Misty was feeling like sh*t, and she was sure she was looking like sh*t too.

"Good thing you had the spare tire."

The redhead nodded and tried to crack a smile. She was all the time standing against the front of her car as Ash changed the tire. Gary handed him the tools and she just watched them.

She will make sure no one will know of this; no one should know that Misty, the number one feminist in her family, had to use the help of a man.

The irony.

"Where were you heading anyway, miss?"

"None of your business."

Misty could hear Ash and Gary chuckle at her answer. Were they taking it for a joke? She really meant it. She meant it - wait, they dared not to take her seriously? Seriously?

The redhead was boiling inside. She wanted the ground to crack open and swallow her. This was humiliating. She was never going to forgive herself for looking so stupid in front of the opposite sex, never, ever.

"It's done."

Misty wished they would just leave quickly. She wanted to forget about this and never think of it ever again.

Good thing no one was here to see her get humiliated.

"Good thing we showed up. Very few people use this shortcut. Some people fear the forest."

Misty regained herself in the last minute before she yells at Ash. This latter handed Gary the towel and he started cleaning his hands too.

"Why did you use this road anyway? You weren't scare-"

"Why would I be scared? Huh? Why would I be, you butthole? Huh? Huh?" Misty knew she sounded very sensitive, but she couldn't help it. This was making her mad and angry at herself.

Ash blinked. He and Gary exchanged a look and chuckled. Misty was feeling angrier now; they just weren't taking her seriously!

"I just mean that... you used this shortcut and you're a girl on your own... a lot of accidents have happened in here. Thieves hide in the forest and jump at people who drive slow or are pulling off for emergencies."

"Yeah. A girl from Pallet got robbed here. You have to be careful next time."

"I don't think this is a safe place for a girl to be at anyway. I wouldn't let any of my sisters-"

"That's because your sister is not me!" Misty couldn't contain herself. She jumped at Ash and grabbed him from his tee shirt. Gary looked totally frightened.

"What the actually f*ck? Ash! Get her off of you!"

Ash wasn't listening to his friend. He was just watching Misty as she grabbed him by the clothes. She didn't notice but he was slightly grinning.

Her understood her completely now.

She was one of those girls, hum?

"Thank you for helping me! Now, leave me alone, will you? I don't need your lectures about how weak women are! I don't need to hear anything from about women! Especially from a person like you!"

I think you mean especially from a guy... Ash could understand already why the redhead was acting this way. He didn't know why, but he felt like pushing her buttons suddenly.

"Do you feel inferior to men or something? I think you have issues accepting yourse-"

"Shut up! F*ck off! Die! Diie! I said die!" Misty let go of Ash and pushed him to the back. He was still on his feet though. Misty took a deep breath and got inside her car.

She took off quickly - well, she thought she was quick. Misty feared speed, but she never admitted that to anyone, not even herself.

It certainly didn't have anything to do with her being a girl, yes, that's true.

Ash and Gary watched her as she drove away.

"That's what we get for helping someone! That girl is total psycho, man. Let's get to Pallet before we get robbed too."

Ash didn't say anything. The two walked back to their car and got in. Ash switched it on. "She's nuts. It's funny."

Gary raised an eyebrow at his friend as he did a half-turn and started driving the opposite way.

"What do you think you're doing?" Gary yelled at Ash.

"She's an idiot. We need to make sure she gets home safely without getting herself killed."

"What? Wait no, this isn't happening, is it?"

Ash sped up even more. "This summer is going to be fun for me. That's for sure!"

-

Misty let a relieved deep breath once she finally arrived at her house in Cerulean city. It was ten thirty by her watch now. At least she was home, and safe.

She gasped and turned to her left when she heard the sound of a car brutally pulling over right on the middle of the road, and beside her. The sudden braking made the sound of tires screeching heard all over the neighborhood, and the loud music coming from the car has surely woken up everyone.

She gasped even more when she noticed who it was.

"Hey! You made it, on your own!" Ash yelled to her after he rolled down the window on Gary's side. The brunette was smirking too.

"You - You-"

"She didn't even notice we were following her!" Gary exclaimed mockingly.

"Did you look at your rear-mirror for once? It's not for makeup, you know!"

"I will call the police if you don't leave me alone!" Misty shouted back. She was seriously scared now - and she hated that she felt scared. Her phone was dead. Those two were giving her the creeps. What if they were stalkers? This had nothing to do with her being a girl, right? Right! Both male and female stalkers were scary!

"Oh, not the police!" Ash said and laughed loudly. "Hey, we just wanted to make sure you got home before you ruined the tire again, you know, since you're a girl on your own!"

"Get - get out of my face! I'm serious about calling the police!"

"Good night then, Miss Misty Williams! Learn how to fix a flat tire next time so you won't need men again!"

Misty gasped loudly as they took off, turning on the music even louder.

"How-how-how-he knows my n-..."

"I HATE MEN! I HATE THEM! SCREW YOU AAAAALLL! AAAARGH!"

To be continued.