Chapter Two
Quietly stepping down the stairs, Simon carried the jar tightly in his hands. His own basement seemed like the best place to do what Mrs Croner had instructed, but it felt more like approaching the underworld instead of his usual place for playful experimenting and inventing. Simon thought back to what he was told to do for the umpteenth time since leaving Mrs Croner's house.
"Go home and find a place where you won't be disturbed. When you open the jar, get the glove out and- don't drop it! Let it do its work Siegfried, then put it on your left hand." Mrs Croner stopped to breathe in deeply. Simon waited eagerly for the next instruction.
"Was there anything else Mrs Croner?"
"Well. That all depends. There will be something else, but exactly what that is will be for you alone to find out."
Simon locked the door of his basement lab after going in. Turning around he saw his frosted reflection in the chrome of one of the large steel doors containing his chemistry equipment. Simon's expression was pensive, and he stood momentarily, noticing how much older he now looked.
The fear of meddling with something he shouldn't rose in his chest, and the thought of calling Dave crossed his mind. No, no. I've got to do this on my own. Gulping, Simon moved to his desk and placed the jar on top. Thoughts cycled through his mind. What are the chances that nothing happens, and Mrs Croner is just a kook. Pretty high I would say…
Opening the jar, Simon slowly retrieved the glove using his lab tweezers. He gently placed it on the table. Nothing happened. The glove was translucent and watery in appearance, as if it had been pickled. Simon prodded it with his finger and to his great surprise, the moisture droplets all rose into the air just above his head. Before he could react, the peculiar droplets arranged themselves into an encapsulating sphere so that he was surrounded by a watery formation.
"How in the…" Simon looked all around himself pondering. He reached out to feel his new cage, but it repelled away from his touch. Glancing up at the steel door, Simon couldn't see his reflection at all anymore, just the watery bubble. It was unnerving.
Simon's eyes fell onto the glove, now completely dry and still waiting for him on the tabletop. With a slight tremble, he reached for it and picked it up. It felt soft and glossy, and was curiously translucent with a white colour that weaved throughout it. Holding his breath, Simon put it on seamlessly.
The oppressing feelings that rose from within, now released though him. Within the rush were happiness, sadness, jealousy, anger, love, fear, and others that Simon had no idea what to even call. He was locked in position, almost forced to weather this storm of emotions that seemed to originate from him.
Finally, Simon realised that his eyes had squeezed shut since putting on the glove. He opened them slowly and peered around himself. Flitting across the watery encapsulation, were images that were very blurred and crossing over. Trying to focus on one of the clearest images, Simon began to see it expand. All the while his feelings began to quieten, but one of them began to grow louder and stronger.
Simon finally acknowledged it.
Fear.
He looked on. The images flitted clearly before him now.
An adult Simon was in his lab coat at a prestigious looking college. A pasted-on smile was all the happiness he gave off as he shook hands with one of the professors, handing him his award for winning a grant-funded fellowship. Simon was surrounded by wall-to-wall high-tech instruments and working furiously on his own- into the night it seemed. Finally, he staggered through the front-door of an apartment with bags under his eyes and no one to meet him inside. Future Simon looked at himself in the mirror, tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
There was no mistaking understanding the state Simon saw his future self. He didn't have happiness. Success, but not happiness. Simon looked back up.
The image of a grown Jeanette entered the imagery. She looked majestic as ever in her satin lilac shirt and skirt but was accompanied by another- and their children it appeared. Curiously, the faces of Jeanette's partner and children were hidden from view. However, there was no mistaking that it wasn't Simon who was with her. She turned and seemed to look at Simon, a thoughtful expression was on her face.
Without thinking, Simon called out to her, "Jeanette! Jeanette! Can you see me? Jeanette." He stopped as the jealousy pooled in his stomach along with fear now. She had turned back towards her family. Simon began to scrunch his face in anguish. Why is it showing me this? Is this the future? What is this?! His heart hurt. Sensing the imagery had changed, Simon looked up once again.
The first verse of his poem from English class was being written in the watery surface.
'Quietly as rosebuds
talk to thin air'
The vision of a long-forgotten moment came to view above the poetry. A few years ago, Eleanor and subsequently- Jeanette had moved into the boy's bedroom to escape Brittany for a while. Simon had to give up his bed for Jeanette to use and was mostly annoyed about it at the time. Except that this memory was when he was alone in his bedroom.
Younger Simon walked cautiously up to his bed which was now covered in Jeanette's deep purple sheets and bedspread. He looked around to check if anyone was coming, then leaned down towards the pillowcase and breathed in through his nose. The look on Simon's face was one of pleasure and savouring a forbidden fruit.
Simon recalled the moment with shame. He'd purposefully forgotten it. Jeanette's delicate scent of roses were what Simon had sought, despite his own mortification at himself. It was wrong of me, she trusted me and I objectified her into a… I don't know what!
Simon sadly stared at the words in front of him. The rest of the verse had been added now.
'Love came so lightly
I knew not he was there'
What is this all for? Why would it show me the future and past? To hurt me, and tear me apart? Simon felt the swirl of emotions continue within himself, and for what felt like hours- lay down, dejected. It slowly dawned on him that Mrs Croner's invention was meant for facing parts of yourself that are unbearable, because this was unbearable. The images all cycled through repeatedly around Simon, his eyes glazing over them. He couldn't fathom what would make him so depressed in the future, and why seeing Jeanette like that depressed him now. Simon genuinely wanted her to always be happy, no matter what or who it included.
The feeling had begun to slowly rise. It was love. Simon focused on it, and then it hit him hard. I know what this is! It's not the future, but what I fear! Immediately, he stood up with tears dried onto his cheeks. Determination now took over, and Simon began to yell at the images.
"I'm afraid of my future! I'm afraid of Jeanette's future! I'm afraid of my feelings for Jeanette! But whatever happens, I know now that I love her!" The visions in front of him paused and began to melt into themselves. Simon felt the watery cocoon drip down all over him, and watched it disappear.
Looking down at the glove, he saw it was still on his hand. Simon breathed in deeply, then ran out of the basement all the way up to the bathroom to shower.
Meanwhile, it had gotten very late that night, even for Alvin. After a big night at one of his football team mates house party, Alvin begun to creep in through the front door until remembering that Dave was out of town. He saw Simon rushing upstairs from the basement, and then shrugged his shoulders. Grabbing a bag of chips, Alvin followed him up to see what had gotten into his nerdy brother.
Just as Simon was about to open the bathroom door with fresh towels in hand, he felt a hand on his shoulder causing him to gasp.
"Alvin!"
"Simon."
"Why did you scare me like that?" Simon huffed.
"Why wouldn't I Si? Honestly, you act like you know nothing about me. So… why are you all wet? One of your fancy experiments go wrong? Or did you fall into the pool again?" Alvin grinned at Simon's exasperated expression.
"Please Alvin, I need to have a shower- it's late enough as it is." Picking up Alvin's hand off his shoulder, he attempted to throw it off himself. Alvin didn't react. In fact, he didn't move at all. Alvin's hand hung mid-air frozen from the moment from when Simon's gloved hand had grabbed it. Simon looked at Alvin curiously.
"Alvin? Are you okay?" No response. Simon looked around them, but nothing else happened. It was too quiet. He looked over at the clock and noticed the seconds hand had stopped moving. That's strange. It can't be a coincidence though. It must have been the glove… Simons eyes flitted to the glove on his hand and saw it had started to glow. He stared at his covered palm and began to see something else.
A vision began to project from his hand. It was Alvin and himself fighting verbally. Of Simon's two brothers, Alvin conflicted most with his values but also had the self-assurance to challenge him at every turn. He shook his head as he watched on, not noticing Theodore shuffle up to his side.
"Uhhh, Simon? Why is Alvin like that?" Theodore yawned.
"Oh, Theo! I'm not sure actually- but don't worry you can go back to bed if you like. I'm trying to figure it out right now."
Theodore gave Simon a determined look, "You know I'm not an idiot Si, I can see something's wrong. Just tell me what's going on."
Simon looked at Theodore properly this time. In the past, the youngest chipmunk had been seemingly immature for his age- but he'd proven time and time again that he was the most emotionally mature of the three brothers. Hell, he was even the first to have a serious relationship with a girl much to Alvin's and Simon's shock.
"Alright. You're right. Mrs Croner gave me this glove to test out for her, apparently she's secretly been a scientific genius all her life and invented it as a way for helping people."
"Okay, but what does it do?" Theodore pressed.
Simon continued, "Well, it has forced me to look at some visions which helped me solve a sort of riddle." His eyes lowered to the side, knowing that he'd omitted a lot of the personal details from Theodore. "It's just strange that you can still move, since I've noticed that time has stopped for the moment." He pointed to the clock. "Don't worry Theodore, we'll figure this out- and we'll go find Mrs Croner if need be."
Theodore was now looking curiously at the glove. "So, what exactly is the glove showing you now?"
Opening his clenched fist, Simon allowed the vision to be projected once again. However, this time the second verse of the poem was on display beneath it.
'Quietly as lovers
Creep at the middle noon
Softly as player tremble
In the tears of a tune.'
Theodore squinted at the vision, then parroted to his brother, "Oh I remember that! That was when you were angry with Alvin for trying to get Jeanette to like his birthday present more than the magic wand. Oh, oh, and that was when you didn't want Alvin to convince Jeanette not to do that extra credit class with her. And this one is when you dressed up as Jeanette to help Alvin when she asked him for help instead of you, that was classic!" He began to laugh at the sight of Simon's brown mop hair, but then it dawned on him what the theme of the fights were about. Along with the poem written beneath it.
The projection moved onto Alvin and Brittany fighting the way they usually did on a daily basis.
Brittany and Alvin nose to nose in the classroom giving each other daggers. Brittany forcing her way into Alvin's secret superhero tour uninvited. Alvin teasing Brittany on wearing a shirt with herself on it.
These visuals began to cycle through repeatedly. Simon and Theodore looked at each other. Looking away, Simon cleared his throat.
"I know what this is Theodore. The poe- er riddle, wants me to say out loud what I think Alvin and Brittany truly feel about each other. Well, since they always find a way to be involved in each other's business for better or -usually, worse, we know that Alvin and Brittany really love each other!" He stated with confidence.
Simon expected the glove to be satisfied and to shut down the projections. But they continued ceaselessly.
Theodore rubbed his chin, then looked carefully at Simon before speaking. "Simon. May I?" He waited for a nod from his brother before continuing. "To be passionate about someone isn't always expressed through softness. Alvin and Brittany care deeply for each other and are moved to exasperation whenever their rivalry rears itself. Love can lead people to this state. And you, Simon, become just as lost whenever there's a chance that Jeanette might not choose you over Alvin."
After a moment, the visual projection began to feed back down into the glowing glove, while a jaw-dropped Simon could only gape at Theodore's speech. Theodore gave his brother a meek smile.
Alvin began swinging his arm back after the delayed reaction to being thrown off. "Theodore! Where'd you come from?"
Throughout the evening and the next morning, Simon was extremely cautious in avoiding touching anyone at all. The glove wouldn't come off, and Theodore had claimed that he couldn't see it anymore once Alvin had 'come back'. Simon spent the rest of the night lying in bed unable to think about anything other than the revelations of his feelings for Jeanette. How did Theo know? I can't have been that obvious- I had no idea myself! Simon could only deduce that he'd underestimated his younger brothers understanding of his heart. He fell asleep picturing the 'future' Jeanette that the projection had flaunted to him. Her clear beautiful eyes, with just a little piece of her fringe falling into her long lashes.
At lunch time, the chipmunks and chipettes all sat together at their usual table. To prevent any chance of touching Jeanette, Simon sat on the end of the bench next to Eleanor who sat next to Theodore. Facing Jeanette across the table was enough to absorb all of his attention. I wonder if she can tell something's going on. She is so smart, and beautiful, and… oh why couldn't I see any of this before? I've been so stupid!
During his nervous daydream, Eleanor turned to Simon to ask if he was ready for graduation day that was coming up since she was discussing it with Theodore- when he accidentally knocked her forearm as he jumped from the disturbance of his reverie.
Once again, time appeared to stop. Eleanor froze looking at Simon with a surprised expression at his overreaction. He looked down at his glove and saw it beginning to glow again. Scanning around at the table, Simon was shocked to see Alvin looking around with confusion written all over his face.
"Err, what just happened? Si, what sort of joke is this?" Alvin now noticed Simon's glove on his hand. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, what is that!" He pointed to Simon's hand in horror.
"Relax Alvin, it's an invention I'm checking out for Mrs Croner. Don't worry about it. Just wait where you are, and I should get everything back to normal in a minute." Simon had begun to panic internally that Alvin of all people was left with him this time. It was going to be so embarrassing having Alvin no doubt witnessing this personal stuff… He'll never let me hear the end of it!
Alvin began walking over to Simon. "No, no, no, Mr-I'm so smart-don't worry if the world has stopped-I've got this, you don't got this! Now tell me what we're going to do?" He looked across at Brittany. "Uhm can everyone who's frozen still see us?"
Simon ignored him and was watching the new glittery formation of a vision rising just as it had the night before at the bathroom door. Beside him Alvin's eyes were widening watching the increasing glow like a moth to a flame.
"Alvin, just let me focus now-", a memory of Eleanor talking to Simon and Theodore began to play cutting Simon off. He recalled the moment being from when Alvin and he had ignored Theodore's interest in song writing, and Eleanor told them she'd received a text from Theo saying that he was flying out to tour with the music artist, Biggie. Just as Simon expected, the next verse of the poem began to appear beneath the vision once more.
'Quietly as lilies
Their faint vows declare
Came the shy pilgrim
I knew not he was there.'
"Why do you have a video of Eleanor, Simon? It's kinda creepy if you know what I mean." Alvin gave a side-eye look.
"This is not what you think it is. I have to solve the riddle you see written there. It relates to Eleanor this time, and probably her relationship with Theodore I presume."
"Oh, right, uh huh. Because you know, I just thought it was… the end of the world!"
The two brothers continued to watch Eleanor's worried face relaying Theodore's message over again. A thought crossed Simon's mind.
"You know Alvin, it was odd that Theodore felt safe to only tell Eleanor that he was leaving. He didn't even tell Dave. What does that say about them do you think?" He eyed Alvin sneakily.
"How should I know Si, why would I know what goes on in that baby brain of his. That happened so long ago, what does it matter now?"
The vision began to change and started to show the brothers the moment when all three of them were facing off the chipettes at their house. Eleanor had moved in for a few days followed by Jeanette, and an argument was breaking out with Alvin facing Jeanette, Theodore facing Brittany, and Simon facing Eleanor. Simon stood contemplating the hidden message of the two visons.
"It seems that. Eleanor and Theodore have felt strongly for the other even back then. They didn't argue with each other in this next memory." Simon stroked his chin, thinking how this combination included him at all seeing as the last two times did.
"You know you're just as bad as Theodore. Right… there." Alvin pointed to the moment that Simon stalked up to Eleanor.
"Well, I hate to break it to you Alvin, but the same goes for you."
"Pfft! Nah I would happily argue with Brit any day, and just so as you know- nothing gives me more pleasure."
"That I can agree with. So what do you think the thesis of this is with regards to the poem?" Simon steered the conversation back to the task at hand. He was still wondering why Alvin was left to help him, it seemed redundant so far.
"Oh that's easy! So Eleanor and Theodore are the lilies, and they you know tell each other that they're secretly crushing each other without using words! Then, well, the vows are the text that Theo sent her, and I guess that leaves the shy pilgrim. I always think of a pilgrim as a horse, so maybe, just maybe, Theo is the horse, and he's waiting for his fair maiden- that's Eleanor, to…"
"Alvin, stop. Please. There's no way that is what we're meant to say!" Simon sighed. "What has any of it got to do with Jeanette?"
"Jeanette? You mean how you've always had the hots for each other like Theo?" Alvin smirked. "Si, you yell at Eleanor, so Theo doesn't have to. I kinda did the same for you, it was a no-brainer to me actually."
"What do you mean? You went to argue with Jeanette on purpose?"
"Uh-huh. I know how you guys play nice all the time, it's a little sickening but hey, you do you." Alvin winked at Simon's frowning expression. "I suppose you're both just… I dunno, shy about it?"
With that, the visions began to condense into the glove. Simon and Alvin watched as the glove became dormant once more. Movement immediately resumed all around them.
"What the? Alvin where did you come from?" Eleanor exclaimed.
The afternoon went by much more peacefully. Despite usually being the most attentive student in chemistry class, Simon's mind continually drifted off back to lunch time. Was it really what Alvin said that was true? Have I just been shy all this time? It bothered him that shyness would play a role in his life at all. It just holds people back from doing things they really want…to… Without really seeing, he stared at his empty beaker on the lab bench which was waiting for him to begin an oxidisation process. It had hit him. The shy holding back was what Alvin knew that he didn't. Of course! Alvin never holds back! He just has no clue of when not to is all. I guess it's true then. Simon smiled to himself, unaware that Kevin and Cheesy were now pointing and sniggering at his silly looking demeanour.
Fresh air hit the tall chippette's face as soon as she stepped outside after the school day had ended. Jeanette closed her eyes and breathed in the environment around her before turning her head to look for her sisters and the guys. It had felt like Simon was avoiding her today, which was strange. Throughout their years of friendship, she'd never felt anything but complete acceptance from Simon. Jeanette wondered what she'd done wrong to upset him.
Off to the side, she saw Simon standing near the grand library building entrance. She felt like a lioness stalking her prey as she walked over to him. Simon's eyes began darting nervously once he'd noticed her approach. What could be bothering him I wonder?
"Simon?" Jeanette spoke gently, and his eyes finally met hers. She swam in them.
Simon forced himself to respond normally, "Oh, hey Jeanette. Sorry I didn't see you there. What's up?" Don't touch me don't touch me don't touch me…
"Err, nothing, I just thought we could walk home together. I mean, until we find the others to walk with that is." She cast her eyes shyly down and as always, missed the moment Simon swept his own across her pretty profile to rest onto her hands both clenching her backpacks straps.
His voice hitched slightly, "W-well, I'm ready to go if you are? I mean obviously you're ready, otherwise you wouldn't have asked…" Simon cleared his throat nervously. Starting to walk with Jeanette, he thought he would get away without setting off the glove after all…
No sooner had Simon stepped forward, he heard his name spoken again in that heavenly way and at the same time, felt her softly grasp his wrist to gain his attention once more. He looked at Jeanette's frozen expression and then noticed the whole world had stopped for him for the second time that day. Oh no.
'Quietly as tears fall
On a wild sin
Softly as griefs call
In a violin.'
The glove shone brightly beneath the next verse of the poem. Simon lowered his eyes from the real Jeanette standing in front of him to the imagery preparing to play for him. Here goes nothing.
A vision of himself with Alvin talking in their room began to play over the poetry, and Simon recalled the moment from a few years ago. Alvin had been upset that Simon had received so much attention and adoration from girls in their school after performing a play where Alvin had secretly stepped in as Simon's character to do a kiss scene. Simon had been too nervous and was grateful for Alvin's help- and this moment was of himself attempting to reassure his brother of how disinterested he was in all the girls suddenly crushing on him.
He thought he knew what he wanted back then, but the usually thorough Simon was quick to dismiss his love life until after complete success as a future scientist or mathematician had been achieved. Simon remembered Mandi and realised he'd been wrong about his thoughts at the time. Granted she was not the right sort of girl for him, nevertheless, he was ready to 'go for it' with her and threw caution to the wind. Heroic romanticisms alright, what was I thinking? Simon shook his head, then glanced back up at the pretty chipette now awaiting his trial to be complete. I've got to focus Simon!
It came to him more simply this time. His gaze lowered to the ground.
"I know that my head tells me to follow my dreams of scientific endeavours and having them as my only priority, making following my heart in love something that could compromise that."
Almost like an acquiescence, the vision moved onto another one. This one was what Simon couldn't remember seeing or ever being part of.
Jeanette was writing at her desk in the chippette's treehouse home. She looked thoughtful and pushed up her glasses from time to time. Simon tried to make out what she was writing, and almost as if the page knew what he wanted, 'flew' up towards him and landed in his hands. He cried out softly in shock then after hesitating, he began to slowly read.
'My plans for my future beyond high school currently includes further study to extend myself to be better able to help others in need. College would enable me to reach my goals in working in healthcare. My dream is to…'
The words suddenly stopped flowing. So she wants to be a doctor or? Simon began to realise he hadn't even asked Jeanette what her concrete plans or ideas for the future were. Some part of him had held back those enquiries.
That interest.
And immediately, he knew it.
"I've been so selfish", Simon murmured to himself. "I never thought to ask or even support her at all. Jeanette's been so selfless and independent, I guess I…". Simon hoped the visions would stop cycling and had seen enough. Clearly, I haven't spoken what it wants me to say yet. He thought of the poem once more.
"Maybe, I've hurt Jeanette by being so closed off about the future with her. Even though we're only friends, I should have shown her that her own plans are just as important as my own are to me."
Nothing happened.
"I realise now, that I avoided even thinking of her own wants- to protect myself selfishly. I didn't validate her value, and even as just a friend, that was wrong of me."
Still nothing happened.
Frustration began to fill Simon and his fists balled up. "What do you want me to say?! I'm a fool! I'm a – selfish - fool!" He breathed in deeply and exhaled. I've hurt the kindest, loveliest person I know, because she thinks I don't care about her future." Simon's head fell. "I did that because I don't want to hear about her future. Without me."
Silently, the lightly flashing visions began to sink back into his glove. Simon turned his head to the left slightly to watch the retreating images. He felt a burning in his heart. I didn't want to see her. Not really. It might have hurt too much.
Taking a quick breath to prepare for the return to reality, Simon looked up at his pretty friend now looking back at him with her usual warmth. "Yes, Jeanette?"
"I err, just wanted to check that you were, okay?"
"I will be. Hey, what are you writing for your report on future plans after high school?"
Jeanette smiled heartily. She thought he'd never ask.
That night, Simon crawled into his bed. He'd never felt so mentally exhausted before. Thoughts of giving back Mrs Croner's glove came to him as he stared at the blurry ceiling above him.
"Goodnight Alvin, night Simon." Theodore flicked off the switch to usher darkness into the shared bedroom.
"Goodnight Theodore", Simon answered his brother, and then bid Alvin goodnight as well before rolling over to face the wall. His brothers hadn't spoken about the glove at all after school, which was just as well. Their upbringing had been so eventful that the glove hardly seemed that crazy considering all other things.
Just as Simon felt himself drifting to sleep, he groggily noticed a movement flash past him. Huh? Must be my imagination… Another fast flitting around the end of his bed caused him to sit up. "Who's there? Alvin? Theodore?"
There was no reply, his brothers were already lightly snoring and asleep.
Simon reached for his glasses and squinted through them in the darkness. "Hello?" The moving being went towards the window, and Simon caught sight of the long velvety robes as they climbed through and down the old tree.
He leapt out of bed without a thought and followed her out the window. Scrambling down the tree wasn't so difficult now that Simon was older and stronger in senior high. Panting at the bottom, he peered around the moonlit garden and then saw the feminine profile standing near the swimming pool. She was hooded and covered in draping white velvet robes with a small train at the bottom. Her height was slightly shorter than Simon as he carefully approached her, noticing that a peculiar fog was growing around them and the pool.
When he reached her, she turned her head slightly towards him revealing her face to be Jeanette's. The young woman shushed Simon, then turned back to look out at the pool. She had slight transparency to her.
"Jeanette?" He walked slowly around to face the mysterious being directly. She appeared exactly as Jeanette, with her beautiful, framed eyes and cupid bowed lips. Under her hooded cape appeared to be a shimmery lilac gown with a full-lengthed skirt. She was also watching him closely.
The fog had become thick around them, so it was impossible to see anything beyond themselves or part of the swimming pool. Simon's lips were parted, and he glanced down at the glove. It glowed lightly, but nothing was protruding like it had with the images. This was different he realised. But this isn't my Jeanette.
Simon quietly gulped, then looked into Jeanette's eyes again. She began to reach her hand out, and without thinking he grabbed hold of it. That was when his own world stopped. In a solitary meadow filled with purple flowers, Simon was watching himself lying on Jeanette's lap out on a picnic rug. The pair were smiling at each other as Jeanette carefully plucked a grape and hovered it on his lips delicately. Simon's mouth opened for the offering, and she giggled playfully. Jeanette's hair was flowing down around him, and he reached up to run his own fingers through it.
The sight of seeing himself with Jeanette was electric, Simon hadn't felt such longing before. He wondered if this was the future or simply what could be. Simon saw himself melting into a kiss with Jeanette hidden behind her falling, brown tresses, just before the moment faded from sight.
Ethereal Jeanette was still poised, pressing his hand with hers together palm to palm. Whether this was the real Jeanette or not didn't seem to matter, Simon came undone. The longing had turned into desperation as he felt himself fall to his knees at her feet. Her shimmery gown peeking beneath her cape now reminded him of scales, as if she were bound by them. They clung to her lithe body giving her the appearance that she was a nymph. And Simon felt like he could take no more of it. He began to gasp out for mercy.
"Jeanette! Jeanette. I can't help it, I love you! I'm mad for you! Whatever you want from me, I'll do it – I'm yours whether you want me or not. I just need you to know that whatever you wish, I'll respect it. If you need to leave and be away from me to go to college or work or-or anything you want- I'll let you go. Only please, please know that I'm sorry I've taken you for granted. You deserve everything, and I've been a fool for thinking I could let you believe that I didn't care. Hell, I didn't even want to face it myself! I'm in love with you."
Simon shamelessly began to cry at her feet. It didn't matter that this wasn't his Jeanette, this goddess was what he needed to move forward from the bittersweet road the glove had brought him on. But it wasn't over.
The nymph-like Jeanette bent down slowly to his level and softly brushed Simon's tears from his cheek. Her other hand now grasped his tightly, and he turned to look at the hold she now had on his hand. With her other hand, Jeanette untied her cape and let it fall off her head and shoulders with a gentle thud. Still mesmerised by her warm hand clasping his own, it took a beat for Simon to notice that she'd swiftly dived into the pool bringing him along with her.
