Mrs. Williams walked in the living room with a book when she noticed her youngest daughter on the couch. Misty had her feet on the coffee table (wearing her loyal SpongeBob big slippers) and she had several snacks on her right side and left side. She was currently eating a chocolate bar.

"Misty? Why aren't you at school?"

"I'm mad—I mean, I'm tired. It's Monday. Leave me alone." Misty sounded a little grumpy. She was staring at the TV.

"Is your period approaching?"

"I think."

"Do you want me to make you a hot drink?"

"It's fine. I'll be fine."

"Alright." Mrs. Williams sat on the single sofa and started reading her book. "Well, sweetie, maybe you shouldn't eat so many snacks. Eat the cookies I made, instead."

They weren't as crunchy and tasty as the ones Misty bought. "I did on breakfast."

"Okay, what's going on?" Mrs. Williams slapped her book shut and put it on her lap. "You look like you haven't slept all night! You look like a mess!"

Misty frowned as she pulled down her pajama shirt. Mrs. Williams put the snacks on the table and joined her side. "Tell me what's wrong, sweetie."

"Everything is wrong! Nothing goes right in my life!"

"Don't say that!"

"I'm the loser of this family!"

"Why are you saying that? Oh dear." Her mom kissed her forehead and cheek. "You're out little sweet Misty and we love you."

"No! I'm not little and sweet! I'm a big cow and I eat too much! I look fat!"

"No, you don't!"

"I'm disgusting and I eat like a guy! I even have a mustache to prove it!"

"Misty, calm down and tell me what's wrong." Her mom stroked her face. "Is someone bothering you at school?"

"No."

"What happened that made you feel so upset?"

Misty sighed. "Mom, I think I like Ash."

Her mom blinked. 

"I think I like Ash — I know I like Ash. It's awful because the last girl he liked was really skinny and had big boobs and her hips were large but they weren't fat and she really looked like an hourglass and he can't like me back and I will never be as sk-"

"Misty, dear, you have to tell him."

"No!" Misty shook her head. Her voice was wobbly. "Ash and I have treated each other like brother and sister for so long and he will never think of me as a love interest!"

"But you can't do this to yourself because of something you can't control."

"He pretended he was going to kiss me yesterday, mom! It made me so mad! He pretended he was going to kiss me! I got so mad I slapped him. I hated it! I wanted to cry afterwards! He was playing with my feelings!"

"Oh, dear, I'm so sorry..." Mom stroked her hair and kissed her forehead again. "He doesn't know, sweetie. You know how Ash likes to mess with you. He'd never do anything that would hurt you in any way."

"But he did."

"He has no idea you like him, Misty. You should understand. Try being in his shoes."

"If he doesn't like me, why did he try to kiss me?"

"Oh, don't speak like you don't know Ash. How many times he's pretended he's going to kiss you back in elementary school?"

Misty frowned. "But that was in elementary. He never did it in middle school or high school..."

"He's a child at heart."

"I guess..." Misty sighed again. "Maybe I shouldn't have slapped him, after all."

Her mother's face turned serious. "You shouldn't have and you own Ash an apology."

"But I'm sooo mad! I so want that kiss to be real!" Misty slapped her thighs in annoyance.

Mrs. Williams raised her eyebrows.

"Ahem..."

"Oh yeah? What's next? Getting in bed with him?"

"Mom!" Misty blushed. "Well, not now."

She slapped her thigh. "Shhhh!"

Misty shrugged. "I want to wait until marriage anyway." Her mom smiled and kissed her again.

"Well, that If I meet someone who is stupid enough to marry a pig like me who wears two spandex on prom night." Her mom rolled her eyes. She patted her daughter's cheek. "You're beautiful, dear."

"Yeah. Ash said that too."

"He did?"

Misty opened her eyes. She looked stunned. "Wow—yeah, he did—he really did..."

"And I guess you believe what he says, right?"

"Most of the time, yeah." Misty pouted. "Hug me, mom."

"You're gorgeous, Misty. He won't find better than you." The two hugged. "You'll make a wonderful girlfriend and fiancée and wife!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

"Now, let's get that kitchen cleaned!" Mrs. Williams got up. Misty pouted. "You might as well learn to cook a thing or two for your husband!"

"I'm not Ash's maid."

"You instantly implied the husband was Ash! Oh, Misty."

Misty groaned and buried her face into the couch. "WHY WON'T PEOPLE LEAVE ME ALOOONE?"

-

"Where is Misty?" Dawn asked May in a very low voice as the teacher was explaining. They both looked up at her empty seat.

"How would I know?"

"She usually tells us when she wants to skip..." Dawn blinked and turned to her left. She asked Gary. "Hey Gary, where is Ash?"

Gary shrugged. He looked annoyed because he was texting his girlfriend on his phone secretly and he hated to be interrupted. "I don't know. He's not answering. Why?"

"Just asking—Misty is not here too, so..."

"Oh, yeah, you're right." Gary blinked. "It's so weird, huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Ash and Misty are both skipping. Isn't it odd?" Gary leaned back on his chair. "They're up to something—something naughty."

"Oh, Ash saw Misty naked!" May suddenly blurted out—and too loudly, because everyone turned to look at her. Even the teacher looked at her.

She looked toward Dawn and Gary, who looked totally horrified.

"I mean... no, he didn't?" May cracked a smile. Everyone turned to look at them, except for Drew, Dawn and Gary (Paul didn't care).

"Maple?" Drew glared.

"What—what?"

"Spit."

-

Ash was sure his father was going to give him all kind of tiring chores if he stays home, but it was worth it. He just couldn't look at Misty's face anymore. He was a big pervert. He couldn't stop one second  thinking about her naked body, and he even dared trying to kiss her that other day!

"She'll get a guy who'll treat her nicely, I suppose." Ash sighed. He was pulling  weeds in the garden. It was his mom who requested his help first. He had to wash his dad's car right after he's finished. "I'll shoot him with dad's gun, he'll die, and I'll spend the rest of my life in jail."

"Are you talking to yourself?"

"Pretty much, mom."

"You're a little out lately. Is everything alright?" Mrs. Ketchum was planting some seeds.

"I have a math exam in three days and I'm scared I will fail it again."

"You still have three days to study, though."

"I usually study with Misty, but I can't see her right now."

"Why is that?"

"Stuff happened. I don't want to talk about it."

Mrs. Ketchum sure looked surprised. "How so? Misty is your best friend."

"Yeah... but maybe not anymore."

"Is it because of this 'stuff' that you wanted to skip today?"

"Mom, please, I don't want to." Ash got up and took off the gardening gloves. He gave them to his mom. "I'll go wash the car."

"Look at me." She threw the gloves and held Ash's head up by his chin. "Uh—yeah?"

"Do you like her, by any chance?" Darn moms and their psychic abilities.

"So?"

"Oh, sweetie, you should tell her."

"Hah! He's not brave enough! Is he?" His dad suddenly spoke from behind Ash. This latter turned around. "He was pissed because she slapped him. He's such a girl."

Ash rolled his eyes. "She wasn't messing around. She really slapped me."

"Did it hurt your feelings?" His dad mocked him.

Ash turned toward his mom. "Tell him to stop. It's serious."

His dad burst in hard laughter. "Look at you! You just acted like a five years old! Where is all the boxing and the weight lifting? Huh?" Even Mom hid a small smile behind her hand.

Ash didn't respond. His parents were really making him pissed. "Oh, it probably stayed in the basement. You go upstairs and you're all girly and soft over again!"

"Dear, you know how Ash is like. Leave him be."

"Shhhhh! That is why he is like this! You keep trying to help him! Let him sort things out on his own! He's a man — or so I think. Are you a man, Ashton?"

Ash suddenly started making his way to the gate. He left the house in a rush and didn't say a single word.

His mom was shocked. "He didn't even say where he was going!"

"That's a good sign!"

to be continued

I guess you figured out that the next chapter is the last right right