Ally rushed out of the school cafeteria on her way to the library. She had
a couple of hours before her test and decided she would have a last minute
cram. On her way out she passed a man dressed in a dark business suit,
accompanied by a teenage boy. The man was holding a piece of paper, which
he scrutinized carefully before moving his eyes over the crowd of students
milling around. This piqued her curiosity and she decided to take a minute
or so to investigate, this being much more interesting to her than her
American history notes. She moved behind them as nonchalantly as possible,
so as not to be noticed.
"This is the only picture we have to go on?" the man asked the boy skeptically.
"Yeah, Jeff drew it," he replied. "He's a good artist. See? He even caught the mole near her ear. That's detailed."
Ally peeked around the man's arm and was alarmed to see a fairly accurate image of Jas staring back at her from the white sketch paper. Oh, shit! This was not good. Not good at all.
"Okay," the man answered still sounding unconvinced. "We'd better start here at the school activity center. Most of them will pass through here anyway. And we have three more schools to get through by the end of the day."
Ally had heard enough. Turning she raced in the direction of her friend's dorm room and almost knocked over several people on the way. Calling out apologies, she ran on until she reached the building. Jas, on her way to her first class, had just reached the bottom of the staircase. Ally caught her breath and grabbed Jas' arm.
"Jas, wait!" Ally said still a little out of breath. "You can't leave."
"Why not?" Jas said looking confused by her friend's actions. "I've got to get going. Class starts soon."
"Yeah, so do I. I have a test in like an hour but you really can't leave. There's this guy walking around campus. He's all dressed nice in a suit like someone important."
"Al, there's always people like that around here." Jas explained.
"No, you don't get it," Ally sighed. "There was someone else with him, like a teenage guy for some reason."
Jas just looked at her still understanding.
"And they have a sketch that looks like YOU!" Ally said grabbed her friend by the shoulders and shaking her.
*************************************
"WHAT?" Jas yelled.
Oh, this can't be happening! Shannon said Jeff would be the one coming for her. Jeff would be easy to spot. She almost walked out there into a trap! She never would have looked for anyone dressed like a recruiter, or a kid for that matter. She'd just assume the kid was someone's brother. Damn damn damn! Ally watched her worriedly from the door.
"Maybe we should go upstairs or something," she suggested. "You know, in case they walk by."
Jas nodded and led the way back up to her room. Her roommate, Christy had already left for her class, so at least she wouldn't have to explain anything. They jogged upstairs and quickly ducked into Jas' room to decide what they should do. They sat in silence for a few minutes as Jas logged into her computer. Uh huh. There was a message from the Tormentor, as Jas had begun to refer to Shannon as. Sighing, she looked over at Ally as they waited for it to open.
To: JeffAndShannon
From: Mfer1
Subject: How about this? Dear Jas,
Jeff is back home now because I think this is going a little too far. I would like for you to meet with Amy, my friend and a neutral party to discuss the matter. You and she could then contact me for updates and questions about where we should go from here. Another fairly recent friend has been brought in to help mediate.
Can we please work together to solve this problem? It would make me, and my friends, so happy.
Please respond,
Shannon
"What the hell?" Ally muttered as she studied the screen. "Contact him about where we should go from here? I bet he demands an end to your slash."
"No doubt. A recent friend?" Jas fumed. "A recent adolescent friend perhaps, Shannon?"
"What are we going to do?"
The door opened and Christy bounced into the room. She looked at Jas in alarm then approached. "Jas, someone's looking for you," she said worriedly.
"Do you know why or who?" Jas replied with fear.
"Some kid in a wrestling tee and a corporate looking dude." Christy shrugged. "I don't know why. They have a drawing of you and asked me if I knew you. Since I didn't know who he was, I just told him 'no'."
"Thank you!" Jas yelled hugging her.
"Um, you're welcome. But why are they looking for you."
Jas sighed and began relaying the whole story from the beginning. Ally interjected here and there. When they were done, Jas looked at her roommate guiltily. She and the other girl didn't know each other well, and she was afraid the slash stories might offend her.
"Fanfiction, huh?" Christy said cryptically. "Interesting."
Jas looked down.
"Fanfiction.net, by any chance?"
Jas looked back up and blinked in confusion, then nodded mutely.
"I used to post there regularly before things got so busy for me," Christy shrugged and stuck out her hand. "My name is Esquirella, but my friends called me Esq. Nice to meet you, JeffAndShannon."
"Huh?" Ally squeaked.
"Are you shitting me?" Jas asked as she dumbly shook her roommate's hand.
"I never shit unless there's a toilet bowl in the room," Christy grinned. "Sorry. That Esq humor just came out of nowhere."
"I read 'The Road Less Traveled' last year," Jas went on. "Mind telling when 'The Way to Eden' will resume by the way?"
"Sorry again," Christy grimaced. "Not sure. Eric's not a big fiction writing fan, so I'm usually out doing other activities with him. And between him and Calculus, I have a busy schedule."
"You let a GUY keep you from writing, Christy?" Ally scoffed. "That's what this whole mess is about. So Jas can keep writing."
"Call me Esq. And I couldn't agree with you more," Esquirella nodded. "I'll be picking my stories back up again. In the mean time, what will we do about this." She stopped and turned to Ally again. "But why are you helping her? I mean I know she's your friend and all, but I thought you loved those guys."
"I did, until they ditched me when I asked for an autograph," Ally growled. "Besides, Jas is like family to me! Nobody's going to get to her before they go through me. Especially not a short smart-mouthed little blond, a rainbow haired freak, a green jellybean who thinks he can fly, and said green jellybean's bitch." Ally made it clear she would be protective of her friend. She didn't let anyone hurt her friends.
"Okay, well do you want some more help?" Esq offered. "Because someone's outside and ready to deflect those guys."
" I need all the help I can get right now," Jas replied. "Just without to many people knowing." Esq opened the door and dragged her boyfriend into the room. He looked knowingly at Jas, as if to say, 'I knew we'd be getting you out a jam one day.'
"Eric, I know you were listening, even though I told you not to," Esq admonished. "So cut the bull and give me the idea you have brewing."
"Fanfiction, Jas?" he asked teasingly. "I've never known a fanfic writer before."
"Bullshit, you sleep with one," Esq deadpanned. "Now, out with it."
Eric nodded and detailed his plan to use all of his contacts as operatives to deflect the two spies at the student union. He said that with all his frat brothers and friends should be enough to convince these guys there were on the wrong path. Esq. Nodded, kissed his cheek then dispatched him to his mission, closing the door firmly behind him. "Uh, Jas," Ally said as she looked down at the wrestling magazine she was reading. "We've got another problem."
"What?" Jas and Esq both asked.
"Well, you know how Shan had some time off coming?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I'm only guessing Shannon's going to be at Raw when it comes here next Monday," Ally said, looking at her friend.
"Hey, didn't you guys get tickets for that two months ago?" Esq asked.
"Shit, Al, I cant go." Jas panicked.
"Calm down, it'll be okay," Ally said. "If you don't want to go, then fine, we can scalp them or something. I'm not going if you're not."
"Unless, we come up with some idea," Esq said with an evil smile. "Maybe you have a reviewer or two who would like to canvass the show for you?
"Kandiland and Cat!" Jas cried almost triumphantly. "They said they would have my back. If we give them the tickets, they can represent me in these stupid negotiations."
"And knowing Kandi, she'll make sure your rights are protected," Ally nodded.
"Yeah, she'll help me," Jas smiled genuinely for the first time in days.
"Man, I hate to do this," Ally said, looking like she really meant it. "But I have one of those major tests now. I have them today, tomorrow and Friday. But if you don't want me to leave, I'll stay with you. It's no problem."
"No, it's okay," Jas waved her off. "Take your tests. I don't have any today so, what's missing one day?"
"You sure?" Ally asked.
"Positive, don't let these guys get you off track." "If I fail because of these guys they are gonna be in so much damn pain," Ally grinned evilly. "It . . .well, it will be funny to us. I'll come right back here after the test, okay?"
Jas nodded.
"Okay, I'll see you two later then." Ally said with a hug, then left and rushed to her classroom.
"Now, we just have to answer Shannon's email," Esq smirked and hit the reply button. She then began typing quickly with Jas looking over her shoulder.
To: Mfer1
From: JeffAndShannon
Subject: Re: How about this?
Dear Shannon,
Are you out of your little blond mind? You want me to believe you're calling off the search for me and then expect me to meet your friend, a professional wrestler no less, in a neutral location? Yeah, I trust you about as far as I can throw you, and since I'm about six inches shorter and just about half your weight, that's not far!
I have friends in lots of schools here in Minnesota. Some have reported seeing a guy in a suit with a sketch of a girl. (None of them will talk, by the way.) And he's accompanied by a kid in a wrestling shirt who I can only surmise is your "recent friend" for the negotiations. Where'd you get him, at the Kids 'R Us clearance sale?
Not only do you want me to take the above risks but you expect me to give you updates on the peace talks and ask QUESTIONS about negotiating away my own rights? Here's the answer: I'll do this when HHH jobs to Spike Dudley.
And I'll be updating a story or two soon. By the way, have you read "Moore Mattitude" yet? It's simply captivating. You really must check it out when you get a chance.
Loyally yours, (dream on)
Jas
Esq looked up to Jas for permission to send and Jas smiled, nodding. Take that, you little hemorrhoid!
*************************************
NOTE: HUGE thanks to Ally for helping me writer the dialogue for much of the above. Big apology to Prime Time, but you knew I would have to diss you for plotline purposes. And a major welcome (and welcome back) to Esquirella, the Rio queen. Hopefully we'll see you pick that story back up. Kandi and Cat, you set to represent me? HD, I'll be asking you and xtremediva to spy for me, too. Please let me know what you think! And check out "Moore Mattitude", as well. You rock, Ally!
"This is the only picture we have to go on?" the man asked the boy skeptically.
"Yeah, Jeff drew it," he replied. "He's a good artist. See? He even caught the mole near her ear. That's detailed."
Ally peeked around the man's arm and was alarmed to see a fairly accurate image of Jas staring back at her from the white sketch paper. Oh, shit! This was not good. Not good at all.
"Okay," the man answered still sounding unconvinced. "We'd better start here at the school activity center. Most of them will pass through here anyway. And we have three more schools to get through by the end of the day."
Ally had heard enough. Turning she raced in the direction of her friend's dorm room and almost knocked over several people on the way. Calling out apologies, she ran on until she reached the building. Jas, on her way to her first class, had just reached the bottom of the staircase. Ally caught her breath and grabbed Jas' arm.
"Jas, wait!" Ally said still a little out of breath. "You can't leave."
"Why not?" Jas said looking confused by her friend's actions. "I've got to get going. Class starts soon."
"Yeah, so do I. I have a test in like an hour but you really can't leave. There's this guy walking around campus. He's all dressed nice in a suit like someone important."
"Al, there's always people like that around here." Jas explained.
"No, you don't get it," Ally sighed. "There was someone else with him, like a teenage guy for some reason."
Jas just looked at her still understanding.
"And they have a sketch that looks like YOU!" Ally said grabbed her friend by the shoulders and shaking her.
*************************************
"WHAT?" Jas yelled.
Oh, this can't be happening! Shannon said Jeff would be the one coming for her. Jeff would be easy to spot. She almost walked out there into a trap! She never would have looked for anyone dressed like a recruiter, or a kid for that matter. She'd just assume the kid was someone's brother. Damn damn damn! Ally watched her worriedly from the door.
"Maybe we should go upstairs or something," she suggested. "You know, in case they walk by."
Jas nodded and led the way back up to her room. Her roommate, Christy had already left for her class, so at least she wouldn't have to explain anything. They jogged upstairs and quickly ducked into Jas' room to decide what they should do. They sat in silence for a few minutes as Jas logged into her computer. Uh huh. There was a message from the Tormentor, as Jas had begun to refer to Shannon as. Sighing, she looked over at Ally as they waited for it to open.
To: JeffAndShannon
From: Mfer1
Subject: How about this? Dear Jas,
Jeff is back home now because I think this is going a little too far. I would like for you to meet with Amy, my friend and a neutral party to discuss the matter. You and she could then contact me for updates and questions about where we should go from here. Another fairly recent friend has been brought in to help mediate.
Can we please work together to solve this problem? It would make me, and my friends, so happy.
Please respond,
Shannon
"What the hell?" Ally muttered as she studied the screen. "Contact him about where we should go from here? I bet he demands an end to your slash."
"No doubt. A recent friend?" Jas fumed. "A recent adolescent friend perhaps, Shannon?"
"What are we going to do?"
The door opened and Christy bounced into the room. She looked at Jas in alarm then approached. "Jas, someone's looking for you," she said worriedly.
"Do you know why or who?" Jas replied with fear.
"Some kid in a wrestling tee and a corporate looking dude." Christy shrugged. "I don't know why. They have a drawing of you and asked me if I knew you. Since I didn't know who he was, I just told him 'no'."
"Thank you!" Jas yelled hugging her.
"Um, you're welcome. But why are they looking for you."
Jas sighed and began relaying the whole story from the beginning. Ally interjected here and there. When they were done, Jas looked at her roommate guiltily. She and the other girl didn't know each other well, and she was afraid the slash stories might offend her.
"Fanfiction, huh?" Christy said cryptically. "Interesting."
Jas looked down.
"Fanfiction.net, by any chance?"
Jas looked back up and blinked in confusion, then nodded mutely.
"I used to post there regularly before things got so busy for me," Christy shrugged and stuck out her hand. "My name is Esquirella, but my friends called me Esq. Nice to meet you, JeffAndShannon."
"Huh?" Ally squeaked.
"Are you shitting me?" Jas asked as she dumbly shook her roommate's hand.
"I never shit unless there's a toilet bowl in the room," Christy grinned. "Sorry. That Esq humor just came out of nowhere."
"I read 'The Road Less Traveled' last year," Jas went on. "Mind telling when 'The Way to Eden' will resume by the way?"
"Sorry again," Christy grimaced. "Not sure. Eric's not a big fiction writing fan, so I'm usually out doing other activities with him. And between him and Calculus, I have a busy schedule."
"You let a GUY keep you from writing, Christy?" Ally scoffed. "That's what this whole mess is about. So Jas can keep writing."
"Call me Esq. And I couldn't agree with you more," Esquirella nodded. "I'll be picking my stories back up again. In the mean time, what will we do about this." She stopped and turned to Ally again. "But why are you helping her? I mean I know she's your friend and all, but I thought you loved those guys."
"I did, until they ditched me when I asked for an autograph," Ally growled. "Besides, Jas is like family to me! Nobody's going to get to her before they go through me. Especially not a short smart-mouthed little blond, a rainbow haired freak, a green jellybean who thinks he can fly, and said green jellybean's bitch." Ally made it clear she would be protective of her friend. She didn't let anyone hurt her friends.
"Okay, well do you want some more help?" Esq offered. "Because someone's outside and ready to deflect those guys."
" I need all the help I can get right now," Jas replied. "Just without to many people knowing." Esq opened the door and dragged her boyfriend into the room. He looked knowingly at Jas, as if to say, 'I knew we'd be getting you out a jam one day.'
"Eric, I know you were listening, even though I told you not to," Esq admonished. "So cut the bull and give me the idea you have brewing."
"Fanfiction, Jas?" he asked teasingly. "I've never known a fanfic writer before."
"Bullshit, you sleep with one," Esq deadpanned. "Now, out with it."
Eric nodded and detailed his plan to use all of his contacts as operatives to deflect the two spies at the student union. He said that with all his frat brothers and friends should be enough to convince these guys there were on the wrong path. Esq. Nodded, kissed his cheek then dispatched him to his mission, closing the door firmly behind him. "Uh, Jas," Ally said as she looked down at the wrestling magazine she was reading. "We've got another problem."
"What?" Jas and Esq both asked.
"Well, you know how Shan had some time off coming?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I'm only guessing Shannon's going to be at Raw when it comes here next Monday," Ally said, looking at her friend.
"Hey, didn't you guys get tickets for that two months ago?" Esq asked.
"Shit, Al, I cant go." Jas panicked.
"Calm down, it'll be okay," Ally said. "If you don't want to go, then fine, we can scalp them or something. I'm not going if you're not."
"Unless, we come up with some idea," Esq said with an evil smile. "Maybe you have a reviewer or two who would like to canvass the show for you?
"Kandiland and Cat!" Jas cried almost triumphantly. "They said they would have my back. If we give them the tickets, they can represent me in these stupid negotiations."
"And knowing Kandi, she'll make sure your rights are protected," Ally nodded.
"Yeah, she'll help me," Jas smiled genuinely for the first time in days.
"Man, I hate to do this," Ally said, looking like she really meant it. "But I have one of those major tests now. I have them today, tomorrow and Friday. But if you don't want me to leave, I'll stay with you. It's no problem."
"No, it's okay," Jas waved her off. "Take your tests. I don't have any today so, what's missing one day?"
"You sure?" Ally asked.
"Positive, don't let these guys get you off track." "If I fail because of these guys they are gonna be in so much damn pain," Ally grinned evilly. "It . . .well, it will be funny to us. I'll come right back here after the test, okay?"
Jas nodded.
"Okay, I'll see you two later then." Ally said with a hug, then left and rushed to her classroom.
"Now, we just have to answer Shannon's email," Esq smirked and hit the reply button. She then began typing quickly with Jas looking over her shoulder.
To: Mfer1
From: JeffAndShannon
Subject: Re: How about this?
Dear Shannon,
Are you out of your little blond mind? You want me to believe you're calling off the search for me and then expect me to meet your friend, a professional wrestler no less, in a neutral location? Yeah, I trust you about as far as I can throw you, and since I'm about six inches shorter and just about half your weight, that's not far!
I have friends in lots of schools here in Minnesota. Some have reported seeing a guy in a suit with a sketch of a girl. (None of them will talk, by the way.) And he's accompanied by a kid in a wrestling shirt who I can only surmise is your "recent friend" for the negotiations. Where'd you get him, at the Kids 'R Us clearance sale?
Not only do you want me to take the above risks but you expect me to give you updates on the peace talks and ask QUESTIONS about negotiating away my own rights? Here's the answer: I'll do this when HHH jobs to Spike Dudley.
And I'll be updating a story or two soon. By the way, have you read "Moore Mattitude" yet? It's simply captivating. You really must check it out when you get a chance.
Loyally yours, (dream on)
Jas
Esq looked up to Jas for permission to send and Jas smiled, nodding. Take that, you little hemorrhoid!
*************************************
NOTE: HUGE thanks to Ally for helping me writer the dialogue for much of the above. Big apology to Prime Time, but you knew I would have to diss you for plotline purposes. And a major welcome (and welcome back) to Esquirella, the Rio queen. Hopefully we'll see you pick that story back up. Kandi and Cat, you set to represent me? HD, I'll be asking you and xtremediva to spy for me, too. Please let me know what you think! And check out "Moore Mattitude", as well. You rock, Ally!