know you want to. Get some music on." She smirked down at him and like predicted, like he had done when she turned his radio up loud, he shut his eyes and pursed his mouth together at the side of his face. He shook his head. But that time, it didn't last very long at all. soon enough, he opened his eyes once more and he opened them all to see Misty dancing on the table in the diner all over again! And there and then I decided that if you couldn't beat them than you could join them!
I hopped onto the table to dance with the lavender haired male's best friend. And from that high up position, I saw the way that he continued shaking his head but couldn't shake away the smile. And even though he walked away, he very much didn't walk away from the company of the orange haired female. James headed over to the jukebox instead and paid for a particular record to be played.
Like everything else in that place, the jukebox took its time getting there. But it didn't matter. It got there in the end. It clunked. It groaned. It chugged. And then eventually the record started spinning inside and the needle aligned. The song started. James turned back around to face Misty. It was obvious that he was predicting what was next from the way that he pressed his mouth together when he saw her dancing all the more, shaking her hair and really letting her hair down.
"Still not joining you." He warned her as he approached her, his hands sliding into his pockets. But they didn't stay there for long. They soon slipped back out once again as if they couldn't make up their mind when he hovered directly below her and he looked up at her, watching her dance. Misty tilted her head at him. They seemed to be the only people in the room. James added. "You never could get me up there and you never will. But I've always liked watching you."
And following the orange haired woman showing off her own wordless expression that said everything – she argued that she did indeed get him up there with her once or twice – along with being overcome with laughter, she was also overcome with shyness at her best friend's words.
She boogied for his benefit for a little longer and with her boots stamping on the table but when his hands reached up to her, she didn't hesitate to reach down to them. She squeezed them, their touch lingering on each other's like they were young adults all over again before she allowed him to help her down.
But Misty didn't get all the way down. Still holding the lavender haired male's hands, she gratefully was assisted by him so she was sat down on her bottom and with her legs swinging while the record continued playing. It didn't cease. And I had a feeling that when it did, they would play it all over again.
James chuckled when his best friend didn't let go of his hands and he let her measure her palm up against his – an age old tradition that didn't seem to get old. And like it was for them when they were in the car, once again he decided to add to words that were previously said. Only this time, he added to his own ones.
With a sheepish smile but a sincere one nevertheless, the lavender haired male found himself creeping closer to his best friend so he was innocently between her legs while they swung to the music. He reached his hand out and brushed two of his fingers against her cheek. His head tilted. His head tilted as he readdressed his words.
"I mean it, you know. I'll always sort things out for you. And I've always liked watching you. You bring out the best in me, you know. You also can bring out the worst. But you definitely bring out the best. And I will remember the memories here with you always." The lavender haired male told his best friend and while I wondered if he was referring to that night or the ones they had shared together a long time ago, it was obvious that Misty understood exactly what he was getting at. It was like a secret language between the two of them.
Though at first she found herself scrunching her face up at the memory and ducking her head, she then regained composure and looked over at the older male, grinning at him. She didn't say anything. She didn't say anything at all. She didn't need to. With her legs still at the side of him, she encouraged him closer. His hands were still holding hers. He meant every one of the words that he had said to her. And I knew that he meant everything that happened between them next.
James and Misty's eyes both locked onto one and other and in that old diner and with their favourite song playing. Between them they shared a gaze. And within that gaze was everything that they stood for. Within that gaze was everything that they were. Within that gaze was everything that they shared. Youthfulness. Memories. Laughter. Discovery.
The lavender haired male discovered himself leaning in. the orange haired female's eyes widened at first but he had put her at ease since the beginning of their closeness and that had never ceased. One of James' hands moved away from hers and he used it to brush her hair from her eyes. And it was then that he properly leaned in. and planted a kiss to her forehead.
Misty exhaled, her shoulders moving downwards and her lips quirking upwards all in one. I watched. I tilted my head. And then I understood.
It wasn't the kiss that he had given her all those years ago but it was the next best thing and they both knew it. After all, things did have to move forward, didn't they? They couldn't experience the same thing over and over again, could they?
Things did have to move forward. For they wouldn't be in the wonderful moment that they were currently in. and years in the future they would want to go back to that moment as well. Because they cherished it as much as all the other memories and adventures that they had shared.
The End.
There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :3 So yeah, even though of course James and Misty's friendship has always been apparent in my stories, this one digs a little deeper and shows what kind of antics took place when he first quit Team Rocket/became a father. They most definitely get to live youthfulness and even parts of their childhoods that they missed out on together. I look forward to tackling that more in the New Year. Thanks again for reading and I will be back again next Wednesday with another winter themed chapter so see you then!
AmyBieberKetchum signing out :P