The Bucket List

#24: Have Something Named After Me

Misty groaned. "You and I both know that's not really how I feel. But you really didn't have to. You've already done a lot for me."

"Yeah, well, I wanted to do a little bit more," he explained before handing over the tiny, wrapped gift.

Like a kid on Christmas, Misty ripped through the wrapping paper and lifted the box's top to reveal a picture frame. Gary watched as she narrowed her brows and squinted at the picture behind the glass. "It's a... star?"

"Number 24: Have something named after me." Misty froze, her eyes fixed on the picture frame. For just a moment, Gary thought he saw disappointment flash across Misty's face. "Everything okay?" Misty nodded but didn't say anything. Does she hate it? He couldn't help but wonder. Was she mad because it was him who had given the gift to her and not Ash? "You know, Ash isn't the only one who can help you with your bucket list."

. "I know," Misty snapped as she turned to face Gary, but her face quickly softened. "Sorry. I mean, I know that. This is sweet, Gary. Thank you."

"You sure? You don't sound very happy. " Gary asked, taking note of Misty's knitted eyebrows and far off look. "You okay?"

Misty placed the picture frame down in front of her and sighed. "I think I messed up."

Gary looked at her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Is Ash mad at me?" she asked, and Gary's stomach plummeted. "When you were carrying me upstairs, he had this look on his face that was so not him. He hasn't come to visit me since last week, and he's been really quiet too." Misty turned her gaze on Gary. "Has he said anything to you?"

Gary tried not to laugh at the thought of Ash coming to him for advice or even to talk about his problems. Their friendship had improved over the years, but they weren't quite to that level yet, nor did Gary think they would be. "Ketchum? No, but Dawn said he and Layla were fighting, and Brock seemed pretty pissed off at him."

Gary neglected to share that he was pretty confident that Misty was the cause of the tension between Layla and Ash and why Brock was ignoring Ash. And while it wasn't the typical Ash and Misty drama, none of their friends would tell Gary what had happened.

"Oh..."

Misty looked like she wanted to say more, but she remained quiet.

"He'll be fine, Red. He probably did something stupid." He definitely did something stupid. "You know how in-tune he is with the opposite sex."

Misty snickered. "That's true."

Relieved that Misty seemed to have dropped the topic, Gary hopped off the bed, standing up to pull his shirt over his head. Misty cleared the wrapping paper from her bed and gingerly placed the picture frame on the nightstand next to her bed. Gary pulled the blankets aside, crawled into bed, and wrapped his arms around her, pulling Misty close. He took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent of chlorine and coconut that still clung to her skin and hair before exhaling deeply. Misty squirmed as his breath tickled the nape of her neck.

"Gary?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for the gift." This time when she thanked him, Gary believed she really meant it. "And not that it's a competition, but you've helped me check off more on my list than Ash."

Gary snorted. Misty always knew just what to say to make him feel better.

"I missed you, Red."

"I missed you, too."

oOo

"Morning Misty," Brock greeted her as she walked into the kitchen.