Misty was walking in fast steps, making her way to her office as her high heels clicked. She took off her suit jacket; put it on the top of her desk chair and as about to take a seat when someone got inside her office.
The redhead looked up.
"It was a nice presentation. The committee is surely impressed."
"Uhm." Misty nodded and took a seat. She opened her laptop.
"Are you free tonight?"
The redhead looked up again. Danny put his hands inside his pants' pockets.
"What for?"
"It's, uh, for a business dinner. A delegation is coming from Hoenn for an official visit." Danny looked away. "It's good for our team if we introduce you to them."
Misty crossed her legs. She switched her gaze to her laptop. "I can't. I should have been informed earlier."
"Oh, okay." Danny nodded to himself. "Too bad."
Misty looked at him. Her looks were as if they were chasing the young man out of her office.
"I'll let you work, then..." Danny flashed a nervous smile and left Misty's office. He sighed loudly right after he closed the door. "What a woman!"
"Did she say yes?" Rudy grinned. He ran to Danny right when he showed up in the hallway.
"No..." Danny made a face. "It's like she's got a wall around her! You can't reach the woman."
"She loves her ex boyfriend. I told you before."
"But Anabel said they broke up a year ago." He thought the woman would have been ready by now to start dating. Misty's quite a catch; beautiful, successful, fit, elegant. She's quite popular among all single men in the ministry.
Danny narrowed his eyes. "Do you know her ex boyfriend?"
"Not a clue." Rudy shook his head. "But when she first started working here, I remember some guy riding a Harley Davidson came to wait for her outside at the end of the day."
"Really..." It was hard for Danny to imagine Misty dating some guy riding a bike. She was the classy type, wearing pencil skirts and blouses without a single wrinkle. Her makeup is always light and discreet, and her hair is constantly attached in a bun, straight; not a single hair up. She never accepts when someone brought sweets to office; says she's on a diet. Even when she's drinking coffee, she wiping the corners of her mouth with her napkin. Also, Misty never slouches or leans back... never, ever.
"He never took off his helmet so I couldn't see the guy, but Anabel said he was some spoiled rich brat who's waiting for his daddy to root so he can inherit."
"All I know is I can see Misty and she's hot."
The two men got startled when, suddenly, the door of Misty's office opened and the redhead showed up.
"Can you two please talk in a lower voice or just talk somewhere else? I'm trying to concentrate." Misty looked quite serious.
"I-"
"Thank you for understanding." Misty slammed the door shut.
Rudy and Danny looked at each other.
"Are you sure you want to date this woman?"
"No wonder her previous guy dumped her!"
Misty just sighed heavily when Danny and Rudy started laughing loudly in the hallway.
Misty was getting the groceries when she ended up in the sweets and snack aisle. She was sighing and watching with envious eyes all the candy she hasn't eaten in years.
"Being an adult is not fun..." Having an office job at the ministry was something, but it was still an office job, and she sat down all day long. It didn't rhyme well with staying thin for her skirts.
The sweets and snacks aisle was a dangerous place to be at, but not only because it had sweets all over. Misty caught sight of a familiar face she didn't feel like seeing. The redhead turned to look the other way and pushed her cart-
"Misty! It's you!"
Damn it.
Misty stopped in her tracks. She had no choice, right? A responsible adult should turn around and greet politely when their name is being called, especially if it's Reese from all people.
"What a lovely surprise!" Reese hasn't changed from last time Misty has seen her, a year ago. Simple, cheerful, beautiful. She was quite calm for a mother of a twelve years old boy and a six years old girl; contrary to her husband Seth who was the master of throwing shoes at his son.
"Uh, yeah..." Misty brushed her hair behind her ear. She was feeling a bit confused. Reese was happy to see her?
"How are your sisters and your parents? You and Ash disappeared for so long! Where have you been? Mom is getting lonely. She likes having you both around."
Misty's eyes shot wide. What?
"Uh, oh. Uh..."
"Where is Ash? Is he with you?" Reese looked behind Misty. She then looked at her. "Mom told me you didn't get home for any holidays! She's upset."
"Well..."
"Bridget's brother-in-law is getting married next month. She's given the wedding invitations to mom so maybe you should go this weekend to take those." Reese smiled. "She wanted you to come because there will be a lot of people from other ministries."
Misty thought it's now or never. If Ash didn't tell these poor souls the broke up, she will. "I can't."
"Why is that? Bridget-"
"Ash and I are no longer dating."
Reese's smile faded. "Huh?"
Misty tried to look as normal as possible. The words were bitter to pronounce, but it was reality; she had nothing to do with Ash or his family anymore. "We broke up last year, eleven months ago, exactly."
Reese let her purse fall. She was frozen in her spot.
Misty bent down slightly to get the purse, but Reese stopped her. She picked it up herself.
Her grip wasn't strong enough. Her purse fell again.
"Reese-"
"It's fine." Reese picked up her purse again. Her hands were slightly trembling. "What happened?"
"I don't really want to talk about it-"
"I said what happened!" Misty has never seen Reese mad before until now. It was scary.
Misty remained silent.
"I'm sorry." Reese regained herself. "I just—I didn't know, plus Ash never said—it can't be imagined, you know? I don't even know how I'm supposed to tell everyone about this."
"To sum it up..." Misty pulled away, getting ready to leave. "Ash lives in his books; he doesn't live in reality, with me. He doesn't want to." She looked at Reese. "Thank you for looking after me, though. You were like a big sister. I've always looked up to you."
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be."
Misty turned around and started walking quickly so Reese wouldn't see her crying.
-
;o;
^ that's really all I have to say
