Chapter 22: The Date

THAT EVENING

Whether it might have been a smart move or not Simon decided to go his date with Jeanette anyway. They went to see a movie that came out a few weeks ago. It was all right, because Simon wasn't in the mood to be in a crowded theater of a new released movie. After the movie was over, Jeanette and Simon walked out of the theater and down the street. Simon didn't say much before, during, or even after the movie. His mind was on his friends and what he and Tom talked about earlier that day.

Whenever Jeanette asked Simon anything, she would almost have to repeat it. This worried her, she knew something was wrong and Simon wasn't telling her anything. She tried earlier to apologize for the losses of his friends, and even suggested that they not go to a movie, instead they could sit and talk about it and perhaps watch a video at home. Simon decided to be strong about it and that a movie might help take his mind off with what is happening in his life right now. Unfortunately, it wasn't really working. All he could do was focus on his friends.

The two of them walked past the park that they went to a week ago and saw Tom and Renee sitting at the Jungle Gym. Tom looked up and sees Simon and Jeanette standing on the sidewalk staring back at him and Renee. Both Tom and Simon stared at each other with such focus that they start to exchange thoughts. Finally Simon let out a sigh and turned to Jeanette. "I have to talk to Tom for a bit, is that ok?"

Jeanette tried her best to politely smile and nodded an, 'ok'. She was told that Simon was not allowed to really see Tom and Renee, but she also knew that they had just lost two very good friends yesterday and it was really showing in Simon.

As soon as they made their way to the Jungle Gym, Tom hands Simon a beer and offers one to Jeanette. She politely refuses and sits on one of the swings feeling a little left out. Renee, who was at this point laying down on the higher lever of the Jungle Gym, lifts her head and notices Jeanette looking a little bummed on one of the swings. The red headed Chipette stands up and leaps off her perch in an acrobatic move. Being that she was so out of it, the flip nearly caused her to completely lose her balance as she landed. Tom and Simon watched her with worry when she did this move, but she got her footing again and begin to stagger over to Jeanette.

"Hay, What's up?" Renee asked as she flopped herself on the swing next to Jeanette.

Jeanette looks at Renee and notices that there's something wrong with her. "Are you drunk?"

Renee lets out chuckle. "I like you! You are so observant and I mean that in a good way! That is why I see that you are a perfect match for Simon." She then smiles in a cocky way. "I'm also a little high too, but who's counting!"

"Why are you doing this?"

"What do you mean?" Renee asked playfully as she attempted to swing on her swing.

"I mean…this, drinking, smoking, and doing drugs. I can smell it all over you." Jeanette said, sniffing the air around Renee.

"Oh, really?" She asks as she too starts sniffing herself. "Well, to be honest. It helps to numb the pain I feel." Renee said in a more serious tone.

"Pain?"

"Yeah, the pain that I suffered on the island and the two most closes friends I just lost." Renee paused for a bit as she remembered Brian and Brenda then remembered the other reason. "…Not to mention our brains have been chemically altered. And since we are not able to receive the required substance in order to control it, we are doomed to die. Right now, me and the boys are in a lot of physical and mental pain."

"WHAT??"

"Simon didn't tell you?"

"No!"

"I guess he didn't want you to worry. Hey, look I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take you by surprise like that. We are still getting use to the fact that we are no longer going to see Brian and Brenda ever again. I really miss them, they were like family to me." Renee started to cry with the feeling of loss in her heart.

"I'm sorry!" Jeanette placed a hand on Renee's shoulder to try to comfort her.

"Tom isn't fairing to well with the loss of our friends either." Renee says with her eyes not leaving the ground. "He's so upset that he can't even pretend to be strong anymore."

Jeanette looked up to where Simon sat with Tom on the Jungle gym and saw that Renee is right. A sad expression came over Jeanette as she watched Simon stroking his friends back for support. Tom berried his face in his hands that leaned up from his lap. By the appearance of this scene, Tom indeed looked like he was crying.

Her heart went out to them.

"Both of them feel that if somehow we can get back to the Island we can survive long enough to work on a cure for our condition." Renee finally said with her eyes still focusing on the ground. "That's if we can make it, I don't know if I have the strength. I'm so tired." She said as she slowly lifted her head to gaze up at Jeanette.

Jeanette looked into Renee's eyes and saw practically no life in them. She watched as the once perky Chipette gently swung herself after drawing her eyes back to the ground. She looked so sad and alone. Without knowing on what else to say, Jeanette gently put her hand on Renee's shoulder and waited for her to look up at her again. "It'll be alright, Renee. I have faith in you."

Renee slowly smiled back at Jeanette, for the first time she had a friend, besides Brenda, that understood her. "Thanks Jeanette." But Renee couldn't hide her frown that once again appeared on her face and slowly turned away and back towards the ground.

Just then two shadows came up to them, it was Simon and Tom. Simon pointed to his watch that Dave gave him, so that he wouldn't be 'late' again, and said, "It's getting late! I better get you home before Miss. Miller gets upset."

Jeanette nods in agreement and got off the swing. "It was great talking with you Renee. I hope we could do this again sometime."

"Me too!" Renee replied with a slight smile. Tom then walked up to her and starts to help her off the swing.

"Come on, Love; time to get you home."

"Awe, but I just want to stay in your arms forever!" Renee said, trying to give Tom a huge hug.

Simon and Jeanette watched the scene as Tom failed to get Renee on to her feet, so he decided it would be easier to just carry her away. "Wee!" Renee squeals and giggles as Tom sweeps her off her feet. "Later," he told Simon and Jeanette as he began to walk off with his love in his arms like a damsel in distress.

Jeanette couldn't help but to giggle a little at the silliness that was displayed in front of them. Simon just grinned. The two young loves looked at each other and walked off holding hands.

OoOoOoOoOoOo

Simon and Jeanette were almost home, when Simon suddenly stopped and looked at Jeanette.

"Jeanette, can I talk to you for a bit?"

"Sure," she answered as she stood to wait to see on what he had to say.

Simon looked around and saw that no one was near and looked back at Jeanette. "Come on." He usurer her to follow him towards the window that lead to the basement of the Seville home, Simon's old libratory. They crawled in through the window and they took off their jackets before sitting down on the old couch.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Simon reached over and pulled out a small bottle of Whisky from the inner pocket of his jacket. Tom gave it to him while Jeanette was talking to Renee on the swings. He twisted the top off and took a sip. Afterwards, it helped him to build enough courage to finally talk to Jeanette.

"I'm sorry if I haven't been much of a date."

"That's ok. You have been through a lot, loosing your friends and all. Renee and I had a good talk about what has been going on with you guys."

"What do you mean?"

"She explained that you guys were dying. Also she said that you are going to try to get back to the island. She also mentioned your condition and that you need to create a cure for it."

"Oh, I guess I should have mentioned that to you earlier. Honestly, I don't know how to explain it. Anytime I wanted to say something I would have this echo in my head that would be so strenuous that I just can't seem to focus on what I want to say. This whole thing scars me. Sometimes I feel so alone around here. More so now, then I ever was when I was a kid."

Jeanette remembered as a child that no one really understood Simon. He was always into his science experiments and schoolwork. There were times when she could tell that Simon felt alienated from everyone around him, like he didn't belong with his friends and family, especially towards Alvin and even Theodore. "Your not alone, Simon. You have your friends…your family…and me." Jeanette finished saying in almost shy expression.

Simon paused for a bit. He didn't really know how to respond to that, but then he just blurted out… "We are going to leave tomorrow night, Jeanette."

"Oh." She squeaked. It hit her like a tone of bricks. Jeanette knew Simon didn't mean for it to come out like that. It really wasn't what she had planed in a relationship. Just when things were looking good for the two of them, they are now going to have to say 'goodbye'. She looked over to Simon with sympathy and concern.

Simon sat nervously and was about to take another sip from the bottle when Jeanette reached over and took the bottle away from him.

"Your never alone, Simon." She said with a voice of sympathy and reason. She closed her eyes and took a sip from the bottle as she struggled to swallow the strong flavored beverage she made a discussed face. After she forced drink down she looked back at Simon before taking another sip.

The bottle was almost to touch her lips when Simon gently pulled it away. That was when Jeanette notices some of the scars on his wrists. She winced as she could imagine how much it must of hurt. After reclaiming the bottle, she places it beside the couch and grabs Simon's wrists. As she bends forward she pulled back his sleeve and gently kissed his scars on right arm, Simon looked away with uncertainty.

When Jeanette bent over to kiss the other wrist she felt his other hand touch her cheek. She looked up into Simon's eyes. Slowly their faces moved closer until their lips touched.

Jeanette could feel Simon's bottom lip tremble. With her free hand she reached up and touched his hair. Simon slowly removed his hand from her cheek and reached down to her thigh and gently began to stroke it.

The touch took Jeanette by surprise and gasped a breath. Simon's eyes suddenly became wide and quickly moved away from Jeanette in fear that he did something wrong.

"I'm s-s…s-s…sorry!" Simon stuttered.

Realizing that he was more scared and confused then she was, Jeanette decided to comfort him and to let him know that it ok.

"It's ok, Simon!" Jeanette leaned forward and kissed Simon on the forehead. "I don't mind!" Then she kissed him on the cheek. She looked into his eyes and slowly Simon moved forward and kissed Jeanette on the lips again. He was unsure what was happening to him. All he knew was that he felt strange, his heart was beating faster and the urge to move closer to Jeanette was becoming stronger. Simon's brain was calculating many things, but most importantly was calculating Jeanette's needs, he had a rough idea on what he wanted, but also knew that if it wasn't done right he may hurt Jeanette. That was the last thing he wanted to do.

Ever so carefully, and still very nervous, Simon and Jeanette leaned back into the couch and kissed each other patiently and aloud their love to guide them.