Original Date of Post: 09/02/2007
Narrator: The worst thing that a teenager can deal with is the ugly thing called stress. We’ve all had to deal with this crap at one time or another. Usually, it could be triggered by the pressure of others or just flat out having too much on your plate.
Misty: Darn it, where's that suit? Ah-ha! (The door opens)
Lily: (Yawns) What's all that racket?
Misty: I have swim practice in a little bit.
Lily: What? It's 4 in the morning.
Misty: I know, it's late already. I'll see you in a few hours. (She runs out of the door)
Narrator: Here's a little view of what Misty has on her plate from day to day. Her day begins before the crack of dawn with waking up to go to swimming practice. Then a full day of classes. Once classes are dismissed, it's right to cheerleading practice, and then back home for some catch-up on homework. Thus the life of a 14 year old girl. (One morning in front of the lockers)
Brock: What a load!
Marisa: Something wrong?
Brock: I’m surprised that you’re not over there with the rest of those girls.
Marisa: Over there?
Brock: No wonder you wear glasses! I'm talking about Drew and his ever-loving fan club! Ever since Drew broke his leg in that gym class accident, all the girls in our class are just swarming all over him. It’s been like this for the past two weeks!
Marisa: Brock, he broke his leg. I’m sure the girls are just trying to help him around the school.
Brock: Then why are all of those girls kissing him on the cheek? Hmm, maybe if I break my leg, I would get some of those sweet ladies around me.
Marisa: You sir are an idiot! (Winona walks by)
Winona: How’s it going Marisa?
Marisa: I'm doing okay.
Winona: I wanted to ask you how Sakura was doing? I really haven’t seen much of her within the last few weeks.
Marisa: She’s been around. She just hasn’t been the same since her friend got shot. (Winona has a flashback of Shelly getting shot)
Winona: Yeah, that’s to be expected. What about Misty?
Marisa: Busy with extracurricular activities. (Brock groans)
Winona: What’s with Brock?
Marisa: Bonehead here is jealous because all of the girls in our class are hanging around Drew and not him. And now, he wants to break one of his limbs just so girls will give him some attention.
Brock: It’s the one plan I know that would work. (Winona and Marisa sigh)
Winona: Brock, girls like a guy with sincerity not some guy with a cast on a limb.
Marisa: Is that what won you over with Wallace? Or was it hot, passionate make-out sessions!
Winona: (Blushing) Who told you about that? I’m not the one on trial here! The point is you shouldn’t get girls just out of pity.
Brock: Let’s see, should it be the left or the right? Or maybe, I should go with one of my arms. I can live without Basketball for a while! (Misty rushes by)
Winona: Hi Misty…
Misty: NO TIME! (In a classroom)
Marisa: She says she has no time and yet here she is sleeping on top of her homework.
Sakura: Is she sleeping again?
Marisa: You got it. I'm getting a little worried. Look at her math sheet, it's almost bare empty.
Sakura: Well she's experimenting with juggling several activities along with her school work.
Marisa: Maybe so, but can't she do one thing at a time?
Misty: The answer is 12 divided by...a backstroke...carry the pompom. (Snoozes)
Marisa: Yikes! (Nurse Joy walks inside) Uh-oh, class is starting, sleepy-head. Time to rise and shine. (Later in the girls locker room)
Misty: Sakura, are you feeling okay?
Sakura: I’m okay.
Misty: I’m sorry I haven’t been checking on you that much. I guess I’ve just been preoccupied. Look, I know you were close to Shelly, but you know you can always come to me if you need someone to talk to about this sort of subject.
Sakura: It’s okay Misty. Even though Shelly is gone physically, I know she’ll always be with me in spirit. Plus, it was raining the day of her funeral, so I know she’s in a better place.
Daisy: Yeah, in Hell!
Misty: Daisy, that’s not very nice! Pay no attention to my sister I believe that Shelly is in a better place too.
Sakura: Thanks Misty! (Misty yawns) I take it, you’re not sleeping well.
Misty: You don’t know the half of it. I don’t know how everyone else can juggle all of these activities like this.
Sakura: I’m sure you’ll figure out something with all of these activities and assignments. (After practice)
Misty: Ugh! I can’t believe I messed up that many times during practice! I’m usually not this bad.
Sakura: Oh come on, that’s not true. You were perfect, as always. Okay, maybe there were a few moves that you were a little sloppy on and you were the reason why I fell down at least three times. But other than those little, tiny, imperfections, you were fine.
Misty: Yeah, but that doesn’t make me feel any better. Miss Lillian is going to be a lot harder on me come the next practice.
Sakura: Just go to sleep once you get home. If you get a good night sleep, you'll be ready for anything tomorrow.
Misty: Wish I could but I have this paper to work on and then... (Brock falls off a tree branch) What the hell?
Brock: Hey ladies!
Misty: What the hell is wrong with you? Is this your half-assed way of killing yourself or are trying to get a birds eye view of pretty women again? (Brock gets up)
Brock: Ah crap! Nothing is broken! Mother fu…
Sakura: You want to break something?
Brock: Of course! How else am I going to get girls to pay attention to me?
Misty: Good Lord Brock! Breaking a limb is not going to solve anything! (Looks at her watch) Oh crap! I have to get home and finish my paper! I’ll see you guys tomorrow.
Brock: What’s up with her? Usually, she’d rip me a new one for doing something like this. (Later that night)
Misty: Okay, focus... (Yawns) ...Fo... (Lays down on the desk) ...cus...
Narrator: Mr. Sandman is here. Mr. Sandman is here. And one night later...
Misty: (Yawns) Fo...Huh? (Screams) Oh no! It can't be 6am already! Oh crap! (In the kitchen)
Lily: Pass the butter. (Misty screams)
Violet: Sounds like Misty’s up! (Misty runs into the room)
Misty: WHY DIDN’T YOU WAKE ME UP?
Daisy: We thought you left the house already.
Misty: Ugh! What am I going to do? I missed swim practice! Oh God, where’s my paper?
Lily: Don’t forget your hair is a complete mess! (Misty groans)
Daisy: Take a chill pill!
Misty: Oh God, I didn’t finish my paper! Okay, I’ve got some time. I can get to school and explain myself to Coach Pryce. After that, I think I can finish this paper. (She walks out the door)
Daisy: Don’t leave the house wearing your pajamas! (Misty screams)
Misty: Couldn’t you have told me before any of the neighbors could see? (A little later at school)
Brawly: Misty?
Misty: You’re the only one here?
Brawly: Yeah, practice is over. Where the hell were you? Coach Pryce was pretty pissed!
Misty: I overslept and I promise it will never happen again.
Brawly: Don’t apologize to me; it’s the coach you have to worry about. (Misty sighs) Are you feeling okay Misty? You don’t seem like your normal self.
Misty: (Angry) I’M FINE!
Brawly: Whoa, I was just asking a simple question!
Misty: Oh crap! I’ve only got thirty minutes to finish my paper! I’ve got to go! (Thirty minutes later in class)
Marisa: Gee Sakura, I don’t think you had to type that many pages!
Sakura: Couldn’t help it!
Marisa: You can do all that and not ramble on?
Sakura: Of course!
Marisa: Which is why you’re going into Honors English next semester?
Misty: (Angrily) Do you guys mind keeping it down? I’m trying to work on something.
Sakura: Sorry Misty.
Marisa: Hold on Misty! You mean you’re not even finished with this assignment?
Misty: No, I’m not finished…And that’s what I’ve been trying to finish. If you would SHUT UP for once, maybe I can do that. (Nurse Joy enters the classroom)
Nurse Joy: Alright class, turn in your assignments.
Sakura: (Whispering) It’s not like Misty to put things off to the last minute.
Marisa: Yeah, or her being so bitchy. (After class)
Nurse Joy: Have a nice day students. Remember, I want you to read the first scene of the Romeo & Juliet for tonight’s homework. Oh Misty, could I have a word with you?
Misty: What’s wrong?
Nurse Joy: I just wanted to talk to you and make sure you’re feeling okay.
Misty: I’m okay.
Nurse Joy: You don’t seem okay Misty. I’m very concerned about you. When Professor Elm was teaching this class, you were getting very good grades. But since the beginning of this semester, I’ve noticed a decline in your grades. Your last three assignments were pretty low.
Misty: I’m sorry Nurse Joy. I promise I’ll put a lot more effort into my assignments. I was just caught off guard and it won’t ever happen again. (Nurse Joy sighs) I’ve got to get to my next class. (At lunch)
Ash: Okay, so why is everybody so quiet?
Marisa: This is a serious matter! We’re doing an intervention! Speaking of troubled people, where the hell is Brock?
Marcus: Last I saw he was trying to get some guys in Shop class to smash his hand with a hammer.
Ash: An intervention? But Brock has always been troubled, I don’t think we should do one for him.
Marisa: I’m not talking about Brock. It’s Misty that I’m worried about.
Marcus: Misty? Where is she now?
Marisa: Sakura is bringing her here as we speak. (Brock walks up)
Brock: Those guys in the Shop class are all a bunch of babies. I can’t hurt myself, otherwise people will think there’s something wrong with me and send me to therapists. So what’s up with you guys?
Ash: Please stop the madness Brock! Don’t kill yourself just because every girl in school wants to go out with Drew! We love you! (Marisa slaps Ash in the back of the head)
Marisa: He’s not trying to kill himself. He just wants to break a limb so that girls will pity him the same way they do with Drew.
Ash: Oh, why do you want to do that? (Misty and Sakura walk up)
Misty: What’s going on?
Marisa: Sit down Misty. Look we’re all concerned about you.
Misty: What are you talking about? I’m fine!
Sakura: You are falling asleep in class, your grades are in the toilet, and you're putting things off until the last minute.
Ash: In short, you need to get off the drugs!
Misty: Drugs?
Ash: Come on Misty, we’re amongst friends and with this weird behavior, it’s kind of obvious that you’re on some sort of drug.
Misty: I’m not on drugs, but I’m starting to get very annoyed here! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m late for a meeting with Coach Pryce! (She leaves)
Ash: You have to get clean Misty!
Marisa: Give it up Ash! (After school near the gym)
Misty: (Groans) Where could the girls be? If this is a trick, I'm not liking this.
Marcus: Is that Misty? Yo Misty! (They walk up to her) Misty, what are you doing here?
Misty: What do you mean, what am I doing here? We’re supposed to be having cheerleading practice now, but no one is in here. Now as soon as I find where they are holding practice, I’ll be fine.
Marisa: That’s all great Misty but the squad is gone.
Misty: WHAT?!
Marcus: Oh yes, there’s a game uptown somewhere and they left about ten minutes ago.
Misty: Oh my God, the away game! That's today? Oh man, I can’t believe I forgot that. I’ve got to find a way to get to that game! (She runs off)
Marcus: I’m getting worried about her!
Marisa: Me too! (That night at Misty’s house)
Misty: Great! That was $53 down the toilet! Cab drivers are such rip off’s!
Daisy: Serves you right for being a scatter brain today! You knew for weeks that we were going to be at this away game.
Misty: Oh shut up!
Violet: FYI Misty, Miss Lillian wasn’t too happy that you were super late to this performance.
Daisy: Don’t forget, we’ve been noticing your sloppiness in practice.
Lily: Not to mention that Miss Lillian said that you better get your act together or you’re off the squad.
Misty: Get off my God damn back, I know that already. I’m going to bed! (Slams the door shut)
Daisy: (Sighs) What are we going to do with her? (The next morning at the school pool)
Brawly: Glad to see you here on time.
Misty: Yeah.
Brawly: Listen Misty! I know you’re claiming that you’re fine, but I’m not too sure.
Misty: What do you mean?
Brawly: Well, the last few weeks have been pretty stressful. You’ve been juggling this team, the cheer team, and school work. You’ve been pretty edgy and your skin looks paler than usual.
Misty: Are you a broken record or something? Look, it’s just an adjustment for me. It’ll be something I get used to when I get older when I’m juggling more complicated things around. God, I wish that everybody would just get off of my back! (Later that afternoon)
Marisa: Glad you were able to make it to this Marcus.
Marcus: Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss this for the world. It's Misty's first swim competition.
Marisa: Enthusiastic, are we?
Ash: If she'd just lay off the drugs, I'd be much happier.
Marisa: Ash, she's not on drugs.
Sakura: Misty's just overwhelmed with all that's on her plate. She's getting burned out by school, cheerleading, and the swim team. That's why she seems so different. (By the pool)
Pryce: Get ready team. (Misty panting)
Brawly: Are you sure you're feeling okay Mist?
Misty: I told you before that I'm fine. I'm just nervous because this is my first competition. (A little later)
Announcer: Now diving, Misty Waterflower, freshman of Pallet High. (Cheering)
Sakura: There she goes.
Marcus: Camera on! (Misty dives into the water)
Audience: Huh?
Ash: She must be swimming deep underneath because I don't see her.
Marcus: This is bad, she should have come up by now.
Brock: I see bubbles...OH MY GOD SHE'S DROWNING! (Brawly dives into the water)
Ash: I gotta go. Watch my stuff you guys! (Ash dives into the water)
Marcus: Boys, please save her. (Brawly and Ash return to the surface)
Marisa: (Gasps) They got her!
Sakura: She's not moving. Oh Misty! (A little later in the nurse's office)
Ash: She's going to be okay, right Nurse Joy?
Nurse Joy: Right now it just looks like she's unconscious. (Misty opens her eyes)
Brawly: She’s awake! (Ash turns around and runs to them) My God Misty, are you okay?
Misty: Ugh…Where am I?
Ash: You’re in the nurse’s office.
Misty: What am I doing in here? I have to be at the pool! I have a swim meet to go to! I’m late!
Nurse Joy: You’re not going anywhere! You almost drowned!
Misty: I almost what?
Brawly: Tell me Misty, what was the last thing you remember from today?
Misty: The last thing I remember was being on the high dive at the pool. And I remember diving and then everything else is a blur.
Ash: You must have blacked out.
Nurse Joy: Judging by the work load you've had to do the last month or so has finally caught up with your body. Not surprising, I see it many times. We as humans can only take so much before our bodies just breakdown.
Ash: That certainly would explain a lot. She’s been running around crazy for the last month or so with cheerleading, swim team, schoolwork, and a whole bunch of other things. Well I’m just glad that it’s not drugs like I originally thought.
Misty: Who saved me from drowning?
Nurse Joy: Well Brawly jumped in after we noticed that you should have been up in the surface. And then, this young man jumped in soon after.
Misty: Ash?
Ash: You should just stay here and get some rest Misty. I’ll go out there and tell everybody that you’re awake now. (Misty blushes)
Nurse Joy: If you'll excuse me, I'm going to contact your parents and let them know what happened. (She leaves the room)
Brawly: Hmm. So Misty, what are you going to do now?
Misty: I know that I have to stop something. I can’t live like this! I feel miserable!
Brawly: I know how you must feel. I know there are plenty of people in your same situation. I myself had to deal with stress with the swim team and everything else. But my advice to you would be to take things one day at a time. And try not to do too many things all at once, because it will pile up on you.
Misty: Even though it was short, it’s been fun being on the swim team with you.
Brawly: Hey, I understand and I’m sure the coach will understand too. I’m sure we’ll see each other around school. And I’m sure you’ll be around the school pool again once you start feeling better again.
Misty: Yeah, that is true. Thanks Brawly.
Brawly: Well know this, if you ever think about leaving the cheerleaders, hit us up again.
Misty: I'll definitely do that. (The next morning in the hallway)
Winona: What’s with the eye patch?
Marisa: Go on Brock, tell her what happened.
Brock: No freakin' way! No one is going to know why I have to wear this patch over my eye. And I don’t want you telling ANYBODY about this, big mouth. (Marisa groans) But do you think girls will find me appealing in this?
Marisa: Pervert with an eye patch? Nope. (Misty walks up)
Misty: What’s up Long John Silver? Do you have some sort of infection?
Brock: WHO TOLD YOU?! (Marisa giggles)
Winona: How are you feeling Misty? I thought that you would be taking the day off today.
Misty: I’m actually feeling a lot better than I’ve been feeling for the last couple of weeks.
Sakura: I’m so relieved! I didn’t want to lose anymore of my friends.
Misty: Don’t worry Sakura, I’m not going anywhere, anytime soon. I promise!
Marisa: Well I'm glad you're back to your normal happy self Misty. (Turns to Brock) And I'm happy that Brock has stopped trying to hurt himself and has gone back to his normal self.
Brock: Hey girls, would you like to go out with me? (Girls scream)
Winona: Good grief!
Marisa: I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
~*Preview*~
Misty: Drugs are everywhere. The stars on television are doing them, actors on stage, professional athletes, the homeless guy by the Home Depot, and even in our own school. Well when the school starts doing drug busts, it starts to take some pretty weird turns as one of our close friends might be a drug peddler. Stay tuned to see who that person is. Next time on Romance 101, Chapter 9...See you next time!