Blue Heaven
By Spruceton Spook
Part 16
Renewals...
"Okay...cross, under...up, through—ugh! Cross, under, up, through—no. Ugggh! Cross, under...under—cross, under... No, no! Cross. Under. Up—grrr!"
"Ash!" Misty griped, jerking her head up from the makeup mirror she was stooped over. One eye glimmered of pale blue eye shadow, the other yet to be tinted. "Would you please stop talking to yourself!? It's so annoying!"
Ash slouched, releasing the necktie he'd been battling to fix for the past few minutes. "I can't, Misty! I have to talk myself through it otherwise I don't remember how to do it," he complained in aggravation.
"Well, talk in over in your head!" she huffed, spinning back to the mirror. "I don't need to hear you do it, apparently since it's going to take you all day."
Ash's face reddened. "It isn't gonna take me all day!" he retorted hotly. He suddenly looked discomfited. "It's just...gonna take a little longer than usual 'cause Dad's not here. But I can do it!"
Misty, the eye-shadow brush poised over her eye, sent him a derisive smirk through the reflection. "Sure."
"Hey!" Ash barked, taking the tie in his hands. "I will, you watch!" It couldn't be that hard, really—after all, his dad had gone over it with him slowly and clearly the night of the second date. Only now Ash wished he'd paid more attention rather than daydreaming—or worrying, that is.
"Cross, under...up, through..." he began to mumble, only for the tie to end up in an ugly knot. "Aw, man!"
Misty shook her head humorously, while Pikachu, finding the spectacle quite entertaining as well, had to laugh.
"Oh gee, thanks, Pikachu," Ash frowned at his pokémon, who was adorned with a charming bow tie that had simply been slipped over his head. "Like you have anything to say!"
"Pi!" Pikachu flicked his ears prankishly. Misty snorted, much to Ash's displeasure, whose scowl denoted just how much he enjoyed being made fun of for his innocent incompetence.
"Oh, come here," Brock sighed wearily. Ash almost tripped over his own feet as Brock yanked him over and took hold of his tie. "Look, it's easy. Pay attention! You watching? Cross, under, up, through, pull, tighten." He did it all flawlessly, but practically choked him at the end. "Got it?"
"Uh...I think so," Ash blinked, staring at the tie in awe. "Wow! Thanks, Brock!"
His friend, already fully dressed in his striking garb, saluted. "No problem. And put some cologne on. It'll make you smell nice."
Ash eyed the bottle tossed his way distrustfully, sniffed it, and applied it. Misty shot Brock a cheeky smile.
"See? You're impressing your girl," Brock said, giving him a thumbs-up. Ash blushed.
Misty didn't need Ash doused in cologne to dazzle her, though. As soon as he had stepped out of the bathroom in his new suit, she couldn't take her eyes off of him. The sleek black pants and pressed white shirt were a whole new look to him, slowly bringing out the handsome features from behind his boyish character. Now decked out in his tie and slipping into his jacket, Misty had to do everything to keep herself to task. Having half-an-hour to complete her hair and what was probably only her third attempt at putting on a decent face of makeup in her life, she was a bit restless.
In fact, it was a little unusual for all the kids, as they had never been so fancily dressed together in one setting before. But as the room flooded with the bright sunlight of a magnificent day, and all around the hustle of activity about the preserve could be felt, they were too excited to marvel over the differences. For the past hour, they had been dashing around Professor Oak's house from one room to the other, all frantic to get ready on time. Clothes littered the floor, the bathroom was steamy from three successive showers, and now thanks to Ash and Brock, the room reeked of after-shave.
Through the jumble they were boisterous and happy—Ash especially. He couldn't keep from looking out the window every once in a while, casting wondrous eyes down at the busy scene below. Everything had arrived the day before, and was now in the final stages of being arranged. Large, white tents stretched across the backyard, harboring a glossy dance floor in the middle. Further off to the side stood the makeshift altar, an archway of blue ribbons and flowers, and a sea of beautiful white chairs facing it.
I can't wait—this is gonna be so awesome! he thought mystically, slipping into another of his reveries.
"Okay, guys, how do I look?" Misty asked. She had just finished with her makeup and was now smoothing down her silver dress delicately. Ash's eyes wandered up and down the ravishing outfit, amazed. He'd never seen her dressed so elegantly; silky against her figure and flowing gracefully to her knees, the dress made her look more beautiful then he could ever imagine.
"Whoa," he said, a bit dumbfounded. "You look...really nice."
He immediately hated how simple that sounded. There was much more he could have said to elaborate on how captivated he was, but there were too many adjectives racing through his brain at once to figure them out. To his relief, Misty glowed; that was all she needed to hear.
"Aww, thank you, Ash," she said sweetly. She tucked her ginger hair behind her ears and felt tenderly for the clips that held it in place, cocking an eyebrow at Brock.
"What do you think, Brock?" she added, twirling around with a sprightly spring. Her dress shone in the sunlight, bright enough to match her smile. She was obviously rather enthralled with it.
He whistled. "Absolutely stunning," he replied, running a cool hand through his gelled hair. "How 'bout me?"
Misty grinned. "Handsome, handsome," she answered with a playfully flirty eye.
"Haha, all right!" Brock clapped, bounding to the window. "Just wait till I get down there and all the girls see me! I won't be able to keep them away!"
The smile on Misty's face fell exasperatedly. "Oh please, Brock," she groaned, "don't scare away all the guests before the wedding even begins."
Ash giggled. "Yeah, Brock, don't go hitting on my mom's waitresses again. They weren't too happy about that the last time."
Brock, who had since locked his eyes on one of the said girls scurrying around to get everything ready below, didn't even catch Ash's whimsical warning. Misty shook her head.
"He can keep dreaming," she sighed, waving it away. "But I think we're gonna have to keep an eye on him later on."
"Mm-hmm," Ash nodded, finding it hard to keep his grin away as he watched Brock drool out the window.
"You look really nice, too, Ash," Misty suddenly said.
"Huh?" He turned to see her smiling softly at him, taking in his courtly attire with an admirable look.
"I never thought I'd see you in a suit like that."
Bashfully, Ash shrugged and gestured toward her with a nod. "Well, I never thought I'd see you in such...a beautiful dress like that."
Her blush swiftly returned. "You should get dressed up more often," she told him. "I like you in a suit. You look really handsome, too."
"Thanks! But I would need an occasion for it," Ash said, scratching the back of his head embarrassingly.
"That's true," Misty admitted. "Guess we're gonna have to go to more parties, huh?"
"Guess so. I wouldn't mind that one bit!" Ash replied, feeling excited as he thought of the party that would begin ever so shortly. He didn't mind how stiff and uncomfortable he felt in his suit; nothing could damper the anticipation twitching in his limbs. He was impelled to look out at the scene again, but Brock was too busy hanging halfway out the window with spying eyes.
"Hey, we should be going down soon, shouldn't we?" Misty said, twisting to look at the clock beside the bed. She then hastened to the mirror to check her hair again, and Ash smirked.
"Don't worry, Misty. We have plenty of time. Besides," he added, drawing himself in phobically, "if I go down there too early I'll have a bunch of relatives going all crazy to see me and tell me how big I've gotten."
Brock whirled around abruptly. "Relatives?" he asked, very interested. "You mean like...girl relatives? Cousins? Aunts? ...Nieces?"
"Nieces!?" Misty exclaimed incredulously and almost irritably. "How dim-witted can you be, Brock? How can Ash possibly have nieces?" Ash laughed, while Brock winced sheepishly.
"Oops. Hehe, got a little carried away there," he grinned, his face crimson.
"Well, whoever you meant, you aren't getting them," Misty scoffed. "Like they're gonna want you slobbering over them, anyway. Right, Ash?"
Ash shrugged impassively. "He can try. I barely see any of them, anyway."
"All right!" Brock thrust a fist into the air jubilantly. "So he does have some! But...they are single, right?"
Misty dumped her head in her palm. "Oh, boy." Not that she cared at all what he did at the reception—well, she did care, as sometimes Brock's hormones caused him to lose touch with his brain, but being his babysitter was the least of her concerns. What she and Ash would do, however, swarmed her mind wildly. The food, the partying, the dancing—she would be with him at all times, enjoying it to the fullest. She could barely keep her heart from racing as her head drifted blissfully, thinking of the fun they would have together.
A sudden knock at the door startled the kids slightly. They turned as an animated Jay flung the door open, a smile sweeping from ear to ear.
"Dad!" Ash cried elatedly. He hadn't seen his father since earlier that morning.
"Hey, punk, what's goin' on in here?" Jay replied, entering the room. His exquisite black suit instantly seized their attention, Misty most of all. She nearly gulped as a result of his irresistibly handsome appearance, praying she wasn't blushing as much as she feared.
"Nothing," his son smiled immensely, shrugging. "Getting ready."
"Getting ready?" Jay echoed whimsically. He stopped and sniffed the air. "Who's wearing after-shave?" He cocked a skeptical eye and pointed at Ash. "Certainly not you!"
"Yeah. Brock made me," Ash murmured, facetiously embittered.
"He made you? Well...good for you, Brock," he nodded towards the older boy commendably. "It's about time someone got this kid smelling good!"
"Shut up!" Ash squealed, giving him a playful shove. Jay guffawed, making Ash's heart leap with delight. He could tell Jay was undoubtedly in a jovial mood—his voice was gleeful, his eyes were glistening with ecstasy, and he was flamboyant with his motions. Ash loved when his father was like this; it always made his world feel carefree and secure. In that moment, he knew the day was going to be nothing short of remarkable.
"Whatcha doing here?" Ash asked.
"What am I doing here?" Jay repeated. His face suddenly wrinkled with apprehension. With a melodramatic whimper, he clutched hold of his son, and buried his face in his shoulder. "I'm scared, that's what I'm doing here! Hold me, boy, I'm scared! I'm scared!"
Jay's little performance made Ash grin. "Aww, don't be scared!" he played along. "Why ya scared?" His dad gazed into his face with quivering lower lip.
"I'm getting married!" he whined, shaking him. "I'm getting married today! Married! That's it! I'm no longer a free man; I don't know if I can handle it!"
"Dad!" he giggled. "You already are married. Remember?"
Releasing his grasp abruptly, Jay looked off thoughtfully. "Hey, yeah! That's right." He quickly righted himself, adjusting his tie proudly. "Almost forgot that."
Brock and Misty laughed, Jay's cheerful energy arousing them all the more. Ash was practically on his toes, his father's sudden visit getting his nerves hyped to the extreme. He adored every minute of this, but his expectancy was driving him to restless impatience. Seeing Jay all dressed and seemingly ready to get the show on the road was feeding that excitement generously.
"Are we going out soon?" Ash asked. "Where's Mom?"
"Your mother went into that room this morning and I haven't seen her since," Jay tsk-tsked, shaking his head. "But you know she'll be out soon, she's never late. Why, you wanted to see her?"
"Kinda," Ash replied. "But if she's getting ready, I don't wanna bother her."
"Nah, go knock on the door," Jay said reassuringly. "She'll let you in—not me. She wants to do that whole I-don't-see-her-till-the-ceremony thing. Which is a-okay by me."
Ash smiled softly, taking a deep breath. "This is going to be great. Isn't it, Dad?"
His father shook his head with zestful assurance. "I doubt it'll be anything less," he proclaimed. He ruffled his hair. "Go see your mom. She'll be thrilled to see you—especially in that new suit of yours! Wow, she's gonna go crazy! Look at that, your tie's perfect and everything!" He reached out to tug it in amazement. "Did you get it all right? Was it hard?"
Ash gave him a timid smile. "Nope. That was Brock again."
"Again?" Jay exclaimed, the pep in his voice showing no sign of leaving. He turned towards Brock praisingly and extended his hand, which he shook proudly. "Oh man, what would I do without you, Brocko? Ashton probably wouldn't've been dressed. Thanks."
"Think nothing of it! I do what I can," replied Brock smugly.
"Glad to hear it," Jay nodded, diverting to Misty. "And you. Watch this kid, ya hear?" he bid her, pointing at Ash, who made a mischievous bite for his finger. "Make sure he don't pull any stunts during the ceremony. Beat 'im up if you have to—you know how to handle him."
Misty chortled giddily. "Will do!" she agreed a bit too freely.
Jay turned to find Ash with his arms crossed and eyes narrowed, all in good fun, of course. He just mimicked the look, and watched patiently as a smile helplessly pried at his son's pretend grimace. He just shook his head capriciously, and patted Ash's shoulder.
"All right, kiddies, I'm gonna head out now," he announced, starting for the door. "Gotta make sure people aren't wondering what the hell is going on or where we are. Be down in fifteen minutes the latest, okay?"
"We will," Misty affirmed.
"Oh, and Brock? Make sure Ash has his teeth brushed and he uses the bathroom once more," Jay winked.
"You got it!"
"Dad! Go away!" Ash shrieked, turning red. Jay made a dash for safety, but even his last comment couldn't erase the smile from Ash's face. He stared at the vacant doorway, breathing affably. He hated to see Jay go, but there wouldn't be much time until he would see him again. He still had his mom to visit before the big event, after all. He hardly doubted that she was in just as cheery a mood as his dad was, stimulating him with even more happiness.
Making Misty and Brock pledge not to leave without him, he hastened to her room. His fist hesitated before knocking, hoping that he wasn't disturbing her. But she had been in there all day—surely she was somewhat done by now. But he never knew.
"Who is it?" Delia's lively voice eased his minor concern. A smile soared across his face.
"It's me, Mom—Ash!"
"Oh, Ash! Hold on a sec, honey!" She sounded utterly thrilled, sending a wave of delight through him. He became antsy on his feet as she rushed over to unlock the door. It swung open, and he was greeted with a flood of sunlight and a fabulous smile.
"Hi!" he chirped, perky.
"Hi there!" she said just as happily, holding the door open invitingly. "Come in, come in!"
Ash practically pranced in, his eyes bugging out at the sight of his mother as she closed the door behind him. He was astonished, to say the least. If Misty was glamorous, Delia was breathtaking. Ash swore he'd never seen her like this before. Her dress was the same color as Misty's, but longer and strapless. It flowed to her feet, which were bound in glittering, high-heeled silver sandals. Her auburn hair was drawn into a high twist, with long, curled strands framing her face gracefully.
"Wow, Mom," he gasped coquettishly. Delia had to grin at the way he ogled her. "You're so pretty."
She beamed humbly. "Thank you, sweetheart. But look at you! I—look at you! You're so handsome! How did you get so handsome all of a sudden?"
Ash laughed at her pleasantly shocked tone, shrugging. She skipped over to him, giving the contented once-over.
"I knew this suit would look great on you!" she gushed. "It looks even better on you than it did in the store! How do you like it?"
"It's cool," Ash replied. "I'm dying for my sneakers and my hat, but it's cool."
Delia giggled. "Oh, you!" she patted his face. Her eyes suddenly went wide. "Oh, but you don't have a flower! You need a flower!"
Ash blinked, and looked down at his jacket, which was indeed lacking a flower. "Haha, look at that!" he smirked. "Brock missed something! I can't wait to tell Dad!"
His mom rushed to the dresser to take a white flower from her bouquet. "Why're gonna tell Dad?" she laughed, slipping it delicately into his lapel and brushing some lint off his shoulders.
"Heh, he thinks Brock dressed me," Ash explained.
"Oh, dear," his mom grinned, rolling her eyes. "Well, I certainly hope that's not true. When did you see him?"
"Before, in the room," he replied, motioning towards it with a nod. His lips curled into a silly smile. "He's scared, you know."
"Oh, really?" she replied, amused. "Well, actually, I'm not surprised. This is the man who stuttered when he said 'I do' at our wedding."
Ash's jaw dropped. "He did?" he exclaimed in disbelief. "He stuttered?"
"Yes." Delia gave him a quirky look, shaking her head. She glanced at the ceiling in pleasant reminiscence. "It was really cute, though. I remember that day, holding onto his hands—I could feel how nervous he was."
Ash tilted his head curiously. "I can't imagine Dad doing that," he said, trying vainly to picture the man he viewed as romantically and wittily articulate as being a jittery mess, especially at such an important moment.
"Are you kidding? It's a wonder our hands stayed together with his sweaty palms! Trust me, he's had his moments," his mom smiled gently. "In fact, you watch him during the ceremony today...I betcha he'll come off as a totally different person. You won't believe that's your dad standing up there. I mean it, you watch."
"I'll do that," Ash breathed. "I gotta see it to believe it."
He threw a brief glimpse at the window, at the daylight pouring through the sheer curtains. Outside he could hear a little commotion—good commotion, sending a tingle through his legs. His heart pounded for a moment. Turning back to his mom, he noticed she was gazing off as well, both of them lost in a world of indulgence.
"Did you see it down there?" he asked silently. Delia turned to him, her chestnut eyes blazing. "It's so cool—well, more than cool. It's...really, really great."
She blinked relishingly. "It is. I've been looking out there all morning."
"Me, too. Everything's perfect."
Delia looked over at the window again, taking a deep breath. "It's all because of you, you know."
Ash faltered momentarily, then smiled and shook his head. "Uh-uh. No, it's not."
Lingering in thought, Delia gave him an affectionate look. "Well...you're a big part of it, that's for sure. And you know it. Don't go into denial about that now. If it weren't for you, Ash...there's a good chance this probably wouldn't be happening right now."
He bit his lip; the hard truth did lurk in her tone. But Ash didn't have to think about that any longer. What was happening was real, and never again would he have to suffer the thought of what could have dreadfully been.
His humility restricted him from responding. Absentmindedly, he slipped his hands into his pockets, finding it hard to tear his eyes away from Delia's soft and loving gaze. "I can't wait to see you and Dad out there," he said.
"Well, you won't have to wait long for that, sweetie," she replied, caressing his face. "We should all be getting down there real soon."
"I know."
They paused, then shared a devouring embrace. Delia kissed his cheek delicately, which Ash returned, and for a few seconds, neither wanted to leave the other's presence. The room was quiet and still, the atmosphere almost heavenly, but the muffled sounds of the upcoming event pricked their ears, breaking them from their serene lolling.
"I should let you finish up," Ash suggested.
Delia nodded. "And you better go get down there. Get a good seat now. You don't wanna be sitting in the back."
"Nope," Ash giggled. It took a reluctant moment for him to break completely away from her and make his way to the door.
"See you in a little bit," she said enticingly.
"Bye, Mama," Ash waved longingly. Delia blew him a final kiss before he slipped out into the dim, empty hallway, loitering as he shut the door behind him. Standing there nearly made him tremble excitedly, speculating on what was going on around him. Worry of not claiming a good seat quickened him. Remembering all the relatives he would encounter, some he hadn't seen in years, gave rise to slight nervousness. Imagining the sight of his parents pledging their love to each other in his presence made his heart pump vigorously.
And thinking of Brock and Misty waiting for him to go down and join the other guests got his body moving. He nearly tripped racing to the bedroom, not wanting to waste another single moment dawdling. Everyone was ready and in suspense. Time was ticking. A marvelous blue sky welcomed them. The day he had been anticipating for a month had finally arrived, and nothing was going to stop him from making the most of it.
Contrary to the kids' worries, there was plenty of time before the ceremony for them to break out into the scene and grab a good seat. Ash kept somewhat low, wanting to stake out the area to make sure he didn't have an overwhelming wave of family to ward off. He was mostly lucky in that sense, though it was ultimately impossible for him to elude his grandparents on his father's side, who had been saving a single seat for him in the front. Ash didn't mind—he was crazy about them, and hadn't seen them in a while. It took a little arranging to free up three more seats, as Tracey, bearing a rambunctious grin, joined them, but it was no problem. Unfortunately, Ash's seventeen-year-old cousin made the mistake of sitting diagonally behind Brock, whose unquestionable beauty drew the lovesick teen's attention instantly. Misty could do nothing but give him an occasional punch in the arm when she caught him giving her flirtatious eyes, but she was easily distracted otherwise with Ash sitting restively beside her.
She basked in the way his perpetual smile gleamed. Pikachu could barely settle on his lap since Ash was incredibly jumpy, constantly craning his head around to try to find his parents, but more often than not he wound up waving to a relative somewhere in the crowd. The sun played off his hair, warm and inviting, harmonic to the balmy, pleasant temperature encompassing them. Adjusting her dress straps again, she sighed affably, yanked Brock's head frontward by his ear, and let the sun beat down on her face, waiting in blissful composure.
Ash couldn't be as calm. The entire party was now present, a mass of familiar faces. It was futile for him to locate everyone he expected to see because of the huge, bustling gathering, but he didn't mind at the moment. There would be enough time at the reception to greet everyone—though he had no doubts that they would be rushing to see him and his parents before he even got a chance to rise from his seat.
Jay appeared shortly later, but Delia had yet to make her grand arrival. They would be walking down the aisle together, and with the few minutes he had, Jay made some quick rounds among the assembly. Ash, remembering the anecdote his mom related, waited eagerly for him to come by so that he could wish him luck, but by the time Jay approached, Delia emerged from the house, her lovely entrance drawing everyone's stares. All Ash got was a quick pat on the head from his dad, who then sauntered briskly down the aisle to join his wife. He wasn't disappointed, though—seeing his parents reunited after a long, separated morning and gazing at each other with sentimental eyes made him utterly elated.
The ceremony was just as emotional and beautiful as the kids had expected. Ash, the contented smile never leaving his face for a second, watched in quiet rapture. He didn't care that the air was growing hot, or that the sun was glaring directly in his eyes; he was mesmerized, lost in a world of happy awe. At one point, Misty took hold of his hand, but Ash squeezed back almost unconsciously. He was still incredulous, unable to grasp the fact that the two people before him had been on the verge of bitter divorce two months ago. They looked so blissful now, so in love, so meant for each other. Jay and Delia's eyes were constantly locked, wavering in passion, the hands clasped tightly together. Ash could pinpoint so many feelings and emotions splashed throughout their faces, but he was certain it couldn't compare to what they were feeling inside.
Jay and Delia were detained in state of daze. An upwelling of memories invaded them. Looking into her husband's deep, brown eyes, Delia hardly saw him as he was—all of a sudden, she beheld the twenty-year-old man whose same eyes she had gazed into that day thirteen years before, full of charm, devotion, and that never-absent spark of spontaneity. That had never changed. He was just as handsome, just as enchanting as he was on their wedding day, making Delia almost dizzy. She tried to hold back her tears, but she was powerless. At one point, two gentle streams rolled down her face, bringing a wide grin to Jay's lips as he benevolently wiped them away.
She was even prettier than she was back then. Jay couldn't believe how much she matured, how the face of the girl he had fallen in love with had transforming into that of a gorgeous woman. She had been a kid, and just as he'd sworn to take care of her then, he was going to do it now. He recited his vows fervently (and without stuttering once), putting his heart and soul into each word, holding her hands as if he never intended to let go. She did the same, and the world around them disappeared, the furious beating of their hearts a result from their zealous love rather than the dozens of eyes on them.
Ash didn't cry, but Misty submitted to it. Throughout the ritual, her attention darted back and forth between Jay and Delia and Ash's spellbound face, each sight equally priceless. Even Brock had forgotten about the girl behind him. The event wasn't long, and before they knew it, it was over, Jay and Delia sharing a prolonged kiss.
As the crowd clapped, Misty leaned over to whisper in her boyfriend's ear, "Good job, Ash." For the first time, he turned to her, her uplifting words soaking into him.
"Thanks, Misty," he smiled modestly. His cheeks flushed, he looked back at the altar just as his parents were on their way down. The modest smile changed to a broad grin as they walked past him, Jay reaching out to ruffle his hair. It was then that the tears came, if only scarcely, as he tried so hard not to cry. He watched them walk down the rest of the aisle airily, feeling fortunate, proud, and above all, relieved. It was over, done, an accomplishment on all their parts.
But Ash didn't let the emotion subdue him for much longer. The sight of his parents hand-in-hand and snuggled close to each other, basically newlyweds, not only reminded him that the heavily anticipated affair had come to a close...but that it was party time.
"Ash, wait up!" Misty, struggling helplessly to run in her unstable sandals, could barely keep up with the boy as he sprinted towards the food table, Pikachu hot on his heels. "Your mom wants you at the table!"
"Don't worry!" Ash called back, turning to give her a wide smile. "I'm just gonna get something to eat! It's looks so good!"
"Pikachu!"
"But Ash!" She nearly stumbled as someone grabbed her from behind.
"Oh, let him go," Brock said. They both watched as Ash reached the table and grabbed a plate, not hesitating in helping himself. "He's been wanting that food all week."
Misty sighed. "I suppose so. But there's a bunch of his relatives at the table all looking for him. He's gotta go back."
"He will," Brock said, nudging her. "C'mon, let's get something, too. I want some of that shrimp platter."
"Ooh, yeah!" At the sound of that, Misty's face lit up. "I'd race ya there," she giggled, "but I'd wind up breaking my ankles doing it in these shoes."
Brock laughed. "Well, we certainly don't want that happening. Here, I'll walk you there. Shall we?" He extended his elbow, and with a smile, she roped her arm into it.
"We shall," she chirped.
Together, they walked idly to the table, lightly taking in the sights and sounds of the party around them. Guests were scattered everywhere, some finding their seats while others checked out the appetizers as Ash was doing. Laughter and buoyant conversation was heard, but nothing was enough to drown out the lively thumping of the DJ's speakers. They approached the table to find Ash lavishly filling his plate with the cocktail wieners he so desired, a famished grin stretched across his face.
"Whoa, chill out there," Brock advised him, cocking an eye at the heap of the little hotdogs. "Save some for the rest of us."
"I'll try, but I'm starving," Ash admitted, popping one of them into his mouth. "Mmmmm. Want one, Pikachu?"
"Pika!" the Pokémon replied atop his shoulder, taking one carefully from his trainer's fingers.
"Wow, it all looks so delicious!" Misty proclaimed, eyeing the assortment of hors d'oeuvres. Along with the wieners and shrimp were other various goodies, such as teriyaki steak and buffalo wings. The food was almost as pretty as the ornate table it sat on, surrounded by sweet, strong-smelling bouquets. And this wasn't even the main course!
"Okay, guys, I'm back!" Tracey suddenly ran up to them, panting and sweating. He rubbed his hands hungrily at the food. "Oooh, mini hotdogs!"
"Hey, there you are! Did you catch that eevee?" Misty asked, recalling the frisky Pokémon that had somehow escaped the professor's house and circled the yard about fifty times, stirred up the guests.
"Yup," Tracey nodded, still gasping for breath. He tugged his tie loose to grant some ventilation for his stifling neck. "Great way to start the party, me running around like a lunatic. Little bugger kept dodging every time I tried to call it back! It really wanted to be out here with everyone."
"Aww, I feel bad," Misty chuckled sympathetically, nibbling on a buffalo wing.
"No, don't," Tracey shook his head. "If it'd stayed out, it probably would've gotten hurt. Remember when it went skidding across the dance floor? Nearly tripped those two kids."
"Yeah, that was pretty funny when the DJ started playing that wacky music for it," Ash laughed, his mouth full and still going for more. The other three exchanged silly looks at his harmless gluttony, and went to fill their own plates.
"Champagne, kids?" came a sudden, mannerly voice. They all turned to reveal one of the waiters before them, beaming as he held forward a tray of tall, skinny glasses, all assorted colors, sparkling in the sunlight.
"Ooh, thank you," they all said in unison, selecting a glass with glowing faces.
"Wow, look! It has sugar on the outside," Brock noted, running his tongue over the crystals before taking a sip. He grinned as it tingled his throat.
"It doesn't need the sugar, though," Misty sighed dreamily. "It's fine all on its own."
Ash consumed his small taste, then narrowed his eyes at her. "Since when do you drink champagne?" he inquired.
"Since always," she retorted, snappish. "I've been to enough parties, thank you very much. I should be asking you that question, Ash Ketchum." She wrinkled her nose teasingly at him, then held her glass high. "Cheers, everyone."
"Cheers!" they all responded eagerly, clinking their glasses together to create a melodic ding.
"Mm!" Ash realized as he swallowed. "That's right! I gotta go back to the table. Let's go!"
The appetizers were now swarmed as the four made their way back. A small shiver ran through Ash as he wondered who would be there, which relative would gush over how different he was from the last time they saw him. It was a shiver not only of apprehension but of excitement as well. He loved his family, and it was a shame many didn't live nearby. He just pondered how many times he'd have to recite how far he'd come in his training.
He was shocked, however, to discover there was no one from his extended family currently congratulating Jay and Delia. Stopping short as he neared the canopy-shaded table, a wide beam of surprise and delight brightened his already radiant face.
"Mr. and Mrs. Oak! May! Hi!" he squealed ecstatically. The sight of the Oak family smiling at him stirred his blood, and he rushed as fast as he could over to them, miraculously without spilling any of his food.
"Hi there, Ash!" Mrs. Oak welcomed joyfully. "Long time no see!"
"Hey, there he is!" Jay laughed, setting a hand on his son's head. "What've you been doing there? Pigging out?"
"Oh, would you look at that!" Delia exclaimed, humorously disgraced at the sight of Ash with champagne in his hand. "My son, the alcoholic. Just wonderful!" She saw that all four of the smiling kids presented the same. "Where did you get those?"
"One of the waiters gave them to us," Tracey replied, giving May, who he was very friendly with, a wave.
"It's tasty," Ash grinned, emphasizing that by taking another sip. Delia placed her hands on her hips, but found her smile hard to overcome.
"Bad kid," she shook her head. "Just don't have too much of that, now, okay?"
"Don't worry, Ma, I won't," Ash promised, his grin stretching tremendously. "Have to save room for beer, anyway."
Delia rolled her eyes, but couldn't resist giving her frisky son a squeezing hug.
"Same ol' Ash," Mr. Oak sighed. "Still giving your parents a bunch of trouble, I see."
"Shaddup!" Ash giggled. "I am not!"
This was so exciting; he hadn't seen the Oak family in ages! Well, minus one unmentionable member. But Ash didn't want to waste a minute thinking about him—finding him thankfully absent, he focused his attention on the better of the situation. He was too light-headed to think antagonistic thoughts at the moment, anyway. As his acquaintance with the family had gone back to since he was little, he was very familiar with them, hence his playfully sassy attitude. Being around them for a large part of his childhood had made them almost his second family, and beholding them after a long disunion was simply invigorating.
"Hey, 'shaddup' yourself!"
Ash smirked; that had to be none other than May. With an impishly annoyed look, he growled at the tall, eighteen-year-old girl before him, formally his babysitter, the closest person he ever had to a big sister.
"Make me," he replied snottily. She just cocked her head haughtily.
"Oh, I'll make you, all right," she warned, waving a fist. But she couldn't keep it up much longer. As soon as that was said, a smile yanked at the corners of her mouth, and she willingly allowed it to take over. Their laughter was set free, and resounded as they shared a hug.
"What have you been up to, Ash?" she asked. "It's been so long!"
"I know," Ash replied. "I haven't been around much." Suddenly remembering his friends standing behind them, he immediately moved over, revealing them. "Oh, this is Misty and Brock. Guys, this is May—Gary's sister. And her parents."
"Hello," Misty said affably, nodding to the family, who returned the gesture. "Nice to meet you."
A blush spread across Brock's suddenly hazy face. "Yeah," he said, his voice incoherent as he studied the girl's pretty smile, "very, very nice to meet you, May."
Already sensing danger on the horizon, Misty gave him a harsh pinch on the arm. Brock bit back a yelp and tore his arm away, moaning sadly. She narrowed her eyes at him briefly in warning, then turned back to smile at the Oaks.
May chortled. "It's nice to meet you, too."
"So, how long have you been home, Ash?" Mrs. Oak asked. "You're right, we haven't seen you much."
"'Bout two months."
"Two months!?" May gasped, giving him a shove. "And you never came to visit me?"
Ash scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh, sorry," he chuckled. Not like I didn't have my reasons... "Guess I've just been...kinda lazy. Hehe."
"And that's the truth," Delia confirmed. "We gotta get you back on the road. Although seeing you with that drink now, I'm kinda afraid to let you go anywhere! I don't know what you'll be doing next!"
They all laughed heartily. Ash held the glass up and finished the rest of his champagne, but he was concentrated more on the eyes around him than the drink's sweet taste. It was great to be around the Oaks again, and he felt every bit of the happiness of the reunion.
But there was still something nagging in his mind. No matter how much fun he was having, he couldn't get rid of it. As he set the glass down on the beautifully arrayed table, his eyes quickly scanned around him. It was unusual...too good to be true. But was it true? Ash wasn't ready to jump to any conclusions just yet, as much as he wanted to.
May as well...just ask, he thought. After all, what was the worse that could happen? Well...finding out he was there. But then there could also be the hopeful conformation that he wasn't, that he had gone back on his journey, sadly missed this joyous event...ending Ash's worries.
Here goes nothing.
"So, um," he said, clearing his throat. He purposely kept his eyes from his friends and parents. "Is Gary here?"
Misty and Brock tensed. There it was. They had no doubts that the question would eventually arise, as it was certainly impossible for Ash to be in the presence of his rival's parents and not think about Gary. Holding their breaths for just a second, they awaited the answer that, like Ash, they prayed was negative.
Mrs. Oak's face lit up at that, and Ash's stomach sank. Oh no...
"Oh, Gary? Of course! He just went back to our house for a moment to get something. He'll be back soon. You want me to tell him you're looking for him?"
"No!" Ash cringed as that came out a little too resolutely. "I mean—uh, uh, no." He managed a shaky smile. "No, no, I'll...I'll run into him. Thanks."
"Okay," Mrs. Oak smiled. "Don't worry, he won't be long."
Misty and Brock swapped a nervous look. Though they knew Ash didn't mean what he said, they couldn't shake the undeniable premonition that overcame them. He might not wish to run into Gary, but that didn't mean it wouldn't happen incidentally. One and only one thought swept to their minds.
Uh-oh...
Ash was rendered speechless, but realizing this, quickly shook himself of it. He didn't want to show his shock in front of the Oaks, who obviously weren't aware of the extent of his and Gary's hostilities. Plus, he didn't want to appear that way in front of his parents, either. If anything, he wanted to seem indifferent. That was hardly the way he felt, however, as his stomach churned with instant dread and anxiousness.
Luckily, the Oak family hadn't noticed, who were just as carefree as before.
"Well," Mrs. Oak said daintily, "I can't stand looking at that food of yours and not getting some myself! I think I'm going to go run over to the food table right now. Oh, everything looks so beautiful, Delia!"
"Thank you," Delia replied gratefully. Noticing the kids' plates of snacks made her mouth water; she and Jay had been so busy socializing, they hadn't gotten a chance to get some food themselves. "You know, I'm pretty hungry myself. I'll come with you. I have to try that shrimp."
"It's awesome!" Brock acclaimed, taking a bite of one of the little shellfish.
"Well then, that does it," Delia concluded with a laugh. She poked her husband. "You coming, honey?"
"I think I'll have to," Jay quipped, reaching over to quickly snatch a cocktail wiener from Ash's plate and popping it into his mouth.
"Hey!" Ash exclaimed. "Get your own!"
Jay licked his lips, giving his son a cocky look. "Will do, squirt. Gotta get some food before you eat it all."
Ash laughed, but only feebly; the abrupt disclosure of the close proximity of Gary robbed him of his recent hyperness. His dad stuck his tongue out at him as he made his way past, the other three adults and May following behind.
"We'll be right back, kids," Delia smiled. "Sit down, eat, relax."
"We have to catch up more," Mrs. Oak said, patting Ash on the shoulder. "I have to hear how your training's going."
"Okay," he grinned weakly.
"And get more champagne now while your mom's not looking," Mr. Oak whispered jokingly, winking.
"Oh no, he'd better not," May cautioned, wringing her arm around Ash's neck. This brought a toothy smile to his face, coughing as he struggled to escape her clutch. "'Cause I'll teeeelll..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he rolled his eyes, and she released him. "Nice to see you again, May." She smirked and spun on her heels, her dark-brown hair flying behind her.
Ash seated himself inanimately as he watched them walk away, that previous feeling of pleasure numbed. Breathing slowly, he hung his head, fixing his concentration on his plate. Absorbed deeply, thoughts of Gary clouded his mind. He was here. At the party. What was he going to do?
Misty and Brock stared at him, waiting for him to talk, but it was obvious he was too disturbed. Tracey, who only knew vaguely of the ugliness going on between Ash and Gary, fiddled with his food awkwardly. Ash could feel their stares, but he didn't know what to do. As much as he wanted to complain, they already knew how he was feeling. What was the point?
Misty, however, couldn't take the silence anymore. "Ash?" she said softly, tilting her head. "Are you...okay about this?"
She knew that was a dumb question, but she had to get him talking. He bit his lip and looked up at them finally, shrugging.
"Of course I'm not," he replied thickly. "I just...I—I don't know..." He dumped his head into his hands.
Brock sighed. "Ash, listen. It's going to be okay. Even if you do see him, don't talk to him—don't even look at him. That's all you have to do."
"That's right," Misty assured, prodding his shoulder. "Don't pay any attention to him."
Ash took a deep breath, and lifted his head. It was easy for them to say that. Actually doing it, though, was going to be hard. Not that he wasn't going to heed their advice to stay away; he would try, but how could he simply accept this? He didn't want Gary at his family's party. He didn't even want him within a hundred feet of him! Just the thought of him strolling around, eating their food, listening to their music, celebrating something that meant nothing to him... Ash shuddered.
"I—I'll try," he promised haggardly. "Really, I'll try. But...I can't stand to think of him being here..."
"I know," Brock replied understandably. "But there's nothing you can do, okay? Just leave it alone and don't think about it."
"And Ash, please," Misty said, almost pleadingly. "If you do see him, don't even make a face. Don't do anything. It's just gonna end up bad."
Ash received a sudden pang of fear. "But—but what if he comes and talks to me?" he stuttered.
"Just turn and walk away," Brock admonished. His face suddenly became grave. "You have every right to ignore him. I mean it, Ash, don't start anything that could get ugly. Don't make any trouble today, it's not worth it."
Wincing at the thought, Ash nodded. "Trust me, I won't. I hope I don't even see him."
"Me neither," Misty agreed. She prayed with all her heart that that would be the case, but at the same time, she deemed it almost inevitable. Professor Oak's backyard was big, but not that big. If Gary was to return, the chances of seeing him were certainly not going to be slim. And the thought of that made Misty tremble.
"Hey, and if worse comes to worst, I'll talk to him," Tracey offered, which he was perfectly willing to do. "I'll ask him to get a drink with me or something. Then you can escape somewhere."
Ash smiled. "Thanks, Tracey. Appreciate it."
He was going to be strong with this. Ash decided it at that moment. After all, this wasn't as bad as he was making it out to be; at least he wasn't obliged to spend time with him, as he had been at that repulsive sleepover. He shut that recollection out of his mind as swiftly as it had come, not wanting to think about a single thing regarding Gary. All he wanted to think about was the fun, the festivity, and the friends who meant more to him than Gary ever would.
Misty seemed to read his mind perfectly. "Ash, come on now, I don't want you just thinking about this," she said. She smiled as he lifted his head. "I want you to have fun. You were having a good time two seconds ago. Don't let this bum you out."
He blinked gently. "I'm not going to, don't worry. I...I'll have fun. I just...I'm just worried, that's all."
"What, that he'll start something?" Brock queried.
"Mm-hmm," he nodded, rolling a mini hotdog in a splash of mustard before pitching it into his mouth. Pikachu flicked his ears, wanting one, too, which Ash provided.
"If he has any brains," Misty said conclusively, "he won't come anywhere near you."
That's not too convincing, Misty. Ash nearly laughed out loud as he thought this. Misty could be right, but he unfortunately still held his doubts. A party could be the best or the worst place to attempt to associate with someone you had previous contention with. That's how he saw it. Maybe if Gary saw him cavorting about, laughing, screaming, joking, he'd find it the perfect opportunity to talk with him, get his bogus apologies in or start some other kind of meaningless strife. Ash could see either happening.
He'd have some guts to do something like that, he thought bitterly. And some gall, too.
But what was he doing? Just what Misty had begged him not to: think about it, stew in it. He quickly shook his head, as if that would get the dreaded thoughts out of his mind. It wasn't going to work, and he knew it. Especially sitting here at the table, eating his hors d'oeuvres and letting his mind wander. That was no good for him; he had to get up and do something, have fun—make the most of the party as he had intended to do since the moment his parents had made the announcement.
Fortunately for him, Misty noticed this, too. She was practically stuck in the same situation, as all she could conjure up were images—frightful images—of Ash meeting up with Gary, or worse yet, Gary even daring to approach him. She couldn't let that happen. As much as she knew Ash wanted to ignore his rival's presence, she also knew his impulsiveness, his pride, and most of all, his stubbornness. He couldn't do this on his own.
Just then, the speakers began booming a song that pricked Misty's ears excitedly. Upbeat and loud, she found her feet in an instant, raring to get to the dance floor. Not only that, but here was her chance to get Ash out of his preoccupation and return the liveliness to his body.
"Ooh, Ash, I love this song!" she leaped in place. She grabbed his wrists and attempted to yank him out of his chair. "Let's go dance!"
He gave her an uneasy smile and promptly became heavy in his seat. "Oh, I dunno, Misty..." he groaned.
"Oh, c'mon!" she persuaded. "What do you think the DJ is for, huh?"
Ash shrugged sheepishly. "To play music?" he tried.
"Exactly!" Her eyes sparkled, still tugging him. "Come on, come dance with me, Ash! Please, please, pleeeeease?"
He threw an indecisive glance at the dance floor, where only a few kids were bouncing about. It was still early, and most people were helping themselves to the appetizers, which increased Ash's hesitancy. It wasn't that he was scared to dance, but he was more comfortable when there was a crowd to blend into. He would have preferred to wait until the dancing picked up, but it seemed he didn't have a choice.
Brock, getting the gist of Misty's purpose, suddenly rose from his seat. He snapped his fingers dictatingly. "Okay, Ash, up. Come, we're gonna go dance. Right, Tracey?"
"Ah, sure, why not?" Tracey gave in without a second thought, grinning. "I like this song, too."
Though still disinclined, seeing all his friends up made Ash feel left out—a feeling he always hated. With a playful pout, he finally rose, too.
"Haha! All right!" Misty cheered, unbuckling her sandals. She kicked them under the table and seized Ash's hand again.
"Guys," Ash whined as he was reluctantly hauled to the dance floor by his very adamant, very gleaming girlfriend. "There's no one out here!"
"Well, we'll bring them out here!" proclaimed Brock.
"Besides, who cares if no one's here?" Misty scoffed, raising her voice over the music. They reached the dance floor and she began to dance, still holding onto Ash's hands, who had yet to move his legs. "Dancing's fun! Just because there's no one else doin' it doesn't mean we can't!"
She finally released his hands and began to bobble to the song, her capricious eyes never leaving him. Ash stood with a slightly embarrassed smile, watching his friends shuffle, all giving him similar looks of enticement like Misty. Who was he kidding? He did want to dance; the music was rousing him, slowly but surely reversing the troubled state he had fallen into momentarily.
Misty could see this change, and this made her smile grow fantastically. "I see you smiling!" she cried, pointing at him like she had caught him red-handed. "Stop standing there like a dud, Ash! Dance, dance!"
With a defeated smile and slouch of his shoulders, he finally conceded. "Okay, okay!" he shouted back, and began to dance quite easily for someone who had been so apprehensive.
"Yay!" Misty clapped her hands, laughing boisterously. The laugh was contagious, and Ash caught it immediately. Pretty soon, having the entire dance floor to themselves was amazing, and they used the entire space to their advantage.
Ash forgot about Gary. As each song changed, one familiar, pumping tune after another, his head drifted airily, and his body became nimbler. He was back to enjoying himself again, and his friends couldn't have been gladder. They, too, had forgotten about the whole ordeal. The only thought on their minds was how energized they were, and how much more energy they could attain. And, of course, how increasingly humid it was getting.
"Watch me, Misty!" Ash was doubling over with laughter, his jacket practically hanging half off from the heat. "I'm gonna try to do the moonwalk!"
She smirked. "Oh, I'm sure you can do that," she assured him sarcastically.
"No, no, really!" he exclaimed. "I can do it, I can do it! I did it once, I swear. Watch me."
"Okay, this oughta be funny," Misty crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow. She was convinced that his hyperness and the two glasses of soda, as well as the champagne, he had downed were not a healthy mix. "Go ahead, make a fool of yourself. I'm waiting."
"Har har, Misty," Ash rocked his head, making an effort to put a face of concentration amidst his giddy grin and failing miserably. "Here goes nothing!"
While Misty was succumbing to giggling, Ash attempted to glide backwards on his feet, which wasn't very easy due to his new shoes scuffing roughly on the shiny surface. He didn't move a foot before he stumbled, catching himself before going down.
"Oh, that was real smooth, Ash," Misty praised mockingly.
"Well, that was just practice," he insisted. "I'll really do it this time."
"Okay, whatever you say," she sang, biting her lip to keep her laughter within her.
Ash took a deep breath and cracked his knuckles. He realized very quickly that his shoes were simply determined to be uncooperative, as he found himself tripping backwards after another ungraceful endeavor. He let out a playful yelp, but that soon changed to one of genuineness as he felt his body slam into another.
"Oh no, I'm so sorry!" he apologized instantly, spinning around to face the person he'd tripped into accidentally. "I'm sor—"
His words were ceased brusquely, his heart skipped a beat. For an instant he didn't move a muscle. He was too stunned to even breathe.
Gary smiled. "Trying out some new dance moves there, Ash?"
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
Eek! Sorry for the disgusting delay in posting this chapter…school has just been impossible. ^^;; Well, and it was impossible last week and this week, but I had to finish this for all of you! ^_^ I've kept you waiting way too long! But I made it extra long to make up for it! I hope the next wait isn't as bad, but I can't promise anything. The next chapter is going to be fun, so I don't think I should have too much of a problem writing it. ^_^
By the way, I've discovered that listening to the Chicago soundtrack while attempting to write is not a good idea. LOL It's too distracting! :P Have to remember that for the next time…
Thanks for reading! And thank you for waiting, too! ^^;;
