Chapter 7: When two worlds collide...

It had been two weeks since Jesse Tuck and Liz Prescott had been together. Things were going very well in the love department, and it was time for Liz to show her new boyfriend to the family. When Liz asked Tuck, he agreed sweetly, but did not look too excited for it.

It was a nice Friday evening, and Jesse was standing in front of the Prescott's front door, too nervous to ring the door. From what Liz told him, the Prescotts were a nosy bunch. Jesse had to make sure not to blow his cover, to not to reveal his secret. Because if he did, he would have to be just like Miles, he would have to kill the Prescotts. Taking a deep breath, he finally pushed the doorbell, and a maid answered. "Good evening, you must be the boy!" she chimed.

Straightening his tie and making sure his shirt was okay and well tucked in, he came in. Liz greeted him, looking even more beautiful than ever, wearing a very nice black dress. A black dress was a complete turn-on for any man. Liz gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You look great," she whispered in his ear.

"Think they won't mind me not wearing a tux?" Jesse asked.

Liz giggled. "Of course not, Jess! Now come on, I'd like you to meet my family!"

Jesse was led into the den, where he sat down on the coach with Liz. On another couch were Mr. and Mrs. Prescott, examining the new boy who had entered their precious daughter's life. Besides them was fifteen year old Claire Prescott, also examining the gorgeous boy.

"So, what would you all like to drink?" the butler asked.

"I'll just take champagne. Feeling a bit festive, for some reason." Mr. Prescott said.

"Chardonnay," Mrs. Prescott said as if the butler was supposed to know that.

Liz, Jesse, and Claire all asked for ginger ale. Once the drinks came, they started to talk.

"So, Jesse, is it?" Mr. Prescott asked Jesse.

"Yes, sir." Jesse answered politely.

"Well, our daughter's been mentioning you a lot these days."

Jesse smiled. This was perfect.

"So Elizabeth, hon, whatever happened to that Chuck boyfriend of yours?" Mrs. Prescott asked.

"Oh, you mean Charlie? We...broke up." Liz answered.

"Oh, that's a shame, I really liked him..."

"Mom, you didn't even know what his name was!" Claire exclaimed.

"Dinner's ready!" the maid announced. Everyone headed for the dining room.

Jesse sat down next to Liz, who was next to Claire. Across from them sat the two Prescotts. "Mmm," Jesse said, "this is delicious, Mrs. Prescott!"

"Don't thank me, hon. Thank the maid."

As they all ate on, Jesse felt good. It was working out well. No interrogations. They were just going to dine, and then when they were all done, he would kiss Liz goodnight, and he would be able to hop on his Harley-Davidson and head back to the Tuck's temporary home. Too bad we he was wrong.

"So, Jesse, where do you go to school?" Mr. Prescott asked.

"I-I'm home schooled." Jesse answered quickly. It was kind of true, actually.

"Oh, well, what colleges are you planning to apply to, son?"

"Um...I'm not sure."

Why would Jesse Tuck attend college when the whole world was his own personal playground?

"Are you even planning to go to college?"

Jesse knew he had to lie. "Yes, I am."

"What grades do you get for home school, son?"

"We don't do grades."

"Oh. So, what is your last name?"

Jesse began to hesitate. "T-Tuck. It's Tuck, sir."

"Never heard of the Tucks. Where do you live?"

"Out of town."

"I see...and I also saw that you owned a motorcycle. Don't you think that makes you look a bit like... a hoodlum?"

Now anyone at the table could tell that Jesse was being cornered. Liz had to stand up for her lover. "It doesn't matter. I think it's unique."

"Charlie Livingston drove a Porsche..."

"It doesn't matter what Charlie drove, Dad! It's all about Jesse now! He's my boyfriend now!"

"What I am trying to state, Elizabeth, is that maybe...maybe Jesse isn't really the right guy for you."

"DAD!"

"I mean, he needs to fit into our family standard...I hardly know the boy's parents, and I have no idea who the Tucks are! He drives a Harley-Davidson, and he seems a bit...well, unkempt..."

Now Liz was furious. "Dad, please! Jesse is my boyfriend, and I love him very much! Don't do this!"

Jesse felt embarrassed. He now wished he had never come.

"Listen to your father, Elizabeth!" Mrs. Prescott ordered, "This boy is obviously not good for you. I'm sorry, but we're going to have to forbid you from seeing him any longer."

This was unbelievable, and completely unfair. Who did they think they were! "MOM! Jesse Tuck is my boyfriend!"

"I'm sorry hon, but there are many others. Now Jesse, if you are done, the maid will walk you out the door." Mr. Prescott said coldly.

As Liz saw her love mournfully walk out the door, she wondered if she would ever see him again. She realized that Jesse Tuck had come from a completely different world than her, and that thought itself hurt. "I love you, Jesse Tuck!" she called after him, "I love you!
Jesse didn't want to let Liz go like this, but he knew he had no choice. And because he loved her, he did as her parents had told him. "I love you too," Jesse said, "I'll love you as long as I live!"

The last time Jesse had said that was when he and Winnie Foster were parting. And to Jesse Tuck, "as long as I live" meant only one thing: forever.