DISCLAIMER: All major characters are copyright 1996 to Hanna-Barbera, Inc. and Turner Entertainment. No permission was asked. No money is being made (although it is a wonderful thought). =)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is for all the HR's out there (and you know who you are! *grin*) and my college roommates Jen, Julie and Tahnee. . .without whom, I would still be watching JQ with a straight face.
This part is shorter than the first, but it reveals that annoying plot twist
that gives good writing meaning.
FIRST DATE (Part II)
by lil'nix
The city of Rockport was a good twenty-five minutes away from the Quest Compound. Following the coastline, the little BMW made its way from the cliffs and into civilization.
The city stood out like a picture postcard. Now at dusk, the city was even more stunning against the densely wooded forest and darkening sky. The shadow upon the water was even more enchanting, drawing Jessie deeper into her thoughts.
Jessie sighed as the city came into view. She stared in awe at the city lights surrounding the town in a bright halo. It all seemed so peaceful from a distance, she thought. *So perfect* her mind told her. Her thoughts quickly shifted from the city to Jonny. He was sitting in the driver's seat, looking passively at the road and driving more cautiously than she was used to.
Jonny had suddenly changed. . .almost overnight. . .and Jessie, for the life of her, couldn't figure out how or why. Physically he was the same Jonny Quest. Maybe it was the new way he dressed. The blue jeans, black tee shirt and sneakers had disappeared and were replaced with less casual items. Of course he still wore the sneakers from time to time, but he dressed a little more. . .Jessie searched for the word. . .refined. She thought back to how he looked at the breakfast table nearly a month ago; his hair was neatly combed with a few strays dropping into his face, wearing black jeans and a short sleeved denim shirt. Jessie audibly gasped when she entered the kitchen.
Perhaps it was a change in personality. Jonny was more talkative lately, much to Jessie's chagrin. He certainly seemed to have an easier time talking to the other girls at school. Occasionally Jessie caught him flirting with them, too. Not that she particularly cared, mind you, it was just strange to see Jonny acting that way.
And for a while, Jessie thought Jonny's new personality was contagious. Their friends Todd, Derek, and Ian were acting peculiar, too. When Todd asked her to the homecoming dance -- right in front of Jonny and the others -- Jessie nearly died in disbelief. What was even more shocking to her was her own reply.
"I'll think about it," she had said.
*What was I thinking?* Jessie asked herself. *Todd is a great guy and all but. . .but what?*
Then, last Friday in study hall, Jessie received a note in neat block handwriting. It read, "How about dinner next Friday night?"
Surprised, and a little bit giddy, Jessie scribbled "Why? What's Mrs. Evans cooking? Liver?" and dropped it on Jonny's desk on her way to the bathroom. When she returned, a new note sat on top of her physics book. It read, "I don't mean at home, silly. I was thinking Mexican. . .maybe Padros. . .and then a movie (your choice of course)."
That night, before going to bed, Jessie scribbled a note to Jonny.
Jonny,
Padros and a movie next Friday! I wouldn't miss it. It's a date!
Jessie
She slipped the note under Jonny's door. Ten minutes later, she heard Jonny joyously yelling "yes". Jessie knew she was smiling as she drifted off into sleep.
*What's happening to me?* Jessie asked herself.
*I'll tell you what's happening, Bannon* her mind replied. *That childhood crush is turning out to be the real thing! You're falling and falling hard!*
Before Jessie could think of a more logical explanation, the car came to a stop.
"Here we are," Jonny said opening his car door and stepping outside. He stretched leisurely and noticed Jessie about to open her door. "Don't even think about it!" Jonny said loudly as he jogged to the other side of the car and opened her door for her. Jonny took her hand and helped her out of the car. Once the door was shut, he tucked Jessie's hand under his arm.
Arm in arm, they strolled into Padros.
***** ***** *****
Race Bannon sighed heavily as he looked at the clock on his night stand for the tenth time since Jonny and Jessie left the compound. The bright green numbers stared back at him.
9:31 PM.
They'd been gone for two hours now. The phone didn't ring. His beeper didn't beep.
"They're responsible enough to take care of themselves," Estella had told him when he phoned her earlier to let her in on the event. "Remember that time in Djakarta. Didn't they prove themselves then? Haven't they proved it a million times? This is a long time coming, Race. They're not six-years-old anymore. Try to relax, dear. They'll be fine."
But Race couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to happen. Good or bad. . .he didn't know.
Where Jonny Quest and his daughter were concerned, anything was possible.
***** ***** *****
"Is everything set up?" a male voice asked.
"Just as you asked," a female voice replied.
Silence.
"Have our guests arrived yet?"
"They will shortly. I must admit I wasn't impressed. The little brats didn't put up much of a fight. We used the experimental knock-out gas. They should be waking up within the hour."
A chuckle, then silence.
"Good. Very good," said the male voice. "See to it that nothing goes wrong!"
"Yes, Jeremiah."
***** ***** *****
Dr. Quest looked up from his journal for the tenth time that evening. Gently, he removed his glasses and placed them on the table. He rubbed his eyes then squinted at the wall clock above the fireplace.
11:02 PM.
Benton listened for a moment. No screaming. No yelling. No crashing. It was quiet for a change.
*Too quiet* Benton thought.
He shook his head and sighed. Jonny and Jessie had been gone for three and a half hours. By now, the movie was probably ending and they were heading home. They promised to be home by midnight, and Jonny would call if they ran into any trouble.
*Why would they run into trouble? You're being paranoid, Benton* he could hear his wife scolding him.
"Perhaps," Benton said aloud. He looked at the photo of Rachel and sighed. Placing his glasses back on, he returned to his journal. "We'll see, Rachel. We'll see. . . ."
END PART II