"It's not fun getting rejected."

The redhead looked up when she heard the familiar voice. Her heart almost stopped beating when she saw him. He was wearing a large hoodie this time, with the hood resting on his head and hiding most of his hair. He had a few cuts on his face.

"Ash?"

"The Almighty Ash, please."

Even after what she's done to him, he still came to see her. He was still looking the same, giving the same smile and acting in the same attitude. He didn't look angry at all. He was even holding a bouquet of orange and pink roses in his hands.

Ash sat beside Misty on the stairs. She was at her residence entrance. He looked down at the bouquet, then turned toward her and handed it to her.

"You can always get rid of it later. It was originally bought for you, so... I promise the orange roses have nothing to do with your hair."

Misty was feeling utterly embarrassed. Even after she hits him and damages his car, he brings her a bouquet of roses. The redhead can't resist such gesture.

She accepted it without saying a word, and admired the colorful flowers. Misty was feeling like crying. This guy was just too sweet he made her feel guilty.

"You've been crying."

Misty turned toward him abruptly. She knew it was too noticeable. Her eyes were hurting, and she was sure they were all puffy and red.

Ash kept staring at her. Misty shook her head and turned to look in front of her. "That's because I regret all my choices in life. I seriously suck."

"No wonder no guy has ever tried to come closer. Looking back now at what I've done to you... I seriously suck."

Ash smiled a small one. He leaned back and supported himself with his arms. "You may be a psychopath, but you're a clueless cute one."

"It's not the time for a joke, Ash."

"I don't think you suck, you just needed someone to fix you. I was trying to be that someone-"

"-and I ruined it."

Ash chuckled lightly. "Not exactly, Miss I-seriously-suck. The only thing ruined is my car windows. Other than that, everything is still perfectly fine."

"Stop making fun of me."

"You're a very strong woman, Misty. You just need more self-confidence. Learn from me, Miss Carrot top. You should start hanging out more with people like Gary and me."

Misty was trying hard not to smile. She didn't feel like it. "Our self-esteem is so high it annoys the whole town."

"Ash... if you want me to pay for the win-"

"No, I don't. My insurance company is taking care of it."

"Then—ah!"

Misty gasped when Ash grabbed her hand and leaned forward her. He was pulling closer and closer. "You act without thinking, and I like you. You're unique, and I still like you. You're clueless, funny, weird, and crazy—be even a psycho. I don't even care. I like you."

It was the first time the redhead would dare looking straight into Ash's eyes, and it was the first time she'd realize how stunning and attractive they looked. She was having a hard time not to stare into them. The evening sun was hitting them slightly. They were looking more hazel brown.

"I'm sorry for acting immature this morning... I'm really sorry, Ash." Misty was speaking in a regretful voice tone. She was feeling totally defeated and she could no longer fight back her feelings.

"But when you did..."

"You fell hard."

May and Dawn were right.

It's just like she fell in the trap she's pulled.

She fought so much not to let any guy come near her, then when this Ash Ketchum showed up, she fell too hard, on her nose. She probably even broke her nose.

It was settled; she liked this guy. She just liked Ash Ketchum. Misty how no idea how it happened, where and when, but she was sure she didn't hate Ash. She liked being with Ash.

"I'm stupid." Misty whispered to herself.

"Well, in a cute way, if you ask me."

"Stop calling me cute—I'm not cute! Ugh!"

"You are cute!" Ash snapped and pulled away, laughing. "I promise I'm not lying."

"Why are you still... ugh... I don't even..." Misty sighed heavily and buried her head in her hands. Even after what she's done to him, he was still trying to make her feel better.

She ran a hand through her hair and asked, "Why are you coming back?"

"Well, that's a pretty good question. Will you have dinner with me if I promise to answer it later?"

Misty's eyebrows rose. "And you still want to have dinner with me?"

"As long as you won't ruin my father's car windows, then yes."

The redhead groaned. It made Ash laugh again.

"So, are you going with me?"

"Promise you'll answer the question."

"If I find the answer maybe," Ash spoke in a sly voice tone. He inched closer and closer to the redhead.

"Don't come any closer."

"Oh, I'm sorry. This is tempting."

Misty let a loud shout. She then sighed again. "I hate myself for what I did. I can't get over it. Just leave me alone, Ash."

"Does that mean I was doing things the wrong way?"

"No-"

"Well, good. People think I've been doing things the wrong way because I've been single for six years now, but what they don't know is that no girl has ever caught my interest. Clothes and make-up these days make the girls look all the same. It's like a copy-paste thing."

Misty giggled silently. "Ballooned ego?"

"It's always good to have great self-confidence, Miss Leave-me-alone. Like I told you, you should start hanging out more with me."

The redhead was really finding Ash's company amusing. It has been years since she felt amused and entertained like this. She was really enjoying this.

Why did she close all doors and forced herself to live a miserable, boring and uptight, stressing life?

Yes; her life was miserable. Misty felt empty. She hated to admit it, but it was the truth.

She never felt wanted or loved.

So what if her father was a jerk? It didn't make all men jerks. Other men have nothing to do with her father; it doesn't even have anything to do with being a man or a woman. It's not even a matter of gender. All of sudden, everything is so clear for the redhead.

"So... dinner or no dinner?"

Misty got up and took a deep breath. She smiled at him and said, "I'll go get my keys and wallet."

"Okay—wait; since you accepted the dinner offer that easily, will you go out with me? Don't friendzone me. Please, don't."

The redhead didn't really show it but she was jumping in glee in the inside. She rolled her eyes at Ash and made her way inside the building.

"Well, Miss Friendzone, that's alright. Promise you'll say yes next time!" Ash shouted at her from outside and smirked.

Misty was making her way to the stairs, smiling; her eyes totally fixed on the roses.

She had to get a flat tire, get stalked, binge on Oreo's until she's sick, eat Ash's sandwich, ruin his car windows, give him bruises and get yelled at so she can come to the realization that pushing guys away because of what her father did was utterly stupid and made no sense at all. Misty didn't hate guys; she hated her dad. Maybe not anymore. She didn't care about her dad.

Those bouquets of roses, the lunches invitations, and all the stalking ... they made her happy. She felt alive again, loved, and worthy.

God, she loved being a girl.

Misty giggled to herself and right after she opened her apartment's door, she noticed the note with the roses. She read it:

I bet you still don't know how to fix a flat tire on your own! — Ash

"What-..."

The next thing we know Misty rushing downstairs, shouting profanities and finally shoving the bouquet of flowers into Ash's head.

"M-Uhmf!"

God, she really loved being a girl. 

To be continued.