Thanks For Being There
Part 9



     Ash still hadn't given up hope, he knew somewhere inside Misty remembered him. He laid on his bed the whole night thinking about her. Brock had stayed a little while introducing himself for the first time to Delilah and finally left. Delilah commented on how nice he was but Ash drowned her out. He drowned everyone out. He missed his friends, he missed Pikachu, he missed how things use to be. What was he going to have to do to get things back to being that way? He missed the old times so much, the adventures they had, all the times they stood by each other through the hard and unbearable times and also through the good and fun times. The phone rang. Ash refused to get it, so his Mom did. She knocked on his door and passed him the phone.
     "It's for you, sweetheart," she sweetly smiled and left the room. Ash walked over to the table Delilah had placed the phone on and picked it up.
     "I saw your number in the yellow pages," said the familiar friendly voice on the phone Ash answered. Ash walked over to his window and saw a figure standing at a phone booth with the phone to her ear; it was Misty. She smiled and waved.
     "I saw your address too," added the voice. Ash was overjoyed to hear and see her, it was starting to rain and moments later the door bell rang, and Delilah led Misty into Ash's room and then left the two alone closing the door behind her.
     "Misty... What are you doing here? -Not that I don't want to see you," He added trying to think before he spoke as he had learned from his past experiences with Misty.
     "You were right about Gary, I just didn't want to believe it, moments later when I left I saw Giselle from the window crying and then Gary comforting her--trying to be a friend he claims. I don't think comforting someone involves someone's lips touching someone else's," Misty said in an angry tone.
     "I'm sorry... Misty..."
     "I just came to say I'm sorry for not believing you," she said still wet from outside, it was hard to tell whether the water on her cheeks were rain or tears. Ash walked over and stroked her arm.
     "I understand, Mist."
     "Why do you keep calling me that?" Asked Misty giving him a blank stare.
     "You don't like it?" Asked Ash worriedly.
     "Well, at first I didn't but it kind of grows on a girl," she smiled, "well, I'm just going to go back to my sisters now, that's all I wanted to say and I said it... So... Bye." She said about to turn around but stopped by Ash.
     "You don't really want to go back to your sisters, they treat you awful there, they call you names and hurt your feelings. All you long to have is a friend, gather up water Pokemon and start a journey of your own," said Ash looking deep within her eyes. She stared at him weakly, compelled by every word he said. She was his for the taking without him even realizing it.
     "How do you know me so well?" Misty asked softly in tears.
     "Misty it's all right to cry if you want to," Ash whispered to her, she didn't have to be strong anymore. Misty fell into his arms helplessly.
     "I told you before... I knew you. See, you did start a journey of your own, except you bumped into this jerk who stole your bike, only to find he wasn't such a jerk after all, you followed him and also met up with this other guy named, Brock, the three became friends, only the boy who wanted to be a Pokemon master along the way let the success get to his head and forgot about the most important people that really made a difference in his life. And now, he feels alone because his friends don't remember him at all. And he's willing to put his dream and pride aside just to let them know that whether or not they remember him, he wants them to know how much he cares about them and how much he misses them," said Ash as his eyes began to water too.
     "I'm sure they miss you too," Misty said softly her eyes meeting with his as she stared at him "Oh, I wish I could remember you!" Misty threw her arms around Ash and hugged him tightly.
     "But I believe you, even if I can't remember, I know we must have once been friends, always standing by each other through the thick and thin," smiled Misty trying to imagine it all, she broke away and looked in his eyes again and shyly said, "I just wish I could remember." Ash leaned his face forward to hers, as she did the same she kept whispering: "Ash... Ash..."

*   *   *


     "Ash...?" Whispered a voice in his ear as a hand shook him a bit to wake him up. Ash's eyes opened to Misty and Brock on each side of him. Ash sat up and looked at them, everything seemed a blur except Brock and Misty; there at his side as always.
     "Brock?" He said then turned his head to Misty and automatically smiled. "Misty..." Misty blushed and smiled back.
     "Hey, you've been sleeping all day," Brock said.
     "Really? So it was all a dream? The Forbidden Forest? The part where everything was different and you guys didn't remember me... It was all pretend?" Asked Ash.
     "What are you blabbing about, Ash? Of course we remember you, we're your friends," informed Misty.
     "Misty, you don't know how happy I am to hear you say that," he said throwing an arm around her grateful for her words. Misty smiled surprised but very happy. He let go of her just realizing what he did and looked away.
     "What'd you dream about?" Asked Brock.
     "We went in a forest searching for Togepi and when we found him, Pikachu tried to save him but fell into a running river so I went after him too but fell into the river and almost drowned, you two saved me and I got angry and said I didn't want to be friends anymore and then I fell asleep and awoke to a world where everything was different, you guys didn't remember me, I applied to PokeTech and me and Pikachu didn't get along... AND Team Rocket was running the whole world!"
     "Sounds awful..." Said Misty.
     "Yeah, it was weird, you were with Gary, I was with Giselle and Brock was a girl magnet!" Said Ash.
     "Uh... When did it start getting weird?" Asked Brock scratching the back of his head. Ash and Misty stared at him each eye brow lifting up looking at Brock like he was a hopeless case.
     "Look, I just want you guys to know that I care about you both and whenever it feels like I'm taking you for granted just let me know," Pikachu came and jumped in his lap, "and that goes for you too Pikachu. Because you guys mean a lot to me and I just want you to know that you are appreciated and I do know how important you are to me. It just took me that scary dream to finally understand, I need you guys," he placed his hand on Misty's shoulder, which she didn't seem to mind. "I care about you guys so much."
     "We care about you too," Misty said softly placing her hand on his.
     "And Misty... Promise me you'll never change for anyone," smiled Ash. Misty gave a puzzled look.
     "Huh?"
     "That fell you took must have hit you're head hard," Brock concluded, "you need your rest." He took Pikachu and left the room and just when Misty was about to follow. Ash took Misty by the wrist and pulled her close. Brock and Pikachu were gone.
     "Could you stay here for a sec?" Asked Ash. Misty walked over to him.
     "Sure, of course, what is it, Ash?" Asked Misty as Ash laid on his hospital bed.
     "I just wanted to say thanks for always being there for me, if I ever lost you or you ever lost me I just want you to know that I'm thankful for you always standing by my side no matter what," said Ash. Misty placed her hand on Ash's forehead.
     "Wow, you really must have hit your head hard... Are you feeling all right, Ash?" Misty giggled. Ash pulled her closer and closer, she mounted over him until the tip of their noses were touching. He grinned at Misty, Misty was shaken a little by his devilish grin.
     "Uh... Ash, what are you doing?"
     "If you have to ask than you just might be more clueless than me," he answered as his hands grabbed her waist and pulled the rest of her body closer. He leaned his face closer to hers and dared to lay his lips on hers, when he saw she didn't pull away, he pressed against hers even more as she placed her hands on his chest, he feared she was going to push away now but all she did was let her arms ride up his chest to his neck and shoulders. When she finally lifted her head from his, she stared down at his brown eyes gazing back at her.
     "You should get back to resting," confirmed Misty pulling herself up from him.
     "Misty, just promise me you'll never go out with Gary..."
     "What! Ash, why would I-"
     "Just promise me!"
     "All right, all right, I promise..." She paused with a puzzled expression, then she smiled at him, "I'd never think of going out with anyone... I'm kind of holding out for someone, I really like him."
     "Yeah... Who is he?" Grinned Ash. Misty took his hat from off the nearby table and placed it on her head then moved it backwards like he use to do when he battled.
     "Well, he's got black messy hair and always wears a hat, I've liked him for what seems like forever and been with him for what seems like eternity," she pulled the covers more over him as if telling a little boy a fairy tale. "I care about him so much and only 'til now has he realized he's cared about me and his other friend, Brock and Pokemon, Pikachu."
     "Why would you stay with such a jerk?" Ash grinned knowing what her answer would be.
     "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 you--I mean him!" She said staring at him deeply.
     "Well, he's realized now that he was wrong to take you for granted and just wants you to know he cares about you too and in fact he just realizes that he... Uh... Loves you," tried Ash.
     "You do? -I mean he does?" Misty asked breathlessly.
     "Yes, Misty, I do," Ash leaned forward and kissed her once again and moved over for her to sit with him in the bed, she rested her head on his shoulders smiling happily as he wondered about his dream. It all seemed so real. Was it all just meant to show him something? And the Forbidden Forest that showed him how life would be like without his friends being there for him... Was it all a dream...?

Well, you decide.


The End