Believe Again

Chapter 4

The Pokémon Inspection Agency representatives arrived ten minutes after Misty had stormed out of the arena in a mess of tears and anger. They were two men dressed in suits, an official red and gold PIA badge pinned on their black jackets. Gary watched as they took a detailed look around the Gym, making notes on their clipboards occasionally. When they asked where the Gym Leader was he had to say she had a fever and was unable to get out of bed. It wasn't far from the truth…if they had asked three days ago. They didn't seem too fazed, just spoke between themselves for a few minutes, ticking off things and writing a few more comments.

"Well, this Gym has passed the inspection with flying colours. The place is well-kept and the leader has glowing reviews from the Pokémon League. You can let Miss Waterflower know that she is doing an excellent job."

Gary nodded, and since their business was done, he led them out of the arena and the Gym, where they got into their black vehicle and drove away.

After they had left, he sauntered over to the couch in the lobby and sat down within its leathery comfort. With the official PIA business over and done with, he wasn't sure where that left him. He had deeply offended Misty without really meaning to, and if he was being honest with himself, he felt really bad about it. His feelings for the feisty redhead were a befuddled and confused mess that he couldn't hope to work through in a few minutes. One part of him felt absolutely nothing, and could not wait to walk away from the Gym and get back to his research in Pallet Town. But the other part, the part that was gaining a strange sort of momentum within the inner workings of his mind, could not stop thinking about her. And it wasn't just a shallow thing. Sure, he thought she was absolutely beautiful in every way, but his attraction, if that's what it was, towards her was based on something else. Gary was oddly fascinated by Misty Waterflower. She was so completely different from any girl he had ever known; with her, he was kept on edge all the time, and he liked it. He liked that she wasn't completely predictable, that every conversation he had with her didn't consist of her batting her eyelashes at him or any other way of getting her attention. He could actually have a stimulating and interesting conversation with her.

But what did all this mean? His mind could not get a grip on the answer. All he knew was that he did not want to leave today and never see her again. The thought left him feeling empty and pointless, as though his life now meant nothing without her in it.

Gary's thoughts turned to their earlier conversation, and he realised that no matter the feelings he had for her, right now, she probably hated him.

With a sigh, he ran his hands through his hair, a nervous habit, he knew. He also knew that the only thing to do to fix this was to man up and apologise to her. His comments had been out of line. Her business with Ash was her business, and it was, he knew, a touchy subject. He had not yet worked out why he had blurted such words when he knew how they would make her feel. The word jealousy had floated through his mind but his ego had crushed it instantly. There was no way he was jealous of Ash Ketchum. Still, it was the only explanation for his sudden bitter and spiteful words.

After a few more minutes of enduring his excruciatingly never-ending trains of thought, he decided to apologise to her. No matter what the result, it would at least appease the unrelenting guilt that so forcefully gripped him.

Gary walked through to the living quarters, where he found Misty sitting on the couch, hugging her knees to her chest and staring ahead. She did not glance up when he walked in the room, but she clearly noticed his presence as she shifted uncomfortably.

"Well…you passed," he said awkwardly, standing in the doorway watching as she refused to look at him. She nodded in silence, and a few moments of tense silence passed between them before he finally took the few steps towards her. He sat down on the couch beside her, and she watched him from the corner of her eye, not wanting to meet his gaze.

"Look Misty, I'm sorry for what I said. You were right-" began his apology, but he was soon cut short as Misty's voice, small and quiet, interrupted him.

"No," she finally met his eyes with her tortured, aqua ones. "You were right. Ash isn't interested in me. I'm just the tomboy that followed him around, and we're in totally different places now and…" Misty stammered as she fought back the sudden tears that filled her eyes, tears for the loss that she felt at losing the one person she had wanted since she was a child, and the one person she would never have. "He's not going to come back for me, no matter how long I wait around like an idiot for the phone or doorbell to ring and being disappointed every time it's not him," Misty bit her lip, fighting with her tears. She really hadn't wanted Gary to see her cry, but it was a little late for that. She couldn't help the way her reluctant tears were forming in her eyes and sliding down her cheeks.

Gary had not expected the conversation to turn in this direction, and his thoughts were sent reeling as he searched for a suitable response.

"You- you're not an idiot, you're just…in love," he muttered pathetically, cursing himself for not being able to think of something more comforting to say.

"An idiot who fell in love with her best friend," Misty wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath to calm herself.

Gary found himself unable to tear his eyes away from the broken girl across from him. Her tough, stubborn exterior was just a suit of armour to shield the sensitive girl inside, and he had never expected to see this side of her. But it didn't drive him away, it just made her more real.

"Misty," he caught her attention, pulling himself out of his stupefied state and finally grasping some form of courage, "number one – Ash is an idiot, and he doesn't know what he's missing, and number two – you have your whole life ahead of you, you just have to get out of here and have some fun once in a while." Gary fell silent, watching Misty's widened eyes as she contemplated his words. Feeling awkward and unsure, she shifted her gaze away from him.

"I don't know why I'm telling you all this… I'm sorry," she muttered, completely ignoring his previous comments because she was unable to fathom a response. Her mind spun in ten different directions, and she didn't see the disappointment cross his face. His statements had yielded no response. Did she not believe him? His guard went flying up as he feared he had revealed too much affection towards her.

"Don't worry about it, Red," he said quietly, planting his trademark smirk on his face to cover the disappointment. "Uh…look, since you passed your inspection and you're better now and everything…I should be going," he lingered on the word and it hung in the air. He could not force the feeling from his mind that he did not want to leave, wanted to spend some more time with Misty, getting to know her a bit and also just hanging out, and having fun. It was something he rarely got to do, being so busy. But, he told himself, even if he did want to stay, Misty had not given him any indication that she wanted him to. She was too hung up on Ash, obviously. And he didn't even know. What a waste…

Gary could not tell what Misty was thinking as she nodded, her gaze was distant and unreadable.

He stood and walked to the other side of the room, where his backpack lay. Picking it up, he turned back to her.

"Well, Red, it's been fun…" he joked, "but I must get back to Pallet. Duty calls."

"Right," Misty stood, his eyes still blanketed in something Gary couldn't distinguish. It probably had something to do with Ash, the thought stung Gary like an insect bite, annoying but unable to ignore.

They walked out into the foyer in an awkward silence that seemed to fill the air between them. Misty was, unbeknownst to Gary, not thinking of Ash at all, but of him, of the words he had spoken minutes earlier and of what they meant. On top of that, as they inched closer to the Gym's front door, she began to realise that she was going to miss having Gary around. As annoying as he could be, he had done her a huge favour, he had been there for her when she needed it the most, and he had done it all without asking for anything in return… Not only that, having company was good, it felt good. Misty's sisters were away most of the time, which left her alone a lot, and Misty didn't mind that, but it got tiresome. It was sort of nice to have someone to talk to, someone that wasn't only visible through the screen of a phone. But it wasn't only the fact that he had helped her out or that it was nice having him around, it was also that Misty felt strangely attracted to Gary. Most of the time, her heart burned with the emptiness it felt each day when she received no word from Ash. Now she realised that holding onto a love that was never going to happen was futile, and though she would probably always love Ash in some way, she also couldn't stop living her life to wait for him. She never thought she would be able to feel anything like what she felt for Ash for anybody else, but the fast beating of her heart and the way her stomach felt as though there were a hundred Butterfree flitting around inside of it had to mean something. Was it, could it be, that such feelings were a sign that she had completely unintentionally developed some sort of fondness for Gary Oak? Surely not, she told herself, and the Butterfree flitted harder in retaliatory response.

"Thanks for everything, Gary," she spoke honestly, trying to ignore the sickly feeling in her stomach, but truly meaning the words.

"Sure, Red. Just…look after yourself, okay?"

"Okay," she promised with a small smile.

"Good," he winked, his green eyes sparkling, and with that he turned and made his way to the front entrance, where he disappeared moments later. Misty stood watching him go, feeling her heart beat faster, knowing that there were words unsaid, and knowing that she wouldn't get too many chances to say them. She took off after him, reaching the entrance just as he was throwing his bag into his car.

"Gary! Wait!" He turned in surprise at her voice. She jogged toward him, reaching him in seconds. He eyed her curiously as she bit her lip nervously.

"I was just wondering…" she hesitated, but something in his eyes, brilliantly green in the bright sunlight, pushed her onward. "Would you come back…just to visit?"

He watched her, looked right into her eyes, trying to decipher the meaning behind her sudden request.

"Um…" he hesitated, though he really just wanted to scream 'YES'. "Sure…if you want me to."

"I…well…yes," she said awkwardly. "I do want you to," she spoke more clearly. Her heart did a funny flip-flop at his genuine smile. She was uncertain, he was uncertain, but it was okay, because for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was free – free from the cage she had built for herself within which to wait for Ash. And she had Gary to thank for that, for opening her eyes, for making her realise, for making her believe that she was going to be loved, someday.

"So I guess I'll see you around then, Red," he winked at her, and she was reduced to a girlish giggle, which he laughed at. Misty nodded, her voice recovering from its momentary failure.

"I guess I will," she smiled confidently at him and watched him get into his red sports car. With a wave, he was gone, but Misty had a hopeful feeling that she would see him again soon.

To be continued…maybe!

Hmmm…what to do with this fic! I had originally planned it to be a romance story, and I started to write a kiss into this chapter, but it just didn't feel right, like it was too soon for that to be happening. What do you guys think – another chapter or leave it at this? I'd love to hear your advice! Thank you, also, to everyone who has reviewed. You make my days brighter. :)