*Jessie's POV*

"Meowth, would you just shut up? We were doomed from the start after you dropped the spare cage key!" Yet again, Meowth and I managed to botch a pikachu capture. It was mostly Meowth's fault though.

"That may be da case, but leavin teh balloon untied wasn't useful either! We're never gonna find that ting!"

Okay, I may have left the balloon untied, and it may have floated away, but Meowth should've reminded me to tie it down. "I told you, James usually ties down the balloon! Had you reminded me, we wouldn't have had that problem!"

"'James usually ties down the balloon!'" Meowth mocked in a high-pitched voice.

"Meowth! Would you shut up about the James thing?! I don't like him!" Meowth had been making sly remarks about me and James all day.

"Ey! I didn't say anyting about you loveboids, so clearly you're da one tinkin' about it!"

"Shut! Up!" I really, really wanted to hit him, but we made a truce earlier and I couldn't afford to be on the receiving end of another flurry of fury swipes. We had been arguing and fighting all day, which was very frustrating for me, as there wasn't much I could do to win these arguments.

I have no idea why Meowth just decided that I liked him, because I didn't, not one little bit. In fact, I was happy that he was finally in a relationship with someone, so that people would stop pairing us together. Clearly Meowth didn't get the memo.

"Speakin'o Jimmy, shouldn't he be back by now?" Meowth said as he looked around. "His date is either going very good or very bad."

Now that I thought about it, it was about time for James to come back. It had to be at least 3:30 by now. I knew James really liked that girl, but a four hour date? That seemed a bit ridiculous. "Whatever." I said, despite my suspension. It was then I realized that we hadn't eaten all day. "I'm kinda hungry, can we dine-and-dash somewhere real quick?" I silently applauded myself for changing the subject so quickly. I knew Meowth was hungry, because he was always hungry, so he couldn't protest.

"Yeah, I am kinda hungry. But shouldn't we wait for James? He'll probably come back while we're gone."

"We've been waiting around for him all day, he can wait for us a couple minutes if he decides to finally get a move on." My impeccable logic came through when I needed it.

"We get it Jessie, you don't needa wait around for James."

"That's not what I- well it is... but I don't like that tone!"

"Whataya gonna do about it?" He said slyly, extending his sharp claws.

I instinctively touched the part of my face which had been mauled by Meowth's fury swipes earlier that day. I wasn't going to do anything about it. Stupid cat. "Let's Just get our food."

I did kind of wish James was here, he was the peacekeeper of our group and Meowth had been *bullying* me all day without any consequences. Sure, I did hit him a couple times, but my beautiful face was compromised by many scratch marks that would probably scar. I don't think that Meowth and I had one civil conversation all day without it ending in an argument.

We ended up going back to that sushi place from yesterday and eating there. It was definitely the most peaceful time of day for us. If Meowth and I could agree on anything, it was that this food was delicious.

By the time our meal was done and over with, it was about 4:30, and we expected to return to our campsite to see a confused James. But to both of our surprise, he hadn't came back yet.

"Ey did dis goil kidnap James or somethin?" Meowth joked.

Maybe she did kidnap him. There's probably some type of bounty on our names, even though we haven't really committed any major crimes in alola yet, but maybe she recognized him from a 'wanted' poster somewhere else. Turning him in could possibly result in some personal gain.

No, that's stupid. James just really liked this girl and I guess things were getting more serious between them. James simply enjoyed her company and wanted to go further with her.

'Go further with her'? What did I mean by that? The certainly weren't getting married anytime soon.

Something about that thought made me sick. I hated thinking of James married and living with Jenn, even if she was a nice girl. I decided not to think about that anymore.

"So, whadda we do now?" Meowth asked me.

I shrugged. "I dunno." Come to think of it, we were awfully bored.

"Wanna go find teh balloon?" He suggested.

I sighed. "Ugh, can't that wait til tomorrow?"

"Jess, it could have landed anywhere!"

"Yeah, well wherever it landed it'll still be there tomorrow." I looked to Meowth, he was not convinced. "We did stuff all day, can't we just rest?"

Ew. I hated hearing that sentence coming out of my mouth. What happened to me? I felt so lazy asking for a 'rest'.

Despite the unusual request by me, he nodded his head. "In dat case, in goina sleep." With that, he went to his sleeping bag and went straight to sleep. I always wondered how he could fall asleep so quickly.

Now I was double bored. It was only 7:00, it would be weird if I went to bed now, the sun wasn't even setting yet. I could plan another pikachu capture... no, I do that every day, it would just fail anyway.

At least before I was occupied arguing with Meowth, now I literally had nothing to do.

Maybe it was time for me to find a boyfriend. I mean, I'd have someone to talk to when James isn't around, and it would be nice falling in love.

No, that wouldn't work. Haven't I learned anything? Nobody would ever love me. I guess I'm better off by myself anyway, I don't need some man getting in the way. Besides, how would I tell them I'm in Team Rocket?

Wait, how was James going to tell Jenn that he was in Team Rocket? Was he going to quit? Did he already quit? Is that why he hadn't come back yet? I didn't even get to say a proper goodbye.

Ouch. That feeling tore me apart. I almost started crying, but I stopped myself. Hadn't I learned by now? Nobody will ever love me, even those I think I can trust will eventually leave. I was stupid and naive to believe this would be different. That's just about the most important lesson my mother taught me.

My mother... oh boy. That was a can of worms which I did not feel like opening right now. Maybe I'd revisit that thought after Meowth and my pokémon inevitably leave me.

It was about 8:30 when I decided to focus on reality again. Nothing wrong with an early night. After all, the only thing I needed right now was sleep. I curled up in my cozy sleeping bag and eventually fell asleep.

I hope James has a better life with Jenn.