TRA
Part 1.2
*The gardens were beautifully lit with an orange glow. The large hall was no different. Heaas of people, all in Team Rocket, were inside. Some of them came from other places outside the Viridian area. A long table sat high above the people. Giovanni, Ned, Kelly, and the woman were sitting at it, watching everyone dance, talk, and drink champagne.*
Kelly: It's so beautiful. Wow. *she couldn't take her eyes of the scene*
Woman: You didn't have to go to all the trouble preparing all of this for us.
Giovanni: Trouble.*he laughed* No trouble.
Woman: *she thought for a while then got up* Excuse me.
*Jessie, James and Meowth entered the hall*
Jessie: Now this place is very nice.
James: It's even better than one of my family's dinner parties.
Meowth: *he held up two chicken legs* And awl da free food you can git ya paws awn! *he ate both in one mouth full*
* They came to a group of ballroom dancers*
James: *held out his hand* A dance, Jess?
Jessie: *Taking his hand* Why, thank you kind sir.
*they laughed and made their way to the dance floor while Meowth made his way to the snack bar. Jessie, not growing up in a sophisticated lifestyle like James', had no idea how to ballroom dance.*
Jessie: Left...riiiight...oh! *she crashed into another person* Sorry.
James: ... then we swap partners.
*He swung Jessie out to the next person and skillfully received his next partner.*
Woman: Wow, your good.
James: Thanks. ?! *he looked at her eyes. He knew he'd seen them someplace before. And the way she danced was so familiar. Was this... She smiled and grabbed his hands*
Woman: Aaah...We meet again, James.
James: *he gulped* Jennifer?!
Jennifer: *nodded* You remember!
James: *surprised* Oh, wow! What are you doing here? Where have you been these past, how many, six years? Jessie and I thought you were gone forever.
Jen: Ah, that's not important right now; i'll explain it all later.
James: *he nodded and looked about the room* (I wonder where Jessie is) *James thought she'd really like to see her old friend again*
Jen: C'mon. Let's go out where its nicer.
James: Uh, ok. *He took a last look around the room but couldn't see her. He shrugged and followed after his long lost friend. Meanwhile...*
Butch: *a high heel came down on his foot* Oow!
Jessie: *sarcastic tone* So sorry.
Butch: Shut up.
Jessie: *Jessie turned away from her dance partner and saw James head out of the hall with Jennifer* Ooo! Looks like James found himself a girly friend. I can't miss this. *Butch looked over*
Butch: (She looks a bit like that Boss that was with our Boss) *In Jessie's rush to follow him her foot came down on Butch's* Ah! Why you...*he hopped away swearing and yelling*
Jen: Here. *She sat down on a grassy slope near a small lake. James sat down next to her* That's better. I didn't want to talk inside.
James: So why did you come back?
Jen: Business...
James: Really? I didn't know you were in Team Rocket.
Jen: And I didn't know you were as well. Wow. What a coincidence.
James: (That was what I thought when I saw Jessie in Team Rocket when I joined...) Maybe its not.
Jen: Its not?
James: Maybe its supposed to be like this. *He looked up*
Jen: You mean, fate?
James: Mm-hmm. I mean, with you and me here, and Jessie... maybe...
*Jessie peeked out from behind a near-by tree*
Jessie: Hmm, I wonder what romaaan-tic things they're talking about. Just a little closer and maybe I can...*she crept out and hid behind a bush. She poked her head through it*
Jen: Jessie?! Are you thinking about the Jessie i'm thinking about.
James: If you're thinking about a Jessie with long red hair like this *he used his arms as a description of Jessie's hair*, blue eyes, and a really mean streak...*he turned to Jennifer with a little smile*
Jen: That's her! Oh, James! Is Jess really in Team Rocket?
Jessie: What on earth was James doing with his arms? Whatever it did, it sure made her excited.
James: You know her?
Jen: And you know her as well?! Wow. She was the best friend I ever had; the best friend anyone could have. I'm sure you know that.
James: I was surprised when I saw her in Team Rocket a few years back...
Jen: How long have you been in the Team?
James: About three years, not including the break Team Rocket had. What about you, Jennifer?
Jessie: *frowning* Did he just say Jennifer? I must be hearing things. Maybe if I get a little bit closer to them, then I can hear properly.
Jen: Ah, its just my first year...
James: Really? So what have you been doing all that time?
Jen: Nothing interesting. *Her expression brightened* So where is Jessie? Its seems you two have become friends.
James: Yeah. We met the day after you left. Then it was a bike gang we ended up in together. Now were both partners in Team Rocket.
Jessie: Huh? The day after she left? *Her eyes widened* Oh.
Jen: Wow. I never knew Jess would stay with the same guy for over a week.
James: *he looked at her, blinked, and then started laughing*
Jen: What? What did I say?
James: *he wiped a tear and calmed down* Oh, sorry. No, Its nothing like that. Ah-hem. Were just friends, that's all.
Jen: So you're not...oh. *she smiled* I think she chose the best guy to be a good friend with.
James: *blushing* No...really. I'm not that good as a friend...
Jen: You are. *She grabbed his hands* If Jessie has stuck with you, then you must be a good friend. I've seen her friends come and go, and they've never been as close to her as I have, and now, you've been her friend for so long, you must be a good friend to her. I was worried about how Jessie would cope without me, but now I know, she had you.
James: *James looked at her and smiled*
Jessie: Time for me to stop this. *She called out* Hey!
Jen: What?!
James: Jessie?
Jessie: What do you think you're doing, James?
Jen: Jessie! It's you!
Jessie: *she turned to Jennifer* I'll deal with you later.
Jen: Jessie?
Jessie:*to James* Obviously you haven't learnt your lesson from last time.
James: Huh?
Jen: Last time?
Jessie: You're going to get hurt again. I can just see it now...
Jen: Jessie...
Jessie: I know all about it, James. Ive been there so many times.
James: I don't get it.. How am I going to get hurt?
Jessie: Just don't get yourself too attached. It will just make it harder for you to let go. *She turned to Jennifer* Well, Jennifer? Long time no see.
Jen: *smiling* Too long.
Jessie: *she gave her a quick look then turned away* I'll see you later then.
Jen: Jessie... *Jessie walked off. Jen stepped away* Poor Jess...Its not Jessie's fault she's acting like this. *She sighed and walked off*
James: What did Jessie mean?
Butch: Sir.
Giovanni: Yes? What is it?
Butch: I just noticed that female Boss with, for some reason, that embarrassing James.
Giovanni: That imbecile? What does she want with him?
Butch: I don't know, but it looks like they were hitting it off. I don't know for the world why... *he gave Giovanni a strange look* Do you think-?
Giovanni: We will see. Thank you.
Butch: You're welcome, Boss.
Giovanni: Let me know if you see any more of this.
Butch: Of course, Boss. *He bowed and walked off, with the Boss' satisfaction*
*James lay on his bed*
James: (What a night. It started out just fine but... what did Jessie mean?) *a small knock at the door*
Jennifer: James?
James: *he sat up* Jennifer? Come in.
Jen: *she opened the door and stood at it* No, it's ok. I just want to say sorry about Jessie. About the way she acted.
James: It wasn't your fault she acted like that.
Jen: I think it might. The night before I left, Jess and I had a fight. *James remembered the night at the party. He was leaving when he saw Jennifer yell at Jessie, then the man and woman yell at her. After that, Jennifer ran upstairs and that was the last he saw of it before he decided to clear out*
James: Hmmm.
Jen: I said something really nasty to her. I didn't mean it, it just slipped. It made her really mad. That's why she was acting really nasty.
James: Oh...then why did she say those things to me, how I was going to "get hurt"?
Jen: I don't know... *she yawned* It's late. I better get going.
James: Sure...ah, hey. Why don't we catch up on things tomorrow?
Jen: Sounds great. Tomorrow in the west gardens, after breakfast.
James: Fine.
Jen: *she smiled* Goodnight, James. *She walked off*
James: Goodnight.
Kelly: So, why didn't we go to _your_ house?
Brock: My dad wouldn't know good cooking if it came up and bit him in the- woo! Toast is done! *He rushed towards the toaster* And besides, Mrs. Ketchum makes a beautiful French Toast.
Mrs. K: Why thank you, Brock.
*Ash, Misty, Brock, Tracey and Kelly were sitting down at the breakfast table. Ash just scoffed down his fith plate of bacon and eggs.*
Ash: Ahhhh. Nothing like a good breakfast.
Mrs. K: Ash, you used most of the plates. I think it's only fair if you start to wash up.
Ash: Awww, c'mon!
Mrs.K: DO IT!
Ash: *shrinks back* Ok.
Misty: I'll help him.
Mrs. K: Sure.
*Kelly went into her curious mode again. She looked at the photos on the living room. She looked at one which had Ash's mum and her husband. It was a wedding photo.*
Kelly: Oh my gawd! He looks so dorky! Wait a minute...that's? *she looked more closely at the photo* Um, Mrs. Ketchum?
Mrs. K: Yes?
Kelly: Who is this in the photo with you?
Mrs.K: That is my husband. He, he passed away a few years ago.
Kelly: He-? *She was surprised* But he... *she stopped herself* ...how sad.
Mrs.K: Ash never knew about him, but I didn't know much about him either. He was always keeping secrets. Sometimes I think he's still alive.
Kelly: ... Um, Brock. I need to go now. I'll see ya later.
Brock: Uh. Bye. *He turned to Mrs. Ketchum* What was that about?
Mrs.K: *she put her husbands photo back on the shelf* Girls, Brock. You'll never understand us. *She closely inspected the shelf. A photo of her, her husband and a baby Ash was missing*