Hi everyone. It's really sad to say this. But now we are reaching to our last part of the story titled "Lelle's Secret". There are four more chapters in this story including this one that deals with not the trip to China itself, but what happens before and after. For those of you who are confused about the little details in the previous chapters, the secrets are about to be revealed! :)
"That Tony made it, so then it won't be that hard when you want to become this Tony's girl again. If you still think this is impossible, just look at Rita and me." When Jessie returned to New York, Lelle's word had resonated beside her ear. Maybe due to the fact that everyone wants Tony and Jessie to get back together real soon, Jessie could still hear this when she went to bed at night. But she knew that, no matter what Lelle says or does, this relationship just could not be fixed. Because…
A month before the departure, Emma and Zuri were giving Jessie her first skateboard lesson. But Jessie is still a beginner and could not get a hold of directions really well, so she slipped violently and bumped right into a cute guy. As soon as that guy caught Jessie, he first asked, "Are you okay?"
"Jessie Prescott, very single. Wait, what was the question?" Jessie was already attracted to that guy's handsome face and became disoriented in her speeches. She blurted out her relationship status upon their meet for the first time.
Everyone probably knows what happened next. That guy is Brooks Wentworth, working in an animal sanctuary. At first Jessie thought she would not see Brooks ever again. Surprisingly, that guy knew a friend who could make contact with his friend in CIA, and immediately got every last personal information about Jessie. Plus, in order to show his kind of heart, Brooks gave a pony from the sanctuary to Jessie as a gift. The relationship between them began right there.
"Happy two week anniversary." After two weeks of dating, Brooks decided to celebrate this event with hummus. Emma and Zuri were Tessie shippers just like Lelle from the start, of course they could not stand Jessie going out with this boyfriend for another minute! Therefore, the two of them could not stand Brooks, and reported what they knew to Lelle as soon as they could.
But there is one catch, Brook's mother turned out to be Mrs. Chesterfield, the arch enemy of the Rosses. She forbid Brooks to date Jessie because of the struggle between her and Jessie in the past. Brooks, who used to be very wealthy, was betrayed by his mother, got all his possessions taken, and was forced to find a job as elevator operator. However, this did not extinguish the spark between the two. Because relationships work best in crisis, it was only during the time of crisis did the spark between those two shined even brighter.
Dances, dating on the balcony, including that little scene in the elevator. The relationship between the two of them just got better and better. Tony also could not bear to see Jessie hitting on other guys as time progresses. But Tony thought back to the break-up between Jessie and him, if he let the jealousy to take the best of him now, the relationship between him and Jessie could only get worse. Having this mixed emotions in his mind, Tony said nothing. The only time that he could express his feelings was when he was standing on the balcony at night and singing those sad songs of his.
"Wow, that cute guy must be heartbroken." Maya Hart was holding a telescope, spotting Tony singing on the balcony. Then she turned to Riley beside her, "Did you see that, Riles? Looks like he's sadder than before. Are you going to do something about this?"
"Of course." Riley gave a sot pad on Maya's shoulders, and then she said, "Maybe things will change. He said his ex-girlfriend is Jessie, right? We need to find her. But without letting her to find out that we are ever there."
With the help from Farkle, the girls had successfully got all the information of Jessie. The next day, everyone decided to track her. Finally Farkle's super computer led them to Central park. And what they saw was Jessie and Brooks having a picnic!
"I can't believe it! Now it will be really hard for us to help Tony. Looks like my best friend cannot enjoy her life for a while." Riley exclaimed that night when talking to Maya at the window.
"Riley, I already told you! You can't fix everything." Maya was on the side, trying to talk her best friend out of trying even harder on this case.
"No, I can. Without a place to be quiet, my best friend can't sleep. If my best friend can't sleep, she couldn't focus in class, and I have to take all the blame for it." Obviously, Riley really cared about her friend. But, as the two recalled the moment when Jessie and Brooks having picnic in the park, they came up with a plan to stop0 this new relationship, "Brooks lost his job, that's what makes them closer together. Looks like disaster is the best way to promote a relationship."
Riley and Maya came up with an idea with Farkle and Lucas. They first typed in a few keywords online and found out Lelle was the one who cared about the Tessie incident besides them. It said that Lelle and Jessie were the founders to Kaku's Friends. They then discovered that Teddy Duncan, a graduate from a local high school in Denver, mentioned Lelle in her valedictorian address. Upon further research, they finally picked three people with somewhat accomplishments in their career all over the United States. Including Seth, top player in Chicago Youth Football Championship; Chuck, winner of a poetry competition on the radio, and Darla the flight attendant, Jessie's frenemy. Darla made contact with one of the staff members in "Rainforest Connection" – Beau. That was how "The Four Frenemies" was born. Actually, before Riley and the gang came up a plan to save Tessie, Lelle came up with his plan in about half a year ago.
"I know how you feel, because Emma and Zuri are just like you, hoping Tony can be my other half, creating the perfect ending that should exist in fairy tales. But, I can't do it, not now." When Lelle returned to Toronto, Jessie's words had resonated beside his ear. Indeed, this trip to China was not as good as he expected it to be. After what they had been through, Tessie was still sitting ducks like a straw person. Lelle just realized how stupid he was, because…
It was raining lightly that day. Lelle was riding his bike alone to a café in downtown. He was here to meet two relatively important people in the world of lotteries: Zack, the one who sold Tony lottery tickets every time in 7-Eleven, and Zoltan Grundy, one of the heads in the lottery industry. "Sorry I'm late." Lelle first apologized to two people he had never met as he entered. "There's some event downtown, some roads are closed, and I have to make a few turns to get in." Then he started to introduce himself, "I'm Lelle Sheldon, captain of Kaku's Friends, former FBI agent in junior department."
After Lelle and his teammates fought the crime for a year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation granted him to be one of the members in their department for junior agents. The Friends grew in fame and credibility ever since. But, a few months ago after the incident in Europe, Lelle's agent badge was confiscated indefinitely.
"We know who you are. On the behalf of American Lottery Association, I hereby want to thank you for your support to us." Grundy announced excitingly while standing up and shake Lelle's hand, which was already wrinkled from all the rainwater. "So, you are asking us, the lottery association to do a favour. Can you please specify on how we can help you out?"
"Here's the deal." Lelle grabbed a filing folder from his bag, went through it and brought out a picture of Tony and Jessie, then he said, "I invite Zack to this meeting because he sells lottery tickets to Tony every time, and here's where you guys can step in. He just broke up with his girlfriend Jessie a few months ago. I want you to arrange a chance for Tony to win the $90 million jackpot."
"I know Tony, he's really kind." Zack added on the side, "He bought lottery tickets from me every week now just to bail his family out. And 900 million is not a small number. After paying the bail, he won't use this money all for himself for sure. I know Tony works really well with Jessie, so he will think of her first after getting his jackpot."
Lelle continued with his explanation, "So we want you to arrange this thing. As long as Tony get hold on this $90 million jackpot, his relationship with his ex-girlfriend will most likely get better. Jessie is taking care of four kids, when they see this large amount of cash they will immediate think of spending it on travelling. I know that the best way to reform a relationship is to have more time to spend with each other. Do you think you can help me with this, Mr. Grundy? You can list the price."
Grundy heard Lelle's desperation of willing to put two friends into their original relationship, so he decided to not charge Lelle for any money, the two of them even came to an agreement, exchanged their numbers, and became friends who communicated more often. Before he left, Lelle reminded Mr. Grundy. "I have the control here. Don't let Tony get that 90 million right away, just wait until I decide on a time for him to win the lottery, and then you can go. This could benefit both sides."
"But how can you make sure Tony will be able to include Jessie in his life of lottery?" Zack was still confused.
"Well… I have my own way." After he finished, Lelle put on his helmet and rode his bike on his way home.
The following summer, Tony was out for lottery, suddenly he received a text from an unknown number. There's a doorman showdown in central park today, all doormen are welcome! P.S.: don't share this message with anyone. Tony went there without any hesitation. Until he arrived at the park and was facing an empty stage, he realized he got tricked; however, that was where he saw Jessie. Jessie also received a similar text, but she thought she was already outside, might as well use this time for some quiet alone time, so she found a bench and sat down.
This was the beginning of the story. Then Tony and Jessie bumped into each other, and bought that lottery ticket together. They got a gold card that was worth $90 million, and their trip to China had officially begun. What they did not know was, Tony's 90 million was not luck. Lelle used a never-used phone to send Tony and Jessie that text, and the couple was officially on the hook.
The night before everyone departed for China, Jessie and Brooks was dating on the roof while drinking hot chocolate. When Brooks took a sip of that hot chocolate, he got some cream stuck on his mouth. Jessie used her hand to wipe off Brooks' mouth gently, the spark had rise to the highest point for the night. Just as when the two of them were about to kiss, Brooks' mouth was blocked by a marshmallow. They turned around and saw Luke was starting a fire and roasting marshmallows! Jessie waved to Luke before reentering into the world just for them with Brooks.
"So," Brooks took another sip of his hot chocolate, and then put down the cup, "I heard that you and the kids are going to China. Are you excited? Just to let you know, I have never been to that place before."
"Oh, Brooks. I'm a nanny, and I'm happy if they are. From what I can see now, they are all super excited. And Bertram, he was so excited that he couldn't fall asleep this morning. Usually, he sleeps more than Koala in a day." Jessie slowly touched Brooks' shoulders after laughing out loud. "I'll miss you. I want you to remember, Tony and I are just friends now. Even though I chose him to accompany with me and the kids, this won't change our relationship. You just wait here, and we will continue with our dating schedule when I get back."
Brooks did not even think about the outcomes for Jessie brining Tony on this trip. But now since Jessie mentioned it out loud, he felt pressure circulating around him. He knew that if Jessie is not careful for some reasons, all the pressure around would become the truth, like all the needles approaching to his throat with haste, and he will be in danger just as this relationship would. However, he did not passed on this thought to that smile on his face. "Okay, if you say so, I'm okay with that. Wait, didn't you say you have a talkative friend who is trying to fix the relationship between you and Tony?"
"Who? Lelle? Oh, he will understand me. Even though he works so hard to make his dream reality. But if my goal somehow contradicts with his, looking at this years-long friendship, he will take a step back for sure. Now, what you need to worry about is how to dodge that mother of yours. Trust me, nothing is going to tear us apart."
"And I will hold on your hand tightly, never let you go. Nothing can stop us now. Except my empty stomach. Do you have something to eat, I'm famished." Brooks heard his stomach out of control, began to make noises. Ever since all of his possessions got taken away, the only think that could give him hope is Jessie.
Jessie hugged Brooks, and brought him in.
That night, Lelle wrote the following on his forum: This trip will be much different than before. This is the first mission that I couldn't bring my team. I mean, during the first few days of summer when I was in the West Coast, my team came along. I accept Jessie's offer for one purpose and one purpose only, to save the Tessie relationship that is about to fade. I need to break this relationship in order to save the other one, that's kind of funny, actually.
Next day before boarding the plane to China, Lelle wrote the following: So this is it. Kaku's Friends, slowly tearing apart, just like what Brielle had predicted. I have no choice but to dissemble the team. Even if I didn't choose to do that, there is no chance for us to survive. Beth, Almond, and Amy. They have gone to their own separate ways. This tore us apart peacefully. We all have the ability to choose out own path. And Amy chooses hers. Kaku's Friends is just like a cocoon, when the cocoon breaks out, we are all freed like butterflies. I don't have the final saying on deciding who get to stay and who get to leave, but if they are leaving this group peacefully, I just want to say that it's their time.
Then Lelle heard the boarding announcement, he added: Now it's my time, and it's early!
This is the time before the trip. Next Chapter will be updated at the end of this month that will deal with a shocking development between Jessie and Brooks. I bet all the JESSIE fans should know this already! :) See you soon!