Chapter 1: Celebration
“Tell me the truth!” She couldn’t grasp why he was being so difficult all of the sudden.
“No! Now leave it alone Red!” Gary was slightly crimson in the face from yelling, but in Misty’s eyes that only made him more attractive.
“Ah Ha! You’d called me Red! That’s your defense mechanism for trying to irritate me and getting me to drop the subject!” They both knew she was right, so Misty smirked in victory while Gary frowned in irritation.
“Well, clearly it didn’t work so I’m telling you again, DROP IT Misty.” The Cerulean City gym leader could tell he was close to breaking from his grimace and furrowed cinnamon brows, she’d been nagging him for more that twenty minutes now and though Gary had the patience of a saint, he was only human. The tall Viridian City gym leader turned on the spot and began walking away from her again.
“No! I have a right to know!” His anger figuratively snapped here as whipped back to face her, pushing his finger to her forehead in a poking motion as she tried to swat him away.
“A right? What are you, my wife? You need to know nothing other than me telling you to drop it!” She finally succeeded in stopping his finger by grabbing it within her own smaller hand and hanging on for dear life. Not that that was difficult seeing as he was gently lacing their fingers together instinctively. Misty took advantage of his brief, unintentional absolution by looking up at his through her bangs with puppy eyes.
“But Garyyyyyy~!”
“Have you always been this annoying and clingy??” His free hand reached to push his cinnamon spikes away from his face in irritation, only for them to bounce right back into place. He tried to look at her through half lidded eyes, knowing full well what this redheaded girl was capable of with that look.
“Yes.” She meant it as a joke, and she knew she’s was that much closer when he closed his eyes fully and released an extended sigh.
“Damn.”
“What’s the big deal? It’s not like I’m going to run off and tell Ash or something!” the girl commented as she waved her hand airily, trying to loosen up the male before her even more. But Gary seized the opportunity she’d mistakenly left herself open to in an instant.
“Won’t you?” The youngest Oak had this uncanny ability to aim where it hurts, and hit you there hard. Misty and Ash had always been close, even with him wandering off far and wide in areas like Sinnoh or Unova. Gary had stood witness to the many times that Misty nearly bolted like a racing Floatzel to a videophone in order to call the raven haired boy and inform him of a new event in her life. However, the redhead felt insulted that Gary was implying she’s steal his spotlight of rubbing into Ash’s face the amazing detail the Oak wouldn’t disclose.
“How dare you!” she said, releasing their entwined hands and crossing her arms in front of her chest haughtily.
“I dare. Don’t like it, go find someone who cares.” He gave her his infamous smirk, knowing full well he now had the upperhand in this conversation and mimicked her pose. This Misty could not handle and she let her own budding anger explode on him in utter frustration.
“Gary Oak! You pompous, selfish, arrogant asshole of a gym leader, tell me what you’re getting me for my birthday! And don’t BS me with that bug catching contest pass!” Earlier when she’d asked, he jokingly said he’d asked Bugsy a favor to get her an all day free pass to his bug catching competition for her gift, which caused Misty to nearly hurl her Stamie at him.
“What if I’m being serious?” Here Misty failed to control herself any longer and punched Gary’s arm with insane force. He winced visibly, understanding that her mood for play was far gone. He gave her a serious look before speaking. “Mist, just trust me okay?” You really don’t want to ruin the surprise.” Misty couldn’t fight his serious tone, and she knew for a fact that’d she would like his gift, even if it were a simple peck on her cheek. Yet, the redhead couldn’t stop the whine that echoed from her throat as she tried to cuddle up to him with her arms around his neck.
“But Garyyyyyy~!”
“Oh my Mew, I’m going to kill you if you don’t stop using your cute voice on me!” Gary picked Misty up and threw her over his shoulder as she laughed loudly and smacked his butt playfully. He looked back at her with his handsome grin. “You really want to know?” He tapped her thigh as he enunciated every word slowly.
“Yes, pleaseeeee!” Misty nearly screamed, excited that he’d finally cracked and was ready to reveal his secret.
“I invited Rudy over.” And gone was her happiness as he laughed at her reaction. Misty pouted fiercely and began whacking Gary’s back in frustration. He started walking back in the direction they had followed away from Viridian’s gym, Misty whining over Gary’s shoulder and he smirked like a Persian freshed fed moo moo milk. The looks passerby residents gave the pair went unnoticed by both.
“Garyyyyyy!”
“Haha, not until your actual birthday Misty.” She sighed in resignation. This had better be the best celebration of her life, with the best present ever.
