Chapter 3:

„Jessie, it's time to wake up", a gentle voice whispered. James was sitting next to his friend, balancing a bowl with flakes and a glass of milk on a tray. Jessie turned around, taking a look at the digital alarm clock beside her pillow.

„James, it's six o'clock in the morning", Jessie murmured, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She sat up and gazed at the lavender-haired man. Then she spotted the simple feast on his lap.

„What does this portend?", she wanted to know. James smiled shily, trying to hide that he was blushing.

„I prepared breakfast for you", he replied hesitatingly. Jessie grasped at the glass of milk and began to spoon the bowl out. Table manners weren't her strongest skills. A strand of her bulky hair fell into the sticky mass and James tried to pick it out.

„Good looks!" Jessie enjoyed the signs of attention she received from James. Meowth was quite amazed by her reaction.

„He's been serving meals and delicacies for the last couple of years and yous never valued dad before", the cat Pokémon said.

„I think that was wrong, I'm sorry if I didn't appreciate your efforts", she said. James' jaw dropped. The bossy and self-assertive Jessie, who liked to flounce around did just give thanks to him. Her former self took gestures like that for granted, she never had a compliment to spare.

„What's the occasion? Why did you wake me up so early in the morning? Did you come up with a new plan to bring back my memory?", she wondered. James nodded.

„I thought you would like to meet someone from the past, but it's quite a journey and you might set out on a full stomach", he said. James didn't sleep a bit last night. He had mulled over occurrences of yesterdays, which could job Jessie's total recall.

„Who?", she asked. James fetched her purse and rummaged around. He was looking for a specific piece of jewelry. The real Jessie would have clubbed him over the head or would have ridden roughshod over him because of lack of privacy, but she remained calm and patient. James pulled out a pendant, dangling it in front of her nose.

„Do you remember this?", he wanted to know. Jessie viewed it from all angles. She suppressed a sigh.

„It's okay, don't be down in the mouth", he comforted her.

They left the tiny tent and head off to Happy Town. Jessie was unsuspectingly, and to be honest, she was close to give up. They arrived at sundown. James and Meowth led her to the come down Pokécenter. A Blissey approached them. When seeing Jessie, she started to smile from ear to ear, ran up to the magenta-haired woman and they locked in a warm embrace. Jessie didn't know what was happening, she couldn't remember having seen this Blissey before.

„Let me tell you something about your days at Nurse School", James began. „You wanted to become a nurse, long before even thinking about a career with Team Rocket. There you met a Chansey, clumsy and gauche, but you befriended her and you showed her how to bandage a patient and you won her confidence. At the end of the apprenticeship the Chanseys received a hat, you didn't, because you left beforehand. Chansey followed you and wanted to offer you her hat, but you refused. Instead of the hat she gave you that pendant, you store in your handbag. Chansey has now evolved, but she still recognizes you and is overjoyed", he explained.

Jessie spotted the counterpart of the jewelry around Blissey's neck. The Pokémon danced with joy, but Jessie stayed put. She tried hard to remember her time at Nurse School, even if it was just a mere detail from her past, but she couldn't think of a course or an examination she took. Blissey noticed her discomfort and grabbed her hand, Jessie broke away from it.

„Nothing?", James wonderd. Jessie turned away, hiding her face. He could hear her sob.

„It's completely hopeless", she cried out. „Nothing works. You take pains, you try any and every attempt to remind me of my former self, but everything seems so blurred, inaccessible and far off", she snivelled. James swallowed hard, he had to get a grip on himself. He refused to believe that Jessie would remain an amnesic weeping willow, he wished for the old Jessie, outspoken and merciless, tough and strong-minded.

„Just one more disappointment", Meowth said. James flashed his eyes at him.
He had another ace up his sleeve.

„Jessie, would you like to escort me? How about a candlelight diner? Just the two of us", he asked. Jessie looked at him, visibly surprised. James knew that Jessie had a different caliber in mind, a rich and prosperous gentleman, with muscular arms and a killer smile, who would anticipate her every wish, not a puny guy, impecunious, poor as a church mouse.

„Okay", Jessie replied. Meowth felt cut out. He was unable to make head nor tail of it, but if James was confident, then he was ready to trust him. Jessie sifted through her bagpack. James had snuck an evening gown in. His friend marvelled at his choice, a dark blue formal, sewn with pearls.

„Does it look good on me?", Jessie was fairly rattled. James missed the woman, who was cocksure of herself and slightly narcissitc.

„Wonderful, Jessie", he said, they linked arms.

„Please, tell me if it is too much for you. I mean, I would totally understand", James stuttered. Jessie shook her head.

„I think it's a great opportunity to get to know you better, and to get to know myself better", she laughed. She proved her fighting spirit. James wouldn't peg away so easily.

He invited her to a small restaurant, miles from anywhere. James had to admit that he felt nervous. Would the new Jessie like him? And if so, would she still like him when she got back to normal? He put all his eggs into one basket. A clever move?

Jessie seemed dreamy and lost in thought. They ordered the menu of the day, waiting for a sirloin stake, served with baked potatoes.

„Have we done something like this before?", Jessie asked. She enjoyed their togetherness, even if that meant to abandon Meowth for two or three hours.

„We use to treat ourselves, I mean Meowth, you and me, to a first-rate meal from time to time, as soon as conditions allow", he answered.

„No, I mean, just the two of us", she purred. James began to sweat. The new Jessie appeared to take pleasure in his company. She hadn't abused nor badmouthed him today.

„It's the first time", he chuckled. Jessie smiled, she snatched at the glass of wine on the table.

„To us! To an unforgettable night", she exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, some of the guests turned around.

James took a box out of his pouch.
„Jessie, I brought you a little something", he was extremly jittery.

Jessie examined the beautifully decorated box in front of her.

„What's in it?", she asked. James begged her to open it and take a look at the content.
Jessie did as she was told.

Ribbons. Ribbons in all the colors of the rainbow.

„Are these my ribbons?", she wondered.

James nodded. „You were a very talented Pokémon-Coordinator, Jess. You won contests, we all knew that you would have gone far, you even left Team Rocket to pursue your career, but not for a long time", he grinned. „I cheered for you, you were my number one competitor."

Jessie was moved to tears. She took out one of her prizes. „What about this one? When did I win it?", she wanted to know.

„That's the one I won for you. You were sick and you asked me to perform in your position", he clothed his face in smiles.

„You did that for me? You're such a good friend."