The Key to My Heart
By Tammy Osborne


Late at night,
When I should be asleep,
Into my heart,
You quietly creep,
I sit and ponder,
How it could be,
But you must have stumbled,
Across the key,
I know our friendship,
Could mean so much more,
But it's up to you to open the door.

AN: That was just a short little poem I found in a "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul" book. I thought it would fit in great with the fic so I put it on here. Anyway, on with the story!





5-1 Warnings

Crystal yelled goodbye to Ash and Misty as she walked out the door for a little break. It was finally dinner time and she had decided to eat outside today. She strolled around the block and headed toward the park not too far away. It was a perfect place to sit and relax and get away from the lab. She had noticed Ash and Misty had been acting particularly strange today. She couldn't understand what the deal was with the two of them. This morning they were laughing and joking around, then later that day they had both walked in and not spoken a word to each other the rest of the day. Odd to say the least.
As she neared the park's entrance, she got this strange feeling that someone was watching her. She shivered a little and wrapped her coat tightly around her as she walked into the park. It was still sunny out but the sky was beginning to turn a pinkish-orange color and it was getting chillier out by the minute. She figured she had a good hour or so before it got dark. Plenty of time to eat and be back at the lab safe and sound. Then she heard what sounded like footsteps behind her. She stopped walking and turned to see who it was.
"Evening sugar." Alex grinned at Crystal.
She glared at him, "What are you doing here?"
"Just thought I'd get out and take a short walk around the park. Sure is a nice day out huh?"
"Yeah..." she said uneasily. Just the sight of her ex-boyfriend made her uneasy. She hadn't expected to run into him and he had taken her off guard.
"I see you brought some food with you. Why not sit down by me on this bench and talk with me for a while. Like old times." He grinned again as he sat down.
"Nah. Actually, I'd rather just eat alone this time and get back to the lab before they miss me." She said as she turned to leave.
"There you go again. Leaving without a simple goodbye." He sneered. He got up and stood over her threateningly. "Why did you leave me at the ranch, huh? We had something special, but then next thing I know you disappeared without a word. Had Chad and my parents worried to death. And me. After all we did for you after the accident with your mom, and you just ran off." He growled. Crystal began backing away slowly.
"Look I'm sorry I had you guys worried over me ok? I really am, but I have to go now. I'll see you later." She said quickly as she tried to leave, but Alex grabbed her arm and held her there. "You're hurting me! Let go!"
"We need to talk." he growled in her face.
"Is there a problem here?"
Chad and Crystal turned to see Ash standing on the path with his arms folded staring angrily at Alex. He let go of Crystal's arm and smiled. "Nothing wrong. Just a small disagreement. Right sugar?" Crystal only nodded, her head hung low.
"Well the disagreement is over. C'mon Crystal. Let's go." Ash said sternly as he motioned Crystal to follow him. She slowly walked over to Ash as she felt Alex's eyes burrowing into her back. Ash kept his eyes on Alex. "It's over. Go home Alex." He said as they walked out of the park. Alex mumbled something under his breath as soon as they were out of site. "This is far from over."









5-2 The Dance


As soon as Ash and Crystal had reached the lab Ash tried to get an explanation out of her, but with no such luck. She kept dodging every question and the more he asked the more uncomfortable she got. He decided now was not the time and dropped it. Ash told Misty he'd meet her at home and that he was going to walk Crystal home. When they got to her house Crystal smiled for the first time since the incident in the park and kissed him on the cheek with a thankyou. He could tell Alex had really shaken her up about something.
At home he made sure Misty was alright by peeking into her room. She was sound asleep on the bed. He smiled as he stared at her peaceful form. God she was beautiful. He sighed and walked into his room to get ready for bed.
The next day was the carnival and dance. Everyone was excited to see the attractions and games. Chad, Crystal, Ash, and Misty all met up and went to the carnival together. They went on rides, ate cotton candy and cheese curds, and played some of the games. Ash and Chad even managed to win prizes for their dates. Chad won a stuffed dratini for Misty and Ash won a silver pokeball for Crystal and even had her name inscribed on it. Then came the time for the dance. It was a casual one, so luckily the guys didn't need to change into suits, but the girls were required to wear some kind of dress. Both Crystal and Misty left to change and said they'd be back soon, leaving Ash and Chad alone together. The whole thing with Alex and Crystal was really beginning to bother Ash so he decided to try and talk some information out of Chad.
"So you and Crystal used to be friends right?"
The question shocked Chad. "Yeah that's right."
"Were you two close?"
"Yeah I guess you could say we were. I mean we used to be best friends."
"So what happened?" Ash asked.
"You mean between us?"
Ash nodded.
"Well, I don't know actually. We began becoming distant. We wouldn't talk as much as we used to and she always seemed to be edgy about something. Always blowing up at me for no reason. I just got fed up with it and, well, I told her our friendship was off. Next thing I knew she had left. Without a goodbye or nothing she was just gone."
What about her mother. Did she leave her too?"
"Oh no. Her mother died when she was13. In an accidental fire. She got stuck in a barn that caught on fire and was killed. Poor Crystal was heartbroken. So my parents decided to take her in and take care of her as if she was their own."
Ash just sat there stunned. "Wow. I never knew. Poor Crystal."
Chad nodded sadly.
"So why'd she leave then?"
Chad shrugged, "I have no idea. I figured she couldn't take the loss anymore and then with me breaking off our friendship, she just ran away." He frowned, "I was so worried. I felt like I was responsible."
Ash stared into space as if deep in thought. Just then he looked up to see the two girls back and strolling toward them. Crystal was wearing a simple sundress with spaghetti straps and flowery imprints. It looked good on her, but what really caught his eye was Misty. She took his breath away at first glance. Her hair was down and flowed around her shoulders. She had a light blue short dress on with little frills at the bottom. It fit her curves nicely and swayed when she walked. It was a simple dress but on her, it looked amazing.
The two boys greeted their dates and took them out on the dance floor. It was a simple little lighted lot outside surrounded by speakers playing the music. Chad and Ash had on their usual clothes except Ash had taken off his jacket and only wore his jeans and black T-shirt. After a few songs they sat down again and chatted for a while. Then the DJ came on and announced that all the couples were to mix and everyone was to have a new partner. Chad and Crystal decided to dance and Ash and Misty. The next song was an upbeat dance song and Misty had fun watching Ash try to attempt to dance to the music. She decided to show him some dance moves and soon he was an expert at it. Next came on a slow song which Ash new was one of Misty's favorites. As the song "Where You Are" began to play, the couples got in close to each other. Even Crystal and Chad began to dance close to each other, and even seemed to enjoy it a little. (AN: You may want to listen to this song now if you are able to. It will add to the story.)

"There are times
I swear I know you're here
I forget about my fears
Feelin you my dear"

Ash smiled uncomfortably as he placed his hands on Misty's waist and she put her arms around his neck. They danced for a little while, Ash looking down at his feet every once in a while to make sure he was doing the steps right and Misty giggling at him. He grinned at her.

"Watchin over me
My hope sees
What the future will bring
When you wrap your wings
And take me where you are
Where you and I will be together
Once again, we'll be dancin in the moonlight
Just like we used to do
And you'll be smilin back at me
Only then will I be free
When I can be, where you are"

Ash twirled Misty about and both laughed a little.

"And I can see your face
Your kiss I still can taste
Not a memory erased"

Both Ash and Misty stopped laughing when they heard that part of the song, memories from the day before flooding back. They danced there slowly, lost in each other's eyes. Misty pulled him in closer and rested her head on his shoulder. Ash smiled and breathed in the smell of her hair. He looked up at the stars above.

"Oh, how I see your star
Shinin down on me
And I'd do anything
If I could just, be right there where you are

Where you and I will breathe together
Once again we'll be dancin in the moonlight
Just like we used to do
And you'll be smilin back at me (you'll be smilin back at me)

Only then will I be free
Then I will be free, so take me where you are"

Ash closed his eyes and listened to the music, savoring the moment.

"Now baby there are times when selfishly
I wishin that you were here with me
So I can wipe the tears from your eyes and make you see

That every night when you are dreamin
I'm here to guard you from afar"

Misty also closed her eyes and listened to the song.

"And anytime I feel in love
I'll close my eyes and dream of where you are

where you are

Where you and I will breathe together
Once again we'll be dancin in the moonlight
Just like we used to do
And you'll be smilin back at me (you'll be smilin back at me)

Only then will I be free
Then I will be free"

As the song ended Misty lifted her head and looked up at Ash. She had been thinking about the day before and decided she needed to know what he really felt. No more pretending to be just friends. No more hiding the truth. It was now or never.
"Ash?"
"Yeah?" he said barely above a whisper.
"Can I ask you something?" she said hesitantly.
"Sure. Shoot." He smiled warmly.
"I...I need to know something..." she began. Ash gave her a puzzled look as she continued. "I need to know why you kissed me yesterday. And why you….ran away?" she asked.
Ash was not expecting that. He had no idea how he would answer her. He didn't even know the answer. Or did he...
As he was thinking about the question, Misty took his silence as a sign that he didn't feel the way she had wanted him to and didn't want to answer her. Embarrassed, she turned and fled. Shocked, Ash ran after her calling her name. She began to cry as tears flowed down her cheeks. She only ran faster the more Ash called out to her. He accidentally ran into a garbage can and fell over. As soon as he got up again, she was gone.







5-3 Unknown Secrets


Ash ran back to the dance floor to find Chad and Crystal. They had heard the commotion and asked what had happened. Ash explained that they were talking when Misty had got upset and ran off.
"What did you say to her?" Chad asked.
"It's not what I did say, it's what I didn't say..." Ash said sadly. "I have to find her and straighten things out."
"Ok, we'll go back to your house and wait there in case she shows up." Crystal suggested.
Ash smiled and nodded, "Thanks guys." Then he took off in the direction he had followed her.

Misty sobbed harder and harder. 'How could I be so stupid. Why did I ask him that? Of course he was going to freak out about it. Now there's no way we can remain friends.' She stopped running and leaned against a tree. She stood there crying into her hands. When she looked up, she saw a shadow of a man standing a few feet away. "Ash?" she sniffed.

Ash looked all over for her with no luck. He ran back to the house to check if she had gone there yet. When he got there, he walked in on Chad and Crystal hugging with Crystal sobbing into his shoulder as he comforted her. "What's going on? What happened?" Ash asked worried. 'Had they found Misty? Was she ok?'
They both turned toward Ash then they looked at each other. "There's something I need to tell you..." Crystal said in between sobs. "And your not going to like it."

______________________________________________________________________________________


Wohoo! Another one! Ain't I great at cliffhangers? As always write to me if you have any comments or questions at misty411pp@aol.com. And also review too if you could please! The next and last chapter should be up soon in a few weeks. Sorry the last one took so long but I didn't know when ff.net was going to be working again. C ya!