"Jessie?"
"Mm?"Jessie looked across the room at her partner, as she tried to put her boots on.
James pushed his blue hair out of his eyes and looked at his partner.
"How many times have we auditioned for the panto?"
"I don't know-about 12? 13? 15 maximum."
"And how many times have we been rejected?"
"Easy that-every time."
"So. Are you auditioning again this year?"
"I don't know. Are you?"
"Are you?"
"Well, I mean,I want to but -you know."
"Know what?" James looked concerned. Did she know omething he didn't-something he should?
"Well, we've been rejected 15 times. It doesn't say much for our acting skills, does it"
"It says quite a lot, actually."
"Oh yeah? What's that?"
"It says they're..."
"JAMES!!!"Jessie shouted, shocked. "You can't say that! Little children and maybe even PARENTS might read this fan-fic!!"
He blushed."Sorry. I didn't realise."
"Any way, back to the matter in hand." she said. "I'm still not sure. I don't want to be rejected again."
"No, neither do I. Look, I'll do it if you do it.
"I'd never want to do it without you. O.K deal. I'll do it if you do."
"O.K. Shake."
They shook on it and held it for while. Both stared into the other's eyes,and smiled a little.Then it clicked.
"What are you staring at, James?"
Her wonderful feelings of love for the blue-haired boy she could only ever call her partner in crime, never her romantic partner. How she wished she could, but that sort of thing wasn't allowed in Team Rocket. She sighed.
Back in the other room, James rubbed his sore face. God, Jessie had such a temper when she wanted to- and god he loved it. He loved evry thing about her- her red hair, her blue eyes,her wonderful (if not unique) personality. He only called her ugly becausehe didn't want to reveal his feelings.He couldn't-it would never work. Not only were their backrounds different (he was a millionaire's son,she was a poor orphan),but the Boss would never approve of a relationship between partners (despite the fact Butch and Cassidy had been going out for nearly 6 months). He sighed.
The idea came into both thier heads at the same time. It was so obvious, neither could see why they didn't
think of it before.If they auditioned,and both got the main parts, they would have to...they would have to.. they would have to...
"KISS!!!!!" they both shouted at the same time. They both gasped, covered thier mouths and blushed."That's it," they both thought. "It's decided. I'm auditioning."
But that wasn't the only thing that was decided. Somewhere high above the the two love-birds, two shadowy figures stood looking out of an upstairs window.
"So it's decided."
"What is?"
"We are the only characters to be cast at the moment, right?"
"Right we're sleeping beauty's mum and dad."
"Correct." the female figure walked away slightly. "All we have to do is convince those idiots in casting that Jessie and James would be perfect
as the main roles. Now if I know them-and I do-they are in love with each other. And they would do anything to kiss each other. So, when they get the perfect opportinity to make out-in the last scene-they'll grab it. And they'll make out and the boss will see they're in love-you know how much the Boss hates partners in love-and they'll get fired!" she
giggled happily, "Perfect!!"
"But Cass...we're in love and we're partners."
"I know Butch, I know!" Cassidy took Butch'hands in hers and looked at him. "But we haven't been fired because the Boss doesn't know about us yet. And he won't, will he?"
"No."
"So. Can I count you in?"
"O.K, yeah, go on then. Excuse me, but I'm dying to go and...."
She sighed. "O.K, Butch. But I'm going to have to kill your disgusting habit"...
A few days later, our heros auditioned for the part which would change their lives. The auditions went well,and both were pleased. Little did either know that fate (well,Butch and Cassidy) had already decided thier parts for them.
About two weeks later, the final cast list for sleeping beauty was posted on a noticeboard in Team Rocket's headquarters. As Jessie and James walked to breakfast together one morning,Jessie spied the small piece of paper.
"Ooh! Look James! They've put the cast list up!!"
"Don't bother looking, Jess. We haven't got a part and you know it."
"We might have! C'mon, let's go see."
As she danced over, he sighed hung his head and began to slowly walk over to where the paper was. When he reached it, Jessie was already bent over, scowering the names at the bottom of the list for theirs. Skimming down the top names, James' eyes widened, blinked. He rubbed them, then stared again. Jessie straightened up and looked upset.
"O.K, James, you were right. I can't find our names anywhere."
"Maybe that's because, my dear Jessie, they are there." He pointed.
Her hands covered her mouth as she gasped. Thier names, and her he was pointing was right by the two main characters. They both turned to the other and pointed.
"You!"
"You!"
They both turned away, flouncing. But as soon as they were out of sight, they both dropped thier heads, blushed, and put on a small, sweet smile.
About 2 months later, everything was ready. The rehersals were over; the costumes were ready; the make-up had been designed. And everyone
was happy on how things were going. Except two.
"They haven't done it yet, Cass."
"I KNOW, Butch!" Butch was leaning aganist a window sill while Cassidy was worriedly pacing the floor.
"But,Cass, if they don't kiss in front of us-the cast members- they won't kiss in frount of complete strangers."
"Mm-you're right." She thought for a moment, then, "A ha! I've got it!"
"Got what?"
"An idea! You know when I first faniced you, and you faniced me, and we were too shy to say? Well, I-don't know about you- felt awful, hiding it all up inside me-and they will, too. So we have to convince them
that it's now or never to let thier feelings show. It's easy!"
"Really? It's that simple? Oh, I'll do that, easy!
"Good. You do James and I'll do Jessie. And I'll meet you down stairs in 10 minutes."
She kissed him quickly. When she got to the door,she
coughed and spulted, due to the smoke on his breath.
Jessie slowly brushed her long red hair. She was scared to say the least. Her dressing room was littered with good luck cards from most people she knew, as well as bouquets of flowers and other gifts. As her eyes scorwed her dressing table, she spied the one present that puzzled her. It was a vase, long, thin, and green, with a rose straight up inside, and an Arbok doll, glued to the back, also straight up (if you have ever seen Rocket scout's infamous fan-art, it's like that.). Who was it from? There had been no card. Was it from some secret admirer? Was it from...
"Hello, Jessie."
She jumped, screamed a little, and slowly turned around. Cassidy stood in the door way, half her face covered in darkness, her head hung.
"Cassidy! what do you want?"
"Oh nothing." She walked in, and started to read some of her cards, laughing at the funny ones.
"You want something. You of all people wouldn't just waltz in here for no reason."
Cassidy,who had her back to Jessie, lifted her head.
"I know something about you, Jessie."
She turned around and put down the card she was reading.
"Something- shocking. I know you love your partner, James."
Jessie dropped her hair brush.
"I have my ways. So, I guess you feel pretty bad inside."
"What?"
"When I fancied Butch, I felt awful inside because I couldn't say athing without me revealing my secert. And I guess you do too."
Jessie's head dropped and she nodded.
"Of course, there is a way to feel better."
"What?"
"Kiss him."
"WHAT!?!?!"
"Kiss him."
"Oh, I'd love to, but I'm too scared to."
"Why don't you? Tonight?"
"Tonight? When?"
"The last scene. When he goes to kiss you, pull him in and..."
"Do you think I should?"
"Definitely! You'll feel good, at the very least."
"I will!"
"That's the spirit! Belive me, he won't expect it...."
Oh, but he did. Because at that same moment, Butch and James were having exactly the same conversion- only with names reversed.
So, the stage was set. Jessie was going to kiss James, James was going to kiss Jessie, and Butch and Cassidy's plan was working. So far....
"Hello, Sleeping Jessie!!!"
Racing down the corridor in her costume, Jessie skidded to a halt and slowly turned around. Ash and Misty were walking towards her. Misty was carring Togepi and Ash had Pikachu on his shoulders. Jessie thought about snachting it, but it wouldn't be the same without her beloved (i.e.James,) there to enjoy it with her.
"Twerps! What are you doing here?"
"Well, when the flyer said 'starring Jessie and James,' we just had to come and see it!"
"What-oh, never mind."
She flashed a look at her watch.
"Good luck!"
Her head turned round as she ran.
"No," they chorused together, "We mean good luck!"
They started to walk back to the door, smiling at each other.
"Will it work?"
"Misty, of course it will."
"Are you sure?"
"Look, they both have all the common goals and interests. Those two will get on like a house on fire. How often am I wrong?"
"So often I've lost count."
"Hey!"
Oh, yeah, I better explain. These two are planning to meet up with Brock and Tracey, let them meet each other, and become friends. Well, in a perfect world that's what would happen...
Brock stromed in, obviously furious. Ash and Misty exchanged worried looks, then said,
"Brock! What's up?"
"I'm chatting up some Team Rocket member, minding my own business, then some maniac on a Yamaha tries to run me over!"
"Oh. Well, come over here and tell me what's you've been up to." Ash dragged Brock away, while Misty checked for Tracey. When he came in, he was also mad.
"Oh, poor Tracey! What's up?"
"I'm coming here, being a perfectly safe driver, then some flirt jumps in front of my bike, damages my tyre and claims I ran him over!"
"Oh. Who was it?"
"It was ....him! Him, there! Talking to Ash!"
"You! The guy with the skecth pad! You're the one who tried to run me over!"
"Misty..."
"Ash..."
"WHO IS HE?" Brock and Tracey said together, pointing at the other.
Ash looked sheepish,(easy) and mumbled "um... Brock, this is Tracey, Tracey, this is Brock."
Brock threw his head back and laughed hard. "Tracey? That's a girl's name! Ha!"
Tracey glared at Brock, who was still laughing. "And I suppose you think you're so hard just because you've got 'Rock' in your name?"
Brock stopped laughing and looked angry. "No! I'm not that thick! So, what do you do? I'm a Pokemon breeder."
"Watcher."
"Oh, a Pokemon watcher! Jumping around in fields all day, saying 'Oo! Look at that Mankey!' So fun!"
"Well, at least I don't sit my kitchen all day making sure my Pikachu's food isn't mixed with my Butterfree's!"
"I do and I'm proud of it!"
"Oh, look at the time! Time to go in and be seated, guys!" Misty said in a vain attempt to break up the situation. She and Ash frog-marched the still arguing pair into the auditourium and sat them down, for one of the biggest shows of their lives.
The panto flowed on for about 2-and-a-half hours. There were jokes, songs, and audience paricipation. The story flowed together well, and the acting near perfect. All in all, a good time was had by all.
From Ash and Misty in the audience, (who particulary enjoyed the ice-cream in the interval,) to Jessie and James on stage, everyone loved it. But what was to stick in the minds of most people, was the last scene.
James delived his last line of the 'kiss' scene-"Oh what a beautifle maiden. I must kiss her."
He stood over Jessie, who was lying 'asleep' on a bed.
"So this is it," they both thought.
James took a deeep breath and whipsered "Here goes."
He bent his head down, and for the first, kissed her. Almost immediatly, Jessie sat up, put her arms round his neck and pulled him in closer. There they sat, completly ingrossed, making the kiss more and more passionate. Both were having the time of their lives.
A few miniutes in, the whole audience (apart from Brock and Tracey, who were still arguing,) gasped.
"Mist? This has gone on for too long. I'm bored."
"It's not boring! It's sweet-and totally romantic."
"Yeah, but kisses are sad and boring," Ash moaned.
Misty turned to look at him."Oh yeah? Is this sad and boring?" She pulled him in, placed her lips on his.
There they sat, making out (Jessie and James were still going on stage), 'till Ash noticed that Pikachu and Togepi were staring at them.
He pushed Misty away.
"No! But, please, not in front of the Pokemon!"
"Let 'em see. They 've got to get used to it."
They both giggled.
Jessie and James' lips finally parted after about 10 minutes. They sat, staring at each other, breathing deeply, until....
"Jessie! James!" That was the Boss. They turned to look at him.
"What a brilliant ending! I love it! How did you come up with that?"
"OH YEAH??"
"YEAH!!"
Brock and Tracey stood up shouting at each other.
"You, and me, outside, right now!!" Brock screamed.
"Fine!"
They stormed out, closely followed by Ash, Misty (holding hands,) Pikachu and Togepi. Everyone stared at them, before turning their attention back to the stage.
"Any way, I think you should keep that ending, you two. I think it is such a surprise."
Butch and Cassidy stared at each other. "But Sir," Cassidy said, stepping forward. "They were making out! They must be in love-and you know how much you hate that!"
"Cassidy, Cassidy, Cassidy. They're on stage. They're acting. Now everyone, go on with the show."
Butch and Cassidy exchanged appaled looks and the show carried on.
"We must change that ending!"
"But Cass... this plan didn't work, why should the other?"
"Because, my dear Butch, this one is fool-proof. All we have to do is change the ending round a bit, then put a little something in the water!"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, instead of James giving Jessie a kiss, he gives her an anti-sleeping potion. But we put a little poison or something in it, and, boom! She's gone, play's ruined, James gets fired. Brilliant!"
"You can't do that!"
"What?"
"Kill Jessie! It's mean!"
"OK, OK. We won't kill her. But it's such a bad ending, they'll get fired."
"Yeah, it is a pretty bad ending."
"Rather like this fan-fic."
"Yea-Hey! You can't say that! I'm sure she spent alot of time on this."
"But everyone knows she can't write, but is just too tactful to say so."
"True."
So the ending was re-written, re-rehersed, and performed differently that to the night before.
Jessie lay on her make-shift bed, mid-stage, burning up inside. How dare Butch and Cassidy change the ending! She so wanted to kiss James like that again. But now now she couldn't-they had to perform the worst ending in panto history. She clenched her fists.
James said his last line-"This must be the Sleeping Beauty. I shall give her this posion to wake her."-and walked over to the bed. He took a small bottle from his pocket, pressed it to her lips, and shut his eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Jess. Why can't it be like last time?" A single tear ran down his cheek.
She "woke up", sat up and smiled. As Jessie opened her mouth to deliver the line, a very differnt voice came out.
"Jessie! James! Why did the ending change? I thought I said to keep the other one!"
"But Sir..." Jessie said,
"It wasn't us..." James pleaded.
"It was Butch and Cassidy."
They both pointed to the wings. Butch and Cassidy came out.
"We thought this one might be better, Sir."
"Better? BETTER?!!!? You've ruined the whole show! I will see all of you in my office, tommorrow morning."
"You wanted to see us, Sir?"
"Yes. Jessie, James, I wanted to thank you for saving my show and revealing those traitors. They were no Team Rocket members- unlike you. I am now giving you the chance to be promoted." He swung round in his chair. "So, what do you say?"
James looked at his partner, who hung her head and and shook it.
"Thanks, Sir, but no thanks. We know we have a life beyond Team Rocket and we want to explore it. We want to taste a good life, a free life."
"So what are you saying? You're quitting?"
"Sorry, Sir."
He sighed. "O.K. Just be out of here by noon."
"We're ready now."
"O.K. Good bye then."
"Good bye, Sir."
They walked silently down the corridors of the old house. Outside, they took one last look at the head-quarters. Then James took Jessie's hand and they walked off into their new life together.
Oh yeah, Brock and Tracey. Well, they had a huge fight in the car park, and both looked like they had been
15 rounds with both Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis. They still don't like each other. And Ash and Misty are still going out.
Cassidy shurgged, then, without thinking, kissed Butch.
Giovanni went near purple with rage. "YOU TWO!! BUTCH AND CASSIDY! YOU'RE FIRED!!" He roared. "THIS SHOW IS OVER!!"
The audience looked shocked. Jessie and James looked shocked. Butch and Cassidy looked stunned. Then they alll got their things together and began to leave.
"Hang on a minute, Jessie and James, I still want to see you in my office tomorrow morning."
The couple looked at each other worriedly.
"You wanted to see us, Sir?"
"Yes. Jessie, James, I wanted to thank you for saving my show and revealing those traitors. They were no Team Rocket members- unlike you. I am now giving you the chance to be promoted." He swung round in his chair. "So, what do you say?"
James looked at his partner, who hung her head and and shook it.
"Thanks, Sir, but no thanks. We know we have a life beyond Team Rocket and we want to explore it. We want to taste a good life, a free life."
"So what are you saying? You're quitting?"
"Sorry, Sir."
He sighed. "O.K. Just be out of here by noon."
"We're ready now."
"O.K. Good bye then."
"Good bye, Sir."
They walked silently down the corridors of the old house. Outside, they took one last look at the head-quarters. Then James took Jessie's hand and they walked off into their new life together.
Oh yeah, Brock and Tracey. Well, they had a huge fight in the car park, and both looked like they had been
15 rounds with both Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis. They still don't like each other. And Ash and Misty are still going out.
"H-how did you know?"
"I do." she wispered.
"Well, nice seeing you, but I gotta go. I'm late already. See ya!"
"Don't you mean break a leg?"
"It's now..."
"Or never."
