This one's a bit darker...or at least more serious than the last. Once again, pardon the roughness. I'm being especially lazy right now.

Lies

I hate it when people lie to me. It's happened a countless number times. Part of it is my fault, I know.

I hate how easily I can be duped.

I mean, Team Rocket fools me at least once a week! It used to be everyday. They'd pop up in some custom and convince me that they were really just a pair of reporters, day care assistants, talent scouts, shop keepers, whatever! Hook, line and sinker: they would catch me every time. I would hand over pikachu, they would reveal themselves a second later like the idiots they are, and I would be left looking like an even bigger idiot.

'Cause I was the one who believed their stupid charades.

For four years the same pattern would continue. Finally, about a year ago, I started to get a clue. I started to really look at the overly-gregarious people who would sidle up to me. I began to look beneath the layers of makeup and decorative scarves. I don't trust people as easily anymore, but on the up side Pikachu rarely gets nabbed.

I started looking at everyone like that. I mean, I started seeing people beyond what they appeared to be. That granny over there? Maybe she's some undercover Team Galactic agent who is carefully plotting the next step in taking over the world. That guy selling hot dogs? He's probably put some kind of poison in them that will paralyze everyone who eats one, leaving him free to steal their pokemon.

Okay, so maybe I'm not that paranoid. My imagination just gets the best of me sometimes…

But I'm not the dense little ten year old I was at the beginning of my journey either. I've started to notice things. About other people, and in turn about myself.

And one of those things is that I hate it when people lie to me. Especially when those people are my friends.

Little white lies aren't bad. Everyone tells those; I tell those. Did you put away your clothes sweetie? Uh, of course mom! But Ash, I thought you said you weren't coming home until next week. Surprise Misty!

It's the bigger ones. Like when I ask: Are you okay? …I'm fine. Why didn't you call me back? …Our electricity went out for some reason. What have you been doing? ….just stuff. The ones where I can tell the person is lying to me. It hurts, because I wonder why she feels the need to lie to me. Does she not trust me? Does she think I'm still a naïve kid that needs to be told to change his underwear everyday?

After being in the dark for so long, it's shocking to see just how much she hides.

But why does she need to hide? Haven't I always been a good friend? Haven't we been through thick and thin? Haven't I always been truthful with her?

I know there's something she's not telling me. I know it's something big. I'm mad at myself for having just realized it now. I'm mad that I haven't seen the furtive looks, the quick shifts in topics, and the evasive eyes these past few years. I know that she's been lying for a while. She's good at it. She's had practice.

But I've gotten practice too. I'm getting better at watching her out of the corner of my eye. And I think she knows. When I catch her staring and stare back, she strikes up a conversation with someone else. When she acts all huffy when we're around other girls, I raise a brow and she looks away. When she gives me vague answers, I snort softly in disbelief, and she at least has the decency to blush. But she still won't tell me what's wrong.

One day-no, someday soon I'm going to get her to tell me the truth. To tell me everything. Because I hate it when people lie. Especially when those people are my friends.

Especially when that person is Misty.

One more note :) Eggplantdance (or Codenamezimbabwe for those of you who know her on deviantart) and I are attending Another Anime Convention on the 16th (my birthday-yay!). If any of you are going to be there, look for two badass Team Aqua members strollin' around-that'll be us ;)

Happy early Halloween everyone!