Party Drama and Fame

The sun was beginning to set, painting the blue skyline with soft hues of orange and pink. Misty lounged by the window, savoring the rare calm in her life. At three months pregnant, most days were a battle with nausea and exhaustion, but today was different. Today, she felt good—better than she had in weeks.

Her hand instinctively rested on her belly. It wasn't much yet, just a slight curve, but it was enough for her to feel connected to the little life growing inside her. She was lost in thought when the phone rang, snapping her out of her daydream.

She glanced at the caller ID and sighed. Daisy. Bracing herself for whatever frivolous drama her older sister had cooked up, Misty answered.

"Hey, Daisy. What's up?"

"Misty, darling! Guess what?" Daisy's voice was giddy, dripping with excitement.

Misty frowned. "What now?"

"I'm throwing a party tonight!"

"For what, exactly?"

"Oh, nothing, really! Just felt like celebrating life, you know? Anyway, it's going to be fabulous!" Daisy's tone turned conspiratorial. "I had this amazing idea. Every fabulous party needs a celebrity guest, right?"

Misty stiffened. She already didn't like where this was going. "Uh-huh. And?"

"Well," Daisy continued, drawing the moment out like a game show host unveiling the grand prize, "how lucky am I to have a Pokémon Master for a baby brother-in-law? Ash is literally the most famous person alive right now!"

Misty's fingers tightened around the phone. "Where are you going with this?"

"Oh, come on! Bring Ash to the party! He'll be the highlight of the night! Imagine the attention, Misty! Everyone will be talking about it for weeks."

Misty's jaw clenched. "I'll bring Ash as my husband, Daisy—not as bait. You know he doesn't like using his fame to grab attention."

Daisy let out an exasperated sigh. "But Misty, please! Just this once! You have no idea how much this means to me."

Misty groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fine," she finally relented. "But only because I know you won't stop pestering me otherwise."

XXX

When Ash got home from work later that evening, Misty brought up the party while he was unwinding on the couch.

"She's throwing a party for absolutely no reason?" Ash asked, his expression halfway between confusion and amusement.

Misty nodded, stifling a laugh. "Classic Daisy."

Ash leaned back, rubbing his temple. "And she wants me there to… what? Be her main attraction?"

"Basically."

Ash snorted. "Great. Can't wait to be stared at like a Pikachu in a cage."

"She means well… sort of," Misty said, rolling her eyes.

Ash shook his head with a grin. "Guess I don't have much of a choice. Let's get this over with."

XXX

When it came time to get ready, Misty stood in front of the mirror, examining herself in the black bodycon mermaid dress she'd picked out. The fabric clung to her curves, and while it was flattering, her slight bump was definitely visible.

She turned to Ash, who was adjusting his tie in the reflection. "What do you think?"

Ash glanced at her, his gaze lingering for a moment. "It's… nice. But, uh, it does make your bump look obvious. Like you're kinda bloated."

Misty glared at him. "Bloated?"

Ash's face paled. "Not in a bad way! I mean, you look great, really!"

"Nice save," Misty muttered before disappearing back into the closet. She emerged minutes later in a short, bubble dress. "How about now?"

Ash smiled, relieved. "Perfect."

As he stepped closer, leaning in for a kiss, Misty stopped him with a finger to his lips. "Don't ruin my lipstick," she said with a smirk.

XXX

The party hall was buzzing with energy when they arrived. The moment they stepped through the doors, all eyes turned to them. Daisy was the first to rush over, practically squealing.

"Ash! You look extremely hot tonight!"

Misty's expression darkened as she stepped protectively closer to him. "That's my husband you're talking about."

Ash gave a polite smile, but his discomfort was obvious. The whispers and stares from the crowd only heightened his unease. As the night went on, Daisy's friends took turns approaching him, giggling and throwing out flirty compliments.

Ash remained polite but distant, making it clear he wasn't interested. Misty, however, was growing more irritated by the minute. She finally cut in, wrapping an arm around his biceps and glaring at one particularly persistent woman. "He's taken. Move along."

Sensing her husband's growing anxiety, Misty leaned in close. "You okay?"

Ash nodded, but his eyes darted around the room. "I could use a drink," he muttered.

"I'll get you a beer," Misty said, her tone soft.

When she returned, Ash took the large medium sized glass and drank it all in one go.

"Shh," Misty teased. "If you were that thirsty, I could've gotten you water."

Ash sighed, leaning closer so only she could hear. "It's not thirst—I'm just anxious. Everyone's watching."

Before Misty could reply, she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She placed a hand on Ash's arm for support. He noticed immediately, his brow furrowing in concern.

"Hey," he whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist, "you okay?"

"I'm fine," she murmured. "Just a little lightheaded."

Ash held her steady, his concern evident, but he kept his tone casual so no one around them would suspect anything. "Let's sit down for a bit," he suggested, guiding her to a quieter corner. Stroking her hair and whispering sweet nothings.

Daisy, oblivious to everything, breezed over a few minutes later. "You two are such a power couple! Everyone's talking about how amazing Ash looks tonight!"

Misty gave a tight smile. "Glad you're happy, Daisy."

XXX

As the night wound down, Ash and Misty exchanged a look, silently agreeing it was time to leave. The car ride was smooth as they were on the way home, Ash glanced at Misty. "You sure you're okay?"

Misty nodded, resting her head against his shoulder. "I'm fine. Just glad it's over."

Ash chuckled. "Daisy really knows how to turn nothing into something, doesn't she?"

Misty smirked. "She's got a talent for it."

"Next time, we're skipping," Ash said firmly.

"Agreed," Misty replied, closing her eyes as Ash wrapped an arm around her. Together, they headed home, ready to leave the chaos of the party behind.