Jumper: Cent's Story

John meets Millie and David for the first time. How will things turn out?

As a little mix up, we finally get to see a little third point of view from John. Just so that we can warm up to him. We will also get to meet the main villian of this story too.

Enjoy chapter eleven! This should be interesting.

Chapter Eleven:

A Guest For Dinner

John:

John spent most of his day walking down the streets of New York City. He had just been to a clothing store, called Rue 21. He bought a brand-new pair of dark blue jeans, a tight black t-shirt, and some new socks as well. He even stopped at a shoe store and bought a brand-new pair of Nikes. He wasn't trying to look like a millionaire. He was being himself, wearing what he loved to wear. Something that would be appropriate for the dinner he was going to.

The one thing that John couldn't get out of his mind was the past few days that he has been using with Cent. He had... feelings for her... he knew that much. But he couldn't quite figure out, what those feelings meant. Was he in love with her? Was he just having a crush? Either way, this was the first time he ever had feelings for a girl. Never once had he felt this way before. Even in his younger days, John didn't looked at a single girl with the desire he had for Cent.

But these questions were to be saved for another time.

He had company.

John noticed the black sedan, with tainted windows, following him. It had past him about five times before. And now... it was pulling to the curb of the sidewalk, parking.

Syndicate! his mind roared.

Without thinking, he ran. He couldn't jump just yet. Too many witnesses.

From the corners of his eyes, he noticed men-in-black getting out of the sedan, knives in the palm on their hands, one even carried a gun.

"John!" one of them yelled. "Stop!"

People ran out of John and the men-in-black's way, not bothering to get involved

Then, something unexpected happened, one of the men-in-black fired a single bullet.

John felt it scraping his shoulder.

The chemical! his heart began to race. He knew he had to jump before the chemical could take full affect. Even the smallest amount could scramble the mind from making a single jump.

People began to scream, some even ran behind parked cars.

John saw an alley up ahead. He smiled and picked up the pace.

Another bullet came flying his way, but missed.

Turning down the alley, John jumped.

The men-in-black came around the corner, only to see that he wasn't there.

John landed on top of the roof, right across the street from where he had previously had jumped. The chemical had already taken affect on his mind. He couldn't jump all the way to Los Angeles just yet. He needed the chemical to go away, on its own. The good news, bullets don't carry that much of the chemical inside them. The burning of the bullet, when fired, burns away the chemical that lies inside. It was the very reason why Syndicate agents use knives instead. Bullets only had a few minutes worth of chemical on them. A knife can carry a few hours.

Peeking over the edge of the roof, he saw the same men-in-black guys in the alley way, looking around them.

Not today boys, John joked.

Then... he saw the last person he wanted to see.

Another sedan pulled up towards the alley way and parked. From the sedan, a tall, black haired, white man appeared from the passenger seat. He wore a black suit too and a pair of sunglasses. He seemed to be ordering around the other agents, yelling at them. He took off the sunglasses and put them into his chest pocket.

John got out his cell phone and dialed a number. He knew who the man was and he always made sure to carry his number around.

The man's name was Travis Shaw, a high ranking agent of Syndicate. A lot of people considered him to be good at his job... and he was. John didn't just know him as just the man who was trying to capture him... but as the man who killed his parents. He was the one who pulled the trigger on his own father and his mother. John hated him with all of his heart for what he did.

John watched as Travis answered his cell phone.

"Who is this?!" he demanded to know. His own voice was filled with evil and darkness.

John didn't answer. He just breathed in and out. Revealing his own anger towards him. His hand squeezed over the phone.

Travis laughed and said, "Oh, boy! I can feel that! The anger. The heat from your face. You are really letting it all out, aren't you?"

John's mind was telling him to shout and threaten him. But he held his tongue. He knew better.

Travis spoke again.

"You know we are going to find you. Just a matter of time. We are everywhere. We have scientists just waiting to... study you."

John breathed in and out, controlling his own anger.

"Your boys are getting sloppy," John teased. "I think they're losing their touch. I remember them being faster, back in Shanghai. Shame."

Travis laughed.

"You know what? I like you, John. I consider you to be a worthy opponent. You are the only one who has escaped us. I give you credit for that. But your escapes are only making us more hungry to get you." He paused. "You see, when a lion doesn't capture its prey, it becomes obessive. It spends the rest of its life, trying to kill the one thing that has escaped it. You are the prey. Nothing can save you from us. Nothing."

John chuckled and said, "Well, something is for sure keeping me alive. I mean, after all, I was a boy when I escaped you. I wonder what your superiors did when they had found out about that."

"They don't know!" Travis's voice was filled with anger.

John laughed and said, "So, you lied and made me sound like I don't exist. Good thinking. Protecting your career. Still, doesn't change the facts though. I just hope you are up to the challenge."

Things went quiet for a while.

John knew that he had really ticked off Travis. Even from the roof, he could see his face red.

Then, Travis spoke, and his words echoed in John's ears.

"Tell me, John, what did it feel like that night?" He chuckled. "What did it feel like when you watched your dear old mommy die in front of you? Or, how about your father? Such a good man, never got angry, did what he needed to do. But in the end, it wasn't enough to save him. Your mother was beautiful. Shame, I had to put her down. I had great... desires... for her. What did it feel like when I put a bullet inside of them?" He paused, allowing the silence to speak for itself. "How did it feel when I took your parents away from you forever?"

John's face was red. He could feel his nerves, his muscles, his mind, and even his own hands, begging him to jump at Travis and kill him. He was wanting to do it. So bad. Nothing could stop him. He had the power to do what he wanted.

But deep down, he knew that his father wouldn't do it. He would hold his ground and do the right thing. Just like he did when he died. His father died to save him, at the cost of his own life.

John held his tongue and hang up.

Thanks to the anger that he had, the chemical had been burned away, he was free to jump.

Before getting up, he saw Travis laughing. Like he had just gotten a joke.

Suddenly, like as if he could feel it, Travis looked up and stared at John. Their eyes connected and kept them on each other. The hatred and fear could be felt, even from a great distance.

Travis smiled and mouthed something to him.

Ignoring him, John jumped.

John appeared in his bedroom. He collapsed on the bed and replayed the day's events.

Even though he was trying to forget Travis, he still remembered what he mouthed to him.

See you soon.

Those were his exact words towards him. And it scared John to his core.

There was a reason why Travis was one of the high ranking agents in the organization. He's an ex-Special Forces soldier, served as a mercanary after that. He knew how to fight and run a battle. He had no remorse for killing. Even the innocent were of no concern to him.

John leaned up and saw the time on the clock.

It was nearing five thirty.

Better get ready, he told himself and got up from the bed.

He went into the bathroom and took care of the scratch that was on his shoulder. He tried to make it as invisible as he could but as usual... it is always visible.

Once done with that, he stripped off his clothes and hopped into the shower, turning the nobs to full heat. After drying himself off, he got into his new clothes and put on a special kind of cologne and deodorant. He used mathwash and brushed his treeth.

Once done, he emerged from the bathroom.

His heart started to race. He couldn't wait to see Cent again. He also couldn't wait to meet her parents. Deep down, he knew that it would right to reveal his power to them. He wanted to have a special connect with them. Share his secret with them. Become friends and all of that. He wasn't doing it to impress Cent or her parents, but because he wanted to be honest with them. To be himself.

He then got an idea to stop at a flower store and buy some red roses. As a gift to Cent and her family.

Just thinking of Cent inside his mind, John jumped.

Cent:

Cent was going crazy. Both inside and outside of her mind. She had taken three showers... in one hour. Brushed her hair and brushed her teeth about ten times. Not to mention, trying out nearly all of her clothes, to pick out the right outfit. She wanted to look beautiful in front of John. She worried about what her would think of her when he came over. A lot of ideas were going through her head at the moment.

Just as Cent emerged from the bathroom, dressed in a pair of tight blue jeans and a purple t-shirt, she showed herself off in front of the small mirror on her dresser.

Millie appeared at the doorway and laughed.

"Honey!" she exclamied. "What are earth are you doing? That is the thirty-first outfit that you have tried out."

Cent looked at her and smiled, weakly.

"Sorry," she looked back at the mirror. "I just hope that John will like what he sees."

Millie laughed and stepped into the room.

"Well, from where I stand..." she looked her daughter over and smiled. "You look hot! John is going to be begging for you tonight. I mean, just see how those jeans make your butt look. That's what I'm talking about girl! Whoop! Whoop!" Millie did a little dance and ran forward.

Cent didn't have time to react.

Millie slapped her on the butt.

Cent laughed and backed up against the wall.

"MOTHER!" Cent giggled. "What are earth has gotten into you?! Slapping your own daughter on the butt like that!"

Millie continued to laugh and said, "Just happy that my little girl has finally captured the heart of a boy. And I got to say... it is about time. I mean, you did come close back in Seattle, but this boy sounds more interesting and nice. I cannot wait to meet him."

Cent raised an eyebrow and asked, "Shouldn't you and dad be going crazy about this? Like... I don't know... giving me the talk or giving me a hard time about dating?"

Millie laughed and responded, "We all go through this stage in our lives, sweetheart. I know me and your father did. But you see... parents have a thing to over-react and cause problems. It never works to over-react. It always causes problems and conflicts. Me and David already talked about it and we want to give John a chance."

Cent smiled and ran forward, hugging her mother.

"Thank you guys so much," she said, allowing a tear to fall. "You are the best parents in the world."

"We just want whats best for you," Millie replied. "I hope that John is the best thing for you. In fact, my gut tells me that he is."

Suddenly, the door bell rang.

Cent pulled away.

John! her mind was filled with excitement.

Without thinking, she jumped in front of her mother.

Cent appeared at the front door. She made sure that her hair was tucked behind her back and opened the door.

John stood in front of her, holding a pair of red roses in his hands.

Cent ran forward, ignoring the flowers and hugged John. She squeezed him hard in her embrace.

John groaned and said, "Ow. My ribs."

Cent giggled and pulled away.

"Sorry," she weakly said. "I can be a little strong in these kinds of moments."

"It's okay," he laughed and handed her the flowers. "These are for you and your parents. I hope that you love them."

Cent gentlely took them and brought them close to her face, smelling them. She could taste the scent from them.

"I love them," she closed her eyes. "They are beautiful."

John smiled and said, "But not as beautiful as you are. I love what you are wearing by the way."

Cent's eyes widened and she removed the flowers from her face.

Both her and John tilted their heads and came forward, slowly. Then... they kissed. Arms around each other's necks.

Cent didn't realize it but she had allowed the flowers to fall from her hand.

John came to the rescue and carefully used his hand to catch them in midair. His movements were barely felt by Cent, who was too busy at the moment.

John and Cent didn't know it, but Millie and David were right behind them. They had heard what John had said and were witnesses to the love moment at their front door.

Millie clapped her hands together and allowed the tears to fall from her eyes. She even smiled at the sight.

David couldn't help but smile too. He held back the tears, but allowed one to fall. He was a very emotional man.

Both Millie and David saw the way how they held each other, the way they acted around each other, and how they kissed each other. These were signs of something much stronger than a crush or plain feelings. Something they, themselves, had went through a long time ago.

About a full minute later, David coughed, thinking that they had been kissing long enough.

Millie rolled her eyes.

Both Cent and John pulled away, smiling, and turned to face them.

"Hey, mom and dad," Cent giggled and took John's hand. "This is John."

Millie raised an eyebrow and said, "We've noticed."

"Yeah, in a awkward moment," David added and laughed.

Millie, Cent, and John laughed at his joke too.

Cent and John walked into the house, with John closing the door.

Once turning around, he walked forward and handed the flowers to Millie.

"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Rice," he smiled. "These are for you and your daughter. I wanted to get you guys something."

Millie blushed and took the flowers. Smelling them.

"They're beautiful," she acknowledged. "But I think you see something more beautiful than these." She winked at Cent, who blushed right back at her.

John nodded and walked to David, stretching out his hand towards him.

"Pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Rice," he spoke in a calm and gentle voice. "Your daughter is very beautiful. You have done well as a father."

David was taken away by how much of a gentleman and serious he was.

They both shook hands.

David nodded and said, "Thank you, Mr. Bale. I couldn't have said better myself. I just hope that you aren't faking your attitude."

"David!" Millie giggled. "Lets not make our guest feel uncomfortable. I'm sorry for my paranoid husband." She shot David a serious look.

John smiled at her and said, "No need to apoligize. He is just defending his daughter and you. I admire that."

David and Millie's eyes widened, even their mouths dropped.

Cent was impressed as well. She was expecting this thing to explode in her face. It was doing the exact opposite.

Millie was the first to recover.

"Well, um, I guess we should get straight to dinner," she sat the flowers in a vace that was empty.

John smiled and said, "Before we do, I have to confess something to you and Mr. Rice. It's something very important and I don't think it can go unnoticed."

Uh oh! Cent's mind alarms were going crazy. It was the moment of truth.

Millie nodded and said, "Alrightly, we're listening."

David seemed uneased by this.

John put his hands together and said, "I knew about you and your daughter being Jumpers."

Millie and David's eyes widened. They looked over to Cent, a little bit of anger and confusion in their eyes, and turned their eyes toward John again.

John continued.

"Don't blame her," he said calmly. "She didn't tell me anything. I figured it out myself. In fact..." He paused. "... I happen to be a Jumper too."

Before anyone could speak, John jumped about three feet back and then jumped back to where he orginally was.

David and Millie backed away, shocked by what they had just seen.

"You're a Jumper!" David exclaimed.

John nodded and said, "I apologize if this upsets you. I didn't mean to cause trouble with this revelation. I was only trying to be honest. For the sake of you and your daughter."

Millie had tears in her eyes and she did the one thing that shocked Cent to her very core. She ran forward and... hugged him.

John was taken away by her hug. He was expecting a slap to the face.

He hugged her right back.

"Thank you for being honest," she whispered. "Thank you for coming into my dauther's life. I can tell that you are a good man."

John's heart warmed and stopped for a second.

They pulled away. Smiling at each other.

David came up and patted John on the shoulder.

"I have to say," he began, still shocked. "I didn't think that there were more of us out there." He looked at Cent and then back at John. "I'm happy that my daughter has found you. It makes me proud that you are like us. Someone who can share our secret and know what we are going through. I'm proud to have you date my daughter. You are an honest man." Then... he hugged him as well.

John hugged back. Shocked that both Mrs. and Mr. Rice were approving of this.

"You have no idea how much stress and pressure had been taken off of our shoulders," David whispered to him. "I thank you for that."

John nodded and said, "Your welcome, sir."

They pulled away.

"No," David said, "for now, you call me David. I think you have earned that right now. I don't want to hear any of that 'sir' or 'Mr. Rice' business. You are part of this family now."

John smiled and said, "Thank you... David."

Everyone laughed.

"Well," Millie smiled, wiping away the tears. "I guess we should get to it then. Food is getting cold and we are standing here like someone has died."

That got a laugh out of everyone again.

Cent came forward and took John's hand. She smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek.

John's face lit up red.

Millie began to cry again and said, "I haven't been this happy since the day that Cent was born." Her eyes widened as she remembered something. "In fact, after dinner, I should show you some her baby pictures..."

"Mother!" Cent laughed. "You're embrassing me! Stop it!"

Millie, David, and John laughed.

"I would love to," John teased and winked at Cent.

Cent frowned, playfully, and brought him closer to her.

"Are we going to eat or starve?" David joked.

Finally, they all took the conversation to the kitchen, where a table of fresh tacos were waiting for them.

Cent didn't know what was worse. Her false world where her parents disapproved of her boyfriend or the on-going conversation that was going on to midnight. She couldn't get a single moment with John alone.

They all went to the living room, sitting on the couch. Having conversations with each other.

John had revealed everything about himself to her mom and dad that night. He told about his discovery of his jumping, his parents death, and life on his own. It was the part about Syndicate that got the attention of her parents. They went deep into the conversation with that one.

Finally, she got her alone time as her parents were about to do dishes.

"I would love to help," John assisted. "You invited me over, I should help clean up the mess that I have made at the table."

Millie shook her head and said, "No need. You are a guest in our house. A guest for dinner. Me and my husband will do the dishes. We love to do things together."

David smiled and put his arm around his wife.

"Yes, we do," he looked at Cent and smiled. "Besides, I think this one has been wanting to steal you away for a while now."

Both Millie and David disappeared into the kitchen.

Cent groaned and said, "About freaking time. I thought they would never let you go." She got up from the couch and took John's hand.

John got up and followed her to the stairs.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"To my room," Cent replied. "I want some privacy. And I think my parents would like some too. They can get horny when they do things together... alone."

John chuckled and said, "I bet. I can see the way they look at each other. Like two magnets."

Cent smiled and tightened her hand over John's.

They climbed the steps of the stairs and came to her room down the hall.

John whistled as he entered from behind Cent.

"Nice room," he acknowledged. "I'm a little jealous right now."

Cent closed the door and locked it.

This is privacy enough, she thought.

Turning around, she walked towards John and grabbed him by the shirt, yanking him towards her.

Not expecting this kind of behavior from her, John was taken away.

Cent kissed him... in a way that she has never kissed him before.

Going along with it, he kissed back and allowed his hands to rest on her hips.

Cent's arms went around his neck and pulled him closer.

When they pulled apart, while still in each other's arms, Cent pressed her head against John's shirt. Then she noticed the visible stratch on his shoulder.

"What happened?" she asked, touching the stratch with her hand. "That wasn't there before."

John sighed and said, "I ran into Syndicate agents in New York. One of them had a gun and almost got me."

Cent gasped and embraced him again. Daring not to let go of him.

"How did they find you?" she asked, tears running down her cheeks.

"I don't know," he replied against her shoulder. "They are everywhere. And they are desparate to capture me. I'm the only one that has ever escaped them. If their superiors found out, then a lot of people would be hurt by me. They will send everything they have against me."

Cent looked him the eyes and clapped her hands on both sides of his face.

"I will never, ever, let them take you," she said in a serious voice. "They can have the world, but they can't have you. You are mine. Mine alone. No one else can have you. No one."

John smiled and kissed her. She kissed back.

"They will never capture me," he replied. "I've done this before. And now that I have you, my reasons for staying alive have made me stronger. There is no way that I'm letting them catch me."

Cent let the tears fall and smiled at him.

"Will you do me a favor?" she asked.

"Sure, anything," he looked into her eyes and stroked her left cheek.

Cent felt her pulse rising.

"Will you... lie with me on the bed? Just for a little while. Nothing funny. Just lying down? Maybe with your shirt off too?"

John smiled and nodded.

"I don't mind. Just as long if there isn't any funny business."

Cent laughed and helped him out of his shirt, his bare chest exposed.

They lowered themselves onto the bed. Their arms went around each other's waists.

Cent's face was pressed into his chest and John's head rested on top of hers, breathing into her hair.

They remained quite for a while.

John finally broke the silence and said, "Can I tell you something?"

Cent smiled and replied, "You can tell me anything. I love it when you tell me the truth. It is why I like you so much." She kissed his chin and his chest.

"Remember when I told about the night that my parents died?"

"Yeah."

"Well," he paused. "I know the man who killed them. His name is... Travis Shaw."

Cent looked at him, all confused.

"Today," he continued, "I saw him in New York. I keep a cell phone number that he has. I make sure that my cell phone is encrypted with the most secure military security there is. But anyway, I spoke to him today. He got me angry and I nearly exploded. He disrespected my parents and made fun of how he killed them. I felt this urge to kill him. I wanted to kill him." Tears fell from his eyes. "I'm scared. I'm scared that I will do something wrong. I don't want to take my vengaence, no matter what he has done. I just want to be left alone. To live a normal life. No more hiding. No more running."

Cent leaned up and hugged him, pressing his face int her chest. She could feel his cheek on one of her breasts, but she didn't care. She was rather enjoying his warmth on her skin. In fact, she wanted... more. But he was in an emotional situation. He needed comfort.

"Shhhh," she rubbed his hair and kissed his forehead. "Shhhhh, it's okay. I'll make sure that you will never lose control, not while I'm here. I'll protect you. No matter what."

For the remainder of that night, they stayed in each other's arms. Cent's parents didn't come to check up on them. In fact, Cent thought that she heard them going to bed, making sure not to wake them.

The very thought of her parents compromising with her and John made her smile. She knew she had the best parents in the world.

Cent felt John's breath against her skin and her skin shivered at it. She wanted more of him. But for the moment... she was satsified with what she was getting.

She closed her eyes and for the first time, she didn't have to dream. She was living the dream. John was right there, in her arms, in her embrace.

"Goodnight," she whispered to John and kissed him on the lips.

John smiled but didn't wake up.

Cent smiled back and allowed herself to fall asleep, with John in her arms.

Wow! Longest and biggest chapter that I have ever done! Hope that this chapter is good.

Please enjoy and read this chapter. And review, that is important too.