MUCH ADO ABOUT A CRUSH I don't own pokemon and all that jazz A/N: This is my very first fanfic EVER! Please be kind in your feedback...and I hope you enjoy it! That's what keeps me writing! ********************************** Ash:15-16 Misty:16 Duplica:16 Gary:17 Richie:15 Brock:18 or 19 Tracey:same as Brock...I guess ********************************** Ch 1 Let me tell you, there's nothing like riding your new bike down a deserted path, feeling the early morning breeze blowing through your hair, the first gentle rays of the sun smiling down on you. Nothing but the sound of pidgeys in the and spearows in the trees, the bicycle tires against gravel, the empty road ahead and your thoughts to keep you company. And the best part was, I knew that at the end of the long road were my old friends…Well, actually, I was only really looking forward to seeing ONE of my friends but, the others were there too and they had to be accounted for. Knowing I’d be seeing them in person after all these years was the only thing that made me wake up, dress and leave so early. I mean, I was losing SLEEP to see these people! They’d better be happy to see me… “Ash”…Every time I said his name to myself lately, I would see his earnest brown eyes and his goofy smile in my head, and I would feel my heart flutter. I mean, every time he called me and said, in his usual way, ‘Hey, Mist!’, my heart would skip a beat but…I never thought I’d use the word “flutter” to describe what my heart does! Only Ash could do that to me… And it was happening. Something I didn’t think was possible. I had fallen for Ash Ketchum. And fallen hard. I mean flat-on-my-face fallen for him! And I didn’t regret it one bit…I guess absence does make the heart grow fonder! I was interrupted from my thoughts by an old sign. It was weather-worn and falling apart, but its presence meant that I had reached my destination: WELCOME TO PALLET TOWN POPULATION: 159 the sign proudly declared in chipped purple paint. A smile crept across my face as I spotted a familiar windmill-bearing building on top of a small hill. “I wonder how Professor Oak, Gary and Tracey are doing…” I thought to myself. I didn’t stop pedaling until I reached a white, two-storey house with a wild-flower garden and a white picket fence around it. I skidded to a halt in front of the gate and propped my bike up on its stand. I was just about to open the gate when my cell-phone started ringing. I pulled it out of my pocket, grumbling at the interruption. *Daisy* blinked on the screen. I groaned…“What does SHE want?” That’s exactly what I asked her. ‘What do YOU want?’ ‘Hey, like, chill out little sister.’ ‘Is there a reason you called?!’ ‘Yeah, um…’ she started, sounding distracted. ‘Brock called here, like, half- an-hour ago. He had, like, a message for you or something.’ ‘O-okay. What was the message?’ I asked, stomping my foot. (I was beginning to lose my patience) ‘Um, he said to tell you that Ash’s birthday is, like, day-after tomorrow, or something and…’ ‘WHAT!? OH MY GOSH!! I COMPLETELY FORGOT!!!’ I screamed, causing a large flock of pidgeotto to fly away, frightened, from a nearby tree. ‘WHY on EARTH didn’t you call me right after he told you?!?’ ‘Like, calm down little sister. You’re gonna, like, make me deaf in one ear…and that’s like, so-ooo uncool.’ ‘Uncool? UNCOOL?! What I will do to you when I get back from Cerulean will redefine the word “UNCOOL”!!!’ There seemed to be some sort of whispering argument on the other line. Then, there was a different voice. ‘Sorry about that Misty. You know how absent-minded Daisy gets when she’s doing her toenails.’ ‘Unfortunately, I do,’ I said, feeling my anger melt away (like so much ice). I was finally talking to someone with at least half a brain in her head. ‘But, Lily, if she had reminded me about Ash’s birthday when Brock had called her, I could have picked up a gift for him at Celadon or Saffron!’ I wailed. ‘You mean you REALLY forgot his birthday?!’ she cried in disbelief. ‘Yes,’ I sighed. I suddenly felt like someone was watching me and I turned around. But, no-one was there… ‘Pleas Lily,’ I continued. ‘Don’t rub it in. I feel absolutely terrible. Especially now, after he had this beautiful new bicycle delivered right to our doorstep on my birthday…with my name engraved on it and everything,’ I mumbled, half to myself as I admired my shiny blue bike for the millionth time. ‘Hey, didn’t you buy him a book or something? The one you saw at the book bookstore last month and though was perfect for him? What was it called…?’ ‘Oh! I remember that! “Yonder: Legendary pokemon and the legends behind them”!’ ‘Perfect! Why don’t I mail it to you? You have two days, anyway. It’ll get there in time, I’m sure of it! ‘Yeah, that’s a great idea, Lily,’ I cried, immediately cheering up. ‘I’m grateful that I have at least ONE sister with good advice!’ ‘My pleasure Misty. I’ll talk to you later. Bye!’ ‘Tell Tracey I said “Hi”!’ Violet screamed desperately in the background, just before I cut the line. Well, that was decided. Now, I could visit Ash without the worry of a missing birthday present weighing down my mind. I felt as light as a feather as I walked up the path towards the front door. My finger was about an inch away from the doorbell when, without warning, a strong arm wrapped around my shoulder and another hand covered my mouth! My instincts kicked in and I began to flail madly, trying to hit my assailant. But he somehow managed to dodge my attacks. I tried to scream, hoping that Ash or Mrs. Ketchum (but preferably Ash), would hear me and come to my rescue. But, the abductors grip was too tight! He started dragging me backwards. I tried to see his face. Who was he? I couldn’t even turn around! I could see the silhouette of two other people carrying my bike away. What was happening? Then, I suddenly realized that my “assailant” was dragging me right into the Ketchum’s backyard! “What kind of idiot is this guy?” I asked myself as I stopped struggling and let him drag me up to the tool shed behind the house. The shed door opened noiselessly and I was dragged in. It was pitch dark inside, and I started panicking again. What was this guy going to do to me?! --------------------------------------------------------------------- A/N: Please send your reviews! Thanks for reading! And, by the way, the “assailant is NOT Ash!