Broken Dreams and New Beginnings: Closure

By: Shagti2

 

Ages: Ash – 22, Brock – 27, Gary – 23, Duplica - 22

 

Ash Ketchum peered out of the tinted window of Brock’s station wagon the dark countryside. It seemed as if the shrubbery was going in the opposite direction rapidly.

            Not for the first time since they left, Ash felt his belly rumble. He turned over to the driver of the vehicle.

            “Hey, Brock? When do you think we could get some food?” Ash asked almost whining.

            Brock gave a small chuckle. The old saying came to mind: The more things change, the more they stay the same.

“Well, we could stop at this diner here. We could get something to eat,” he said pointing at the bright neon lights up ahead. Ash nodded his head.

            Brock sped towards it, and pulled off the highway. He parked in the almost vacant lot and turned off the engine. Taking his keys, he got out of the station wagon with his friend and they headed towards the glass doors of the diner.

            As Ash passed by a shiny silver BMW, he paled and stopped. Brock was almost through the doors then He noticed his friend wasn’t in front of him. He looked behind and saw the ashen Ash trembling at the car. Brock hurried over to his friend’s side.

            “Hey, Ash? What’s wrong?” Brock asked him. Ash looked at Brock, and then looked at the car.

            “He’s here,” he said, gulping loudly.

            “Who?”

            “Gary.”

            Brock grabbed his friend’s arm, rage building up in him. “Then let’s get the bastard!” he almost shouted. Ash tore his arm from his grasp and stopped him.

            “No, Brock. Let’s not start any trouble. We could eat elsewhere. Let’s just go back into the car,” Ash said almost pleadingly.

            Brock cocked his eyebrow at his friend, surprised at his uncharacteristic hesitation and fearfulness.

            “Ash, listen to yourself! You sound like if you’re scared of this guy! He stole your girl! Aren’t you pissed at him?” Brock asked him incredulously. Ash looked away.

            “I’m more pissed at myself for having thrown Duplica into his arms,” he muttered and headed towards the car.

            Brock shook his head and followed suit. As Ash was about to climb back in the car, the doors of the diner swung open.

            Into the brightly lit parking lot, strode Gary and Duplica. Gary hadn’t changed that much since childhood. He was a full inch taller than Ash, and his brown hair was still spiky. His face still bore the arrogant smirk. He was dressed in a long black shirt, and gray pants that tucked into calf length black military boots.

            Duplica had changed a bit though. She was now a very shapely and beautiful woman, and she enjoyed showing it. She wore a tight knee - length red skirt. Her blue hair was now almost half the length of her back.

            As they walked out of the diner, they noticed Ash and Brock. Ash’s face mirrored the hurt and sorrow in his heart. Brock was seething in rage, but managed to keep a hard exterior on. Duplica looked at Ash in shock, while Gary’s smirk widened.

            “Well, lo and behold! If it isn’t good old LOSER!!” Gary shouted out. Duplica reddened and whispered something in Gary’s ear. Gary looked at her scowling.

            “Oh c’mon! You don’t want trouble? Well I won’t give Loser boy any, don’t worry,” he replied.

            Ash came from the station wagon’s door, and stepped forward.

            “Hello, Duplica. Gary,” he said in response, his voice completely neutral.

            Brock stood behind him.

            “Well loser, fancy meeting you here. What you come here for? Humble pie?” Gary asked, folding his arms.

            Brock started to take a step forward, until Ash placed a hand on his chest. Ash let out a little chuckle, acting like I had been a good natured joke.

            “Well actually no. We were just leaving. See you around,” he replied. With that he turned around and headed towards the car. Brock turned around and did the same thing.

            Gary was getting angry. He didn’t expect Ash to take it so well. As they opened the doors to the car, Gary said one more thing. He knew it would get the response he was hoping for.

            “Well, to bad about Duplica, huh? At least she finally picked the better man!” Gary shouted out at him. Duplica reddened some more, and tugged at Gary’s sleeve.

            “No, Gary. Stop already,” Duplica begged.

            Ash stopped cold at that. He strode towards Gary his face completely blank. He stopped when he was about a few inches away from him, their toes almost touching.

            “You know, maybe you’re right, “ he said simply. Then without a moment’s hesitation, he turned his face, grabbed Duplica and gave her a hard, passionate kiss on her lips.

            Duplica’s eyes widened in surprise, but then they shut as she got into the kiss. After a few seconds, Ash broke it.

            Ash turned to Gary triumphantly. “ Now ask her who the better man is.”

            Gary felt rage well up in him, as he realized what just happened. He grabbed the front of Ash’s jacket and pulled him so close, their noses almost pressed together.

            “Oh, no you don’t, Loser! I’m not like your punk ass! Don’t even think about doing something like that again!” Gary yelled in his face. He roughly let go of him.

            Ash straightened his jacket with a smile on his face. “Oh, you mean like this?”

            Then quick as a flash, he grabbed Duplica and began to kiss her even more. He started kissing down her neck, and she moaned in pleasure.

            Gary grabbed his shoulder and tore him off of her. As Ash spun around, he threw a wild punch to his face. Ash blocked it and held on to Gary’s arm.   

            “Now you’re beginning to understand how I felt,” Ash said, looking him right in the eyes. Then he pushed Gary away and turned to Duplica.

            Ash looked at her, and she looked at him. Ash’s face once again mirrored his hurt.

            “I love you. With all my heart and soul,” he began.

            Duplica’s eyes welled with tears. “I’m so sorry! It was a mistake with Gary!”

            Gary looked up at them, the smirk gone, anger written all over him. They both ignored him.

            Ash hugged her tightly, and she returned his embrace. He looked down at her, at gently wiped away he tears on her face.

            “Oh, Ash…” she said dreamily.

            “And that’s why we’re through,” he finished. He let go of her, and placed her next to Gary.

            “You two enjoy each other. You’re perfect for one another,” he said as he headed to the car, where Brock was watching from.

            Duplica broke down crying, looking for solace in Gary’s arms. He ignored her and walked over to his car.

            Ash turned around and shouted, “YOU KNOW WHY? ‘CAUSE YOU’RE A TWO DOLLAR WHORE AND HE’S A DESPERATE BASTARD!”

            Brock laughed loudly at that, as Ash hopped in. Brock turned to his friend, and was surprised to discover he had tears running down his cheeks.

            “Are you ok?” he asked. Ash looked up at him, and then looked down. He touched his lips, then wiped them with the back of his hand.

            “I’m getting there,” he replied. Brock nodded in understanding and they pulled out of the lot.

 

That’s the end for now. Comments and suggestions to Shagti2@aol.com and flames to Shoveitupyour@ss.com! G’night Gracie!