All Our Tainted Stars

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Part II: Could End In Burning Flames Or Paradise

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Apparently, the enigma, as Misty has begun fondly referring to him inside of the safety of her own head, is knew and town, and runs in the same circles as she and her closest companions. Which in layman's terms means that Misty can not fucking evade him. Parties, sporting events, theatre performances… He's anywhere and everywhere, making Misty's knees go weak and her heart feel like it's trying to leap right out of her chest, so to chase the infuriatingly enticing boy to reunite with the pieces he has ever so carelessly snatched away with nothing more than a breath of a glance.

Gary Oak is all bright affability, and cutting words on the right side of sardonic. He speaks with all of his body, and laughs the same way too. He's so beautiful that Misty's heart kind of aches. And that's probably more worrisome than anything else, because Misty's probably had more almost lovers than she could even bother to recall their names—just a steady grasp holding onto her like she were a favored prize, and breathy moans smothered by stolen kisses that never went so far as to threaten her chastity. nothing truly tangible or worth remembering—But Misty's never felt her hands go clammy when around any of those suitors. Never had her tongue tied, or her chest throb. For hell's sake, Misty was infamous for blasé chatter, (in contrast to Dawn's quick wit and May's cotton candy chortles), in the back of whatever speakeasy was the talk of the town for that week with some boy who could never hold her attention for very long indeed. Misty's always been content in playing in her well practiced tableau—being a lovely face who enticed folks to her like moths to a flame, even if those very same people were burned by the end of whatever they shared.

Misty had never cared enough to ever get hurt, and she'd liked that. Liked the independence coursing through her veins, the noncommittal nature that painted the outlook of her life. It was all so easy—numb, and cripplingly lonely some nights—but easy.

But now…Now this infuriating boy whom Misty's probably exchanged fewer than five words with, can just smile at her in the exact right way from across the room, and she suddenly feels like absolute putty in his hands, completely helpless. Like Gary's Michelangelo, with all the power, the ability to just shatter Misty if he so wished. And God what an unnerving feeling that is—being so pliant when it comes to this one person, so unbelievably willing to do anything and everything Gary would ever want or need. He inspired Misty to do impossible feats, to bring him the world to his mercy, if he so wished. Because there is absolutely no doubt in Misty's mind that Gary Oak deserved the world, and the world deserves Gary Oak.

Misty truly hasn't a clue what she's gotten herself into.

.-

"Oh come now Misty," May pouts with a tug on the arm. "You're my dearest friend, I think of you as a sister, and don't you me?"

"Of course May."

"Wonderful," she smiles like the cat who's gotten into the cream— eyes shone with mischief. "Then divulge to me, your dearest friend, all the going ons with you and that delectable Oak boy?"

"I haven't a clue to what you're speaking of," Misty sniffs, which makes May role her bright eyes so harshly that she fears her friend will strain something.

"Oh hogwash Mis, everyone sees how he stares at you like you've hung the moon in the sky."

"Untrue," Misty argues with no real heat, instead to busy praying that her words actually ring honest.

"No need to play modest with me old friend, we've both been brought up quite well aware of our charms and good breeding. Of course this fellow his attracted to you, but what's truly got folks rattled is that the saintly, borderline apathetic Misty Sheffield seems to be staring back at the poor chap with the same heated intent."

Misty can feel the tops of her cheekbones dusk red, and she elbows May in the side.

"No need for that sort of talk in public May."

"What ever sort of talk are you speaking of?" She blinks, owlish. "The truth?"

"May, Misty says as a warning, leveling the brunette with a look that tells her to just drop the topic at hand.

"Look Missy I'm only stating facts here. You two only danced with one another at the last ball the Ketchums held, and when the boys toast their sweethearts while playing cards Drew, quite amusedly mind you, tells me that Oak's only ever spoken your name." Misty worries on her bottom lip, she hadn't known that, but it pleases her to no end. "And look at you now!" May waggles an insistent finger in front of Misty's unsuspecting face. "You're enchanted by him, the rakish scoundrel, just tell me if no one else."

It's Misty's turn to roll her eyes heavenwards.

"Nonsense."

"True, it is nonsensical that you should be so drawn to a poor git who's boarding in one of Drew's back sheds, but alas, my dearest Missy your heart has always blinded you from the risible shortcomings of a person."

Sometimes Misty wonders if May is quite so aware how pompous she can sound, but reasons it's not worth the argument that would ensue if she had asked as much.

"Oh, hush. Now can we please purchase our tickets for the show before it gets to crowded."

With a huff, May only follows suit with mutterings of it being so unfair that her dearest friend keeps so many juicy secrets close to her chest, while she in turn is a completely open book to her dear Missy about all her most ardent of feelings for whomever has caught her ever fleeting attention.

Misty just shakes her head in amusement of May's antics.

.-

"Mis Misty Sheffield, fancy meeting you here, as lovely as always."

With a start, Misty freezes from where she's begun reaching for the pair of tickets on the till, something akin to eagerness squirming just beneath the surface of her skin, burrowing deep inside her contracting chest.

Misty recognizes that voice. The mischievous lilt that tells of how Gary was brought up in the lesser settled West, Kanto most probably, the roundness of his vowels, and the scintillating buoyancy of his greetings telling as much. And even if Misty had not memorized each and every cadence to Gary's speech, He's the only one who has ever insisted on calling Misty by an array of endearing pet names over anything else, and in turn she seems to be the only one to call him by his full Christian name rather than Oak, like all the others, An act that would surely seen so thoroughly scandalous in the eyes of her parents— far too familiar for her mother's approval. But Misty likes it though, likes that they have a greeting unique from all the "hellos" and "how do you dos?" that Gary surely doles out a hundred times over in a single day. Misty likes that whenever Gary refers to her in one of his variations of her name, or synonyms of beautiful, that it sounds almost like a term of endearment that's meant to lay down some sort of claim— one that's doused with a good amount of fondness that makes something warm and splendid coil deep in Misty's stomach.

"I'll leave you to it," May beams after Gary greets her as well. "Wouldn't want to intrude on your canoodling," Misty doesn't have the chance to reprimand her before May winks their way, snatches her ticket, and glides off to a familiar face in the crowd who waves her over, tactful in how she gives Misty and Gary some semblance of privacy in the public setting.

"Ahem," Misty tries to collect herself. "Gary, it's nice seeing you."

His smile goes lopsided as he leans against the wicket, eyes scanning the slip of paper in her hand before ordering a seat for the same film.

"I hope it's more than just nice Red"

Misty gulps, her cheeks burning scarlet at Gary's suggestive undertone.

Getting the reaction he was obviously fishing for, Gary straightens, and bores his eyes of emerald into Misty's own.

"Why, why of course, You know I've come to enjoy your company very much." Something pixilated gleams in his gaze right then as Misty stands stock-still in stilted anticipation for what he'll do next. What she most certainly does not expect is for the flirtatious smirk to melt into something much more genuine, impossibly bright eyes never leaving her face, and fists clenched as if he yearned to touch her with familiarity.

"Then I hope you'll be agreeable to my being seated besides you for this showing? I must admit the absence of your company these past few days has seized me in a quite foul mood, or at least my dear friend Mr Hayden tells as much. And considering how that bloke waxes poetic about Lady Archibald on a near constant basis, it's a worrisome observation."

"Is that right?" Misty titters with a quirk of her brow, effortlessly falling in step with Gary as they stroll to the screening room with a sizable distance separating them, Misty not unaware of the constant gazes that watch every move she makes, waiting for her to slip up.

"I must admit Misty, there has been a night or two that I've concluded your lineage to belonging to the vixens of yore considering to how seamlessly you've captured all my attentions from first laying eyes on you some weeks ago." His soft tenner shimmers with sincerity that makes her heart contract. "Don't look at me like that Red, it's not so impossible when taking into account your beauty that would make Joan Crawford weep with envy."

"You're quite the charmer Gary, surely you're aware of this attribute of yours?"

"I only speak the truth in matters that relate to you."

"Is that right?" She contends, being more than aware to his dalliances with other girls around town, and never being one to share anything, let alone the affections of such a man who's so entirely captivated her.

"But of course, how do you reckon I could ever fib to such an enchantress, my darling girl," He speaks the words with gusto, but Misty can translate the vulnerability beneath. And she supposes that at the very least she can be sure in that he's never been so wrong footed when with any of those other girls who practically leap for him whenever he steps into a room. He tries for her, and Misty supposes that's a start.

"Not quite yours Gary, but perhaps soon." She goads before pecking a kiss to his rapidly reddening cheeks and assuming her seat besides May who's twirling a lock of her hair while turned to the opposite side, speaking with a grey eyed man.,

Misty eventually needs to beckon him to follow suit instead of just standing there practically gaping…. She's only a bit boastful at how he clammers to try and lace there fingers together in as inconspicuous of a manner as possible.

"I don't know what I've gotten myself into with you Misty, do I?"

She just follies him a quick, tight lipped smile as the first of the title cards begin to play, privately thinking to herself that it makes both of them then.

.-

Author's Note: Things are developing? LOL I think there will be around 2 or 3 chapters after this one depending on which ednding I decide onXD

Another a huge ILy to Ameriboo, i hope u liked this chapter doll! I promise to cut it with the pros in the next part XD

All My Love

~Len