Italic means people’s thoughts.

• Ash: 17
• Misty: 17
• Lily: 19

Misty’s heart was jumping joyfully, waiting for that special kiss, but suddenly, her mind was telling her she shouldn’t do it because of a very important reason. She avoided Ash’s kiss just in time and went directly to his ear to whisper something.

• She’s gone.
• What?
• The girl I’m imitating, Ash. She just disappeared and I didn’t notice. I’m so sorry.
• So what?! I don’t care! Why did you just have to ruin this perfect moment? (Ash was driving mad)
• I can’t do anything if she’s not here. We can’t go on playing.
• I’ll blame myself for not doing this at time. Misty... she left about five minutes ago.
• Then why didn’t you tell me before? I really want you, but I just had to do it...
• Because... What the hell’s wrong with you? I don’t know.
• ...Ok. I’m leaving. Please, forgive me.
• Why? Where are you going?
• I’m going home, maybe that’s where the girl went: to her home.
• And you’ll leave me here alone?
• The boy you’re playing to be was left alone, so it’s not my fault. Sorry.
• Misty...!
• Enjoy the film. (She hurries and goes back to the Gym.)
• Yeah, as if I could...

Misty arrived home feeling really sad, and cursed the phone, which was ringing again.

• Hello.
• Hi sister, it’s Lily here. How are you?
• ...Fine, but weren’t you coming tomorrow?
• Yes, I was. But I received an e-mail from your friend Brock. He invited me to the Christmas party Prof. Oak is going to organize.
• Really? We were going to ask you tomorrow if you wanted to go. Daisy and Violet can go too, but I don’t much feel like to call them now.
• I’ll talk to them, don’t worry. Oh, and I’m not going home tomorrow. It would be better if I go directly to Pallet.
• But where will you stay?
• I have a friend there who wouldn’t have any problem if I stayed with her. And Brock said he is staying at Ash’s house.
• Well, if so we should go tomorrow too. I’ll have to tell Ash about it.
• Ok... I have to hang up now, but I’ll see you soon Misty.
• Yeah, see you Lily.
• Bye. (They hang up.)

Misty wasn’t fine yet, so she went to her room to calm down a bit, and fell asleep. When Ash arrived, it was already dark, and made some noise waking Misty up. He has felt rejected, but somehow he wanted to understand her. So he went to see if she had any motive to leave him like that. Ash opened the room’s door and found her lying on her bed, drying her tears.

• Are you ok?
• (Sitting on the bed.) Yeah, perfectly. How did the movie end?
• Oh, come on, Misty. You’re not "perfectly". I know something happened.
• Like what?
• Something that made you run away when everything was going well!
• Ash... we were about to kiss! And that girl wasn’t there anymore.
• I know!... Wait a min. Do you think I was still playing?!
• Why? Weren’t you?
• You know I wasn’t, and you neither!
• What are you talking about, Ash?! I was just following the rules!
• There were no rules, Misty! And it wasn’t a game either. It was just an excuse to get to... forget it.
• What do you mean it wasn’t a game?
• It doesn’t matter anymore! (He goes to the door.)
• (Standing up.) Yes, it matters to me! If it wasn’t a game then why did you embrace me and touch me like that?!
• Because I knew you wanted me to, and don’t tell me you didn’t like it!!
• I didn’t!!
• Yes, you did! If not, why did you kiss me?
• I never kissed you!
• You kissed my fingers!
• Ok, that's not what I thought you would call a kiss! (Ash calmed down.)
• ...Exactly. Misty, you are my best friend. You know I want you very much... And if there’s something bothering you, I’ll be glad to help you.
• (Serious.) Why did you suddenly change the subject?
• I didn’t change it. I just think that maybe you need some time on your own to think why you didn’t kiss me where you should really have.
• (She looks at him astonished, openmouthed.) What did you say?!... Sorry?!
• You already heard.
• Oh, God!!! I can't believe it! (He’s packing his clothes.) What are you doing?
• I’m going back to Pallet.
• But we're going tomorrow. Lily called and said... (Ash interrupted her)
• You go tomorrow if you want, but I’m going now.
• Ash, I...
• Don’t say anything, Mist. We’ll be able to talk in Pallet.
• Oh my God, you really wanted to kiss me...

Misty stood in the bedroom all the time while Ash was getting ready to leave. Once he finished, he put the bag next to the main door, and went to say goodbye to her. But when he turned around, he saw Misty was already there, staring at him. Ash could feel deeply inside her sadness.

• Well... I’m leaving now, Misty.
• I see...

Unexpectedly, she ran up to Ash and gave him a very big never-letting-go embrace.

• Don’t leave, Ash. Please. Don’t leave me here alone. (She was crying.)
• (Embracing Misty back.) ...It’ll better for both of us, Misty. I’m not leaving you forever; it’s just till tomorrow.
• Anyway, please. I’m really sorry for all the things I said. I always knew it wasn’t a... I mean, I think I wasn’t playing either. I’m sorry...
• Can you tell me now what happened?
• Can we please stay like this without speaking a word?
• I don’t know. I really don’t like the part of not speaking a word (she looked sad at him), but... well, ok Mist. I think we can talk about it later. I’m staying.
• Thank you so much! (She gave him a quick kiss on his cheek and he lifted her up like a bride and left her on the sofa. Then he sat next to her.)
• So, what now?
• Can I ask you something, Ash? (Hugging him again.)
• Sure, what?
• ...Why did you late so much time?
• Um... I just wanted to walk and see the Christmas’s decorations of the shops... and make some shopping too.
• Uh, ok. Were they nice?
• Yeah... You'll really love it, I know it.
• ...I’ve been thinking... you know about what happened to us at the cinema... have you ever acted that way? Have you ever... fondled a girl?
• (Ash’s cheeks were a bit red.) ...No. I haven’t.
• So... you never kissed one, did you?
• Neither... (He was very serious.)
• I could have been the first... Oh, sorry if I’m annoying you, I didn’t realize...
• No, it’s ok. I can ask you too, right?
• Yes... ask me something, whatever.
• Well... there’s something but...
• C’mon!
• ...Misty, are you in love? That’s an excellent question.
• (She was shocked.) ...Well, um... I think... I am. (She looked into his eyes, and nodded) Yeah, definitely. Are you? Please say you are.
• Yes, I am. I’m in love with you. How can I make you realize?
• Have you told her?
• Not yet, have you told him?
• (She smiles.) No.
• Do you think I should confess it?
• Just if you think you won’t depress if she rejects you.
• Is that... I think she does feel the same but she’s afraid of telling me.
• Well... actually I’m afraid of telling you, Ash. But what if he doesn't like me? Wait a min... He wanted to kiss me. It could be me! Yeah, why not?!...Well, in that case, you should do it. You must risk your feelings to know if she feels something for you.
• Ok, I see... Hey, you know, I have a doubt.
• What?
• Don’t you feel uncomfortable being like this with me? So... close?
• No. We’re best friends. We’re only hugging, not kissing unluckily, are we?
• Of course not, he, he. Imagine if the ones we like saw us and we really were!
• Yeah. Crazy thought, isn’t it? Specially if they don't even exist.
• Sure it is. And to think we were going to... it’s unbelievable. (Both became serious after that last comment).
• I still wonder what could have happened if I hadn't left at that exact moment.
• Who knows? You know exactly what could have happened. It never crossed my mind that you could leave the theatre, and that game... who was the winner at the end?
• I was. I realized that the girl wasn’t there anymore. So I must claim my prize.
• Not so fast. I followed each and every step the boy did, so I deserve it more than you do.
• Ok. I have an idea. Let’s decide it with a tic-tac-toe.
• Just like that? Well, ok.

They looked for two pens and a paper and played for a minute. Ash won.

• Yes! I won! Nobody can beat me when it’s about games!
• Ok, but don’t be so credulous... What now?
• I have to think of my prize... Maybe I can... No, no. It would be better if...
• So? What do you want?
• Anything, right?
• Right. What is it? It can’t be so bad, can it?
• Well, it's something easy, really. You'll just have to help me with a little revenge I wanna take.
• Revenge? On who?
• Oh, you know him. It's true that we're good friends now, but there's something he did to me, and although it was very silly for him, I'd like to play a little joke on him.
• Let me guess... Gary?
• Yeah.
• What did he do to you?
• Um, it's complicated to explain. It doesn't matter. Just say you'll help me and then I'll tell you the details.

Misty was still thinking about what happened just a few hours ago, and that comment of Ash showing his sadness when she didn't kiss him. But she thought it would be good to distract her mind with something else, so she accepted.

• Ok. I just hope you won't get me into trouble, Ash.
• No, Mist, I won't. Or at least I'll try so.
• Alright. You can rely on me.
• Thank you very, very much!
• Well, what is it about?
• It's about letters. Love letters.
• Love letters? I don't understand.
• Ok, listen. You'll use those romantic ideas of yours to write some letters to Gary and make him think a girl likes him. Just like that.
• And what's that for?
• Can you keep a secret?
• Sure.
• So can I.
• Ash! (He giggles)
• Come on. We need to hurry up.
• Why so fast?
• Because I wanna send it to him tomorrow. And after one or two more letters we'll tell him the true just before Christmas. I'd like to see his face once he finds it out!
• I really don't think it's a good idea, Ash. And about telling him, it's not "we", it's "you" who'll do it because it's your joke, not ours. I wouldn't participate in this if it weren't for that stupid tic-tac-toe. You know he'll probably be furious.
• It's ok what you say, but I don't care if he'll be mad at this or not. I'm taking revenge, remember? He started.
• Yeah, whatever.