Chapter 4 Gary walked over to where Ash was sitting and decided to engage him in an interesting conversation. "So Ash, I was wondering, how long have you and Misty been traveling together?" Gary asked. "Well actually I met Misty on the first day of my pokemon journey and the very next day we started traveling together because I had, or should I say Pikachu had destroyed her bike, so she has been following me ever since until I repay her," Ash explained. "Why do you ask?" Ash inquired curiously. "Oh I was just wondering, so you would say that you and Misty are pretty close huh?" Gary continued. Ash pondered the question for a few seconds until he answered "Yeah I guess so, I mean we're friends, best friends actually, at least that’s how I see us." "Ash do you love Pikachu?" Gary asked Ash who was now beginning to get frustrated. "Of course I love Pikachu, are you trying to insult me by saying I don't care for my pokemon?" "No, not at all, but you love Pikachu because he's your best friend right? And you love your best friends, am I correct in assuming this?" Gary continued to inquire as he enjoyed the confused look on Ash's face from all the questions. "Yeah, so?" Ash tried to figure out where this was going. "Well if you love Pikachu because he's your best friend, then you must love Misty because she's your best friend too." As soon as Gary got the words out of his mouth Ash turned bright red and was ready to deny, deny, deny. "No, I mean yes, but, but not in the same way!" Ash said not knowing how to get out of this situation his rival had gotten him in. "Oh I see, so then you love Pikachu as a best friend and you just love Misty" Gary had a big grin on his face proud of his accomplishment. ".......I, but......" Ash was at a loss for words ' I can't say I don't love her because I said I love my best friends and I already claimed that I see Misty as a best friend. I also can't say I love her just as a best friend because I said I don't love her like I love Pikachu who is a best friend. Okay I just confused myself, so what do I say? Ooooh that Gary' Ash thought as he desperately tried to come up with an excuse to cover this whole mess up. Meanwhile Pikachu was watching this whole display while thinking' how is Pikapi going to get out of this.' "Look, I love Misty but not in the way that you think. She is my best friend and I will never let anybody hurt her because I care about her. And I care about her because, well, because I just do." Ash felt proud of himself, and hoped this will end the conversation. "So you don't love her in a romantic way, and you wouldn't care if she started dating, or kissing someone else?"Gary asked. " No" " Great, because I was just about to go and ask Daisy if you and me can switch parts so you can play Misty's brother and I can play the guy who's in love with her. Then me and Misty can practice the kiss scenes that you don't want to do and everyone would be happy." 'this is it' Gary thought. "WHAT? No way in hell are you ever gonna kiss Misty, do you hear me? You can't have her, I won't let you, she's mine!" Ash yelled as everyone in the area turned to look at him including the pokemon. "Looks like your finally over my sister May, and its about time too." Gary held a knowing smile. Ash just stood there, shocked at what he just said. 'I can't believe it, where did that come from? What's wrong with me?' Ash questioned himself. Gary said to Ash as if reading his mind "Your in love Ash, just admit it, you love Misty." "But I.....she doesn't feel that way about me so why should I admit it, I mean she probably hates me." Ash said finally realizing the truth. "Ash she doesn't hate you, she probably feels the same way. If you had paid attention you would have seen how hurt she was when she found out that you didn't want to kiss her." "Really?" Ash asked Gary nodded his head in response. " Just tell her Ash." "All right, but if she doesn't feel the same way and I end up in the hospital by way of mallet you better watch out because you will be lying in the bed next to me, I'll make sure of that," Ash said in a humorous tone as he joked with Gary. " Just go Ketchum, I saw her run off in that direction," Gary said as he pointed Ash in the direction . "Okay, okay, oh, and how is May doing by the way I really miss her," Ash said dreamily. "Ketchum" Gary said dangerously as Ash chuckled to himself. 'Gary's one weak spot has always been and always will be his sister May' Ash thought to himself. When Ash and Gary were little May used to baby-sit them. Ash had a crush on her up until they both left on their pokemon journeys, for some reason this drove Gary totally crazy. Ash continued to walk to the room that had the large pool in it where the Cerulean sisters used to do their water shows. He figured Misty would be there watching the water pokemon swim around like she usually did when they are at the Cerulean gym. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "He must really hate me. I mean I know I'm not as beautiful as my sisters but is the idea of kissing me that disgusting?" Misty asked herself. This was at least the 50th question that Misty had asked herself in the last half hour that had to do with reasons why Ash would not want to kiss her. Misty sat there watching Dewgong do various flips in the water in a attempt to cheer her up. No matter what pitiful excuse Misty came up with none of them made her feel any better about Ash's rejection of her.In fact, they were beginning to make her feel worse as she was now insulting herself and lowering her self-esteem with each new question she asked. So Misty decided to do the thing she does best. 'This should make me feel better' Misty thought. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ash entered the pool area and saw Misty sitting watching the Goldeen, Seaking, and Dewgong swim around. " I knew she'd be here' Ash thought. Just as Ash had gotten close enough to her, and was about to say something, Misty began to speak. Misty not noticing Ash said " Jeez, Ash is so dense, hell he's not dense, he is just plain stupid. I'm surprised his pokemon haven't all run away from him, I know I would if I had him as a trainer. He'll never beat Gary because Ash is and always will be a loser. I can't wait until he pays me back for my bike so that I can finally get away from that idiotic, egotistical, hardheaded, stupid jerk. I wish I never met him, in fact I wish he never existed, the world would be a better place without him dumbing things up. I HATE ASH KETCHUM and I would give anything just to have him out of my life FOREVER..” Ash stood there as his heart was ripped in two, Ash knew she didn't like him very much but from what he just heard he knew now that she really did hate him She seemed to say these words with such ease and without remorse. Ash felt hurt, more hurt then he has ever felt in his life. In fact, the more he thought about what she said the more the hurt turned to anger and hatred. Not hatred for Misty because he could never hate Misty no matter how hard he tried, but hatred for himself for being so stupid.' I can't believe I actually thought she might love me, I should have known all along that she hated me, that those things she always says to me aren't just friendly insults to tease me. She actually means those things she has been saying for 5 years. Everything she said is right, I'm a loser, a loser for loving someone who can't stand me, someone who wishes they never met me and can't wait to get away from me. Well, she will get her wish' Ash thought as he ran to his room unnoticed by Misty. Little did Ash know that at that same exact time he and Misty both had tears in their eyes, Ash for having his heart broken and Misty for a failed attempt at fooling herself. "Oh who am I kidding, I love Ash so much, why can't he see that?" Misty asked Dewgong as she continued to cry. All Dewgong could do was watch the lovesick teenager as she now started to sob loudly.