Chapter Two ~~ Acquaintances ~~
Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon. I do, however, own an extensive collection of empty jam jars which I am quite willing to sell for a profit.
Ash and Misty stared at each other for a few minutes, each utterly tongue- tied as to what to say. What do you say to someone you haven't seen for eight years? Ash moved his light-brown eyes from her deep-blue ones, and searched the ground, as if it held all the answers to his problems. He said the first thing that came to his head.
"Long time, no see, Misty. Y-you're looking well." This, Ash thought, was an understatement. The beauty that was beginning to show when he had first met her had bloomed to meet its full potential.
Misty stared back, a look of indignation in her eyes "How can you speak like that, as if we are just friends that have come across each other in the street. I remember telling you that I never wanted to see you again. I still stand by it. We are not friends. Leave, Ash Ketchum, I don't want to see your face."
Ash frowned, puzzled as to why Misty was still acting hostile after so long. "Misty, it's been eight years. Surely you can forgive and forget. It wasn't even that much of a big argument that you left over." He looked into Misty's unrelenting eyes, "Look, I'm sorry if I offended you so much that there was enough hostility to spread over so long. We were best friends. Doesn't that count for anything. Let's just shake hands and be friends. Please?" Ash pleaded, holding out his hand.
_*-*_
Misty looked at the proffered hand, her features softening as she remembered the pre-adolescent boy that she had traveled with long ago. She made a movement as if to take his hand, but drew back quickly, remembering the reasons for leaving in the first place. She couldn't let herself fall in love with Ash again. She wouldn't let herself fall in love with him again. She turned her eyes away, and inspected the small stream where she had been fishing.
~~ Ten year-old Misty Waterflower was sitting by the creek, fishing rod in hand. She had come here, as she often did, to escape the constant abuse she suffered from her three sisters. It was hard being the youngest. Daisy, Lily and Violet were always favored more by their parents than Misty was. They always got new pokemon, new clothes, new toys, and Misty got what they didn't want anymore. Hand-me-downs. The very thought of the word made her feel sick. She would have been able to handle life at home if it weren't for the fact that her sisters constantly picked on her. They called her "The Runt," because she hadn't inherited the natural beauty of the family, she didn't look like her sisters. They picked at her scrawny frame, her flat chest, her bright orange hair and her second-hand clothes. And she accepted it from them.
Misty was wallowing in loneliness and self-pity, so it totally surprised her when her felt a heavy tug on her line. She hauled her catch to the bank of the creek with difficulty and was shocked. There lay one very bedraggled- looking boy and a poor, wet pikachu. Naturally, she was worried about the pokemon.
"Are you alright?" Asked Misty, addressing the small, yellow (and very wet) pokemon.
The boy looked up, evidently thinking she was talking to him, "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Not you!" exclaimed Misty indignantly, "Your pokemon."
The boy looked at the pokemon, concern evident in his eyes. The Pikachu looked away angrily. He came closer and inspected the pokemon from a shorter distance, as if afraid of the Pikachu's power. Misty was almost touched at how much he seemed to care for it. "I'm not sure if Pikachu's alright."
"There's a Pokemon Centre nearby, just go that way" She said, pointing the direction of the nearest town." She looked away, breaking the stare that the two had shared. She turned around and saw the Boy and his Pikachu riding away. on her bike.
"I'll get it back to you somehow. Thanks!"
When Misty had caught up with the boy again, she found out the fate of the bike. She didn't really care about it that much, it had belonged to Violet only days before, but she recognised the opportunity to escape from home. She packed a small bag, her pokemon belt and all her savings. Leaving a note for her family, she ran away and caught up with the boy, making the excuse that she was going to follow him until he bought her a new bike.
Little did she know that she would follow that boy for four years. Little did she know that that boy would become more important to her than anyone else on Earth. Little did she know that she would harbour feelings for that boy unlike any she had ever felt before. ~~
_*-*_
Ash lowered his hand, Misty had stood in the one place for about three minutes; her eyes glazed and a slight frown on her face, as though remembering something unpleasant that happened long ago. Ash stared at her, puzzled as to why someone who he had been friend's with for so many years could be hostile over such a small thing.
"Look, Mist, just tell me what I did wrong. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for this. I still don't know what I did wrong."
Misty looked at him incredulously "You are apologizing for something you don't even think you did? I can tell you what you did. You threw my dreams back in my face. You knew that I had always wanted to be a Water Pokemon Master, but you just couldn't help gloating that you had reached your dream before me. It hurt so much."
"I don't believe you. You were always insulting me. Putting me down. Treating me like a child. I make one tiny comment back because I'm sick of your whining, and you get up and leave! All of a sudden, everything is my fault. I always thought you had thicker skin than that, Misty!" Ash yelled, exasperated at Misty's stubbornness.
Misty glared at Ash. Ash glared straight back. They continued glaring at each other for a few minutes until Ash noticed Misty's lips twitching at the corners. She broke the gaze and began to laugh. A nice laugh, Ash couldn't help but notice. He watched in amusement as she sat on the ground and hid her face in her hands to try and stop herself. Her laugh was so infectious that he soon joined her, sitting on the ground, it was just like old times, he thought. Misty looked up, her eyes filled with tears of laughter.
"I can't believe I'm so stubborn."
"I've known it for years."
"Gee, thanks. You sure know how to comfort a girl."
"It's true though. C'mon, let's just shake hands and be friends again."
_*-*_
It felt good to laugh again. She hadn't done it for so long. There had been something about the way they were arguing that took her back to the days of her youth. She couldn't help but laugh at how childish they were both being. She looked down at his hand, and took it in hers.
"How about we'll agree to be acquaintances again. I'm not sure if I'm ready to be friends with you just yet. We'll just agree not to be openly hostile." She said, looking Ash in the eye.
"I'll go along with that. Good morning, nice to meet you ma'am, my name is Ash Ketchum.. And you are..?" He joked, shaking her hand politely.
Misty slapped him playfully "You're still as much of an idiot as you were eight years ago. What have you been doing all these years, Mr Ketchum?"
"Mostly helping my Mother out. She opened a Pokemon Refuge Centre with Professor Oak. They take care of sick, injured and neglected pokemon. I was involved with the Pokemon Council for a while, but retired because the meetings bored me to tears. I swear those people never laugh." Ash looked at her "What have you been doing with yourself these past years, Miss Waterflower. I do presume that you are still *Miss* Waterflower?"
Misty sighed "Yup, still single. I did have a boyfriend, but I found him in an awkward position with my best friend. Don't you worry, I made sure he would regret it. I've just been helping out at the gym with my Sisters. They're a lot nicer now that they're older. I trained to be a Water Pokemon Master, and got my badge. So, I'm paid rather well by the Pokemon Council every time a trainer comes into town looking for a challenge. My sisters kicked me out of the gym for a while because they reckon that I'm moping over my boyfriend. What would they know?" She wasn't talking to Ash, she was talking to herself almost.
"Well, Brock as good as told me to get out of town for a few weeks, so I'm traveling as well." Ash looked at her, suddenly awkward, like a schoolboy about to ask the teacher a personal question "Wanna come with me? We'll travel together. Just like old times. Maybe we can be friends again, rather than just acquaintances. So, will you walk with me, just for a few days?"
Misty looked at him, thinking hard. She wanted to, but something niggled in her heart, telling her to remember why she left in the first place. She ignored it and nodded.
"Sure, Ash. I'd love to.
A/N: Golly. I didn't expect to actually get any reviews. I got lots! I really appreciate it. Thanks! I hope you liked this chapter. I didn't really know what to write, I didn't think it was possible to have writer's block on only the second chapter of a story, but I got it out eventually. Oh, and in regards to one review; I gave Misty freckles because the way I see it, anyone who has pale skin with dark red hair is bound to be cursed with them. Thanks for the review, though! Love you all!
Keep up the reviews, they encourage me to keep going.
Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon. I do, however, own an extensive collection of empty jam jars which I am quite willing to sell for a profit.
Ash and Misty stared at each other for a few minutes, each utterly tongue- tied as to what to say. What do you say to someone you haven't seen for eight years? Ash moved his light-brown eyes from her deep-blue ones, and searched the ground, as if it held all the answers to his problems. He said the first thing that came to his head.
"Long time, no see, Misty. Y-you're looking well." This, Ash thought, was an understatement. The beauty that was beginning to show when he had first met her had bloomed to meet its full potential.
Misty stared back, a look of indignation in her eyes "How can you speak like that, as if we are just friends that have come across each other in the street. I remember telling you that I never wanted to see you again. I still stand by it. We are not friends. Leave, Ash Ketchum, I don't want to see your face."
Ash frowned, puzzled as to why Misty was still acting hostile after so long. "Misty, it's been eight years. Surely you can forgive and forget. It wasn't even that much of a big argument that you left over." He looked into Misty's unrelenting eyes, "Look, I'm sorry if I offended you so much that there was enough hostility to spread over so long. We were best friends. Doesn't that count for anything. Let's just shake hands and be friends. Please?" Ash pleaded, holding out his hand.
_*-*_
Misty looked at the proffered hand, her features softening as she remembered the pre-adolescent boy that she had traveled with long ago. She made a movement as if to take his hand, but drew back quickly, remembering the reasons for leaving in the first place. She couldn't let herself fall in love with Ash again. She wouldn't let herself fall in love with him again. She turned her eyes away, and inspected the small stream where she had been fishing.
~~ Ten year-old Misty Waterflower was sitting by the creek, fishing rod in hand. She had come here, as she often did, to escape the constant abuse she suffered from her three sisters. It was hard being the youngest. Daisy, Lily and Violet were always favored more by their parents than Misty was. They always got new pokemon, new clothes, new toys, and Misty got what they didn't want anymore. Hand-me-downs. The very thought of the word made her feel sick. She would have been able to handle life at home if it weren't for the fact that her sisters constantly picked on her. They called her "The Runt," because she hadn't inherited the natural beauty of the family, she didn't look like her sisters. They picked at her scrawny frame, her flat chest, her bright orange hair and her second-hand clothes. And she accepted it from them.
Misty was wallowing in loneliness and self-pity, so it totally surprised her when her felt a heavy tug on her line. She hauled her catch to the bank of the creek with difficulty and was shocked. There lay one very bedraggled- looking boy and a poor, wet pikachu. Naturally, she was worried about the pokemon.
"Are you alright?" Asked Misty, addressing the small, yellow (and very wet) pokemon.
The boy looked up, evidently thinking she was talking to him, "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Not you!" exclaimed Misty indignantly, "Your pokemon."
The boy looked at the pokemon, concern evident in his eyes. The Pikachu looked away angrily. He came closer and inspected the pokemon from a shorter distance, as if afraid of the Pikachu's power. Misty was almost touched at how much he seemed to care for it. "I'm not sure if Pikachu's alright."
"There's a Pokemon Centre nearby, just go that way" She said, pointing the direction of the nearest town." She looked away, breaking the stare that the two had shared. She turned around and saw the Boy and his Pikachu riding away. on her bike.
"I'll get it back to you somehow. Thanks!"
When Misty had caught up with the boy again, she found out the fate of the bike. She didn't really care about it that much, it had belonged to Violet only days before, but she recognised the opportunity to escape from home. She packed a small bag, her pokemon belt and all her savings. Leaving a note for her family, she ran away and caught up with the boy, making the excuse that she was going to follow him until he bought her a new bike.
Little did she know that she would follow that boy for four years. Little did she know that that boy would become more important to her than anyone else on Earth. Little did she know that she would harbour feelings for that boy unlike any she had ever felt before. ~~
_*-*_
Ash lowered his hand, Misty had stood in the one place for about three minutes; her eyes glazed and a slight frown on her face, as though remembering something unpleasant that happened long ago. Ash stared at her, puzzled as to why someone who he had been friend's with for so many years could be hostile over such a small thing.
"Look, Mist, just tell me what I did wrong. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for this. I still don't know what I did wrong."
Misty looked at him incredulously "You are apologizing for something you don't even think you did? I can tell you what you did. You threw my dreams back in my face. You knew that I had always wanted to be a Water Pokemon Master, but you just couldn't help gloating that you had reached your dream before me. It hurt so much."
"I don't believe you. You were always insulting me. Putting me down. Treating me like a child. I make one tiny comment back because I'm sick of your whining, and you get up and leave! All of a sudden, everything is my fault. I always thought you had thicker skin than that, Misty!" Ash yelled, exasperated at Misty's stubbornness.
Misty glared at Ash. Ash glared straight back. They continued glaring at each other for a few minutes until Ash noticed Misty's lips twitching at the corners. She broke the gaze and began to laugh. A nice laugh, Ash couldn't help but notice. He watched in amusement as she sat on the ground and hid her face in her hands to try and stop herself. Her laugh was so infectious that he soon joined her, sitting on the ground, it was just like old times, he thought. Misty looked up, her eyes filled with tears of laughter.
"I can't believe I'm so stubborn."
"I've known it for years."
"Gee, thanks. You sure know how to comfort a girl."
"It's true though. C'mon, let's just shake hands and be friends again."
_*-*_
It felt good to laugh again. She hadn't done it for so long. There had been something about the way they were arguing that took her back to the days of her youth. She couldn't help but laugh at how childish they were both being. She looked down at his hand, and took it in hers.
"How about we'll agree to be acquaintances again. I'm not sure if I'm ready to be friends with you just yet. We'll just agree not to be openly hostile." She said, looking Ash in the eye.
"I'll go along with that. Good morning, nice to meet you ma'am, my name is Ash Ketchum.. And you are..?" He joked, shaking her hand politely.
Misty slapped him playfully "You're still as much of an idiot as you were eight years ago. What have you been doing all these years, Mr Ketchum?"
"Mostly helping my Mother out. She opened a Pokemon Refuge Centre with Professor Oak. They take care of sick, injured and neglected pokemon. I was involved with the Pokemon Council for a while, but retired because the meetings bored me to tears. I swear those people never laugh." Ash looked at her "What have you been doing with yourself these past years, Miss Waterflower. I do presume that you are still *Miss* Waterflower?"
Misty sighed "Yup, still single. I did have a boyfriend, but I found him in an awkward position with my best friend. Don't you worry, I made sure he would regret it. I've just been helping out at the gym with my Sisters. They're a lot nicer now that they're older. I trained to be a Water Pokemon Master, and got my badge. So, I'm paid rather well by the Pokemon Council every time a trainer comes into town looking for a challenge. My sisters kicked me out of the gym for a while because they reckon that I'm moping over my boyfriend. What would they know?" She wasn't talking to Ash, she was talking to herself almost.
"Well, Brock as good as told me to get out of town for a few weeks, so I'm traveling as well." Ash looked at her, suddenly awkward, like a schoolboy about to ask the teacher a personal question "Wanna come with me? We'll travel together. Just like old times. Maybe we can be friends again, rather than just acquaintances. So, will you walk with me, just for a few days?"
Misty looked at him, thinking hard. She wanted to, but something niggled in her heart, telling her to remember why she left in the first place. She ignored it and nodded.
"Sure, Ash. I'd love to.
A/N: Golly. I didn't expect to actually get any reviews. I got lots! I really appreciate it. Thanks! I hope you liked this chapter. I didn't really know what to write, I didn't think it was possible to have writer's block on only the second chapter of a story, but I got it out eventually. Oh, and in regards to one review; I gave Misty freckles because the way I see it, anyone who has pale skin with dark red hair is bound to be cursed with them. Thanks for the review, though! Love you all!
Keep up the reviews, they encourage me to keep going.