You should take it as a compliment

That I'm talkin' to everyone here but you

And you should think about the consequence

Of you touching' my hand in a darkened room

If you've got a girlfriend, I'm jealous of her

But if you're single, that's honestly worse

'Cause you're so gorgeous it actually hurts


Chapter 4: Denial

Dear legendaries, what is wrong with me?

"Happy Birthday to you!" Everyone sang together in the wide-open yard of Gary's house.

"Happy Birthday Dear Ash!" I sang along with others.

Ash patiently smiled at us as we sang for him, waiting for us to stop so he could dive into the cake sitting in front of him on the table.

This was such a nice arrangement. I had to give Gary some credit for it, but it's too bad I'm going through an internal battle to appreciate the big yard. There was plenty of space left for us to dance, even after the snack tables took up a big portion of the yard. Another part was saved for our Pokémon to have their own little party. I knew Gary was rich but this was the first time I was at his house. Surprising, I know, but we usually hung out at Ash's or the laboratory. The house itself looked like it had all sorts of exotic things. It wasn't that big, but it sure was fancy. Heck, even his main gate was fancier than anything at my whole gym. He managed to decorate the place with twinkling lights, which wasn't a lot but it added to the vibe of the party. The structure of his house was much better than Ash's house from a privacy point of view. The tall walls that covered the property were perfect to block all the reporters who flocked outside the house. The gate was fancy but solid and couldn't be opened without a password, which was an impressive technology to have in a town like Pallet.

But not even the pool on the back of the house could make me get excited about any of this. My concern was this terrible feeling I wasn't able to put my finger on till a few hours ago, but now I had a better idea, and I knew how badly it was gonna screw me over if I didn't get rid of it. The thought keeps bubbling up the more I suppress it and it makes me want to punch a wall. I don't even want to say that word, it's terrifying. There's a teeny-tiny possibility that I might have a small– very small, almost insignificant– crush on one of my closest friends. The one who was nothing more than a homie to me twelve hours ago. A pal, my best buddy.

Ugh, goosebumps.

Alright, Ash is an…objectively attractive guy, I've never denied that. But I never found him subjectively attractive either. If anything, I've always rolled my eyes at people who were head over heels for him because I knew what a goofball he was. So no, I never found him attractive. Ever. Not even when we were kids. Not even when he's all beach-ready without a shirt, or when he's dressed in his old tux like some kind of prince, or when he wakes up and his hair is messy but in a cute way, or when he's battling with that intense dedication and excitement that he practically glows. So when I never had these feelings before, I don't know why his attractiveness is affecting me all so suddenly. My mind is so fixated on this troublesome fact as if this is the first struggle I've ever faced in my life.

"Happy birthday to you!" We finished the song together, cheering loudly for Ash.

"Make a wish!" Delia exclaimed.

Ash's ears turned bright red. "Mom!" he whined softly, but then closed his eyes, made a wish, and then blew out the candles. Laughter and cheers filled the air as Ash sliced the birthday cake.

"Happy Birthday, Ash." Brock and I said as we handed him the neatly wrapped box.

"Thanks guys!" He smiled, holding the gift.

"Open it!" I prodded.

"Okay, okay," he relented. He clumsily tore the wrapping paper and gasped when he saw the cover of the box. "No way!"

"Open the box!" Brock said.

He followed the instructions. "You did not!" he whispered as he took the cell phone out of the box and flipped it around, marveling at its features. "Are you kidding me? This must have been so expensive!"

"Not more than our mental well-being which is on the verge of destruction because of your almost-dead keypad phone," I teased.

Ash wrapped his arms around Brock and my shoulders, hugging both of us at the same time. "Thank you!"

" Finally the champion will stop using his laptop for texting with us," Gary teased. Laughter erupted around the yard.

"I'll cut the rest of the cake and distribute it," Delia announced, picking up the cake and vanishing among the crowd, heading towards the kitchen of Gary's house.

Once Delia was gone, Gary turned the speakers on, blasting music.

Ash was right in front of me, standing a few steps away. He was surrounded by people, smiling brightly. He looked so happy to have so many people wishing him a happy birthday and laughing with him.

I took a step back. Maybe I should grab a drink.

After a while, everyone wandered off to talk and enjoy themselves in groups, to dance, or simply enjoy the delicious snacks.

Except me. I was on my own. I took a sip from my cup, pondering who I should talk to first. There were many friends that I hadn't seen in a long time, but my gaze kept stopping at Ash, who was talking with Lance and Cynthia, smiling now and then.

I looked away, yet again browsing through the crowd, looking for a group to join.

I noticed Serena entering through the gate. Moments later, Ash walked over to greet her.

They're finally cool, huh?

I took out my phone. It's a habit I'm trying to get rid of, but I'll give it a go today and let myself scroll on social media while I feel anxious, one last time.

My heartbeat stopped at one of the articles. It was posted seconds ago.

Rocket News Reports!

Fan favorite couple Ash and Serena allegedly back together?

Sources report that Serena was in the Kanto Champion's house for his birthday this afternoon. The two were spotted at Ash's party, glued together the whole time. The Kanto champion and The Kalos Queen can't seem to stay away from each other! Are they finally in a relationship again?

Stay tuned for more juicy updates!

I stuffed my phone back in my pocket rather aggressively.

"It's a fun party, isn't it?" Burnet said, almost scaring me, as she walked up to me with a plate of pizza pockets in her hand.

I smiled meekly. "Yes, definitely."

"The cool wind and the sweet smell of these night-blooming flowers." She took a deep breath, "are the cherry on top. That's what I like most about this part of Kanto." She grinned at me, popping a pizza roll in her mouth. Then she offered me some.

I grabbed one. "Thanks!"

"So how's everything with the gym?" she asked, chewing on her food.

"Great. We've never been better." I grinned.

She beamed. "I heard you're in the list of top three gym leaders this year, congrats on that!"

"Thanks, Professor!"

"How does it feel to be one of the best?" she asked.

I thought for a moment before answering. "You know, years ago, when I had my first winning streak ever, like I won every single match that week, I thought I reached the peak. Young me would be so proud to know that wasn't the peak."

"And the results were amazing. I think you managed to get funds from the league for the gym renovation too, right?" Burnet smiled. "Ash used to gush so much about it. In his words, you set the bar high for all the new gym trainers with the kind of skill and progress you'd shown."

There goes the butterfrees tickling in my stomach again. I tucked away a strand of my loose hair. "It was really nothing, I just did what I could."

"Don't be modest, Misty." She lightly punched on my arm, "Own your accomplishments."

I nodded, smiling.

"But you weren't at your peak back then," she added. "You were of course brilliant, mastering mega evolution at such a young age along with so many other accomplishments, but that was just the start. That's what happens when you follow your heart."

I could feel the heat rise up on my cheeks. Never in my dreams had I thought that Professor Burnet would be complimenting me like this. But I also couldn't help but argue on the last part. "More like, because I trusted my head instead of my heart."

"Oh?" She raised her eyebrows. "Really?"

I nodded.

"Why, may I ask?"

Follow my heart? If I did that, we would've lost the gym years ago, I would be hopelessly traveling without any future plans and I may or may not be dating someone older and hot but probably borderline creepy. So, following your heart is usually a very impractical thing in my humble opinion. Because if I did that right now, I would ruin my friendship with Ash. I looked at him, still talking to Serena, smiling. Good thing I don't care about Ash's love life, or this would've hurt a lot. No following the heart for me.

I shrugged. "No apparent reason. It always worked better for me."

"Interesting, though, at least once in your life, you should try to do what your heart tells you. You'll be surprised how liberating it can be."

"Sure thing, Prof. How is your research going?" I asked, diverting the topic.

"Pretty good. We had a few setbacks, but my team stayed consistent and now we're back on track." She gave a thumbs up.

"There's nothing you can't handle, after all."

"Apparently, I can't handle my son who keeps getting in trouble because he's too curious." She sighed.

"Lei? Again?" I know the boy's tendency to get in trouble. Burnet and Kukui were discussing this with Delia last night. But I never heard the full conversation.

"Yeah, it's like he jumps right at trouble without thinking of the consequences."

I chuckled. "Reminds me of someone else we know."

"That's why Delia is the best person to advise me on this." She smiled. "But if he's inspired by Ash, I hope he becomes an amazing person like him too."

"As long as he has you guys, he'll be fine," I assured her, not knowing what else to say.

She shrugged with a smile. She was nodding with the rhythm of the music, gently tapping a finger on the plate of pizza rolls.

"I hope he gets to have friends like you guys." She looked at me. "I feel so happy when Ash proudly talks about his friends. I'm grateful he has so many of you who take good care of him."

"The same goes for you." I lightly nudged her shoulder. "You and Kukui mean the world to him."

She laughed. "He's a very lovable guy, that's all. It's easy to love him."

Maybe that's it. Maybe I'm confusing platonic love with romantic love. Maybe I do love Ash but just platonically.

I giggled, suddenly feeling better about the whole situation. I took another pizza roll from her plate.

"Why don't we join the others for a dance?" she suggested, taking a step ahead.

I shrugged. "Maybe I'll join later, but please, you go ahead."

She spun in my direction on the ball of her heel. "You sure?" she asked, wiggling in a funny dance move. "I'm very fun at parties."

I giggled. "Okay, professor."

It was very hard for me to resist when someone so motherly insisted on something. Except for Daisy.

"Call me Burnet, Misty."

"Aye aye."

Burnet was another level of fun. I'd met her several times before, but never in this kind of situation. She dragged me across the lawn towards the corner where a few people were dancing. It was still too early to dance according to me and almost everyone else, but according to Burnet, you can dance at any given time in a party. That would be my motto from today onwards too.

I quickly gulped the rest of my drink and started dancing along with Burnet, stopping only to grab another cocktail when I felt thirsty.

"This song sums up my teen years!" Burnet exclaimed, hearing an old song.

"And my childhood!" I laughed.

I threw everything that was worrying me in the back of my head, deciding not to go back to it until the party was over. As I looked around, everyone had shuffled and were now with different people. Soon, Dawn and Mallow joined us, dancing along to the nostalgic song.

"Go, go, go, go!" We shouted the lyrics together.

As Ash was walking by, Burnet grabbed him by his wrist and pulled him in, making him stand in the center of our tiny circle.

"Go, shawty, it's your birthday, We gon' party like it's your birthday," we sang to him, jumping to the beat of the song. He laughed, looking a little embarrassed. "We gon' sip Bacardí like it's your birthday, And you know we don't give a-" We laughed, not choosing not to shout the swear word that was in the song, "it's not your birthday."

In the end, Ash gave in and danced with us, though a little awkwardly. As he danced, he made a show of locking eyes with each of us in turn. When it was my supposed "special moment," he held my hand briefly, spun me around, and then directed his attention to Mallow. I shook my head as if doing so would make my brain work better. Platonic love works like this.

Ash ditched his whole routine of facing each of us one by one as the crowd grew, deciding to focus solely on dancing with me instead. I tried to maintain my composure as he inched closer, sporting that charming smile of his like he was having the time of his life.

Now, this wasn't our first rodeo on the dance floor, and it certainly wasn't out of the ordinary for him to dance with me whenever the opportunity presented itself. If I was really attracted to Ash, I could leave it to my silly brain to concoct elaborate fantasies, convincing me that his moves held some kind of hidden declaration of affection. But I knew that my feelings were platonic, and it was just me and my friend dancing. Just like Mallow is dancing with Dawn.

As the song wrapped up, we erupted into cheers. Huffing lightly, I figured it was time for a breather. I trotted over to the nearest chair and plopped down.

"Do you need a drink?" Lana asked.

"Yeah, but I'll grab one later." I giggled, still out of breath. "I gotta sit for a while."

"I'll fetch you some." She smiled. "I'm going to refill mine anyway."

"You'd do that?" I asked, feeling genuinely grateful for the offer. She nodded in response. "Thanks a lot, Lana!" I squeezed her hand appreciatively before she turned to leave.

"It's right here, Misty. Don't worry," she reassured me before walking off.

I glanced over at the makeshift dance floor, where a lot of people joined in to dance with Burnet, whose spirits were surprisingly higher now. I chuckled at her enthusiasm. Perhaps she didn'tget to let loose like this very often.

After a while of dancing, Ash jogged over to me when the songs changed. He huffed.

"Scoot over."

"Seriously, there's an empty chair right here!" I gestured to the vacant seat beside me.

"Kidding," he chuckled as I shot him a playful glare before collapsing into the seat beside me with a dramatic flourish.

"Getting tired already?" I teased.

He winked. "Underestimating my stamina?"

I gave him a gentle smack on his arm. "You know, you're not getting any younger."

"Of course not." He flexed his bicep. "I'm a man now."

I rolled my eyes. I was hoping he would fill me in with any updates about his and Serena's…relationship. But he didn't.

"I can't believe Lance and Cynthia actually showed up," he exclaimed.

"Yeah, that was super cool." I smiled, though inwardly I couldn't shake the disappointment of him withholding any news about Serena. I felt like I was being so selfish.

"That's such an honor," he said, taking a deep breath. "You're sticking around tonight, too, right?"

I blinked. "Tonight? Tomorrow's Monday, Ash."

"Then perhaps catch the last train tonight? That way," he shrugged, looking down, "you can stay longer."

"The midnight train?"

He nodded.

I rubbed my forehead. "That means I'll reach Cerulean at like, three in the morning." I sighed. "It's not a practical choice. Better to leave on the train that departs at eight."

He looked at me, our eyes meeting for a brief moment. I sighed. He made it so hard for me sometimes.

"I'll try," I said, feeling defeated. His sad puppy face never failed to convince me.

"C'mon, Mist," he insisted again.

"I just said I'll try," I argued, this time a little more irritated than before.

He looked away.

Maybe I sounded a little too annoyed, but it was too late to take it back. He didn't speak any further either, the loud music filling up what would've been an awkward silence.

I swear I'm not acting like a bitch on purpose, but what else can I do with this on-again-off-again storm of conflict that is fogging up my brain? I'd like to keep myself as far from Ash as possible to clear my head and avoid any possible nervous outbursts. Our conversation from Indigo Island suddenly popped up in my head where the rule Friends shouldn't date was established, so any tiny feeling that emerges, even accidentally, should be thrown out of the window before it gets bigger. In this case, there's no romantic feeling at all. I know there isn't, but better safe than sorry.

"Here!" A red cup popped into my vision, and I looked up to see Lana holding it out to me.

I stood up, reaching for the cup Lana held out to me. "Thank you, Lana,"

"No problem."

I sipped on my drink. "Why don't you dance with us?"

She shrugged. "You know I don't dance well."

"Neither does Ash." I laughed, eyeing him from the corner of my eyes. Hoping to make up for my annoyed tone earlier with maybe another playful banter.

"Hey! I'm right here!" he cried as he walked over to us.

So it worked.

I smiled, sipping on the remaining of my drink, giving myself a mental five for confirming he wasn't mad at me. Then I realized, perhaps, drinking on an empty stomach was making my vision a little fuzzy. "Man, I'm so hungry," I blurted out.

"Feeling a bit peckish?" Lana asked, her brow creased with concern.

Ash's head snapped up. "I'll grab you something!" he declared, darting off toward the snack table.

Lana and I exchanged a bemused glance as we watched him stride off, equally puzzled by his sudden urge to bring me food. But we shrugged it off, diving back into the conversation we were having before.

"This time you will dance with me!" I insisted again.

"Okay, okay, I'll give it a try." She chuckled. "But don't laugh when I make a fool of myself."

"You won't! I'll copy you so we'll look weird together," I joked.

She giggled. "Deal."

Ash reappeared moments later with two plates filled with various food, handing one to me and offering the other to Lana. "Here."

"I'm not really hungry," Lana protested softly.

"I'll have it, then." Ash shrugged, taking it back.

Ash and Lana carried on the rest of the conversation while I pretended to listen, but my mind kept wandering off to the exact same thought that I'd been trying to avoid. My (dying) voice of reason repeating the same things: How could my mind ever confuse platonic love with romance? Even for a split second? Knowing fully well Serena might be in the picture again.

But is she?

So, here's the possibility: I remember both Ash and Serena acknowledging the wrongs in their relationship, but maybe they decided to give it another chance? No one knows. It's their decision and I'll support them no matter what. Maybe her dating someone else was just a rumor. Maybe they are rekindling their relationship, as mentioned in that good for nothing article online.

And here's the fact: Friends can't date.

And here's another fact: I don't like Ash.

Problem solved.

I jumped back to reality as Serena walked up to us. "Hey, everyone!" she greeted us.

I looked at her, and noticed a guy standing behind her.

Ash quickly popped the last nugget into his mouth and brushed his hands on his jacket. "Hey," he said, his voice slightly muffled by the food.

Lana couldn't help but laugh at this.

"Take your time." Serena giggled, watching him struggle to swallow quickly. He coughed a little in the process.

"Do you need something to drink?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No, fanks," he said before taking a big gulp. Then he cleared his throat, his ears turning a soft shade of pink. "Sorry about that." He chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. We couldn't help but laugh at his classic habit.

Serena smiled. "So, Calem has finally arrived." She stepped aside, revealing the guy behind her.

The guy smiled, his tall frame slightly hunched forward in an awkward demeanor. His dark, long hair was tied in a classic half updo. His style bore a slight resemblance to Ash's, but with a touch of class. I particularly admired his boots, which matched his jacket perfectly.

"Hello!" he greeted us warmly.

Ash beamed at them, extending a confident hand to the guy. Calem shook hands with him, returning the gesture warmly. "Hey!"

"Pleased to meet the Kanto Champion. Happy birthday, Mr. Ketchum."

"You don't have to be so formal, please call me Ash." Ash beamed. "And thanks a lot, I'm glad you came at such short notice."

"No problem. I'm more than happy to be here," he said, placing a hand on Serena's shoulder.

Serena put her own hand over his. "Oh cut it out, Cal." She turned towards Ash. "He's being so formal right now, but he was really excited to meet you earlier."

Wait a minute. What was happening?

"Serena, you already know Misty. Calem, this is Misty. She's one of the top three gym leaders in Kanto," Ash introduced me.

"Pleased to meet you," I said as we shook hands.

"Misty," Calem said, looking like he was trying to remember if he'd seen me or heard my name before. Then he raised his eyebrows, as if the realization dawned on him. " So you're Misty! Ash's-"

"Bestfriend," Serena cut him off, glaring at him.

Calem grinned sheepishly. "Yes."

Ash, who was patiently witnessing this exchange, continued with introductions. "And this is Lana, my very good friend from Alola and an awesome water type trainer." Ash pointed at Lana who waved at the Kalos couple, that is if they really are a couple. "These two are quite literally two of the best water type trainers I know."

"Nice to meet you, Calem and Serena!" Lana greeted them.

Calem smiled. "I'd love to have a battle sometime!"

"Sure!" Lana gave a playful thumbs up.

"And guys," he turned towards us, "this is Serena, the Kalos queen and Calem a well known pokemon trainer from Kalos who's shown a great set of skills in all his battles in the Kalos league."

So I guess he's Serena's friend. She's making her friends meet Ash, huh.

Serena stared at me, reading my expressions then adding to Ash's sentence. "Actually, this is my boyfriend." She gave me a knowing smile.

Oh no, it's her boyfriend. The knot in my chest dissolved at the thought. Wow. I'm really happy for her and her boyfriend. He seems nice. Then there's the knot again. So Ash is officially single and moved on. This is such happy news to me, as his friend I should be happy. And I swear I'm happy for him, but… I just… I don't know.

"When I found out you were in Kanto with Serena, I couldn't help but invite you," Ash said.

"I was at Cinnabar island. I have some relatives there, that's why it took me a while to reach Pallet after we talked this afternoon. We apologize for arriving so late," Calem said.

Ah. So Calem was at Cinnabar and Ash decided to invite him too to prove that they're all cool with each other.

"I'm just glad you two could make it," Ash chuckled. "Now, did you guys get the chance to taste the cake? My mom made it."

"Not yet, Ash," Serena said before turning towards Calem. "One bite and you'll see how Delia is one of the finest cooks ever."

Calem laughed. "If you are saying so, then I already believe it."

May was walking by us but stopped when Serena caught her eyes." Hey!" she squealed. "Look who's here!" She walked closer to Serena. "Where were you this whole time? We missed you on the floor!"

Serena blushed. "Sorry, I was running late."

May noticed Calem and narrowed her eyes at Serena with a mischievous smile. "And this gentleman is…?"

Serena rolled her eyes, blushing even more. "Calem."

Calem smiled. "Nice to meet you!"

May smirked wider as she leaned closer to Serena. "So this is your mystery man?"

At this point Serena had turned a bright shade of scarlet. "Yes, he's my boyfriend," she uttered.

"Hi Calem!" May grinned, her words directed at Calem but eyes fixed at Serena. "I'm May, your girlfriend's friend. She was so secretive about you all this time, I didn't even know your name. We had our doubts, of course, because she was always swooning and sighing, so," she smiled at Calem, "it's awesome to finally meet you."

"Stop it!" Serena hissed, embarrassed yet unable to hide her amusement.

"I've heard a lot about you!" May continued, her attention now focused on Calem. "I mean not directly. She never told me who you were, of course."

Calem laughed nervously. "We decided to keep things low for a while, but I've heard about you too. "

"I'm surprised Serena managed to talk in your presence when all she mentions is– she said and I quote, 'my boyfriend is so amazing, we make out all the–'"

" May!" Serena cried, "I did not say that!"

"I think that's enough for today, May," I piped up.

"Thank you," Serena sighed.

May giggled. "Okay, I'll let you go this time, but jokes aside, Calem, welcome to the gang!"

Calem laughed,."I'm glad to be a part of it."

Ash smiled. "The buffet is open guys," he informed the Kalos couple, creating a diversion for them to escape this conversation. "Please make yourselves at home and enjoy the food!"

"Sure will!" Serena said as the couple quickly walked away from us.

They looked really nice together.

So earlier, when Serena was worried about not getting along with Ash, she really meant it in a friendly way. I must say, that was so sweet of her to still want to maintain a friendship with Ash. Same goes for Ash, though stunned at first, he was putting in effort too. Inviting your ex's boyfriend to your own surprise birthday party wasn't something a lot of people can do. Props to Calem too, being so understanding about the whole thing.

"You're next!" May whispered to me.

I jumped. "For what?"

She smirked. "If I catch you flirting one time tonight, I will unleash my demon."

I felt heat rise up on my face. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't act so innocent." She laughed evilly and walked away.

There's nothing between Ash and Serena anymore. Okay, okay. Cool. Not that I care. I really don't.

Time seemed to fly by in a blur after that, and before I knew it, it was already around seven in the evening. Nearly everyone had already had dinner by then, and I couldn't believe how quickly the day had passed.

We dove into a few party games that May, Dawn, and I had planned earlier in the afternoon. Everyone was having a blast, but an hour slipped by, we noticed many of the elders starting to head home, along with some folks needing to catch flights or trains.

I was talking with Brock when I saw Burnet and Kukui saying goodbye to Ash near the main gate.

"They're leaving too," Brock said, taking a sip from his beer bottle.

I looked at him. "How do you know?"

He shrugged. "I was talking to Kukui earlier. He said they'll be leaving early tonight for some urgent meeting of Burnet's that's scheduled tomorrow."

"Oh." I looked back at them.

A moment later, Burnet spotted me and waved, motioning for me to come over. "Misty! Brock!" she called out as I approached, with Brock following just a few steps behind me.

"You guys are leaving already?" I asked, looking simultaneously at both of them.

Burnet pouted. "Research duties."

Kukui laughed at her reaction. "Don't worry, darling," he said to Burnet, "we'll visit again soon, and for a longer period of time."

"Yes! You have to!" Ash exclaimed. He leaned closer to Kukui and whispered so only people in the circle could hear him. "Hopefully, I'll show you my new house then!"

Kukui laughed. "And hopefully a new gir-"

"Alright, just visit soon!" Ash interrupted, laughing.

"Here it is!" Delia came rushing towards us holding a lunch box. "I packed you guys some food." She handed the box to Burnet. "Travel safely and please visit again."

"This is so kind of you," Kukui said.

Burnet smiled. "Yeah, thanks a lot Delia."

She waved away their politeness."Please, don't mention it!"

After all the goodbyes and see you soons, Brock went back to the party. Kukui started walking towards the exit where the taxi was waiting for them and Ash and Delia followed him to the gate. But Burnet stayed back with me.

She smiled at me. "I'll see you soon, Misty."

"Of course, Prof. And hopefully I'll visit Alola soon too."

Kukui, Delia, and Ash had already gathered near the taxi, engaged in conversation as they waited for Burnet to catch up.

She stepped closer to me. "I know you're a strong girl, Misty."

I nodded, unsure where this was going.

She winked. "If I were you, I'd trust my heart this one time."

I arched my eyebrow. What does that even mean?

Then she giggled. "Don't be so confused, Misty." And then walked away, nearing the taxi where Kukui was waiting for her with an open door.

I stood there. What was that?

As the taxi's engine roared to life, my thoughts were suddenly drowned out by the Ketchums bidding farewell to the Alolan Professors. I walked closer to the taxi, hoping to understand the meaning of this strange encounter with Burnet.

I caught Burnet's eye for a brief moment as the taxi moved forward, and she smirked at me, leaving me even more puzzled. And just like that, they were gone from view. I heard the sound of a few camera clicks and spotted some shady news reporters lurking across the street, dressed in oversized trench coats and hats, their cameras aimed at Ash. But instead of giving them the attention they craved, we ignored them and headed inside, quickly sealing off the yard by closing the gate behind us.

And all I could think was, what a strange yet lovely lady.

As the night progressed, things really started to heat up. While many more people began to leave, those of us who remained kicked things up a notch and hit the dance floor. I joined in, dancing in intervals, taking breaks every now and then to grab a cool drink and soothe my dry throat, as well as to catch up with friends. It was a blast, and the energy on the dance floor was infectious. Everywhere I looked, I could see people laughing and dancing and drinking and occasional confetti flying around.

"Ladies and lads!" Gary shouted on one of those old fashioned conical loudspeakers, standing on a chair. "Let's welcome, the newly aged adult, one and only! Ashy boy!" He cheered.

The crowd of our friends went wild, hooting and hollering for Ash, who found himself at the focal point of Oak's lawn, the center of attention.

"Thanks guys!" Ash laughed.

With the party winding down and only a few of us left, mostly those in our age group, Gary's really making the most of the opportunity. It was already nine in the evening and even Delia decided to head back to her home, so I thought about heading over to the Ketchum's house to grab my bag and catch my train at ten. But despite my intentions, everyone kept urging me to stick around for one final game that Gary had organized before calling it a night.

"But, Ashy boy, this party needs some spice," Gary said dramatically, stepping down from the chair to the grassy lawn.

Everyone's attention was on him.

He walked towards the speakers, turned the music down and turned towards us. "So I was thinking, what is it that can make the party more interesting?" He walked towards the snack table. "What can make the evening memorable and fun?" He questioned, a mischievous smile spread across his face. He waited for us to actually guess.

"You shutting up can do it for me," Iris quipped, earning a laugh from everyone.

"No, pookie," Gary said, faking sweetness in his voice but we knew he's just being sarcastic. "Any more guesses?"

"Just say it, Gary!" Dawn retorted.

"Calm down, Deedee."

" DON'T call me that!" she fumed.

Gary ignored her and proceeded to pick up a small cardboard carton kept beneath the snack table. He opened it and grabbed whatever was inside. We were waiting eagerly to see what was the hyped up thing that can make the party "fun".

It was booze. Just bottles of booze.

"What's so fun about that? We already had drinks," I said.

"You see, Red," Gary said walking towards the middle of the lawn, near Ash, "that was just Gary's special punch. Some fruit juice, some real fruits and alcohol mixed together with my secret ingredient. It's for kids like you."

He raised the bottles that he was holding high so we could have a proper look at it. "While this is something else. This is what I like to call legendary water. Spoiler alert, it's not water." He snickered. "But this very expensive vodka, which is from a faraway region, is not the thing that'll spice it up."

"You brought this in another region?" Serena asked.

"No, I bought it from the liquor store." Gary sighed. "But that's not the point. Will you guys just listen?"

"Please enlighten us," Brock commented.

"Thank you!" Gary bowed. "Now the thing that'll spice things up is something that Ashy boy hasn't really done before, mainly because he was never invited to cool kids' parties, so he has never played the game."

"No one calls themselves 'cool kid' except you," Ash murmured.

"A game?" I asked. "What is it? Beer pong?"

"What are you? A highschooler?" Gary quipped.

I rolled my eyes. "How is that a highschooler's game?"

"That awaited game is…" He paused, hoping for us to be excited for whatever was coming. "Spin the bottle!" he exclaimed.

"Wow…What a fun game that high schoolers definitely don't play," I said sarcastically.

But some people seemed to be into it when they cheered hearing the name of the popular game.

"Okay, I'm going home." I turned away.

Before I could actually take another step, Brock blocked my way. He had a sly grin on his face, something I only saw on his face when he was about to do something only he thought was iconic.

"You're not going anywhere," he stated.

"Yes, Misty. Stay for this." May nodded, smiling.

Gary nodded, walking closer to me. "You are kind of important for the game, Red." He smirked.

I raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean, Oak?"

He winked at me. "Nothing."

"But I really gotta catch this train," I argued.

Part of me doesn't wanna play because I know how these games end. Most of the time, I say something embarrassing. I looked around. There are still so many people, in front of whom I can embarrass myself. Ash, Brock, Gary, May, Dawn, Serena, Serena's boyfriend, Lana, Mallow, Iris, Goh, Chloe and Clemont. I'm gonna embarrass myself in front of people across all the regions. Quite literally.

"Hey," Ash, who was silent the whole time, finally spoke. His head hung slightly low, his ears red. "Stay just a little longer, Mist." He said softly.

I sighed. I know I can't turn him down. I think he knows what makes me weak and uses it every time.

I sighed again. "Okay."

Ash's face lit up, a wide smile spread across his face.

"Is everyone else up for it?" I looked around.

Almost everyone nodded. So we were really doing it, huh? Maybe I'll leave in half an hour. That way, I can still catch that train.

Gary brought two large bedsheets from his house and spread them out across the yard, creating a makeshift seating area. All of us gathered around, forming a large circle. He opened one of the bottles of vodka that he had been flaunting earlier and insisted that we all take a drink, quickly emptying the bottle. Then, he placed the empty bottle in the center, ready to spin it for the game.

"The rules are simple," Gary said, his hands still on the bottle. "You gotta pick a truth, a dare or kiss. Clear?"

"Kiss?" Ash questioned.

"That can't be the first time you're hearing the word, Ash." Gary scoffed. Ash simply rolled his eyes and remained silent. "So when you're out of options for truth and dare," Gary continued, explaining the rules. "You can choose 'kiss' to revive both the options mentioned above and get back in the game. Alternatively, you can choose to lose and be out of the game altogether."

"You are so waiting for something scandalous to happen," Brock said. "And I'm here for it!" Gary chuckled.

"Let's just start!" Mallow exclaimed, brimming with excitement.

"Alright!" Gary's eyes sparkled with mischief. "But before we begin, there's one last rule: Whatever happens in this game, stays in this game." His gaze swept across each of our faces, building anticipation, before he flicked the bottle in the center of our circle with a mischievous glint in his eye.

I wish I had known that the spinning of this one bottle would set into motion a chain of events that would test my limits and make me do something I might regret.


Chocolate brown eyes, looking in mine,

I feel like I might sink and drown and die.