Attention: Since English is not my mothertongue you might find some spelling mistakes or syntax errors. I apologize in advance. My mothertongue is Swiss-German so I normally imagine a sentence in German and try to translate it as well as possible into English, sometimes there is a lack of vocabulary or I don't find a match or the appropriate idiom but I want to improve my English and become a better writer. Another thing I want to make clear is that I use „..." to introduce direct speech! „ are not commas but the German quotation marks, just to avoid confusion.

Be my Valentine

Chapter 1:

Jessie and James were busy constructing their next sure-fire model of a brilliant trap. However, their plan didn't quite seem to work in real life, something was missing. Was it the lever, the button or the net? They viewed the blueprint from all angles.

„We need Meowth", Jessie moaned. „I admit it, it's the brain of our trio, we're up a creek without it. We can't whip this used machine into shape, we don't even have an engine". She threw the tools on the floor, resting her hands on her belly. Her stomach was growling without interruption. She couldn't remember the last time she enjoyed a freshly prepared meal or at least some breadcrumbs.

„Well, Meowth's gone for the moment, it was time for it's trip to self-discovery", James crawled out from under the metal tub. He was covered with lubricating oil and his clothes were rent.

„Can't we just forget about your invention and get something to eat?", Jessie wondered. She brushed off the dirt.

„Where do you want to go?", James asked.

Jessie pointed direction city. „Let's walk up and down the streets, find the closest waste bins and grab a bite from a sandwhich someone disposed", she sobbed. „How can we do otherwise?"

James nodded. Team Rocket was always living at a subsistence level. Normally, they spent all their money on miscarried traps forcing them to waive food and drinks.

They stowed their possessions in two tiny backpacks and paved the way to the main road.

Many people were on the go and a huge crowed had gathered in front of a neat house.
It was the Kappuru-Hotel, a well-known inn for newly weds, couples and lovebirds.

Jessie spotted a pink sign next to the entrance area, she shook her friend's shoulder.

„James, look! An all-you-can-eat-buffet and a free weekend. We have to seize this opportunity! Let's line up", she was about to queue but James held her back.

„Haven't you read the small print? It's just for couples, and we're definetly not happily in love", he remarked.

Jessie bowed her head, then she had THE idea. She pulled James towards her and grinned mischievously. James got a little bit confused and felt a slight discomfort.

„What are you up to?", he asked, swallowing hard.

„Why don't we pretend to be a couple? Just for the weekend. This fictitious love affair won't leak out. We're masters of disguise. It's not the first time we fake a marriage or relationship", she suggested.

James loosened his collar. He began to sweat. They used to dress up as an elderly couple to trick the twerps, but that was just for some mintues. Jessie wanted him to spend the next two days as her boyfriend. He wasn't sure if he could cope with this situation. He wasn't ready to commit himself and the thought alone made him shiver.

„Jessie, is that really necessary?", he stammered. Jessie flashed her eyes at him.

„Do it for the food!" she shouted.

She was constantly intimidating him, he had no choice but to be part of her fraud.

„We can't show up in our Team Rocket uniforms. Quick, put on some tight jeans and this yellow shirt I got you for Christmas", she commanded.

„Why do you want me to wear tight jeans?", James demanded, visibly perplex.

Jessie blushed a little, searching for an excuse. „We need to look like ordinary mortals", she answered, kicking his boots.

„Okay", he stood up and followed his magenta-haired friend to the receipt.

„Take my hand", Jessie ordered, „and stand ready to showering me with compliments, after all, I'm your gorgeous, irresistible and stunning girlfriend", she added.

James grabbed her hand reluctantly. This scenario was clearly overcharging him. How could he pretend to love, or even like Jessie more than a friend? They were co-workers, companions not more and not less, besides, he got frequently punched by her.

Half an hour later it was their turn to inscribe their names in the visitor's book.

„Welcome to the Kappuru-Hotel! Your names, please", the blonde receptionist said.

Jessie laughed and took out a pen. „My name is Jessita di Giovanni", she purred.

‚Di Giovanni? Couldn't be more conspicuous', James thought.

„Sir?"

James briefly considered his options.

„My name is James, James Scratch", he replied. Jessie clapped her hand to her forehead. She pulled the lavender-haired man to the side.

„Couldn't you be less creative?", she hissed, gnashig her teeth.

„Is this your partner?", the blonde asked.

Jessie bounced.

„Yes, yes", she fondled James' ear. „He's my beloved boyfriend, what would I do without him? He's so caring and charming and supports my flipped out plans. A chubby cherub, right?", now she was pinching his cheek. James would have loved to cry out, what a torture but he couldn't turn down her request and found himself constrained to play along.

„Darling, stop it, you embarrass me", he smiled and pressed a thick hearty kiss on Jessie's forehead. „I'd do everything for her, after all, she saved my life, thanks to her I recognized what it means to be accepted with all my rough edges. I can be myself in her presence, she doesn't judge me", he raved.

‚Slow down, James', Jessie thought, although she liked the idea of enriching people's lives.

„Cuuuuuute!", the receptionist shouted. Jessie and James took a step back.

„These are the keys, suite number 9 with a king-size bed, a whirlpool, windows that offer a magnificent view of the sea and an exquisite bottle of champagne. Enjoy your stay!", she presented James the purple cards.

„Would you like to reserve a table for tonight?"

James nodded and Jessie decided to sit in a corner of the hotel restaurant.

„Good choice," the blonde gave the thumb-up. „We call it the ‚proposal-spot', we have had nothing but good experience", she broadly laughed all over her face.

James felt like crying. Wedding plans with Jessie? Never! Not after dealing with his crazy fiancée Jessebelle, who promised him a strict education consisting of whiplashes and other punishments as soon as his parents would marry him off.

The concierge took their backpacks and brought them to their suite.

Jessie opened the marbled double door and was completely floored.

Warm vanilla shades, imposing chandeliers, a spiral staircase that led to the upper floor,

a basket full of exotic fruits, huge windows, small lanterns creating a romantic and pleasant atmosphere, the scent of lilac and lemon balm and the oval whirlpool filled with foam offering enough space for two. She ran upstairs and screamed out of joy.
The king-size bed had an inviting effect, it appeared to be extremly fluffy and comfortable.

„I'll leave the two of you alone, see you later", the concierge said. James waved him farewell.

Jessie looked at him. „Aren't you happy?", she asked. „We don't need to sleep outside tonight, not on a slide, not in a tree stump not in a parking garage. We do have a bed, at least, I do", she beamed.

„Wait, what? Where shall I sleep? There's no couch", James exclaimed. If he had to take part in this attempted cheating he wanted to benefit from it too.

„Let me sleep on one side of the bed, okay?", he begged.

Jessie reflected his suggestion for a moment.

„Well, alright, but you're gonna stay on your side of the bed, no touching or cuddling", she ordered.

‚I wouldn't mind, actually', she thought. It wasn't the first time they shared a bed, she rembered the time at the headquarters where they met this evil Togepi. During the night, James had moved closer and closer to her, the next day he couldn't stop apologizing for unconsciously making a pass at her.

„Thank you", James put his belongings on the floor.

„Let's get dressed and done with it", he said.