Ash: 14

Misty: 14

Brock: 17

Gary: 15

A/N: Sorry for the wait. I've had writers block... Heh, sorry excuse, huh? But anyway I'm back and rearing to go!

Okay, this chapter, I'm a little unsure of, but I'm trying to keep the story going. Last two chapters were kinda linked together about Ash and Mistys feelings of the outcome to the fight. They were followed through with a few of the good and bad memories including the first meeting and Maidens Peak end of the summer festival... They have not talked about it to anyone besides themselves.

Now Misty has just entered the campsite with Suicune, while Ash is drowning in hatred and depression of the girl who seemingly broke his heart. Well, lets continue, shall we?------

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Misty walked into their camp with Suicune, hoping to find Ash and explain everything. She knew that if this were to end with a happy destiny, she should spill the beans about everything. But somehow she couldn't help but feel that this was going to be harder than it looks. She had really gone overboard with one of her last statements. She pretty much broke the secret tie that she had felt connected to him with.

Unfortunatlly, Ash was asleep. So she was stuck with nothing to do but ponder the best way of how to beg and grovel at his feet for forgiveness. But, she was interrupted before she even started.

" Misty, your back! Are you okay? What happened?"

Brock had somehow sneaked up in front of her and more or less, she felt like she could have a heart attack. Lucky she wasn't that scared...

" Brock, what do you want?" She asked, turning away. She was afraid that her tear-stained face would give away that something-or everything in her opinion-had gone wrong.

" I was just wondering if everything was alright... Is it?"

" I," Misty was spared from making an excuse by a tap on her shoulder. She whirled around, expecting to see Ash trying to make up with her as usual, only to see Gary Oak.

" What do you want, Oak?"

He bowed down and took her hand to kiss it.

" Please ma'am, call me Gary."

Misty almost jumped from shock. Ma'am? Was this the same Gary Oak? The one who tortured Ash, calling him loser, blowing his self-esteem into the ground? She stopped thinking about that, because it only brought back all of the rotten, cold hearted things she had said.

' I can't believe it! I'm just as bad as Oak!'

" Uh- well-sure, Ga-Gary..." Uughh, the foul name on her lips was almost as bad as kissing him. Then again, he was getting her away from the questionable glare of Brock Slate.

He took her hand and led her away from their site, down the path a bit into a deeper part of the woods.

" What do you want, Gary?" Misty said impatiently.

" Mis- Ma'am, I'd like to talk to you. First I have to say, you look very good in that outfit."

Misty would have smacked him into the next generation, but she didn't want to be rude. No, not HER. Especially to Gary Oak. Not a good idea.

" Um-... Thanks, I guess..."

" I've noticed you for awhile, and I have to say, you've attracted me. I hope you don't feel sickened. I know for a fact that you aren't as fond of me as other girlsnd I was honored that you had allowed me into your campsite for the night. I was hoping you could accept this gift as a token of my appreciation. Here..." He pulled out a pokeball and placed it in her hand.

" Uh, thanks... What is it?" She asked, feeling perplexed.

" Open it and find out..." He didn't look so smug, more on the nervous side.

She threw the capturing device into the air and watched as a large shape took form. When it was done her shriek of terror rent the forest air.

" AAAHHHHH!!! Why did you get me that?! I hate Gyrados!" She ran and hid behind Garys back.

Gary sighed. He knew that a girl might react terrified at first, especially towards a Gyrados. The pokemon on his part didn't look ready to attack. Being as young as he was, he acted quite quiet and wasn't at the ferocious stage, yet. The pokemon looked expectantly at Misty as though it already knew of her stance as his trainer. Gary stepped forward and started to pet him on the head.

" Don't worry Misty. This little guy won't hurt you. He's completly loyal. He was one of the youngest in the group. I talked to him and he knows you as his trainer now. Please give him a try... Come on and stroke him. He's not as bad as he looks, really."

Misty slowly walked towards the dou, human and pokemon. She reached up a trembling hand and stroked him across the head. He moved around as though enjoying it and Misty couldn't help but smile. Seeing her smile, Gary followed suit. They laughed a bit and talked, and Misty found herself thinking that spending time with the notorious Oak grandson wasn't so bad.

' Gary isn't so bad... Why does Ash hate him so much... If they just spent some ti--... Hold it! Did I just say Garys not so bad?! No, I didn't, I couldn't. Why would I?'

She shook her head away from those thoughts. She couldn't get caught up in Gary Oak. She still liked Ash Ketchem, even if their friendship was through. It was then that she felt Gary put his hand on hers. Not in a pervertic, hungry-eyed way, but she wasn't sure what to expect less so she pulled it back. Gary looked at her face appologeticly.

" I'm sorry... I didn't mean to offend you or anything." He looked down at the small lake they were sitting by, " Here, take this as an appology."

He handed her a small lilly that had just floated to the surface of the water. She took it and held it in her hand, staring at it. It was lovely. A light feather pink with a glowing magenta around the edges. There was a pale yellow tint near the center. She felt extremely special right then. Other than Rudy, who she had seen only once in her life, no boy had given her anything so nice. Gary's words broke her out of her thoughts again.

" Do you like it?" He asked hopefully.

" I-it's beautiful. Thank you, really." She said then she smiled at him.

He grinned at her and Misty again thought how much Ash and Gary could get along if they only spent some time really getting to know eachother.

' Well, what do you know', she thought,' They both have a heart.'

" Misty, I wanted to say... You really are a treat to have around. I was wondering, would you like to go out some time? Just the two of us?"

Misty was taken aback by his words and looked to the sky, hoping the sun would show some comfort to her. To her great surprise, the sun was below the horizon. They had spent all day together. What if the other guys got the wrong idea? She shook her head and looked at Gary again. She was about to answer " Yes.", I mean Ash obviously didn't care now, right? Why waste her life thinking about dreams, when another guy already had feelings and his heart right in place, waiting for her?

She looked to the sky again and saw a star, the first that night, shoot to a stop and glow like a lone pearl. She didn't want to end up like that, did she? If she went with Gary, would she be happy? She knew the answer to that. Sure Gary had a lot of money, girls would give anything for his love. But just staring at the sky, Misty knew that with him, she would be incomplete. Ash had something held in her heart and if she followed Gary, she could permenatly loose what Ash was keeping. It wasn't to late to patch things up, right?

" Gary, I'm very sorry. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I love A- someone else. If I go with you, where would he stand? Alone or would he find someone else. I can't let that happen, so I've got to keep my heart with him... Please, forgive me?"

Gary nodded. It was okay. She wouldn't have to live in guilt the rest of her life.

" Thank you, Gary. I hope your okay with this. You'll get someone else though. Their are plenty of girls who would give anything for you. You show them the same kindness at heart that you've shown me and I'll bet you get every women swooning over you. But pick the right one, okay. I don't want some guy like you to have a bad relationship. Take care of yourself."

Misty hugged him and began to walk back to camp. Gary picked himself off the ground and took her hand. She turned around to face him.

" Huh, is their something wrong?"

Gary shook his head and smiled.

" Misty, no. Nothings wrong. I just wanted you to know, even if this day didn't have the best outcome, your the first girl whos ever spoken so nicely to me before. And for that I thank you. You go back to camp, okay? I don't want Ashy-boy worrying about you. I think I'll come later and get my stuff ready to leave. I hope to meet you on the road again."

Misty smiled and hugged him. Before heading off again, she placed a small kiss in his cheek. She turned and ran back to camp, somehow relenting what could happen when she got there.

' I don't think Ash will be worrying about me anytime soon, Gary.'

As she slowed to a walk she heard Gary yelling thank you again. She waved and headed into camp.

As she allowed herself to help pack things, she couldn't help thinking that she had just seen Gary Oak in a whole new light.

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So what will happen next? I'm still thinking....

I put Gary in this part not as a villian but as a kind of obstacle. Also I hope you like the poem. I made it myself for your enjoyment. I've been distracted easily lately, so it's obviously not my best. I'm trying to stay on top of things, one problem at a time, so be patient.

THANK YOU!!!