Part 12

After that miniature battle Ash and Barry had against those two random trainers the rest of the school day went by normal. It was Friday, the day that Gary would be throwing his Halloween party at his place down in Vaniville.

After school Ash had taken the bus home while the rest of the gang opted to walk home getting hyper about the upcoming party. Ash didn't care much. For the meantime he'd planned on making a quick trip to Shalour city to get his third gym badge before going to Gary's.

With Gary and the other guys...

"Boys... are you guys even ready for this?!" Gary shouted in excitement.

"I'm ready! What time is it at again??" Barry inquired.

"It's at 8 PM bro. Be there or be square!" Gary shouted again.

"Man you need to relax... trust me it won't be that great," Paul said. "And stop shouting... making us look like maniacs."

Gary put a hand behind his head sheepishly and apologized. The rest of the walk took about 20  minutes before they arrived into Vaniville.

"Okay.... lets all spilt up for now and we'll meet up later at my place. Everyone just chill out for now," Gary stated. Everyone nodded and went their separate ways for the time being.

Time skip to 7:50 PM

Most of the friend group had already started showing up to Gary's house before it was time. Professor Oak was downstairs talking to a few of the parents of Gary's friends, Grace and Meyer. Clemont's father and Serena's mother. Surprisingly Gary had actually invited Clemont despite their acquaintance with each other not being the best.

Gary, Paul, Trip, Drew, Barry, Clemont And a few of the girls were all upstairs hanging out. Gary decided to give Ash a call hoping he hadn't switched up in him last minute.

"Yo Ash dude. Are you coming over tonight bro?" He said over his phone. Ash sounded tired and a bit out of it.

"Ahh I don't know man I'm a little tired tonight. Just had a gym battle earlier today," Ash replied.

"Gym battle? Got another one huh?" Gary stated the obvious.

"Obviously. You already know it. Anyways, I guess I'll start making my way over... got nothing better to do anyways," He said reluctantly.

"Great! I'll await your safe arrival then bud. See ya then!" He Said, hanging up.

15 minutes later.

Ash approached Gary's house and noticed the door slightly opened with two guys standing there drinking soda. His house was decorated with some spooky objects and decorations which Ash knew all go well he spent way too much money on. He walked past and nodded at them before entering his house. Immediately he saw Professor Oak and smiled for once again.

"Hello Professor Oak. It's been a while," He smiled. The elderly man seen Ash and smiled widely.

"Ahh Ash my boy. It sure has been a long time. So, Gary managed to get you out of the house huh?" He asked.

"Yeah he did. I had nothing better to do anyways," He shrugged.

"Well I'm glad you're here my boy. The rest of the kids are upstairs. Arceus knows what they're doing up there but you go on up there and have a good time son," Oak said giving him a pat on the shoulder.

He nodded and slowly walked upstairs. Meanwhile Meyer, Clemont's father walked over to Professor Oak with Grace.

"You know, that kid, Ash... he seems really familiar somehow," Meyer spoke.

Grace chuckled at this. "Oh come on Meyer... that's Ash Ketchum. His mother and I were good friends a while ago. Surely you must know him. I think my daughter has a huge crush on him..."

"I seem to remember seeing him on the news..." Meyer said.

"The kid's done a lot in his trainer career. I'm sure he's been on the news multiple times in the past. Nothing but good things for my boy," Oak said proudly, almost like a father figure for Ash. Meyer squinted his eyes suspiciously towards Ash's direction.

Meanwhile Ash got to Gary's bedroom door and he opened it forcefully. Sure enough there was Everyone from the friend group.

"Gary! I'm here you little dunce," He said announcing his arrival. They all perked their heads at seeing Ash's surprise arrival.

"Ashy-boy my man! You made it! I'm glad you came buddy!" He wrapped an arm around his shoulder. Serena in particular jumped for joy on the inside that he'd decided to come. Now was her chance to try and get to know him just a little better.

Ash began making his way toward the door.

"Where ya going?"

"I'm gonna go hog your snacks real quick dude. I'm starving," Ash replied leaving his room momentarily.

"Typical Ash. Guys always hungry," Gary chuckled.

"Actually I'm gonna go with him. I could use some snacks too, "May said. Drew immediately tagged along with her and so did Barry. Rest of the group stayed upstairs. Ash grabbed a bag of chips with a drink and stepped outside for a moment from his backdoor. It was already dark but since it was the weekend Delia had assured Ash he could stay for as long as he wanted.

As Ash was munching on his chips a blonde haired girl approached him from behind.

"Hey Ash," She spoke calmly.

He turned. "Hey Serena. What's up?" He asked. She fiddled with her fingers for a moment before speaking up again.

"Uhm I uh... just wanted to say... that was a great battle you guys had earlier today. I saw you and Barry win. It was cool," She said.

"Oh yeah," Ash chuckled at the memory. "I wasn't even trying and they lost pretty badly."

"Mhmm. So what are you doing out here anyways? Don't you want to be inside with everyone else?" She wondered.

"I'll go back inside in a moment. I'm just trying to chill out right now. Had a long day today," He said quietly. She nodded understanding him and stood next to him for a moment with her hands behind her back. He finished his snack.

"Let's go back inside?" She asked.

"After you," He replied.

She giggled and lead the way back inside. They went back upstairs into Gary's room. There everyone was sitting in various spots of the room making a mess and what not.

"Alright now lets get a little spicy here shall we?" Gary grinned devilishly. "How about a game of truth or dare fellas, hm?" All the girls began squealing in anticipation while some of the guys did too. Paul and Ash immediately stood up.

"Yeah I'm out for this one. I'm not playing that dumb game," Ash said.

"Yeah me too, I'm with him. Never gonna catch me playing this," Paul added, standing next to Ash.

"Oh come on, do be a bunch of wimps. What's a little game of being truthful and daring gonna do to you two? Paul you know you're rep's safe with me and Ash you don't even have a reputation at school. You're basically a nobody, an Outcast." He explained.

"What?! You think just because I've been gone for a few years my reputation counts for nothing? You bitch ass punk motherfucker!" He responded angrily.

"Relax man. Just play with us it won't be bad," Gary Said. Paul still refused to play and Ash wasn't budging.

"Not playing this crap," He replied. The purple haired trainer walked out of his room.

"Hey Gary, can I use your bathroom real fast? I need to empty the tank," Ash Asked.

"Sure," Gary sighed. "Exit my room and go left it should be there." Ash nodded and went into his bathroom.

"Alright, let's get this game of truth or dare started shall we?" Gary said.

Everyone else beside Ash and Paul who'd left seemed excited to play.

"Gary? How are we going to do it?" Dawn inquired.

"Hmm, I say we go in circles. So we'll start with yours truly and from there you pick who you want," He explained.

"Doesn't really sound fair..." Misty mumbled.

"Anyways since I'm first... Barry, truth or dare?"

"Oh no... umm Truth! I'm not risking it especially with you!" Barry responded.

"Okay be truthful... is there anyone in the group you've ever hated before in the past?" Everyone gave Barry a curious glance to see if he did indeed hate someone.

"Yeah I have... it was Paul," He admitted. Everyone made some noise acting surprised that Barry of all people actually hated someone.

"Really? Why Paul?" Gary Asked.

"It was because of that time when I briefly got sick that one time... he wouldn't stop pulling those stupid pranks on me. He made me piss myself in my sleep, he made me slip on your stairs, and he almost choked me in your backyard," He explained, remembering all the times Paul had done wrongdoing to him.

"Hmm, seems fair. I do remember him picking on you quite a lot back then before he cut the crap," Misty added.

Meanwhile with Ash at the bathroom.

As he exited the bathroom he was met with a tall guy standing right in front of him.

"Hey kid," He said.

To be continued...