Disclaimer: I do not own Cowboy Bebop. This chapter was written by RainMoe44 who did a good job with the writing. I'm glad a simple thank you can encourage this author to write so much.
Faye stared ahead blankly at the show, Big Shots. She wasn't paying attention to it though. She had too much on her mind.
"During his time in the Red Dragons, he fell in love with a woman named Julia, the woman actually looks a lot like Jessie, supposedly...But Viscous loved Julia also, so Spike and Julia were gonna run away together. I heard Spike died and Julia disappeared, everyone thought she died also."
Faye felt a twinge in her chest. So Spike and Julia were a thing? He fell in love with a woman named Julia who looks like Jessie. She glanced over at Spike, who was lounging lazily on the couch.
He was willing to leave everything behind and run away with her... I wonder what happened.
Faye shook her head and sighed warily. She shouldn't care, but she does. She ran her fingers over the hand that Spike had touched. Just a touch of the hand made her heart beat faster. Faye rolled her eyes at herself and rested her head on her hands.
Stupid feelings. Faye thought angrily.
Spike glanced at Faye, annoyed with himself. What was her deal anyway?
"A confident man may be refreshing Gadjo, but a nervous man means that we know they like us for us..."
She seemed to be remembering something when she said that. Was there someone in her past that she once loved? Spike felt a twinge of jealously and instantly wondered why he was jealous.
"Like how you guys go after pretty girls like her, I guess. Most men don't like girls who are outspoken, like me..."
Spike raised a brow. He wondered why she said that. She had men all over her all the time. But then again, men who want Faye only want one thing from her.
"Young puppy love."
It was because of that smile, that smile that knocked the air from his lungs. That's why he felt jealous, was because she showed him a side of her he never saw before. Gentleness and longing.
Spike glanced over at Faye once again, he knew she was mad at him. Why she was mad at him, he had no clue. All he knew was that he wanted to see that smile grace her features once again.
Spike glanced over to his childhood friend, Riley was moping in a corner. He sighed. He honestly wasn't trying to take Jessie for himself, although Jessie did look a lot like Julia. He had no interest in her, Jessie's personality was nothing like Julia's.
Jessie is a gentle and kind woman, he could tell that by just looking at her.
But Julia, Julia had a fire inside her. He figured out that she wasn't as innocent as he thought. They were two completely different people.
As is Faye and Julia. They have that same fire, but Julia was more preserved and Faye is more out there.
Dammit... Now I'm comparing Faye and Julia?
Riley glared at the wall ahead of him. He was angry as hell at Spike. First, he leaves him alone and now he tries to steal his girl... Well, Jessie isn't his girl. But still! Riley glanced back angrily at Spike. That stupid Know-It-All, he thinks he's so good.
Riley rolled his eyes. To anybody who doesn't know Spike, he seems like a carefree guy with no problems. But Riley could see Spike, he could see the inner turmoil that Spike is going through. He knows the real Spike. The one who left, the one he grew up with.
Riley sighed irritated with himself. He cause a scene in front of Jessie, now she probably thinks he's a total psycho. Riley ran a hand through his multicolored hair, at a lost. He didn't know what to do now, there was no way he could go back to Jessie and talk to her now. He began to play with his spurs, spinning them absentmindedly. The one girl he was interested in and he couldn't even talk to her, he doesn't think he'll even be able to face her after this stunt.
Jet kept looking between the three adults, the tension has been thick ever since they've gotten back. "I wonder what happened." Jet muttered, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it before inhaling it. "Seems like something bad." Jet mumbled.
Ed giggled. "Ed knows what happened Jet-person!" Ed exclaimed. The three adults perked up, all of them nervous of what was going to come out of the girl's mouth. Jet raised a brow at Ed.
"Then what happened?" Jet asked.
Ed grinned. "Spike-person likes Faye-Faye, Faye-Faye likes Spike-person, and Riley the Red Thief likes Jessie!" Ed exclaimed. The three adults froze and Jet looked at Ed uncertainly.
"Really?"
Ed giggled. "Ed dunno~!" Ed sang, dancing away. Jet nodded, knowing what Ed said couldn't be true except for the Riley thing.
Faye and Spike visibly relaxed, glancing at each other as they did. Riley looked between the two mischievously. It seems that there was a connection between the two bounty hunters.
A ringing went off in the Bebop and Jet looked to Ed, who was now on her laptop. Jet walked over to her. "What is it, Ed?" Jet asked, leaning over her.
"Oooooooh! Pretty lady!" Ed exclaimed.
Riley, Spike, and Faye gathered around with the other two, looking at the laptop curiously. Riley's heart stopped, Spike smiled knowingly, and Faye just smiled a gentle smile. "J-Jessie." Riley muttered. He shouted out and began to pull at his hair. "Aaaaaah! What the hell is she doing here?!" Riley shouted.
"Let her in." Spike said, grinning. Riley looked at Spike. "I invited her here to see you, cowboy. I told you I didn't want her." Spike said cockily.
"Beep-boop-beep!" Ed sang to herself. "Pretty lady is comin' in! Riley the Red Thief you have your woman~!" She sang.
"Oh no." Riley muttered, looking fearful. Spike put a hand on Riley's shoulder and grinned at him.
"You got this." He said.
Riley's eyes widened.
"I can't do it, Spike. I'm too little." Riley said dejectedly as he looked down at the soccer ball. He was shorter than most 10 year olds, he hasn't hit his growth spurt yet.
"Just kick the ball, Riley. It's not hard." Spike said bored.
Riley rolled his eyes. "Easy for you to say, you're way taller than me." Riley said, squatting down in front of the ball. Spike sighed and squatted down in front of his friend. He began to rub Riley's head roughly.
"Listen here, squirt. There's a lot of people who make it with nothing to lean on. Just kick the damn ball." Spike muttered. Riley glared but that glare disappeared when Spike grinned at him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't let anybody tell you you can't do something, cowboy. You got this." Riley's eyes widened and Spike just gave him a grin.
Riley sighed and smiled shakily at him. "Yeah."
Riley nearly froze into ice when he heard footsteps, he stood up straight and turned around. There she stood, smiling sheepishly at the misfit group before her. She tucked a blond strand of hair behind her face and smiled brightly at Riley.
Spike stood beside him and hit him on the back of his head when Riley didn't greet her. Riley glared at him before looking nervously at Jessie. "Uh, hi J-Jessie." He said nervously, taking a step forward. Jessie smiled warmly at Riley.
"Hello, Riley." Jessie replied, Riley nearly melted when she said his name. Faye walked up next to Spike and smiled warmly at the two before them. Spike glanced down at her and noticed a hint of sadness. She rested her hands on her hips as she cocked her hips to the side. "Young puppy love." She said warmly.
Spike grinned before linking his fingers behind his head. "Yeah, it's something isn't it?" He replied.
Riley took a step towards Jessie and Jessie took a step towards Riley. Riley looked down at his wringing hands. "W-What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Well Spike invited me." Jessie said. Riley's face fell and Jessie smiled warmly at him. "I came to see you." She admitted. Riley looked up at her with wide eyes.
"M-Me?" He asked, pointing a finger to his chest as he looked at her dumbfounded. Jessie giggled behind her hand and just smiled at him. That same smile that would leave him just a mess.
"Yes silly, why else would I be here?" Jessie asked.
"Told you so." Faye said, grinning at Spike. Spike rolled his eyes.
"Shut up."
Riley glanced back at Spike and Spike held up two thumbs-up, nodding at him as he urged him to say something else. Riley nodded and looked at Jessie. "Um, Jessie?" He asked. Jessie looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"Yes?" She asked, leaning forward.
"Um... Will you... Might you consider..."
"Oh spit it out!" Faye exclaimed.
"Will you go out on a date with me?!" Riley shouted.
Spike slapped a hand to his forehead and sighed pathetically. "Blubbering idiot." He muttered.
Jessie smiled and nodded her head. "Yes." She said.
Riley's and Spike's eyes widened. "Yes?" They asked in unison, dumbfounded by her reply.
"Yes." Jessie repeated, giggling. "I get off at 3, I'm on my lunch right now so I need to head back." Jessie said, turning around. "Well go to the park and go out to eat. See you then, cowboy." Jessie explained, walking away. She gave him a small smile before leaving him there a blubbering mess.
"Well, that was unexpected." Spike muttered.
"You ain't kidding." Riley replied.
"Riley the Red Thief and Pretty lady, sitting in a tree~!" Ed sang running away. Faye just smiled.
"I saw it coming." Faye replied.
Spike looked over at her with a curious look. "No you didn't." Spike muttered. Faye just smiled.
"I told you nice girls go after guys like him, didn't I?" Faye replied. Spike raised a brow.
"Then what do Romanies like you go after?" Spike asked curiously.
Faye just walked away and felt that twinge of pain in her heart.
Guys like you... She thought.
Riley was now grinning like an idiot as he grabbed Spike's shoulders. "I've got a date!" Riley exclaimed. Spike grinned back at him.
"Yeah, now I don't have to be bothered by you anymore." Spike said.
Riley just grinned. "Nah-uh! You gotta help me on my date." Riley replied.
"What?!"
Jet sighed and shook his head. "I'm surrounded by idiots." He muttered to himself as he crossed his arms. He watched the two old friends argue with a smile. Jet glanced over at Faye, who was now looking out the window. She seemed deep in thought.
"Idiots~! Idiots~!" Ed sang, dancing around with a nauseous Ein in her arms.
"Just plain idiots." Jet said as he watched Ed torture his dog.