Disclaimer: I do not own The Riddles of Epsilon.
Jess sat and thought for about a half an hour.
When she returned home, her parents stopped her and asked how the 'tour' went.
Jess just smiled and said, "Good."
Her mother handed her a piece of paper with an e-mail address written on it. "He called a few minutes ago. The Doves invited us to dinner tomorrow and he asked me to give you this."
"Ok…" Jess glanced down at the note. "JamesDove07" is what it said. Was it an IM username? "Well, I'm going to my room."
As soon as she had the computer turned on and had logged on, a little box appeared on the screen.
JamesDove07: Jess?
JESS: Wow. Really creative name.
JamesDove07: You're one to talk, JESS.
JESS: …
JESS: Whatever.
JamesDove07: )
Jess didn't know what to say.
JamesDove07: Jess?
JamesDove07: You there?
JESS: Yah…
JamesDove07: Did your parents tell you about tomorrow?
JESS: Yes.
JamesDove07: You're coming, right?
Think of something brilliant, Jess, she thought to herself. All she entered, however, was:
JESS: I guess.
Smart…
JamesDove07: Ok, cool.
E: Hello, Jess.
Epsilon?
JamesDove07: Who is E?
JESS: You can see him?
E: Of course not. We are on the computer.
JESS: Haha, very funny.
JamesDove07: Friend of yours?
JESS: Something like that, I guess.
E: That hurt, Jess.
E: I always thought you were my best friend.
JESS: …
JESS: Whatever.
JamesDove07: So is that your initial? E?
E: Yes.
JESS: …
JamesDove07: What does it stand for?
E: You're a curious guy, aren't you, James. Curiosity killed the cat, you know.
JamesDove07: Good thing I'm not a cat, huh?
E: It stands for Evan.
JESS: No it doesn't.
JamesDove07: You some escaped criminal or something, Evan?
JESS: His name isn't Evan.
E: You're right… It's Eric.
JESS: …
JESS: Liar!
E has left the room.
JESS: Coward.
JamesDove07: Strange guy…. Was a guy, right?
JESS: Yah.
JamesDove07: He live around here?
Jess thought for a moment. Some form of the truth would do…
JESS: Sometimes.
JamesDove07: Hmm.
JESS: You're parents weren't too worried when you disappeared for most the day, were they?
JamesDove07: No, they were fine with it. Happy, even.
JESS: Really?
JamesDove07: Yah. They said something like, 'It's so good to see you out with other people.'
JESS: lol
Jess and James talked the entire night. Jess' plan to not sleep was going better than she had expected. Now she just had to wait. She was happy that Epsilon had let her know that he was back, but she felt that was the only reason he had said anything: to keep her happy enough to continue with the journal. That particular thought had annoyed her into accusing him of being a lair… twice. She hoped he was annoyed… Very annoyed.
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When the Dove adults answered the door and welcomed their guests, Jess felt that something was off. James stood behind them, almost watching them as a judge would watch for mistakes. He noticed her stare and walked over to her, smiling. "Hello again, Jess. No Evan, I see."
Jess laughed and rolled her eyes. "Nope."
"I think dinner is just about ready, so, if you all would follow me…" He was talking to everyone in the room now. Jess almost felt that this was news even to his parents. They seemed to be concealing some surprise.
When they had all gathered in the kitchen, James appeared to realize something. "Is there anything else you need, mom?"
"No, no, everyone, just take a seat anywhere." It was strange how her voice shook slightly.
James pulled a chair out for Jess, who blushed. He took a seat next to while her parents sighed over the seemingly perfect boy. James' mother, who had introduced herself as Lillian, walked into the kitchen and soon returned carrying a pan of the most delicious looking lasagna Jess had ever seen. She placed it in the middle of the table and began serving everybody. It was like she had never done this before. She remained silent most of the time, and neither her son nor husband appeared to find it odd. Trevor, James' father, seemed far more at ease, at least, until James spoke. "This is wonderful, mother. How did you do it?"
Lillian stopped eating immediately and looked over at her son. He was waiting for something. "Secret ingredient. Family recipe passed down for generations." Her voice was so quiet and high… so different from James'. Speaking of differences, Jess realized that James looked nothing like his parents. Odd.
The rest of the night passed in semi-normality. The 'semi' came from the fact that Mr. James Dove's parents treated him almost as a guest, rather then a son. Trevor Dove was always respectful when speaking to him and never asked him to do anything, even when the young man offered. At first, Jess had thought Lillian was just shy around other people, but when James left the room for a moment because of a phone call, she was proven wrong. Lillian brightened and chatted light-heartedly with her guests. As soon as James re-entered the room, Jess realized that Lillian was not shy around other people, but Lillian was shy (maybe even a little scared) around James.
As Jess lie in her room, she know something was wrong with that family, and a little spy work would be needed to find out what, exactly, was the problem.
Note: Whew! Finally got another chapter written, and this time the next one will be up faster. I know this because I actually know what the next chapter is going to be about. A Peek at the Doves, Coming Soon!