The Jhoto league competition has finally ended. We are currently heading for a posh hotel that Delia Ketchum has rented out for her son's participation in the league. I'm driving of course and Misty is riding next to me in the front seat, since she won rock, paper scissors against Ash who got stuck in the backseat, his arms folded over his chest.
I can't help but laugh at their quarrel. I wouldn't trade these last four years for nothing. Sometimes I wonder how I was blessed with such wonderful friends. Friends who took me back even after I up and left them for some woman.
I shudder. I don't want to think about that right now.
I pull up and find a parking space pretty quickly. Ash is the first to dash out of the backseat and I catch Misty's eye as she rolls them in annoyance. I grin slightly and we both open our doors and slam them at the same time in unison. It's almost scary how in sync we are at times.
When we walk, we walk together. My right leg with her right leg, my left with her left. There have been countless times we have even spoken the same exact sentence at the exact same time. We finish each other's thoughts and words. It's almost like we're twins or something.
I think it's because we spend so much time together. So many late nights talking to one another, so many days just silently, companionably, soaking up the sun. And of course, who can forget when we were stranded in that snow blizzard and we found that hot spring? After that night, I saw Misty in a whole new light.
By the time we reach the entrance of the lavishly decorated hotel lobby, Ash is nowhere in sight. Misty stays close to me as we both check in, Professor Oak is in charge of the guests and he recognizes us right away.
We both make our way inside. I feel terribly confined in the suit I borrowed from my father for the occasion and I can see Misty isn't exactly used to being graceful in a dress and heels, but she's trying to look comfortable in them. I smile to myself a bit and can't help but notice the small sliver of pale skin of her thigh, daring to show itself to me.
I sit down at the bar, though I'm not old enough to drink just yet. My twentieth birthday is just around the corner and I wonder if anyone even remembers it. Last year my birthday almost went unnoticed until Misty surprised me with a cake. Ash had completely forgotten and three months later I actually got a card from my dad. Well, it beat his efforts that year before that when he went almost five months without noticing his son had just turned eighteen.
I take off the jacket of my suit and sling it over the back of an empty chair at one of the tables. It's hot and humid in this place and the open door at the front wasn't making it any better. Misty sits down next to me, her baby blue eyes glistening at me as she smiles.
"Ash is having an interview with Mary from the radio station." Misty informs me and I twist on my barstool to see him hamming it up for the cameras. I turn back around and prop my elbows up on the bar and shake my head.
The bartender walks up and eyes Misty and I, knowing well that Misty isn't near old enough to drink, but he looks more contemplatively at me. "What do you kids want? Koolaid? Soda pop?"
Misty covers her mouth and giggles. I lean forward in my seat and pull out the wallet from the back of my jeans. "Two sodas, please." I order and slide a five across the counter towards him. He hands us two sodas in Styrofoam cups and Misty smiles at me as she fiddles with her straw.
"Thanks, Brock."
"It's not a problem." I tell her, then take a sip of my own drink as she does hers. I never really noticed it before but my little redhead companion has gorgeous eyes. Maybe it's just the lighting in here, but they shimmer and sparkle when she looks at me.
I look away. After all, it's weird for me to stare at her like that. It was weird for me to stare at her that night at the hot springs when she was in the water in nothing but a towel, her bare back exposed to me. Maybe it was just the high altitude, the cold, lack of sleep and the fact I was a virgin that night that made me think such things about her, but even now, when I think about it, it still excites me.
Well, I'm sure not a virgin now, that's for sure.
I zone out, slowly chewing on my straw as I think about Ivy. Do I regret it?
Hell yes, I regret it. I could have saved myself for a woman I really loved and not her. But hey, can't change the past, right?
"Brock?" I hear Misty's soft, feminine voice. "Are you alright?"
I clear my throat and look her way. "Yes, I'm fine." I tell her, but I know she knows what I'm thinking about. She could always tell when I think about Ivy by the look on my face, the tone in my voice.
I turn from her, not making eye contact. I keep my emotions well hidden or at least I try.
"Hey Misty," I hear a familiar voice, a lighter male voice then my own and I turn my gaze from my cup to Tracy Sketchit. "How's my girl? Brock…" He nods towards me and I tweak my mouth into a small smile before nodding back.
"So, Misty," He says, leaning his elbow against the counter of the bar. "Would you care to dance?" Tracy pushes a lock of dark hair from his eye and I watch Misty hesitate. She looks towards me, almost as if asking for approval, as if I had any say so over what she does.
I nod to her slightly, and she offers her hand to Tracy which he excepts gratefully.
Well, I can tell Brock isn't going to help me get out of this one. I fake a polite smile and place my hand in Tracy's, but just before I lift off the barstool, I hear a female voice and I turn to look towards Brock.
Willamina approached him, her eyes sparkling when she laid eyes on him. "Brock? Brock Harrison?"
He looks momentarily surprised and he nervously fiddles with his tie. He clears his throat and nods, offering his powerful handshake. "Willamina? If I remember correctly…"
"Oh, Brock, how have you been?" She asks, taking a seat next to him at the bar. "You've gotten even cuter since last time I saw you." She giggles girlishly and I feel my stomach churn. Those overly feminine type always made me sick, probably because I grew up with three of them.
My attention is turned back to Tracy when he tugs on my arm. We're out in the middle of the dance floor now and I should have my arms wrapped around his neck, staring into his eyes like he's the only man in the room. After all, that's what your supposed to do with the man your dancing with, right?
However, for some reason, I can't stop thinking about Brock. I don't know if it's the suit, his hair, or just the way he looks under the neon lights of this room, but whatever it is, it has me intrigued.
Now, I was never one to find Tracy Sketchit particularly attractive, but I must admit even a suit does him some good. It's a nice change of his normally dorky green shirt and nerdy red shorts, that's for sure.
Tracy stares down into my eyes, his boy-next door smile plastered on his face. I can't help but blush at the way he's looking at me. Ash always swore that he thought Tracy had a crush on me but I never really thought about it until tonight.
I don't dare look away from him, even though it's taking everything in my willpower not to look back at Brock and Willamina.
"You look beautiful tonight, Misty." Tracy compliments me and I smile back politely.
"Thank you Tracy, you look very handsome yourself." I tell him kindly. Not that he's bad looking or anything, but my eyes keep roaming and I focus in on Brock who led Willamina out on the dance floor.
My grip becomes tighter around Tracy's hand and he looks at me questioningly. "Something that matter, princess?" He asks me, and I'm surprised by his affectionate name. He's certainly making his crush on me no secret now.
I shake my head and push Brock from my mind. So what do I care if he dances with Willamina? Or Suzie? Or Florenda? I don't care, right? So, why do I feel like there is a knife being shoved into my heart right now?
Is this jealousy?
No, I've felt jealousy before when everyone would compliment my sisters on how beautiful and talented they were. I never got any praise. No, this feeling was different. It hurt a lot worse then that kind of jealousy ever did.
"No, Tracy," I assure him quickly. "I'm fine."
He smiles down at me and inches closer to me, suddenly stealing a short kiss and I rear back in surprise. "T-Tracy!"
"Misty, you don't know how long I've waited to do that." He says, pulling me closer. There is something in his eyes, something foreboding and I can't quite lay my finger on it. I try and steady my breath before speaking.
"You…you just kissed me." I say in shock. I have never been kissed before, I can't say I hated it, but I didn't exactly enjoy it either.
"Yes," He says with a nod. "And I'd like to do it again." Without another word I feel his mouth on mine again. My eyes grow wide and I don't know what to do except let him do it. His kisses are hungry, rough and unreserved. He bites on my bottom lip and the whole feeling is very foreign to me.
I tense in his arms, but he only holds me tighter. He's strong. His hold on me is tight and I couldn't get away even if I tried. Finally he does pull away and he stares into my eyes. I'm shivering and shaking in his arms and I have the strangest urge to get away. For some reason, I don't like this position I'm in.
"It's getting hot in here…" Tracy comments, loosening up his tie. "Do you want to go outside and get a little fresh air."
Fresh air. Yes. That's what I need. Fresh air. Maybe that's why I'm feeling so strangely now.
Tracy takes my hand and pushes his way through the crowds of people until we reach the front doors. He frantically pushes them open and we walk into the cool fall air.
I sit at the bar, rocking my glass back and forth on the table while I talk to Willamina absently. What the hell is wrong with me? I have a totally gorgeous woman sitting right next to me who wants me like hell and all I can think about is Misty.
Not that there is anything wrong with Misty, it's just well…she's Misty. She's my friend. Almost like my sister and yet here I am sitting here feeling jealous over the fact that she's dancing with Tracy Sketchit.
"Brock, would you like to dance?" She asks, offering her hand to me. I smile and take it in mine, leaving my drink there on the bar. I lead her out on the dance floor. Normally, my heart should be thumping out of my chest, and yet it's not. It's aching instead.
Willamina puts her head on my shoulder and makes a soft sound of content and I wrap my arms around her back as we dance to slow song that is playing from some unseen loudspeaker.
I hold her tight against me and I try to focus on only her, but my eyes land on Misty and Tracy. They are dancing only a few feet away and I can't help but see the way Tracy's looking at Misty. He's looking at her like she's the only woman in the room and then I realize something…
When I stare at her, she is the only woman in the room. In fact, right now, even though I am dancing with Willamina all I can see is Misty. She's absolutely radiant.
Willamina doesn't seem to be paying much attention to anything else except the fact she's in my arms right now. She's rubbing my back lightly and my eyes stay focused on Misty, my jealousy building higher and higher. Then it snaps.
Tracy leans down and kisses Misty on the lips, lightly and quickly, but I think my heart just stopped beating. I can't hear what they are saying but Misty looks surprised, maybe frightened by his bold move.
He holds her tighter as she tries to pull away and then after a few seconds he kisses her again. I look away, I can't stand to watch this anymore. Somehow this doesn't seem fair. I have known Misty and a lot longer than Tracy has and yet he's the one kissing her.
Willamina looks up at me and look down at her. She has a smile on her face and I can tell by the look in her eyes that she absolutely adores me. "Brock, I've been waiting forever since the day we'd meet again…" She says, keeping her face tilted up towards mine. I could kiss her so easily now. I could hold this woman in my arms all night long if I wanted to. But it doesn't feel right.
"Willamina…" I start to say, I should go ahead and break it to her now before things go too far, but she places a finger on my lips.
"Brock, don't say anything, please. Just…let me enjoy this for a while." She says, placing her head back on my shoulder.
I open my mouth to protest, but shut it again quickly. What good would it do? Misty's dancing with Tracy and I'm never going to get my chance with her. So I might as well just give up, right?
Then I see them, pull apart from each other and rush towards the front exit. I hold onto Willamina tighter and try not to wander where they are going. Should I chase after her? No, that would only piss her off. Misty never liked it when I tried to get into her personal life.
My thoughts are interrupted when the slow song ends and the blue-haired woman in my arms looks up at me. "Brock, your leaving in the morning, correct?"
"Yes." I confess with a nod. "The three of us are headed to Hoenn."
A slight look of sadness comes across in her blue eyes and I feel slightly guilty. I shouldn't worry about what Misty does. I could have Willamina right now. I shouldn't care what Misty does. Our relationship is completely plutonic.
"If you want to…" She says, brushing a strand of hair back from my forehead. "tonight we can rent a room upstairs and spend some time together. Just you and me. No strings attached."
My mouth falls open. Did she really just offer to go to bed with me? I can't believe my ears. "Willamina, are you asking me…to…to sleep with you?"
"Brock, I just want one night with you." She tells me with a smile. "You're gorgeous. You're the man of my dreams. I know that your lifestyle and my lifestyle cannot allow us to be together but I just want one special night with you if that's all I'll ever have."
I'm not sure of what to say. It's seems like it's been forever since I've had a woman come on to me like this. In fact last time this happened, it was Ivy, the first and last woman I was with.
She touches my arm and I feel my body start to quiver with excitement. God, what I'd give to erase the memories of Felina Ivy. Willamina is asking me for a one night stand, so I wouldn't be using her if that's all she wanted.
I lean down and kiss her softly on the lips, giving her my positive answer. She kisses me back and my mind goes blank. I need to stop thinking about Misty, she isn't concerned about me so why should I be concerned about her?
She likes Tracy, and as much as I don't like to admit it, that's just the way it is.
I, of course, pay for the room that awaits us on the top floor and before I know it we're headed into the elevator.
She's kissing me, already trying to get my clothes off and of course I'm not protesting. Willamina is an incredibly attractive woman and I'm lucky enough to have her tonight. So why do I have reservations?
I don't know, but I'm really starting to get pissed off at myself. I need to just go with the motions and make love to her tonight. God knows we've been waiting a long time, ever since that day she left after we helped her find Meril.
We reach the room marked 232, and she opens the door with a smile on her face. I return the smile just as eagerly and follow her inside.
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