Disclaimer: As much as I might wish it I have never nor do I currently own pokemon.

So, a huge thank you to all you who reviewed and everyone who read the story. I love checking my story stats and seeing the wonderful reviews you guys leave me. Also thanks a ton to everyone who suggested something for the story, considering I only have a vague idea where this story is going they help me a lot. ok, so enjoy chapter 4

Ch 4

Misty stared into the mirror and wondered what it would feel like to be beautiful. Her sisters had just finished helping her get dressed for the party. They had done her hair up, refusing to let her wear it in its normal side ponytail. Little black flowers were sprinkled around the elegant loop her hair now rested in, strands of copper and orange crowning her face.

Her makeup was light, just a bit of eyeliner and a hint of power blue eye shadow. Even this small amount was totally out of character for her but her sisters had absolutely insisted on it.

And yet, despite what they had said, how they'd called her dazzling and radiant, regardless of the squeals of approval that had come from May and Dawn, she just couldn't look at herself in the mirror without the words runt and scrawny coming to mind.

All she saw when she stared at her reflection were her eyes, blue green spheres that didn't waver as they stared back. They were pleading eyes that, when studied, you drowned in them. Drowned because they were so full of loss and sadness it was nearly overwhelming, and only those who knew her best could tell that the fire they'd once held had long burned out.

!~~~~~~!

It was Ash's 3rd attempt at tying his tie. He had been unsuccessful his fist two tries, his hands were shaking too badly from the anger he felt, the hurt and the confusion.

His latest attempt was proving as successful a venture as the times before. "Stupid thing won't…..ahhh"

Brock had just finished up getting ready himself and looked over to his younger companion, noting his struggle.

"Here Ash, let me help," he said as he went over to the boy and started fixing his tie before Ash even had a chance to reply.

Brock got it done in a matter of seconds then stood back to admire his work.

"Thanks Brock," Ash muttered. Brock nodded.

"So Ash, are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

Ash crossed the room and sat down on the bed. A look of total defeat on his face he buried his head in his hands, letting out a sigh before starting, "Brock, that boy, he kissed Misty," he said as though it was the most unbelievable and unforgivable thing in the world.

"Mike, yea, I know, that's her boyfriend Ash," Brock told the very confused boy before him, sitting down next to Ash and putting his hand on his shoulder.

At Brock's words Ash's eyes flew open as he spun around to face the older boy. "You knew about this!"

"I just found out today when me and Misty went to the store. It was the first time I heard about him either but apparently they're been dating for months."

Ash flung himself backwards onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. Speaking more to himself then to Brock he asked, "How could she not tell me?"

"You know Ash, she probably thought you wouldn't care,"

"But….I…do" he said in a voice that hinted at the sadness and, maybe, surprise he was experiencing.

Brock stood up and pulled the pokemon trainer to his feet. He straightened Ash's tie out once more before saying, "I know Ash, I know."

!~~~~~~~!

By 8 the party was in full swing. White lights had been hung all along the ceiling, with purple and blue streamers hanging every few feet. To the left side of the gym there were buffet tables set up, to the right and back of the gym their were tables with dark blue tablecloths, white roses in the center. The pool had been closed up to create room for a dance floor and a little ways from the entrance to the gym there was a D.J. playing all of Misty's favorite songs.

The birthday girl herself was constantly the center of attention. There were more people then she had even been aware she knew in attendance and it was her job to greet every one of them.

"Misty, sweetheart, would you look at you. All grown up and more beautiful then ever,"

Misty hugged Delia Ketchum, her unofficial mother.

"Thanks Mrs. K, I'm so glad you could come,"

"I wouldn't miss this for the world dear. By the way, have you seen Ash?"

Misty shook her head. She hadn't, in fact, caught sight of Ash yet. She wasn't sure if she should be thrilled and relieved or utterly disappointed over this turn of events.

"O.k. well, when you see him could you tell him that his mother's looking for him. I need to make sure he's been changing his "you know whats."

Misty agreed that she would, smiling slightly to herself at good old Mrs. Ketchum.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around.

"May I have this dance, Ms. Waterflower," Mike asked as he bowed, smiling up at her.

With a slight nod of her head and a dainty smile she accepted his outstretched hand and let him lead her out onto the dance floor.

!~~~~~~~~!

The first time Ash had seen her she had been upside-down. Well, o.k., she had looked upside-down to him considering he was lying flat on his back recovering from being fished out of a river. He'd never told her this and would never admit to it but his first impression had been that he had died in the fall and that she was an angel.

The first time he had noticed how brave she was had been in the Vermillion city pokemon centre when she'd tried to fight off team rocket. The first time he'd heard her scream was when he'd caught his caterpie. The first tears he had ever seen fall from her eyes was in lavender town when the chandelier had fallen on him and she had though him dead.

And the first time she had made butterflies turn in his stomach had been at Maiden's Peak. He had only been ten then, he hadn't known what beautiful was, but still, that whole night, he hadn't been able to take his eyes off of her.

But the first ever time she had made his heart stop had been that night. Ash had nearly choked on his drink when he had seen her enter the room. There were no words to describe the way she looked to him, the way her presence simply lit up the room, how her smile, even from across the gym, made him catch his breath.

Most guest at the party would tell you how the youngest Waterflower had really blossomed, how she had gone from a scrawny little girl in the shadow of her sisters to a beautiful women, But Ash knew they were all wrong, she had always been breathtaking, only no one had noticed before.

It had been the first time he had looked at her and known that there was nothing in the world as important as gaining back her friendship, known this because it was the moment when all else in the world had fallen away and he had been left standing there, realizing what his heart had been trying to tell him since he was 10 years old, that she was his everything. His world would forever start and end with her.

!~~~~~~~~!

The song ended and with it Misty's dance with Mike. "I'm just going to get a drink, you want anything babe?"

Misty shook her head. When he had gone a slow song took up the former's place, and Misty was about to get off the dance floor when she felt someone grab onto her arm.

"One dance Mist, for old time's sake?"

She didn't need to turn around to recognize that voice, it was the one that had haunted her dreams for the past 6 years now.

She tried to pull her arm away but he held tight, determined not to let her go. Knowing it would be her undoing she turned to face him, to be meet with his chocolate brown eyes, eyes that she could read as though they reflected her own emotions. There was sadness in them along with their characteristic determination.

Their gaze was locked so completely that the whole rest of the room faded silently into the background. It like they were having a silent conversation, each glance telling of their hidden sorrows and regrets, screaming for forgiveness and redemption.

"Dance with me,"

And she didn't have a choice. Her heart wouldn't allow her one.

Awkwardly he placed his hands on her hips as she placed hers around his neck. The electricity between them was automatic. She felt like she were on fire, and she imagined him to be as well, identical flames slowly intertwining as they unconsciously moved closer and closer, the attraction to do so compelling them forward.

His hand shifted just the slightest bit on her waist. The feeling induced could only be reconciled to that of falling, like her stomach had flipped and then disappeared to be replaced only by swirling air.

It was all Misty could do to keep breathing steady. Her heartbeats were erratic and she had the strangest desire to put her hand to Ash's chest to feel his, to see if they matched her own.

She had forgotten the party, forgotten the music and sound. There was only him. It startled her when he said, in such a hushed voice that she was sure she would have missed it has she not been attuned to him as she was, "Happy Birthday Misty."

And for the first time in months Misty Waterflower smiled at Ash Ketchum.

!~~~~~~!

After that dance all the others Misty had paled in comparison. She danced with Brock twice, Tracy and Tod once, she even danced with Drew to try and get a better idea about his feelings for May. Periodically she'd dance with Mike, whom she noticed became steadily more tipsy as the night wore on.

There had been a bar provided for the adults at Misty's party. In Kanto the drinking age was 18 and Misty found herself becoming more and more suspicious of her boyfriend who legally could be taking drinks from the bar.

!~~~~~~`!

Melody stopped to check herself out in one of the windows. She was wearing a low cut black dress that look at least a size too small. She turned away pleased with her reflection and walked to the other end of the party, swaying her hips back and forth, so sure she was the most alluring thing in the room.

She was hear for Misty's party, a girl she had been playing up to for some time now. Melody had used her and that guy Tracy to get to this, to get a chance to see Ash again.

Now, normally Melody got over her little "crushes" pretty fast. And at first Ash had been no different. But then she had heard more and more about him as time went on, travelers passing through the orange islands speaking of his many victories and achievements, saying he was poised to be the next pokemon master at this rate.

And she had determined that she would be the next pokemon master's girlfriend.

It had been easy to make friends with Tracy, him being the most gullible guy on the planet. Misty was a bit harder, but after she had returned home all alone and venerable Melody had been a sympatric listener, someone for her to talk to.

She was quite pleased with herself and how things had turned out. Now all that remained of her master plan was to get Ash to fall for her, a task, she was sure, that would be as simple as anything.

She spotted him by the refreshments. His eyes were clued to the dance floor, more specifically to Misty. Melody smiled to herself when she saw Misty in Mike's arms. "Thanks for making this all the more easier for me Misty." she though to herself.

Ash didn't notice her approaching at first until she spoke. "Hey Ash, long time no see." she said, laughing a little, trying to put him in a cheerful mood.

"Yea, good to see you. How are you Melody?" Ash asked, still a bit preoccupied with the dance floor.

"Good, what would you say to a dance?"

At first Ash didn't seem to know what to answer. Then, after another minute of watching the birthday girl he agreed.

!~~~~~~!

Misty didn't know whether to be angry or amused by drunk Mike. Well o.k. she was defiantly angry at her boyfriend for getting hammered at her birthday party, but well, he was kind of funny to watch.

He was currently trying to twirl with her in his arms.

"Alright Mike, I think its time you sat down," Misty began.

"But babe, its disco time,"

She just raised her eyes at him and was about to say something to that little comment when something caught her attention form the corner of her eye.

Across the dance floor were Ash and Melody. At first they were just dancing, a bit to close, but then Melody leaned up and kissed Ash.

Misty didn't bother to watch and further. She tore her gaze away from them and turned her attention back to Mike.

"You want to go for a walk?" she asked and Mike nodded his head eagerly.

!~~~~~~~~!

"Melody, get off me!" Ash exclaimed as he broke off the forced kiss and out of her embrace.

"Ash, what's the matter?" Melody asked innocently, trying once again to get near him.

"You, this, I'm not into you like that"

"And why not, I'm funny and pretty and I know how to have a good time," she said in what she though to be an alluring voice. It made Ash want to gag. She started to press herself up against him, failing brilliantly in her attempts to seduce him.

He pushed her off "Umm, yea, I'm not into girls that act the way you are." he said, making no attempt to hide what he thought of her.

"I guess you just have double standards for your precious little Misty then." she shouted at him, offended now.

"Misty, what's this have anything to do with her?"

"She just went off with her boyfriend, just the two of them. 3 guesses what they're gone to do Ash." Melody said, and being satisfied with his reaction she stormed off.

Ash frantically looked around the room but didn't see Misty anywhere. He felt like he'd just been punched in the gut, all the emotions of jealousy and betrayal storming over him like a burst dam. Unsettled, he couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen.

!~~~~~~!

So how did you guys like the first chapter on the night of the party. It was a lot of set up for the next chapter but I though it had some cute moments. As always I love to hear what you guys think, comments, ideas, any suggestions, stuff like that. Really, I adore feedback of any kind. Once again, thank you so much to everyone who reads and especially those who take the time to review. So yea, please review. =)

Hint for chapter 5 from one of the reviewers who pretty much had the exact right idea of where I was going with the story, Thanks Pikawolf for being totally awesome:

Pikawolf 2009-01-05 . chapter 3

...Make Ash and Misty's relationship start to thaw out, and then make that Mike guy do something, go to far, and then make Ash come to the rescue and knock his lights out!

I'm a guy and I want a love like this and Ash and Misty should be together...and I want to see Ash punch this dudes lights out.

lol...great story...keep up the good work and consider my thoughts lol