Thanks For Being There
Part 7

     When they got there Ash spotted Misty across the room, much like a Romeo to a Juliet scene. Misty stared at Ash and when Ash looked over and their eyes met, he smiled happy to see her; his familuar friend. She blushed as he looked over, giving a startled look and quickly turned her head to Gary who was blabbing on and on about something; probably himself.
     "Uh... Giselle... Why don't you go over and meet some people, I'm just going to go over there and talk to Brock," said Ash.
     "Okay," Giselle said. Misty watched as Giselle gave Ash a kiss and left. She didn't even know Ash, but the way he looked at her it seemed like he did know her. And all though she didn't know this familuar yet unfamiluar boy she couldn't stop thinking she should be the one kissing him. She ignored the strange feeling and turned her head back to Gary.
     "Hey, Brock," smiled Ash walking over.
     "Hey, crazy guy who knows so much about me!" He smiled. "What was your name again?"
     "Ash," He answered. Brock nodded.
     "I'd introduce my pokemon but I'm sure you know about them too," He grinned. Ash glanced over at the spot Misty was standing at only to find she was gone. He then saw Gary taking Misty by the wrist and leading her into a dark room. Ash glared like a bull to the color red and told Brock he'd be right back.
     Ash went to the door and peaked his head in where Misty and Gary seemed to be having a fight, Ah, trouble in paradise, Ash grinned, happy to see this turn of events. But something happened that didn't make Ash so happy. Gary took Misty by the wrist and threw her against the wall, Misty helplessly flung hard against it and then to the floor she fell. Ash watched in horror and angry as Gary yelled, "You should have listened to me, laugh at my jokes, do as I say, if I say wear something more revealing, do it! If I say look beautiful, dazzling, even more than your sisters, do it! Do you want me to love you or not?"
     This seemed crazy, the Misty Ash knew would never go for this. She always seemed strong and independent, able to hold her own in an arguement. But maybe it wasn't her that made her stronger, but Ash too. The way Misty seemed to make Ash stronger through their arguments. Ash wondered if he'd be as weak without Misty as Misty is now without him. Gary stormed out the room, Ash hid behind the door as it opened and when he was absoulutly sure Gary was gone, Ash walked into the dark room. Misty laid miserably against the wall, in tears, she was on her knees and her head buried in her two hands; crying. Ash closed the door and locked it.
     "Why do you let him treat you like that, Mist?" Asked Ash softly as he walked over to her. Misty stared up at him in slight confusion.
     "Mist?"
     "It's a name I use to call you, we were once friends."
     "No, we weren't, I'd remember you," Misty said gazing still at him. "You don't have a face I'd want to forget."
     "But we were friends, I remember, you're favorite pokemon are water type, right?" She nodded her answer as he kneeled down across from her. "You, me and Brock were friends once and we went on all these great adventures and you left this horrible place, Cerulean City, Gary, you left it all behind to make your dreams come true, we all did."
     "Then what happened? And why don't I remember?"
     "Because of was all my wins, it went to my head and I became a jerk, I took you and Brock for granted; my two best friends in the whole world, and pushed you both aside. Thinking that all I needed was pokemon--my Pikachu to get by. But now I see I was wrong. I do need Pokemon but I also need you and Brock too, without you guys--my friends, my life would be miserable, come on Mist, you got to remember me, please... Try to remember me," Ash begged. Misty squinted trying her hardest.
     "I'm sorry, I don't know you," She said staring at him as a complete stranger, it cut Ash so deep to see Misty stare at him that way. Misty placed a hand on his cheek as he stared down at the floor very sad at what was going on. This was very scary, his own best friends he's known for so long not regonizing him.
     "But I do know that you're a good person," She smiled, trying to make him feel better. "And I don't need a memory of you to tell me that."
     "Misty, I-"
     "If what you say is true, that me, you and Brock, is it?--were friends? Well, I'd like to spend some time finding out," She smiled and he returned it, but her smile faded into a frown and her face turned away from his."But... I can't, I have to stay here with Gary. If I love him enough maybe he can love me and-"
     "No!" Ash screamed to her out of care, out of love, his hands grabbed her arms instantly to helped her stand up. "Listen to me, there was a time when you were loved and cared about by me and Brock--your friends. We became a family because all we had was each other and as time past on, you didn't need Gary, you never did. You're a very strong person, I should know, you would beat up on me anytime I got out of line," smiled Ash, the last part made Misty laugh a little.
     "Why would I ever want to beat up on someone as cute as you?" She teased.
     "Huh!" Ash said a little surprised at her change in tone. Before he could say anymore, the door knob started moving.
     "Misty! Misty! Are you still in there!" Yelled Gary from the other side of the door.
     "Oh, no, it's Gary if he sees me in here with you, he'll kill me!" Cried Misty holding on to Ash's collar tightly while pressing her body closer to Ash's in fear.
     "Lets go out the window," Ash suggested pulling her over with him. Misty resisted.
     "I'm sorry, but I have to stay here, you go without me," she said.
     "How can you be so loyal to this jerk after all he's put you through?" Asked Ash in anger and confussion.
     "Because I don't just like him... I love him and it's always hard to let go of someone you really care about no matter who they are. So even though he takes me for granted sometimes, I still care about him and still want to be with him. Obviously like the way I once cared about you if you're obviously saying that you took me for granted and I still stayed," Misty argued.
     "You're right," Said Ash disappointed. "I shouldn't have taken you or Brock for granted, now I lost you guys forever because of it and I'm sorry." Ash walked over to the window. Misty stood there watching him on the verge of crying again.
     "Me too," she said in barely a whisper as Ash opened the window and left. When he was gone, Misty opened the door to nothing. Gary wasn't there anymore. Was it just her imagination?
     As Ash got down from climbing and was outside now, he thought he'd head home, he had enough for one day. But as he did, he passed by the house the party was still going on in and spotted two people kissing through one of the windows; it was Gary and... Giselle.


To Be Continued...