"You won't find a dealer for this 'beauty' in Kanto or even Johto."

"I know. I bought it when I was in Hoenn. I still have to see if the insurance company is willing to pay."

"This is vandalism, Ketchum."

Ash gazed pitifully at his beautiful, white shiny, ruined car. Both the front window and the back window were broken, and the back lights were broken too. Let's not forget the side mirrors.

Misty ruined it.

"The girl's a psycho. I told you to stay away from her, but you were like No Gary! I like clumsy stupid girls who throw rocks at me and give me scratches on my face!"

"I don't speak like that."

"You just look ridiculous chasing after this mentally-ill girl, Ash." Gary shook his head to himself and leaned back on his chair. The two were in Gary's parents' porch having coffee.

Ash said he'd rather not go to his parents' house with his car looking like crap and his face looking like crap too. He just didn't want to give any explanations about it, especially that Stella was probably still around and not back to Goldenrod yet.

"She's got problems, Ash. She needs serious help, and help doesn't mean you chasing after her and giving her roses. That won't fix anything for her. This girl surely went through some serious shit with some guy and he totally ruined her, and she's not over it."

"Maybe you're right."

"Maybe? I'm always right. You're pretty good when you listen. This Misty frigging needs a therapist or something."

Maybe Misty did really need a therapist after all. She's ruined all the windows in Ash's car, and gave him scratches all over his arms and face. They were very slight ones, but that wasn't the problem. The average healthy human doesn't throw rocks at people like that.

"You're good, Ash?"

"Yes, I am."

"Good. Now I have some news to announce," said Gary before he sipped his coffee and took out his phone. "Anabel is in Pallet."

"..."

"Here comes the best part: her uncle's friend has a local car dealership, and I'm sure he'll get you the windows' glass from Hoenn and fix it for you for free, and that, of course, if you stick around little Anabel."

"Gary..."

"You can thank me later." Ash could swear adulthood hasn't changed a bit Gary's cocky attitude.

"You called her didn't you?"

"I did, and she said her uncle can help. Hey, at least she has no mental issues, and she's got a body to die for."

Ash sighed. Things were going perfectly fine between him and Misty, why did she have to ruin everything? Now Gary was winning. He failed hard to prove him wrong.

Maybe Misty wasn't really worth it after all.

"Look; Anabel is head over heels for you, and you need to get that stuff fixed—and I'm sure it won't be cheap at all. It has nothing to do with me being her best friend or not."

Ash knew Gary was right. The windows could even cost him more than the car itself cost.

"So? Do you really want to get your 'beauty' fixed or you're playing Romeo?"

"Gary, did you plan all of this?"

"Nope. She called few minutes after you hung up and she was asking about you like usual... I told her you can't see her since you were busy trying to find someone who can fix your car windows, and she told me about her uncle's friend."

"Are you sure?"

"Oh, I'm not sure! I'm trying to prevent you from spending a fortune because some stupid girl broke your car windows and lights. This whole thing is stupid. I warned you-"

"-and I didn't listen, I know. But... I really thought she was... maybe she just needed someone to fix her."

"Fix her?" Gary slapped his forehead. "Ash, you need to fix your car now, not girls. Forget about the carrot top. She doesn't know what it is to have an expensive car."

"Well, it makes sense..." Ash leaned back in his chair, eyes still fixed on his car. Misty sure doesn't realize how much trouble she's caused Ash when she threw those a few rocks at his car.

"Do I call Anabel? Or you can do it?"

"I think I can do that..."

"You still have that bouquet of roses or you gave it already to the psychopath?"

Ash cleared his throat. "I still have it..."

"Good. Now you know what to do." Gary looked satisfied. He leaned back and placed his foot on his thigh proudly. His mother got out of the house suddenly.

"Hey boys."

"She still calls us boys." Ash whispered to his friend. Gary snickered to himself. "Hey mom, where are you going?"

"I'm going shop—oh dear! What happened to your car, Ash?" Mrs. Oak turned around, her hand on her cheek.

"A small accident..."

"Oh dear! Good thing you're okay!" Mrs. Oak turned her attention to her son. "Tell Mark about it so he calls those friends of his in Vermilion city. Those ones who fixed your father's car lights, right?"

Ash turned toward his childhood friend with a harsh look on the face. Gary cleared his throat. "I will..."

As soon as Gary's mother was out of sight, Ash raged. "Your brother can fix it and you're trying to get Anabel in the picture?"

Gary shrugged. "Nice try, but Mark said his friend won't do it for free."

"Well, that got me for a moment..."

"I'm not trying to get anyone in any picture; I'm just trying to keep you out of trouble since you can't seem to do that on your own."

"Hahaha, very funny."

"Look at your car and stare into the mirror for a couple of seconds and you'll see what I mean."

Ash hated when Gary was right.

"I should go." Ash pushed his chair to the back and got up. He collected his keys and phone from the table. Gary was giving a cautious look.

"What?"

"If nothing works... just fill a claim. You'll win easily. That bug will pay for it while you watch, and that will teach her to throw rocks at cars she doesn't know how much valuable they are."

"Is this a joke?"

"Am I laughing? No. In your shoes, I'd have already filed a police report. Yeah. Keep staring at me like that. You're not very good at this stuff, Ash. This is vandalism."

This was getting too serious.

-

"Wow Ash, I'm sorry this happened."

Ash was standing up shirtless in front of the mirror. He was trying hopelessly to hide the slight scratches on his face with small pieces of adhesive strips until Chloe showed up –he forgot to lock the bathroom- and he told her about what happened. At least Stella was out with Eric visiting this latter's home city, Cerulean.

"Yeah, it sucks."

"Maybe throwing a rock or two at you but... ruining the whole car? That's overdone."

"I don't know what has gotten into her suddenly..." or he did? Ash wasn't sure. Maybe he shouldn't have showed up too early in the morning?

"No one in their right mind do this... you didn't try a dirty move on her did you?"

"Don't speak like you don't know me, Chloe."

"I'm just asking... I know you'd never do that." Chloe pouted. "Where are you heading now anyway?"

"Well..." Ash wasn't sure if he should tell Chloe about his plans with Anabel. He didn't want drama and he wasn't ready to answer any questions yet.

He was feeling awful.

"Well?"

"I'm going to see Anabel."

Oh, really?"

"Uhm."

Chloe looked a bit shocked. She was getting ready to leave the bathroom. "Okay then... good luck."

Ash couldn't even imagine himself with Anabel. It'd be too fake. "That's all you have to say to me?"

"I have other things to say, but I'd rather keep my mouth shut..."

"Just say them."

Chloe avoided eye contact with Ash. "The whole family knows you don't like Anabel back, so if you ever start dating or something of the sort, I'd be disappointed, because I'd know you're lying to her."

Ash sighed.

"Everyone would be disappointed. Even Stella who is so desperate to see you dating wouldn't want you together with her. I mean, we have nothing against Anabel, really, but she's just not the one as it seems."

"Maybe Misty is messed up, but at least you wanted her. Maybe this was just the way of expressing her feelings, anger or something—I don't know. Maybe you chose a bad timing to go see her. She's a nurse, and that's a very stressful job."

Chloe's words were making sense. "I suggest you go see her once again, and see how she is doing. She could be regretting what she did. If she is still angry and throws mean words at you, then maybe she doesn't want you around her anymore."

"And if it isn't the case?"

"Then maybe she acted foolishly, without thinking. We girls do that a lot, trust me. The times I've slapped Jacob without reason are countless."

Ash chuckled.

"It's too easy to hit than to yell or shout to explain and express yourself."

"I understand."

"Give her one more last chance, and if she still insists on being mean, then drop her, since she's in no position to act mean toward you again."

"You're somewhat right, but I still have to think more before going to see Misty after what happened."

"You make the choice, little brother." Chloe smiled. She then reached for the adhesive strips. "We can't hide the big scratches on your arms with the concealer. You'll have to look a little ugly so the cuts won't get infected."

Ash sighed and smiled to himself. "This summer is getting crazier."

To be continued.