"Is here good?"

"Yeah."

Ash put down the box and sighed. He was helping Brock move some boxes to Lucy's house.

Ash didn't like Lucy's place. It was all flowers and napkins and tables clothes. Lucy is the type to keep standing at the door blocking your way until she's sure you've taken off your shoes before stepping inside her apartment.

"How's everything going, Ash?" Lucy was watching them put the boxes in the laundry room.

"It's alright."

"I hope you and Misty are no longer upset because I'm stealing this man over here."

"No, it's fine." The two men chuckled. "We got it through our heads now."

"You have the right to be upset. Brock is one in a million." Lucy hugged her boyfriend from behind, making him stop organizing the boxes.

"He's good. Take care of him." Ash smiled.

"Will do." Lucy and Brock shared a quick kiss. She then said, "How about your one in a million?"

"Uhmm, I don't know. I'm not sure."

Lucy blinked. "You're not sure?"

Ash shook his head. Brock and Lucy looked at each other, confused.

"I mean, I like – well, I can say I love Misty." Ash said. "But we can't get everything we want, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"Sometimes you have to go for what the mind wants, not what the heart wants." Ash seemed to avoid looking at them. He was making himself busy with the boxes.

"What are you talking about?"

"You can say I'm trying new things." Ash cleared his throat.

Lucy looked at her boyfriend. "Is this how men talk about masturbation?"

"No, no." Ash laughed. "What I'm saying is, I'm giving other people a chance."

"Oh."

"And you're doing that because you think they deserve a chance or you're just trying to get over Misty?"

"Look, Brock, I'm... I just want no problems – and I don't want to talk about this."

Lucy couldn't believe how good Ash and Misty were at creating problems out of nothing. Brock told her they were a complicated friendship but she didn't think it was this complicated.

"You're a big boy." Brock raised his eyebrows. "I wouldn't tell you what to do but don't come to me later looking for a whiskey bottle."

Ash looked at his digital wristwatch. "I've got to go."

"Okay. See you tonight at home."

"I'm..." Ash stopped at the door. He said, "I'm not going to be home tonight. Order pizza without me." And left.

Lucy and Brock stood there for a moment, not sure what just happened.

"Did he get over her?" Lucy asked. "Maybe he did."

"He did not and he just proved it."

"So, what do you think?"

"It's delicious!"

Angie smiled in satisfaction. She was seated beside Ash on her couch with her foot on the table, flashing her tattooed leg. The living room was messy. It has empty pizza boxes, taco wrappers, soda cans, a bottle of wine too – and plates full of what Angie calls 'Angie's little angels'.  They spent the whole time just eating and telling jokes, and they were getting comfortable with each other.

"It's why I have the curves." Angie gestured to her hips. "I just eat everything I find on my way."

Well, Angie was a girl with curves for sure. The high-waist jeans she wore to work couldn't put more emphasis on her large hips and butt. Add the jiggly boobs hanging around freely under her shirts...

"Me too, I guess." Ash flashed a nervous smile, the half-eaten cupcake in his hand. He should stop hanging out with Gary too much. He was a bad influence. And to say he's a father.

"You have the curves too?"

"What—Angie!"

Angie laughed.

"I meant I eat everything on my way too!"

"It's just so funny to see you frustrated like that."

"Stop it." Ash reached for another cupcake. He sighed. "I'm not hungry but I just want to eat this."

"Go ahead. It's Friday night. Just indulge."

"I guess." He couldn't help but think about his two friends at home right now. He was wondering what Misty was doing. Did she care that he was gone?

Angie grabbed a cupcake and started eating it. "And this is what I do every Friday!" 

Ash reached out for another cupcake and started eating it. He grabbed another one, ate it, and then grabbed another one.

Angie turned on the TV.

"Hey Angie."

"Hum?" She smiled at him.

"Thanks for today." He smiled genuinely. "This is really great."

"Of course it is." Angie pulled closer to him. She stroked his arm with her hand. "You're a wonderful guy, Ash. I admire you so much."

Ash found himself breathing harder. Angie was very close to him. "I really, really, really admire you."

"Thanks, Angie."

"In return..." She whispered and leaned forward, surprising him with a deep kiss on the lips. She sat on his lap and trapped his body between her legs.

Ash put his hands behind him, letting Angie kiss him. He leaned back, feeling Angie's womanhood rub against his thighs. The excitement was getting the best of him.

"Kiss me, Ash..."

Ash didn't move his hands. His eyes were closed, but his hands weren't touching Angie. He felt Angie's soft breasts against his chest, her knees against his hips, her hands over his cheeks, her nose touching his, her belly against his, and her lips on his.

He wasn't kissing her.

"Kiss me..."

He wasn't kissing her. His hands were still on the couch.

"Aash..."

"Misty..."

He opened his eyes at the same time as Angie.

"I meant..." Ash breathed heavily. "I promised to call her." He looked at his wristwatch. "A-around this time. She's a bit sick – when I left the house, she was sick."

Angie got off him. "Alright."

Ash flashed her a smile. He grabbed his phone and headed to the kitchen. Ash watched the screen of his phone. He had Misty on speed dial. He called her. He wanted to hear her voice.

Hello?

Something was wrong. Her voice sounded different. "Mist?

Y-yes?

"Are you crying?" It hurt him when she cried. It broke his heart to pieces. It killed him to see those beautiful turquoise eyes of hers in pain. It reminded him of when her parents died and she cried so hard onto his chest. She cried so hard she fell asleep on his shoulder. She cried so much she could no longer move or talk, and he was there, just hugging her, not saying anything; wishing he could make her feel better.

It was their first kiss.

"Is everything okay?"

Are you going to be home soon?

She sniffed.

Misty was crying.

"Yes." Ash didn't hesitant one second to say that. "I'm coming right now, Mist. I won't take long – I just need to take care of something, okay?"

Okay.

"Don't cry, Mist. Please."

I'm not crying-

The line went off.  Ash stormed out of the kitchen and headed to the door, getting his jacket.

"Is everything okay?" Angie followed him. "Is Misty fine?"

"She's not feeling well. She's sick." Ash put on her shoes. "I'm sorry but I really need to go. She's home alone."

Angie frowned. She walked to her door. "I hope she gets better."

"I'll call you." Ash was about to head outside but he stopped and turned to look at Angie. "I'm sorry – I wasn't myself today. I'll make it up to you."

"Don't mention it. Your friend needs you right now. Just go." Angie put her arms behind her. "Take care of her."

Ash smiled. He nodded and headed outside.

Angie closed the door gently and stood against it. She looked up at the ceiling and closed her eyes, the replay of the kiss stuck in her head.