He'll Never Know

Part One: Misty's Song

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Warning: This fanfic features a Brock/Misty pairing. In other words, Brock and Misty have feelings for each other, not Ash and Misty. They are just friends in this fic. If you are an AAMRN fan and can not stand the thought of this pairing, I highly recommend that you don't read this. If you flame me in the comments for that reason, I will ignore you. (But I do encourage feedback for any other reason!) Gracias!

Summary: It's their final night together, and Brock and Misty reflect on their seemingly unreturned love for one another. A series of three vignettes from Misty, Brock, and Ash's POV. A bit sad and angsty.

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I sit by the campfire, all alone.

It's not too late at night, maybe ten o'clock or so. But Ash conked out hours ago from the excitement of the day, and Brock finally drifted off to sleep. Even Togepi does not stir. I should be asleep, too. It was a tiring day.

Yes, Ash has become a Pokemon Master. Finally. For five years, I followed him on his journeys, watching him fight league entry battles year after year. He lost every time. But this year, it was different. The effort he put into this tournament was far more than the last, and I don't think I ever saw him fight so well or with such determination. When he fought against Gary for entry into the Pokemon League, he defeated him swiftly and easily. It couldn't have been a better ending. Now, at the age of 15, Ash is one of the youngest members of the Pokemon League. I'm proud of him.

But, oh God, I'm not happy for myself.

At first, I began the journey with Ash for a rather silly reason: to get my destroyed bicycle back. But as I continued on, our trip became something more. From it, I have grown as a person. The people I've met, the places I've seen, and the lessons I've learned have all contributed to the changes in me. And, most importantly, I've known the most important emotion of all.

Yes, I fell in love.

My attention turns away from the fire to Brock's sleeping figure. It was three years ago that I fell for good old Brock. He was handsome, charming, and a comforting figure during emotionally turbulant times. My feelings started our as a schoolgirl crush, but they evolved into something more: true love.

But Brock never has paid attention to me. As long as I've known him, he has flirted senselessly with almost every single girl we've seen on our journey. Except me. The one girl that has permanently stayed by his side is the only girl he's missed. How could this be?

Sometimes when he's flirting, I've wanted to run to him and yell, "Dammit, Brock! What about me?"

No, he still sees me as the scrawny twelve year old kid who can't shut her mouth. I'm seventeen now, beautiful, and fun to be around. He's missed my transition to womanhood, blinded from his constant oogling at each Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny. But unlike those women, I have personality.

When I visit towns and I talk with girls, they smile at Ash and me knowingly. It's like they think, from their "special romance deduction powers," that we are an item. God, this makes me feel so uncomfortable. Ash has become one of my closest friends, but I would never want to date him. We just don't have any romantic feelings for each other. Nobody even suspects my feelings for Brock. It's always Ash, only Ash...

The last three years, I've taken my time, and I haven't Brock a thing about my feelings. The fear of rejection has been too high. But now, my time is nearly up. After the celebration party for Ash's entrance into the league, we're all heading our separate ways. I'll go back to my gym in Cerulean City. And Brock will go to his. Maybe we will visit occasionally, but nothing will be the same as it is now.

It makes me want to cry. Shit, why didn't I tell him sooner?

One more time, I look at his perfect face. I awkwardly hug his sleeping body, lightly, so as not to wake him up. The may have been my last chance to hold him, to love him, before he leaves.

Sleep comes upon my weary body. I must give in to my aching legs' wish for slumber and shorten my fleeting time with Brock even more. I climb into my sleeping bag, putting it especially close to Brock, so close to him I can feel his warm body through the cloth. Tonight, I must have happy dreams of us together, dreams of what might have been. When, he is finally gone, I will mourn my unrequited love again.

He may never know what I think of him.

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Part Two (Brock's Perspective) and Part Three (Ash's Perspective) will be up as soon as I write them. If I've posted them, please proceed if you like the story!