“Oh, man... I can’t stand having another Pokemon-biology class!” I whined. It’s been a very long day, and the teachers gave us a real hard time because the final test was just a month away.

“Oh, stop whining,” She pulled out a mallet and whacked me over on the head. She does that a lot, but one night she told me she’s hitting me so I won’t whine and be spoiled. She’s really hot tempered, which is probably her only disadvantage. Other than that, she’s my best friend. It’s been three weeks since she came to the Poke-Tech, and we were the best friends in the world. It was such a great feeling, knowing that there’s someone who really cares about me, someone who always enjoys hanging out with me.

We were walking through the yard with our books, when suddenly I tripped over a pit in the ground, and all my books fell on the grass.

“James! Are you ok?” Jessie looked worried.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I blushed and bent down to pick up my books.

“Here, let me help you,” she bent down to help me pick up the books, and for a moment our eyes met. She smiled at me and I smiled back at her, all nervous. I liked her a lot, and being so close to her made my legs go numb.

“Yo, Jimmy, being clumsy as usual?”

“Oh god...” I mumbled, frozen in my place, with one hand on one of my books. Not him again...

“You should really watch were you’re going, you don’t want everybody to know that you’re stupid *and* blind.”

It was Fred, and he really enjoyed the embarrassing situation. I looked over at Jessie, hoping to find some comfort in her eyes, but to my surprise, her expression changed, and she turned all red and angry. Suddenly she pulled herself up from the floor and stood right in front of the big intimidating kid.

“Oh gee, Freddie, I didn’t know you cared about everyone thinking you’re stupid. Otherwise you wouldn’t have opened your mouth at all.”

I was totally in shocked, and so were a few other kids who gathered around to see who’s that crazy girl, who thinks she can confront Fred.

“Hey, It’s not your business, girl. I suggest you take a hike so your pretty face won’t be damaged.”

“I suggest you keep your suggestions to yourself.” She stood really close to him, put her hands on her waist and stared deep into his eyes. She was something about 5 inches shorter that him, and I thought she was completely out of her mind.

“Jessie... maybe you should...”

“I can handle that, James,” she hushed me with her hand.

“Fine, little girl, let’s see what you’re made of,” Fred took out a Pokeball. “Bulbasour! Go!” and a big Bulbasour got out of it. It was Fred's infamous Bulbasour, and I wondered how's Jessie going to get out of this one. A lot of kids gathered around us and started cheering and shouting.

“Nice pet,” She looked at the Pokemon and pulled out a Pokeball. “Ekanes! Go!” and a big Ekanes got out of the ball and hissed. “Ekanessss...”

I didn’t even know she had an Ekanes, let alone that it was so big.

“Bulbasour! Use your vines to take down this ugly snake!”

“Bulba!” the Bulbasour sent his vines toward Ekanes, and grabbed it.

“Ekanes!” Jessie looked horrified. Her Pokemon seemed to be in a lot of pain, and I was already planning in my head a way to grab Jessie and run away as quickly as possible.

“Bite it, now!” The Ekanes bit the vines and got free.

I was totally surprised to see that Jessie got out of it real nicely.

“Bulbasour! Razor-leaves!” Fred yelled maniacally.

“Dive! Under the ground, NOW!” Jessie lifted her hand and the snake dived under the grass, evading the leaves. Suddenly he got out from behind Fred’s Bulbasour.

“Strangle him, Ekanes!” Jessie ordered and Ekanes strangled the Bulbasour. Everyone was breathless when it fell down, worn out.

“Bulba...”

“Bulbasour!” Fred ran over to his Bulbasour and picked him up.

“The fight is over. Now get out of my sight.” Jessie called back her Ekanes and before I could run over to her, she took off.

I didn’t see Jessie all day long, and after dinner I decided to go to our regular place, a bench in the yard. We used to sit there for hours and look at the stars, planning what we’re going to do after we get out of school. I enjoyed nothing better than to sit close to her on the bench and plan our future together. She was there, holding her Ekanes in her hands. I came closer to her and sat next to her. She didn’t took her eyes off of her Pokemon. I noticed that she was putting bandages on it’s wounds.

“Are you ok?"

“Yeah,” she sounded sad. "My Ekanes got hurt."

"Ekanessss..." it hissed weakly.

“I didn’t know you had an Ekanes.”

“It was a gift for my birthday.”

“You put up a great fight today. You and Ekans were really amazing. Thanks for standing up for me.”

She didn’t answer, she just kept putting bandages on Ekanes.

“Where did you learn to do that? I mean, taking care of your Pokemon?”

“My mom taught me.” (Author’s note: Ever wondered how do Team Rocket heal their Pokemons after a fight? They can’t take them to the Pokemon-Center...)

“I hate this place,” Jessie sniffed, “I hate the kids and the classes are boring.”

“Well, that’s school for ya,” I put a hand on her shoulder. “The year will be over soon, It’ll be ok.”

“I guess.”

I looked up to the sky. “Jess, Do you ever miss home?”

“Well, not really. At least here I have a roof above my head and food to eat. And you?”

“Well, I miss my Growlithe, and having a room of my own, even though I like Teddy, my roommate, but other than this, I didn’t really like my home. I don’t have a lot of things to miss.” I looked sadly at her.

“Hmmm... maybe things won’t get better after school’s over.”

Now I was sad too. “No, It will. Think positive.”

She smiled, her pretty blue eyes still wet. “And now If you don’t mind, I’m tired and I’m going to bed.” And she got up and walked away, holding Ekans in her hands.

Part 2- That’s how we flunked the Poke-Tech

“I can’t believe the final test is tomorrow. I’m so scared!"

“You have nothing to be scared of, James. We studied hard and you know everything you need to know."

“Yeah, you’re right, Jess. We *do* know everything by heart." I smiled happily. For the first time in a very long time I felt completely confident.

“So, what are you planning on doing tonight?"

“What do you mean? I’ll be studying for the test."

“Studying? Don’t you know that studying too hard will make you forget stuff and get them all mixed up in your head?"

“Really?” I was surprised.

“Yeah, and besides, what do you need more studying for? You already know everything...”

“Well, I really *could* use a night off. It’s been too long."

“Great!” her eyes shined. “So what do you say, I’ll take you to a really cool place. Dress up and I’ll meet you outside school at 8 o’clock.” And she took off happily without waiting to my answer.

In 8 o’clock sharp, I stood out side the gate, dressed in a black shirt and black pants with a dark-green vest. Those were my prettiest clothes, since I didn’t go out partying much. I was very nervous about going with Jessie to a dress-up kind of place. I mean, was it a date, or what?

Jessie was 10 minutes late, but I couldn’t be angry with her, after seeing her in her little blue dress, with her make up and her red hair pulled up. She looked so pretty!

“Evening, sir”, she smiled and I laughed happily, pulled out a red rose and handed it over to Jessie. It was my little plan to charm her, and I hoped she wouldn’t find it stupid.

“Oh, how cute!" her eyes lit. Good, my plan works. It took 15 minutes to get to the little Pub, and I enjoyed walking with Jessie. A few people looked at us and I’m sure that they thought she was my girlfriend. I really liked that thought.

“Don’t you think we’re a bit under age?” I asked her when we were standing in front of the door, but she didn’t look worried at all. She just stepped in and smiled to the doorman. “Good evening, Roger!”

“Good evening Jessie. Haven’t seen you around a lot lately.”

I looked confusedly at Jessie and at the tall doorman, but Jessie pulled me inside quickly before I had time to wonder. We sat near the Bar and Jessie asked me if I would like to drink some beer.

“Beer? Aren’t we *way* underage?”

“James, don’t be childish.” She smiled and waved to the bartender. “Jo! How are you doing tonight?”

“All well here, Jess. And who’s your friend?”

“That’s James. James- that’s Jo. Joey, bring us a couple of beers, ok?”

“Coming up!”

I lowered my head and whispered into Jessie’s ear: “I see you know everyone around here.”

She smiled. “I told you it’s a cool place.”

The beers arrived and I looked suspiciously into the glass.

“James! Don’t tell me you’ve never drunk beer!” She laughed. “A rich guy like you?”

“Well, I’m a bit young...” I felt totally embarrassed. I didn’t want her to think that I’m a baby.

“You’re never too young for a beer.” She sapped from her glass.

“Hmmm...” I sniffed the beer.

“James! Ha ha...” Jessie laughed her head off, “Just drink it!”

Ok, here goes... I took a big sip and it tasted really weird. Jessie looked amusedly at my face.

“Jo, hey! Give us a second beer!”

I felt a bit high, and drinking that beer made me feel like one of those cool guys that you see on TV. Fun, fun, fun... By the end of the night we were both pretty drunk and happy. The way back seemed awfully long.

“Jessie, he he, I think we’re drunk...”

“No, really? I think it’s the floor, it’s crooked!” She leaned on me and laughed hysterically. “I can’t remember the way back to the Poke-Tech...”

“I’ll lead the way!” I jumped forward, almost knocking Jessie down to the floor, which didn’t stop her laughing for a minute.

“Oh, James, my hero!” she jumped forward and hopped around me.

“Stop jumping...” I laughed, “You’re making me dizzy...”

And suddenly I found myself kissing her, and she kissed me back. If I weren’t too drunk to understand what a great deal it was, I would have probably fainted.

We looked into each other’s eyes for a few moments and burst out laughing.

I don’t remember much after that kiss, I just remember somehow getting back to the Tech and somehow getting into my bed. I think Teddy woke up and yelled at me for coming back so late the night before the big test, but I didn’t really care.

“Oh my god!!!!!” I woke up screaming.

It was almost 8 a.m., and I had 5 minutes until the test starts. Teddy was probably in the class already. I jumped out of the bed but immediately fell back down with a splitting head-ache and dizziness. I could hardly get dressed, and walking down the stairs to the class seemed almost impossible.

I got to class when the papers were already handed out. I took one copy and sat in my chair in front of Jessie. She looked just as bad as I did- pale and sloppy with a strange look on her face.

“Jessie, I don’t fell well...”

“Me too...”

“Jessie! James! Stop talking!” The teacher yelled.

“Ow...” Jessie held her head in her hands, “Don’t yell...”

It’s unnecessary to say that I couldn’t answer any of the questions in the test. I could hardly read the questions, let alone remembering the right answers. I guessed most of them, hoping that I will at least pass.

“Ahhhh !!!! We failed !!!” I screamed.

“Failed?!?! We got the lowest marks in the history of the Poke-Tech! Look, they wrote our names in red marker!”

“We’re doomed!” We both screamed together and hugged.

“What are we going to do?” I whined. “I can’t stay another year here!”

“Shut up and let me think!”

Jessie thought of a way out of this situation, and I planned a way to jump out of the closest window. Then Jessie pulled my hand and dragged me aside.

“James, you can't go back home, can you? I can’t go back either. And we certainly don't want to stay here another year, do we?"

“No!” I whined.

“Then I’ll tell you what- Today all the parents are coming to take their kids home for the holiday. I don’t know about your parents, but my dad isn't coming.”

“Mine are, but I don’t wanna go with them!"

“Then I'll tell you what we’ll do. Meet me at the trains station an hour before all the parents are coming. Bring your stuff with you."

I sat on my suitcase, looking nervously around. Jessie was late again, and I started wondering if she had changed her mind about going away. But then I saw her, hardly dragging her suitcase behind her. I jumped over to her and reached out to help her.

“I don’t need your help.” She said harshly.

“So what are we going to do?”

Jessie looked around, and then pointed at a large train. “This is our ride.”

“Really? Do we have tickets?”

She gave me a don’t-be-silly kind of look, and then dragged her suitcase closer to the train. I followed her, hoping that she knows what she’s doing.

“All aboard!”

I looked at Jessie. She was still looking at the train and didn’t move.

“Well? What now?”

“Put the suitcases in the wagon, now, before anyone sees you.”

I did as she said, and I threw the suitcases into the wagon.

“All aboard!”

The train started moving.

“Jessie?”

She took my hand. “When I say ‘now’, we both jump on the wagon...1,2,3... NOW!” and we both jumped together.

Jessie hurried to close the door and sat down. I looked at her as she stretched beside me. She was an amazing girl, my best friend in the whole world. That kiss, the night before the test, was still on my mind since that night. One day I’ll tell her how much I love her. One day I will.

“Where are we going, Jess?”

She looked into my eyes. “frankly- I have no idea, James.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ END ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Liked it? I hope you did. Maybe one day I’ll right a sequel, about the bike gang or something, But it’s not planned to anytime soon. I tried to stick to all the facts I know, though I know one thing that isn’t quite true- Jessie didn’t get her Ekans up until a year before the show, and she probably didn’t have one during school days. I think this fic's adorable... but I can’t say so myself. Tell me what you think, I loooove your e-mails : rocketmagic83@yahoo.com or jessie_mbx@hotmail.com