CHAPTER 4

It was morning, and James was getting out of bed when his intercom buzzed. It was Giovanni.

"What is it, Boss?" James asked.

"James, I need you to bring me the weekly reports before you go to breakfast."

"Okay, Boss, I'll have them to you in a few minutes."

"Excellent."

As he walked down the hallway with the folders, he couldn't help but think back to the previous night, and his encounter with Jessie in the hallway. She had seemed really out of it, and she had seemed to wander off when she saw him. He didn't know what that meant, and he was kind of worried about her. He just wanted her to be happy, because when she was happy... well, he was happy also. It was a fact he kept to himself that he had liked Jessie for the better part of a year, but never had the nerve to tell her. He couldn't help but wonder if she felt the same, but he dismissed the thought immediately.

He knocked on the door of Giovanni's office. "Come in," said his boss. "Give me the regular reports, please."

"Here," James said, putting the folders on his desk.

"Thank you," Giovanni said, but instead of dismissing him, eyed him suspiciously. "Are you feeling all right?"

"Uh... yeah, I'm feeling great!" James lied, not used to compassion from his boss.

"Don't insult me, James!" Giovanni said. "I can tell when someone's upset. I'm not all evil and malice, you know. Sit down." After James sat down, Giovanni said, "So what is it?"

"Well, it's Jessie. I've liked her for so long, I don't know what to do. I can't just tell her..."

"Why not?"

"Well, because...." James was actually stumped by this question, because he had never really thought about it. "I don't know, actually."

"Just as I thought." Giovanni said, rubbing his chin.

"Well I suppose I could just go find her and..."

"No, no, no," Giovanni said, cutting him off. "I'm not going to let you blow this one in your bumbling fashion. If you want to win over a girl like Jessie, you have to do it classy and with style!"

"How do I do that?" James asked, dumbfounded.

"With my help." Giovanni said. "Now, listen carefully..."

(A little later that day...)

Jessie was training her Scyther in the East Training Hall when the PA system buzzed. "Jessie!" Boomed Giovanni's voice. "Report to my office immediately!"

"Ha! You're in trouble!" snickered another Rocket.

"Good luck with the boss!" jeered another.

Hanging her head, Jessie made her way to Giovanni's office. "You wanted to see me, boss?"

"Sit down!" Giovanni snapped. "Now then... I have always been known to give every member of my organization a fighting chance at a huge job... I have given you the chance many times and you have bungled it magnificently!" he roared, but then smiled and a twinkle came to his eye. "However, I am giving you one last chance."

"Oh, you won't regret it, boss!" Jessie cried happily.

"Silence. Now, this is what you will do. I want you to go to this address: 2187 Clyde Street in Golden City. There, you will meet with the person who will tell you what to do next."

"I won't fail you, Boss!" Jessie said, saluting.

"I hope not, Jessie, for your sake." But after this last part he winked to show he was only joking.

(later that day)

Jessie walked up and down the streets of Golden City, looking for the proper address. "2185...2186... 2187????" She was confused because 2187 Clyde Street was a 5 star restaurant. "This is odd..." she thought, but she went in anyway and stood near the entrance.

"Can I help you?" asked the hostess.

"Oh.. I'm just meeting someone here." Jessie said.

The hostess noticed the red "R" on her shirt. "Are you with Team Rocket?"
"Shhh! Not so loud!" Jessie whispered fiercely.

"Sorry... anyway, the man you are meeting is over there." she pointed to the other side of the restaurant.

"Thank you." Jessie said, and she walked over to the other side, to find none other than James sitting there! "James, are you the one I'm meeting?" she asked in surprise.

"Yes." he said with a smile.

"Interesting," she said, sitting down. "Usually you and I work together anyway."

James shook his head. "Jessie, this isn't about work," he said. "I need to tell you something."

Jessie's heart jumped. Could James finally be saying the words she longed for him to say? "What is it James?" she asked.

"I just want to tell you... that I love you." He looked down, blushing.

Jessie's heart did a triple backflip. It was real! He loved her! This was the moment she had been waiting for for so long!

"James I love you too!" she cried, hugging him across the table. "I really do!"

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier," James said, "But I was too embarrassed."

"I was too," Jessie said, "Because I was going to tell you also."

"Well then," James said, raising his glass, "To us!"

"To us!"

(That night)

That night, Jessie walked with James back to his room. "I had a great time today, James." she said.

"Me too." he agreed, giving her a kiss. "I really do love you."

"I love you too James." She said, smiling. "See you tomorrow?"

"Bright and early."

"All right then," she said with a giggle, kissing him again, "Good night."

"Good night." he said, and then he looked back at her as he closed the door.

Jessie practically danced back to her room, and once inside, she almost slapped herself silly trying to make sure that it wasn't a dream. Then she snuggled under her covers and fell fast asleep. She had another dream about James that night, but to respect the PG rating, we will not talk of it here.

THE END!

Fantasy has been written by Father Hulk

(c) 2004 PDG Network in association with the St. Eva Church