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 Sorry I've been gone sooo long! I've missed this place! I just have so much work! And it's not exams either, it's extra-curricular things like painting contests, a rock concert for charity, a short-story writing contest for the local paper, a car-engine design contest, etc...Anyway, I'm happy to be writing and posting again and you can expect more frequent updates from now on! Thanks for all the comments you guys!! And enjoy...! ********************************** Ch 8 Professor Oak’s Lab: ‘You actually think I would cheat on you?’ I asked Ash, nudging him with my shoulder. We were sitting under a tree in the land owned by Professor Oak. After catching me and Gary hugging, Ash had become very upset and I had had to drag him out of the house to calm him down. He still had this forlorn expression on his face and I was running out of words to use to reassure him. ‘It’s not that, it’s just…’ ‘What? Don’t you trust me?’ ‘NO! I trust you completely. It’s that sleaze-ball Gary I don’t trust!!’ ‘Ash, don’t call him that. He’s your friend and you know it!’ He sighed heavily. ‘You want to know what the worst part is? You’re absolutely right. Gary is my friend…creep he may be. But, you still didn’t explain to me why you two were hugging!’ He whipped around and looked right into my eyes…I was cornered…! ‘Ash, I’m sorry, I can’t tell you why we were hugging…at least, not right now. But, I love you and I would never lie to you. Gary means nothing in comparison to what you mean to me!’ I answered, proud of my honest and mature answer… (hem-hem) ‘Wait. You…you love me?’ I couldn’t help but grin at the perplexed look on the guys’ face. ‘What do you think silly?’ I pushed his shoulder and watched happily as his expression went from perplexed to overjoyed. He stretched his arms towards me and, instead of pushing me back, he wrapped me in a protective embrace. Then he said the words I’d only ever heard him say in silly, embarrassing daydreams: ‘I love you too, Misty,’ he kissed my forehead. And we sat there, just like that, watching the sun set on another blissful day in Pallet Town. ****************************************************** A/N: I interrupt this story to bring you an emergency news broadcast: What did I tell you? No big deal, just stuff and fluff! But, if Ash (from the show) doesn’t wise-up soon, I will soooo become an Egoshipper!!! Another secret: I think Gary (without the anal attitude) is kind of…well…hot! DON’T HATE ME!! Now back to your regularly scheduled program… ************************* Home Sweet Home: ‘Does anyone have any clue where Ash and Misty are?’ questioned Tracey as he lazily flipped the channels on the TV set. ‘No one knows where they are…thanks to Gray!’ spat Duplica angrily from her place on the floor. It was dark out and almost dinner-time (judging by the delicious smells wafting from the kitchen). Since everyone was more-or- less prepared for the party the next day, the evening had been reserved for specific boredom. ‘I still can’t believe you let Ash catch you hugging his recently-acquired girlfriend!’ mumbled Brock, his voice muffled by the beanbag where he had decided to bury his face. ‘It didn’t mean anything!!! So lay off, okay?!’ cried Gary defensively. He had, understandably enough, been in a crabby mood ever since Ash had stormed off and Misty had left to console him. Everyone rubbing it in his face wasn’t helping any either. The truth was, regardless of how much Gary teased, prodded and poked- fun at Ash, he still thought of him as a friend and he didn’t like the thought of actually hurting his feelings…He groaned and rolled off the sofa and landed on the floor with a loud *thud*. No one looked away from the unfunny, unfamiliar sitcom flashing noiselessly on the TV screen. Even the usually over-protective Mrs. Ketchum didn’t bother to poke her head out of the kitchen to ask what had happened. Ditto made a very rude gesture. Gary stood and rubbed the rather large bump on the back of his head and gazed sorrowfully at the back of everyone’s heads. Just when he thought things would never get better, the doorbell rang… Nowadays, something exciting always seemed to happen every time the door was opened nowadays, and although Gray felt that he couldn’t take much more excitement today, he had no choice but to open it anyway… ************************************************* Outside: The sun had set quite a while ago and the quiet darkness had settled upon the town like a childhood blanket, comforting and calm. Familiar smells wafted from every house. The smell of dinner, the smell of family, the smell of…home. Even as these thoughts floated gently in and out of my head, I couldn’t believe I was actually thinking them. Home?! I was miles from Cerulean city but I felt, if possible, even more at home here than in the swimming pool at the gym! We weren’t exactly rushing to Ash’s house. We walked slowly, holding hands, just enjoying the moment, noticing things we hadn’t noticed before, not saying a word… When we did finally reach the door, Ash turned to me and asked, ‘So…you think I should forgive him?’ ‘Most definitely…Poor Gary is probably really upset…’ ‘Yea…wait! “Poor Gary”? You’re really worried about him! Ha-ha “Poor Gary”…he’s fine Misty, I’m sure of it!!’ He reached out and rang the doorbell, then swooped down quickly and pecked my cheek, just as the door opened, revealing the crushed and abandoned face of Gary Oak. ‘Oh! Hi!! You guys are back! That’s great, that’s great! Hey, everybody!! Look who’s home…together!!!’ he cried, his face literally blossoming into a huge smile. We stepped directly into the path of a stampede of our friend, and were bombarded with a frenzy of questions: ‘Where were you guys?’ ‘Do you know how worried we were?’ ‘Do you have any idea what time it is?!’ ‘What have you two been up to…?’ Ash and I exchanged sheepish grins. ‘We kind of went for a walk in the woods and…got lost…’ I explained. ‘Actually,’ Ash intervened, ‘Misty got lost; I was just looking for her…Sorry we made you guys worry.’ ‘That’s okay honey,’ cooed Mrs. Ketchum. ‘Why don’t you all come and eat dinner. Gary, would you help me set the table dear?’ Gary sighed…he knew he’d been forgiven, I guess. Since our friends seemed to buy our story, Ash and I sighed with relief as we shuffled to the dining table. ************************ The Next Morning. Early. Very Early…: ‘Where are the streamers?’ cried Duplica through a large yawn. ‘Beside the box with the confetti. When is the cake getting here Tracey?’ asked Brock. ‘The bakery said the cake would be delivered at 9.30. If things go as planned, Ash will be out of the house before it gets here.’ The shed behind the Ketchum residence was a site of pure pandemonium. Duplica kept looking for things, finding them and misplacing them again. Gary was quickly helping Duplica locate and relocate important party material. Brock seemed to be breaking into cold-sweats. Tracey looked like he was trying to do a million things at once. Meanwhile, Richie was standing quietly in a corner…trying to stay out of the way. The situation was not helped by the fact that all of them were in their pajamas and had bed-head… ‘Now, how are we getting him out of the house again?’ questioned Richie innocently. The others all stopped in their tracks and stared at one another. ‘We didn’t think of that…’ whispered Duplica, suddenly wide-awake. ‘Dammit! What do we do now?’ Brock cried. ‘We use our secret weapon, of course…’ Tracey said smoothly. ‘What “secret weapon”’ Duplica asked, whipping round to face him. ‘Well…she’s slim, has red hair…and goes by the name of Misty…’ he smiled. *********************************************