The True Test of Love
L.R.T.
Jessie and James had been going out for about a month. James wanted to do something really special for their anniversary so he consulted his friend Mondo.
"I don't know if I'm comfortable with you asking me about this kind of thing, James," Mondo said shyly.
"Come on, I really need your help. I don't know what to do."
"Well, the only thing that comes to mind is..."
"Is? Is?" James persisted.
"You could make love to her." He blushed.
"Hmm..." James thought of romantic ways he could set up their first night together. "Yeah..."
"James, you really didn't think of that?" Mondo asked, surprised.
"Sure I did. I just didn't know if it was wrong because we've only been going out a month."
"But you've known each other for ten years, James! That makes a difference."
James nodded.
Jessie came down to the Rocket Cafeteria where Mondo and James had been eating.
"The Boss wants to see us..." she said shakily.
James gulped but knew that he had to tell Giovanni off. He had to tell him that he loved Jessie and that not even his job was worth risking her love.
"Why did you fools want me to call this meeting?" Giovanni boomed.
"Jessie and I have to tell you something, sir," James said.
Jessie was very proud of James for maintaining his ground and not running out of the room, screaming for his mommy.
"Which is?" Giovanni asked, obviously interested by James's unusual behavior.
"Jessie and I...we're in love, sir. And we don't care what you say or do to us because..." James couldn't think of a dramatic ending so he just told it to Giovanni straight. "Listen, sir, I'm in love with Jessica. There's no two ways around it. I have to be with her. Please, sir, don't break us up. Please..."
Giovanni eyed his workers. They noticed his eyes weren't cold anymore and that they had softened. "Well, here's my decision...I have no problem with you two going out."
Jessie and James hugged and cheered.
"But..."
"Oh, no," James said.
"No sex, understood?"
This made James's blood boil. "No, not understood!" He went right up to Giovanni's face. "Listen up, I love her and I want to make love to her and you aren't the boss of my life! Here at work, yes, you're my boss but not in the real world, bub, got it?"
Jessie tried to pull James away but he resisted.
"No, Jess, I'm not done. We have tried and tried and tried to please your sorry ass for what? Longer than I can remember! You're just a sorry bastard and I hate you! And you know what? Fire us. Fine. I don't give a shit anymore because as long as I have Jessie, I have everything. Forget my money, forget that brat's Pikachu, forget everything. As long as I'm with Jessie, I'm complete. So fire me. I dare you. But just be warned that I'll probably be a hell of a lot happier once I'm out of this hell hole!" James started to storm out but Giovanni called him.
"James. Come back here."
Now James's guts were running out. He was scared. He turned around and said, "Yes?"
"Okay, you two do whatever you want."
"Come again?" James said in disbelief.
"James, Jessie, it's obvious you care very deeply for one and other. Now, I'm not very fond of this, mind you, but I know you ignoramuses have some potential. And maybe this is what you need to bring it out. So just go, celebrate. And James?"
"Yes, sir?" he squeaked.
"It took a lot of courage to stand up to me like that. I've a new-found respect for you."
"Thank you, sir!" He beamed.
"Now go on! You're making me nauseous."
They ran out of Giovanni's office faster than lightning.
"You were amazing, James!" Jessie said as James swung her around.
"Thanks."
"So, what'd you have in mind for our anniversary tonight?" she asked mischievously.
"You'll see..." James grinned.
That night Jessie and James made love for the first time and then just laid there, holding each other.
Jessie sighed contently. "That was so amazing..."
James kissed her head. "I know."
"You sure it was okay that we didn't use protection? I mean..." Jessie trailed off.
"Jess, the odds that something will happen from this one time are like, a billion to one."
"I guess," she said uneasily.
"What? I thought you always wanted to be a mom anyways."
"Oh, I did...just not when I'm seventeen. And...nevermind."
"No, what?" James asked, brushing her hair out of her face.
"Well, I'm just scared that you won't love me anymore if I do get pregnant."
"Jessie, that's ridiculous!"
"Sure, you say that now..."
"And I'll say it the minute our child comes into this world."
Jessie smiled at him. "I don't deserve you."
"Yeah, you do. After all the hell you've been through, you do."
They fell asleep with dreams of each other running through their heads.
