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Ketchum Residence…
“Ash, you have to calm down,” said Delia, Ash Ketchum’s mother, over the phone.
“I know, mom, but it’s just-“
“Nerve-racking?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m not surprised. It’s natural for a sixteen year-old to feel like this. Lots of couples get nervous on their first dates.”
Ash nodded in agreement. Of course he knew that. Gary was nervous, even if he put on a mask of someone confidence. His date, Midori, was definitely more confident than Gary, and she didn’t need anything to build up her confidence whatsoever.
“You have the time and place you’re meeting Misty?”
“Mm-hmm. I’m going to pick her up about five and head to the ‘Jade Dragon’.” Delia clapped her hands.
“That’s a great choice, especially for new couples,” Delia rushed up and hugged her son tight. “Oh, my baby boy is growing up!”
“Mom, you’re embarrassing me!”
“Sorry, I just-“ Ash shook his head as he laughed. Yeah, he had definitely grown up from that ten year-old kid who first met that girl from Cerulean.
“It’s fine, mom,” he grinned. He glanced over to the clock and noticed it getting a bit past three thirty. “I should probably get dressed just in case I forget anything.”
“Go ahead. I’ll be down here once you’re all done,” Delia said with a wink. Ash gave a smile back. “Oh, do you need any help with the tie?”
“No, mom, I got it.” Ash ran up to his room and closed the door with a medium thud.
“He’s certainly grown up,” Delia quietly said to herself. Ash came down about ten minutes later in a white button up shirt, dark grey vest, with matching tie tie and pants. He had also tried to smooth his hair with his comb, but he couldn’t quite get it to look the way he wanted. Ash looked into the mirror.
If THIS doesn’t impress Misty, I don’t know what will, Ash mused. He gave himself a nod, going out to the stairs to the living room. As he got to the landing of the first floor, Ash heard a snap. He looked around and saw his mom holding up her phone. She grinned.
“Gotta get at least one picture for the family album,” she snickered. Ash let out an exasperated breath. He walked out to the front door carrying his cross-body bag to do a last minute once-over before he left.
Keys? Check.
Wallet? Check.
Phone? Check.
Sunglasses? Ash tapped the top of his head. Check.
Bouquet of Misty’s favorite flowers? Check. Ash then headed out to his dark green Nissan Sentra to his girlfriend’s home.
River Residence…
“Misty,” Daisy chided, “you're going to mess up your hair if you keep twisting it.”
“Sorry, I’m just so nervous. I mean, this is my first real date with my boyfriend.”
“And as your eldest sister, I know the feeling. Remember how bad I was when I started going out with Tracey?”
Yes, Misty could remember those days. Tracey Sketchit, one of the top art students from the local private schools, became her sister’s boyfriend. He was kind, friendly, but found him a little odd how often Tracey would just drop everything and start sketching in the middle of a conversation, a walk, or wherever he was.
Daisy didn’t mind whatsoever. In fact, she found it endearing. Misty, however, found it a little off-putting.
“Yeah,” Misty smirked, a memory coming to her, “you almost dropped a food tray when he showed off a certain drawing of you.”
Daisy blushed and spluttered. “Sis!"
Misty laughed and looked again into the mirror. She fixed the hair she had tangled, and went over to the mirror, just to make sure everything was right, including her outfit; a blue cocktail dress with matching pumps.
“You’re going to knock him dead, sis,” called out Violet.
“You got this,” grinned Lily. The three older sisters didn’t plan on going out tonight, as they thought it best that it be Misty’s night only. Plus, they had promised their youngest that they’d hold down the fort.
The four girls went out into the living room, still talking and waiting for Ash Ketchum to arrive. A car could be heard to pull up next to their house. Misty looked at the clock.
Right on time, she thought. A patterned knock came at the front door. Shave-and-a-hair-cut, two-bits.
Violet was the one closest to the door, and she opened it. “Come on in, Ash, your date awaits.” She gave him a sly smile, as he walked in.
Misty looked at her date and stared.
My god is he handsome, she thought.
When Ash looked at Misty, he gaped. If his jaw could hit the floor, it would have. There she was in the new dress she had promised him he’d see. And her hair was down instead of in the usual side tail or ponytail. Her hair was down.
It wasn’t often that Misty had worn her hair down, but whenever she did, Ash mentioned that it always made her look cute or mature or beautiful.
“Hey, Ash,” Lily teased, “you better close your mouth before you starting drooling on the floor in front of your date.”
Misty giggled as Ash immediately reddened, closing his mouth.
“Oh, Ash,” Daisy said with a serious tone, “can I have a word with you?”
Ash gulped, then nodded.
“I’ll wait in the car,” said Misty. Again, Ash nodded. He turned to Daisy. She put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it.
“Ash, if anything bad happens to our baby sister, we’ll know about it, and it won’t be pretty, so, you better have Misty back here before nine, got it?”
Daisy had put emphasis on those two last words, and Ash’s eyes widened in fear.
“I- y-yes, got it,” Ash replied in a small, squeaky voice.
“Good.” Daisy raised her head from Ash and said in her regular voice, “Now have fun, you two.”
“We will,” replied Misty.
Jade Dragon, later that evening…
“You have to try the mu shu with the plum sauce.”
“I don’t like how it tastes,” Ash countered. “Besides, you haven’t touched your egg rolls with the sweet chili pepper sauce.”
“Ash, you know I hate peppers,” pouted Misty. Ash raised an eyebrow in confusion.
“I thought it was just bell peppers that you hated.” Misty shut her eyes as though she had just eaten a lemon.
“They’ve always tasted like rubber whenever I’ve had them. I don’t know why, but it just turns out that way,” Misty explained, “I’m fine with the sauce, just not the egg rolls.”
“Ah,” Ash nodded, taking a bite of the mu shu roll he’d put together. “And the rest of the food?”
“Delicious,” Misty beamed. “This has got to be one of the best places I’ve ever eaten at! Say, where’d you even find it in the first place?”
“I didn’t,” Ash revealed, “my mom and her friend went up to the city and found it. Then, I went with my mom and, well, I pretty much fell in love with the food.” Ash chuckled, and took another bite of the dish.
“Tell your mom and her friend that I loved the food here,” Misty grinned.
“Will do,” Ash replied. The two kept on talking going from one topic to another, be it school, gaming, books, movies and more. Their food was changed from their appetizer to the main courses. Ash ordering the chow mein and wonton soup, while Misty had ordered pineapple pork rib. As both their stomachs were pretty much full, Ash called for the check.
He paid for both himself and Misty, getting two fortune cookies.
“What does yours say,” asked Misty.
“‘Follow your heart. See what turns up.’ Yours?”
“‘Do what you love. The rest will fall into place.”
“Well,” started Ash, “I’ve definitely followed my heart, and what turned up, was you, Misty.”
Misty’s heart melted when she heard that. “As for me, one of the things I loved doing was swimming. In fact, I loved it so much, that I went into competitions.”
“Oh yeah? What place did you get?”
“Either first or second.” Ash’s eyes widened.
“Oh wow.”
“Yeah,” Misty boasted, “that’s what hard work gets you.”
“Mm-hmm,” nodded Ash. He checked the time. “Uh, we should probably get moving if I don’t want to catch the wrath of your sisters.”
Misty snickered, remembering her sister’s threat. She got up from her seat, and Ash followed her, having paid for the whole dinner.
“Thanks for the food, it was delicious,” Misty called toward the kitchen and staff. “We’ll probably come here again!”
The staff thanked the couple, as Ash and Misty exited the restaurant.
River Residence…
“Daisy, it’s half-past eight,” a worried Violet said. “They’re not back yet. You think we should get ready to—”
Daisy stopped violet, and let out a loud sigh. “It’s not nine, Vi,” she said cooly. “Ash has thirty minutes until we go with the back-up plan.“ It wouldn’t come to pass as the sisters heard the sound of a car getting closer to their house and then stop.
“Must be them,” giggled Lily.
The sisters could see Ash and Misty getting out of Ash’s car, with the two holding hands. Ash lead her up to the front door, and waved goodbye as she went back into her home.
“So, spill us the details,” Lily said excitedly.
“Someday, maybe,” Misty smiled.
“Did you two have fun,” asked Daisy.
“We did.”
“Did you two have extra fun,” asked Violet with a smirk. Misty glared at her sister. “Okay, okay, forget I asked.”
Misty tsked and rolled her eyes as she stomped up to her room. There would always be days where she appreciated her sisters, and other days where she wondered why she even put up with them.