+Later that Night+

Ash had taken his time. He convinced the cook to let him cook. He made a five star gourmet meal that even Brock would be jealous of. He then made sure that he was at least a little presentable. Now all he had to do was to wait for Misty to arrive at dinner. He asked her to dinner so they could catch up. But that wasn’t his plan. No, he was going to make her realize how much he loved her. He was going to win her back if it killed him. So he waited at the dinner table. He waited for her to come. Soon, three hours had passed from their scheduled time. But Ash refused to budge. Soon it turned into six. Ash still sat there. Brock came in to check on him and saw Ash looking out the window.

‘He really wants Misty to be his again. He’s defiantly not like other guys who want their girls back. He truly loves her.’ Brock thought.

Soon, eight hours had passed and still no Misty. Ash still didn’t move. He wouldn’t. Not till Misty came down at least to say hi. Before he knew it, it was the next morning. He had stayed up all night waiting.

When Brock came in for breakfast, he still saw Ash sitting there. He felt bad for him.

‘Now that’s just rude, Misty. Even if you don’t love him, at least show up and tell him that it’s ok for him to move on. That’s the one thing you didn’t do before and Ash has been suffering because of it.’ Brock thought.

He turned and set out to find Misty. He pounded on her door. A man with blond hair, red eyes, and no shirt on answered it.

“Can I help you?” the man asked, sleepily.

“Is Misty Waterflower in there?” Brock questioned.

“Yeah, she just woke up. Let me get her,” the man said.

Brock waited for the door to reopen. When it did, he saw Misty with very messed up hair, an oversized t-shirt, boxer shorts, and a happy glint in her eyes. It wasn’t hard to figure out what she did last night while Ash was alone.

“What can I do for ya, Brocko?” she teased.

“Don’t you remember? You were suppose to have dinner with Ash last night! He invited you and you agreed. You promised that you would go!” Brock exclaimed.

“I did! It was delicious!” Misty lied, happily.

“No you didn’t! I check every hour! And I saw Ash sitting alone each hour. He stayed up all night waiting! You never went and told him that you couldn’t make it! And he went through a lot of trouble making that dinner for you!” Brock shouted.

“Brock, listen. Ash is trying to get me to go out with him.”

“I know that! The least you could have done was to go and tell him no! But no, you hooked up with some stranger!”

“Brock you don’t know what me and Ash went through,” Misty said happily, thinking that she won.

“Maybe I don’t, but I do know that you two were a happy couple once! Ash told me yesterday. What I don’t think you know is how much pain he’s been in since then! He just wants to know why! The least you could do is tell him so he could be somewhat happy again! I’m tired of seeing the pain in his eyes!” Brock shouted at her.

Misty was taken back by the anger in his voice.

“K. I’ll talk with him.” Misty said, heading down to the dining area.

Brock followed her. She wasn’t getting out of this one. When they got there, they found Ash asleep at the table, all the food that he put his heart into making still out but no longer any good. Brock glared at Misty. She sighed and gently shook Ash. He slowly opened his eyes. Brock looked at his friend. He looked so tired. Like he was ready to die. Until he saw Misty in front of him looking the way she did. He immediately sat up and gave her his full attention.

“Ash, we need to talk.” Misty said without emotion.

Ash looked at her with pain in his eyes. Brock knew that Ash could tell what was coming. But he needed to hear it so that he could go on.

“I don’t want you to do this. I can’t stand it. I don’t like you that way. I just don’t. I did once but then you didn’t give me what I wanted and what I needed. I tried to get passed that and I almost did, but then I started liking someone else. I realized that I didn’t love you. And I didn’t want to continue with someone I didn’t love. And I don’t think that deep down, that you love me like you think you do. I mean, we’ve known each other since we were ten. You’re like my little brother. Sorry, but you need to give up this stupid silly little chase to regain my hurt. I don’t love you. Sorry but I don’t. So get over it. Sorry that you had to hear it this way. I thought that you’d figure it out. I hope we can still be best friends. I don’t want to lose that. Later Ash. Hope that you reach your Pokemon Master dream!” Misty told him.

She then turned and started to walk out.

“Happy?” She asked Brock as she passed him.

“No. And if you think that you’ll still have him as a best friend then you’re crazy.” Brock whispered to Misty.

She just shrugged and proceeded back to her room and her new guy.

Ash stared at where Misty once stood. He felt as if his heart had been ripped out of his chest. He couldn’t breath. He couldn’t think. All he could do was to let his tears flow. That was it. Nothing more.

Brock stared at his brokenhearted friend. He didn’t really believe that Ash would recover. Or that he could. He’d always have that pain and maybe even hatred towards Misty and what she did to him. All he could do was offer his advice and try not to go gaga. He knew that it would just remind of his days with Misty.

“Ash!” Dawn yelled running in, “Happy birthday! I marked it on my poketch so I’d remember!”

Brock suddenly felt ten times worse. Misty tore out his heart on his birthday. Brock turned back to Ash. He was trembling from sorrow and anger and the tears were racing from his eyes.

“What happened?” Dawn asked worried.

“Misty tore out his heart on his birthday. A day that once held good memories.” Brock said.

Ash Ketchum, you have a phone call. Ash Ketchum you have a phone call.