Misty called Ash later that night.

"Hello?"

"Ash..."

"Yeah Mist?"

"I can't do it..."

"Do what?"

"I... I don't... think I can confess to Brock..."

"Why is that?"

"I don't know... it's just... I feel numb."

"Numb?"

"Maybe I took this deal too seriously."

Ash laughed softly, "You think?"

Misty chuckled sadly.

"Would you ever move away Ash?"

"Why the odd question?" Ash joked.

"I don't know. Brock's moving away and so are two of my sisters. Everyone else lives in their region. I'm just waiting for the moment for you to leave... just like everybody else."

Ash was silent for a moment before saying softly, "I don't think I'm moving anytime soon Mist."

"But you will move away one day?"

He didn't answer the question.

______________________________________________________________________

                                                                       THE WEDDING DAY 

Today was the day.

Misty stood beside Suzie as she admired her in her wedding gown. She could hear the loud chatter of guests and families all down in the garden. Friends and their kids running inside the wedding venue house to get a sneak peek of the bride. The wedding planner and florist people scream and shout.

All just behind the room's closed door.

It made Misty sick knowing how much she wished to tear that smile off her. She wanted what she had.

Love.

Suzie turned to see Misty. She grabbed both of Misty's arms and held them tightly.

"Thank you for everything Misty."

Misty gave her a small smile. Trying to hide the huge amount of guilt she had.

Suzie, now with tears in her eyes, "You're like the sister I never had. Thank you for being by my side on this day. You have been nothing but kind to me."

Misty swallowed the lump she had on her throat. She hated how nice and kind Suzie was towards her and here she was, about to commit such traitor act towards her. The pain she was about to inflict on her.

"It was an honor, Suzie..."

What a maid of honor she was.

__________

After Suzie's mother had arrived at the private room Misty began walking over to where Brock was getting ready.

As soon as she walked in, all of her breath left her.

There he stood.

All groomed up.

In that tuxedo.

With such a captivating smile.

Yet she felt no attraction...

Brock stopped looking at himself in the mirror and turned to her.

"Oh Mist! Please help me!"

Misty walked up to him.

"My tie. I can't do it." Brock whined.

Misty smiled sadly before she did it for him.

"Brock..."

"Misty..."

They both looked at each other and let out a nervous laugh.

Brock grabbed her hand as he continued, "I just wanted to say thank you... for everything."

Misty bit her lip hard.

"I don't deserve you as my best friend. Both, you and Ash have been by my side since I can remember."

Misty smiled her heartbreaking into a million pieces.

"I also wanted to say I am so sorry..."

Misty's smile fell apart.

"For what?"

"Ash wanted me to give you this letter months ago and I didn't give it to you..."

"Why?" Misty asked, accepting the envelope Brock was handing her.

"My gut told me that with the fight you guys had it didn't seem like the appropriate time to give it to you."

"Oh, Brock..."

"I'm sorry Mist. I am so sorry."

"No... I am sorry Brock..." Misty said, silent tears on the verge from falling down her cheeks.

"Why are you sorry Mist?"

"For this."

Misty then used both her hands to grab Brock by his face and kissed him. She knew she had told Ash she wasn't going to confess to him but she just needed to try. She just needed to feel his lips against hers. She needed to know if she should still fight for them.

Brock's eyes widened. He tried holding her away from him as possible by grabbing both her arms and pushing her lightly.

"I think Brock is in here Suzie... but isn't it bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?"

"This is urgent Ash. I really need to see him."

"Okie Dokie."

Ash opened the door and what he saw upon entering the room made his heart fracture. He froze, just staring at them. Pain in his eyes.

"Hey, why'd you stop?" Suzie, who was just behind him, asked. As soon as her eyes landed at the scene before her she clutched at the gold chain she wore. It pressed white-hot against her pale skin. Each gasp she took, tore down her throat like a knife. Her mind raced as she lost herself in the storm.

Both Misty and Brock broke apart and could only witness Suzie frozen before them. 

In her beautiful bride dress, tears down her face, leaving her mascara to smear her cheeks, and her chain painfully pressed on her chest. Suzie's throat held back something between a sob and a shout. She couldn't believe what she had just seen. The intensifying emotions she felt were too much for her to bear. Through the blur of motion, she turned around and ran out of their view.

"Suzie!" Brock yelled before letting go of Misty and trying to run after her.

"Brock!" Misty yelled, tears now streaming on her face.

"What?!" Brock yelled, now glaring at her.

Misty wanted to die right there and then. Brock had never talked to her that way. He had never looked at her that way. With such anger and... disgust. She did deserve to die.

"I am so sorry!" Misty sobbed.

Brock's eyes soften, just a bit before he hissed, "Why did you do that?!"

"I...loved you!"

She thought she did but that kiss. That kiss felt like nothing. In fact, she felt a bit disgusted even initiating the kiss. Why? She has dreamed of this moment. This fantasy she always had. Perhaps her fantasy was just an illusion.

"What?!"

Misty cried as she held his arm, preventing him from leaving, before she continued, "Remember the deal we made... back in middle school?"

Brock raised an eyebrow at her.

"What deal?"

"When we turn twenty-eight and-"

"Are you f^cking serious right now?"

Misty looked at Brock, with such a sad expression.

"I am so sorry! Please forgive me!"

Brock shook his head before he yanked himself from her grasp.

"I... can't believe you Misty..."

"Please don't look at me like that."

"I need to go find Suzie. I have to find her."

Misty nodded, "Go get her. Go get the love of your life."

Brock looked at her, one last time, and ran out.

This time Misty couldn't read his expression.

Misty's attention then focused on Ash.. who was silently still standing there. He looked at her with such fury in his eyes.

"Ash..." Misty let out as she tried reaching for him.

He flinched. Yanking his arm out of her grasp.

Misty gasped. Ash had never avoided her like that before. It hurt her.

"Ash...no. Please don't look at me like that... I can't bear it if it's you looking at me like that." Misty sobbed.

Ash shook his head. His eyes burning with rage. He then saw the envelope she had in her hand and venomously spat out, "Forget anything I wrote in that letter. I can't even look at you..."

Misty kept on crying.

His brown orbs pierced into her cool blue ones as he said coldly, "I hope you're happy with what you have caused."

He then turned around and walked out of the room. Never looking back behind him.

Leaving Misty alone.

Drowning in her guilt. 

__________________________________

Ash, in a gloomy state, was inside in one of the wedding house's rooms. He had his phone beside his ear as he let Lance talk.

"It's now or never Ash. The League needs your decision now."

Ash looked out the room's window. It showed the glorious scenery of the ocean. The beautiful blue ocean.

Blue.

Blue like her eyes.

Ash tried to blink back a tear but he failed, miserably.

Lance's voice now sounded so far away from him.

It was now just him and the ocean.

Not even the hot stream of tears trickling down his face could cure his thirst for her. After all, she loved Brock, not him.

"Lance..." Ash finally said, holding back a sob.

"Ash everything alright?"

As he said the next words his throat ached. Like if someone was stabbing him with a knife multiple times.

"Tell the League it's a yes."

He then ended the call before he did something he would forever regret.