CATEGORY: A, JJHR, HJHR, DBNHR, F (Jonny and Jess are in college) RATING: PG-13 ARCHIVERS: Go ahead, or email me for a file of it I'll Cover You By: Maile Skye (dramabrat@aol.com) Jessie Bannon nervously drove into her old driveway. She parked her black BMW in the same spot she had been parking it since the day over three years ago that her father had bought it for her. Everything looked remarkably the same to her. It was odd, Jessie had been sure that because she had changed so much, everything else would have too. She opened her car door and stepped out, one velvet ankle boot after another. On her legs were black leggings, and she wore an oversized black sweater that covered her slender form. Her autumn colored hair flowed down her back and her lips were painted a light brown. All she carried was a black suitcase in one hand, and a black duffel back in the other. Slowly, she walked to the front door, almost afraid of what she would find behind it. Jessie opened the door and peeked inside, things hadn't changed too much. She took a step into the living room and noticed it was empty. She could hear voices in the kitchen, but paused before heading in. She hadn't seen anyone for months, save for a single night with Jonny. They didn't know about her highlighted hair, all black wardrobe or the cloud of sadness that seemed to follow her around. They didn't know, and Jessie wasn't sure if she was ready for them to know. With one last look towards the area of the kitchen, she turned and headed up the stairs to her old room. Up the stairs to her old life. She stepped into her room and smiled despite herself, if anything looked exactly the same, it was her room. Her bed still perfectly made, her books lined up alphabetically with her senior yearbook on the floor. Jessie walked in her closet and smiled, even her clothes, the many colorful ones that she hadn't brought to school with her, were still separated by color. Jessie looked back at her bed and her eye noticed one thing that was different, a gray piece of paper with her name on written on it. As she walked closer to it, she noticed it was an envelope and her name was written in something that looked like a sloppier version of Jonny's handwriting. Curiously, Jessie sat down on the bed and opened the envelope, inside was a short letter, written only a few days after Jessie had come home to pick up her things for school. "Dear Jessie," the letter began, "I'm sorry we missed you, but dad was called to Russia and he and Race insisted I come along. Not much has changed this summer, we all miss you, but none more than me. Bandit still sleeps in your room half the time, but at least he sleeps. I keep wishing I had told you the truth earlier, I keep thinking of how happy we would be right now. I love you Jess, and I always will. Love always, Jonny." Jessie felt a small tear fall down her cheek as she reread the letter two more times. She put it back in the envelope and placed it under her pillow. She then laid her head on the pillow, curled up and fell into a deep slumber. Only a moment later, Bandit jumped on the bed, barking his approval that Jessie was home. Jonny boredly looked out the window as a yellow taxi drove him up his driveway. Unlike Jessie, he hadn't taken any of his cars with him to school and at the moment he was grateful. He paid the taxi driver what Jonny felt was an exorbitant amount before stepping out of the cab. He only had a single black duffel bag which he easily carried over his shoulder. Jonny looked around and allowed a small smile before he arrived at the door. Instead of entering, he knocked slowly on the door, his mind momentarily on the few twelve packs of beer he had placed in his duffel bag amongst his clothes. "Jonny." The door opened and Dr. Quest smiled at him. "Hey dad, hey Race." Jonny casually smiled. "Hi Jonny." Race grinned. "Jonny, do you want anything to eat or drink after your flight." Dr. Quest asked. "No thanks." Jonny said, biting his tongue not to ask for a beer. When he had visited for Thanksgiving, Jonny paid attention to everyone's drinking habits. Race never seemed to drink, as he was technically always on duty as a bodyguard and Dr. Quest favored wine. "Here, let me take that to your room for you." Race reached for Jonny's bag. "No, that's all right Race," Jonny said quickly, then he paused, "where's Jessie?" "Not here yet." Race answered. "I saw her Beamer parked in the same spot it's always in." Jonny told them. "She's probably sleeping," Dr. Quest said before Jonny or Race could assume the worst, "she had a long drive." "I'll go check." Jonny said, walking up the stairs. He put the duffel bag in his room, then walked to Jessie's open door. He smiled, there she was. Her dyed hair spread out over the pillow, curled up with Bandit near her feet. Jonny went to cover her with a blanket but paused, her clothes were too warm for a Florida winter. Instead, Jonny kissed her cheek, faintly tasting a tear stain before heading back downstairs. "Yeah, she's curled up on her bed like a baby, Bandit's with her." "I wondered why he suddenly ran upstairs twenty minutes ago." Dr. Quest laughed. "I wonder why she didn't say hi." Race whispered. "Race, dad, how long has it been since you've seen her?" Jonny asked as they walked towards the kitchen. "June, when she said goodbye to us." Dr. Quest told him. "I saw her on Halloween," Jonny whispered, "she's changed a little." "Estella called last week," Race nodded, "she told us to be prepared. Though she didn't say what for." "Jessie has changed many ways, only some of which are physical." "Wait a minute," Race looked Jonny in the eyes, "you saw her on Halloween?" "Yeah, she looked beautiful." Jonny smiled wistfully. "Son, I believe Race is wondering why you didn't tell us at Thanksgiving." Dr. Quest put his hand on Jonny's shoulder. "Thanksgiving wasn't exactly the best example of a Quest family dinner." Jonny scowled walking away. "Jonny." Dr. Quest called over sternly. Jonny sauntered over, still scowling. "Yeah dad?" "This vacation won't have the same problems that Thanksgiving had." "Hey, we got Jessie and Hadji for this one," Jonny laughed, "you've got two more people to worry about attitude from." "I doubt any of them will give us half the trouble you did." "Dad," Jonny looked Dr. Quest in the eyes, "you don't know them the way I do. I should be the last one you're worried about." "No, but perhaps I should be worried about your grade in Computer Science." "You know about that?" Jonny looked down in shame. "The dean is an old friend of mine, I called curious about how you were doing. Jonny what's wrong, you could teach that class? In fact you probably learn about Quest World in the class." "Not till next term dad." Jonny muttered. "Couldn't you test out of the class?" "Probably." Jonny shrugged. "Don't you want to Son?" "Not really." Jonny shrugged again. Dr. Quest and Race exchanged a worried look. "When did you become so apathetic?" Dr. Quest asked. Jonny shrugged again, though in his heart he knew the answer, the day Jessie flew to Europe, and took his heart with her. "Hey everyone." Jessie suddenly said through a yawn. Jonny held back a small laugh, it would be interesting to see everyone's reactions to the new Jessie. She walked in the room, her hair neatly brushed, wearing the same all black clothes as before. "Hey Jess." Jonny said casually. Her hair looked lighter than last time in contrast to her black outfit. "Hello Jessie." Dr. Quest said, trying to mask his surprise at her hair, Race was less subtle. "Jessica Estella Maria Bannon." "Yeah dad?" She asked innocently. Jonny had to hand it to her, she could still pull off the innocent look better than anyone he knew. "What did you do to your hair?" "I dyed it." She said simply. "But why?" Race asked in shock. Jessie turned on him. "Because dad, I'm nineteen years old now, that's right, nineteen. And maybe, just maybe, I wanted to try something new." Jessie tossed her hair and stormed away. Jonny gave Race an apologetic look before rushing after her. "Jess, wait up." "I suppose you're going to tell me he's right." She said, choking through tears. "Jessie, I already told you that I liked it." "Yeah, but you just want to get in bed with me." "Jess, that's not true." "Oh? So you don't want to have sex with me?" She looked up at him in surprise. "Not now." Jonny exclaimed. "So you do want to have sex with me?" Jessie crossed her arms. "Eventually, I mean, um." Jonny started to stammer. "See! You're a man," Jessie threw up her arms in disgust, "men are all the same! You, daddy, Eric, they're all the same." Tears were running down her face now, though Jessie seemed oblivious to them. "Jessie, I would never hurt you." Jonny reached for her hands. "You hurt me last February Jonny." Jessie hissed. "I'm a different person now. You should know that better than anyone," Jonny looked her in the eyes, "right Athena?" "Well Phantom, I'm sure you know then that I am hardly the girl you fell in love with. That girl is dead and buried." Her eyes blazed of fire as she stomped away. Jonny looked after her and sighed. The more some things changed, the more they stayed the same. Jessie meanwhile sat on her bed, looking wistfully out her window. Though her body was in her bedroom, her mind was elsewhere, looking for her lost soul. ************************************************************ The plane had landed in France and Jessie was ecstatic. On the plane she had talked and become friendly with a couple of other travelers, though more than anything, she was thrilled to have the time alone with Eric. Before heading to their hotel, the students just wanted to walk around Paris for a little, examining the many beautiful and miraculous sites. Jessie happily skipped along as Eric laughed at her happiness. "Paris is always beautiful." Jessie sighed, looking at a fountain. "Just how many times have you been to Paris?" Eric cocked an eyebrow. "Gosh, I don't know, but I think it gets even more beautiful each time." Jessie smiled, turning around to see everything. Grant and Laura, two of the other students, laughed, Jessie's enthusiasm was contagious. "Jessica Bannon, is that you?" A voice said behind her. Everyone turned to face an older man who had a smile on his face. "Bonjour Monsieur Bejou," Jessie smiled back, then she turned to the others, "Mr. Bejou is a diplomat my family knows." "How is everyone doing?" He asked her politely. "Splendidly, Jonny's going to college this fall, Harvard." Jessie flashed the smile she reserved for the officials she'd met many times. "That's fantastic, and how about you?" "I'm going to Yale, this summer I'm touring Europe with a student group." She gestured towards the other people. "That is wonderful, give my regards to your father and Dr. Quest." "Of course I will, au revoir." Jessie waved as he walked away. "You're family friends with a French diplomat?" Chris gasped. "Sure." Jessie shrugged. Everyone stared at her in awe. "Hey honey, I have an idea." Eric took her hand. "Yeah?" "They say everything changes after graduation, right?" "I guess." Jessie said, she had never heard any such saying, though it made sense. "Well, maybe you should do something different to your hair." "My hair?" Jessie gasped, her hands flying to her red hair. "Yeah," Eric smiled, "maybe get it lightened." "My hair?" She whispered. "It'll make you look even more beautiful." "Really?" Jessie looked up at him wide eyed. "Yeah, let's go to a hair salon, you guys want to come?" Eric asked the rest of the crowd. There was a chorus of no's as they all headed towards the hotel, Eric reached for Jessie's hand. "Ready?" He smiled. "Sure." She said in a small voice. Together, they headed towards a local hair salon. Eric walked to the front counter and demanded an appointment. The woman behind the counter gave him an odd look and started spitting out an answer in French. Jessie gave Eric a sideways look before continuing the conversation in flawless French. "Excuse me ma'am, but can we get an appointment soon?" "Of course, Marie is available now to do your hair, what did you want done?" "Um," Jessie looked at Eric for a moment, "highlights I believe." "Very good, Marie is over there." "Thank you." Jessie smiled as she walked over to a tall woman with beautiful blond hair. "What'd you say?" Eric asked. "Marie will see us now, for highlights." "Great." Eric grinned as they walked over to Marie. Again, Jessie started a conversation in French. "Hello Ma'am, we'd like to do something to my hair." "You have beautiful hair, what would you like to do?" "Lighten it, highlights perhaps." "I know what would be lovely," Marie took a strand of Jessie hair and nodded, "we could dye your hair a strawberry blond, then add some streaks perhaps we could put some platinum highlights to frame your face, then highlights in every color from light blond, to your natural red throughout the hair. And I could cut some layers on the bottom, no more than an inch of course, just to give you some volume. Would you like me to cut some bangs for you?" "No! I mean no thank you," Jessie smiled, "it took me too long to grow them out." "So, shall we start?" "Um...." Jessie looked over at Eric, "ok, let's do it." Nervously, Jessie sat down as her hair began to be transformed. "Jessie, would you like some green beans?" Dr. Quest asked. "Yes, thank you." She smiled at him. There was silence around the dinner table for a moment. "Race would you pass the chicken?" Jonny asked. "Here you go Jonny." Race handed Jonny the plate. Again, there was silence. "Jessie, would you like some?" Jonny asked, she turned her eyes on him and glared. "No thank you." Silence followed. Dr. Quest and Race exchanged a worried look. "Race can you pass the bread?" Dr. Quest asked. "Sure doc," Race handed Dr. Quest the basket of bread then turned to Jessie, "are you sure you don't want any chicken Ponchita?" "No dad, I'm a vegetarian now." Jessie said crisply. "Any other changes you feel like sharing?" Race asked sternly. "Not particularly." Jessie took a bite of her green beans. "Don't get smart with me young lady." "Why not dad," she looked back at him, "I learned it from you." "So Jonny, do you have any plans for vacation?" Dr. Quest asked, trying to break the tension. "Whatever." Jonny shrugged, glancing slightly at Jessie who was enthralled with her bread. "Whatever? No plans to see old friends or have any adventures?" "Nope." Jonny turned back to his chicken. Dr. Quest and Race looked at each other and sighed. "So Jessie, how was Europe?" Dr. Quest asked. "Oh it was fine," she looked up, "may I be excused?" "Jessie....." Race said warningly. "No, let her go Race," Dr. Quest met Jessie's eye, "I think Jessie's still tired from her drive." Jessie nodded weakly. Race gave a small nod and Jessie started to walk out of the dining room. She looked back and smiled at Dr. Quest. "Thank you." She whispered, knowing he could read her lips. Dr. Quest smiled and winked, he remembered coming home his first year of college, with bleached blond hair, love beads and new ideals. His parents hadn't reacted any better than Race was reacting now. Jessie walked to her room, looking back at the dinner table. Her mind wandered once again to Europe, once again thinking of what might have been. ************************************************************ Jessie and Eric walked into a restaurant and noticed everyone else sitting at a table. Smiling, they sat with everyone. "Hi guys, we were hoping you'd get here in time." Grant smiled at them. "Jessie, your hair looks amazing." Laura told her with a smile. "You think?" Jessie asked nervously, Eric had not said a single word to her since leaving the salon. "Definitely, it's very beautiful." Laura told her, the others nodded. "I thought your red hair made you stand out, but this does even more." Brenda agreed. "Thanks guys." Jessie smiled, blushing. The waiter came soon after and walked to Jessie first. "I'll have a salad please." Jessie said in English, the restaurant specialized in being Americanized. "Yeah, I'll have a burger." Eric ordered. The waiter took the order and walked on to the next person. "Eric, I thought you were a vegetarian." Jessie whispered. "Nah, I just told you that to impress you." Eric smiled. "Did you even cook the first meal we had together?" "I ordered in from a vegetarian restaurant, I wanted everything to be perfect." Eric turned back to the other students and started to talk to them. Jessie was puzzled, she could see where Eric was coming from, but it still bothered her that he had lied about something like that, and kept it up almost a month. She thought back to all the times they'd been together, Eric had never ordered meat and had even gone out of his way to order something vegetarian at times. In fact, because of his commitment and belief in what he was doing, Jessie herself had become a vegetarian. She plastered on a fake smile, though inside she was confused. If Eric could lie about that, what else could he lie about? She turned to him, ready to voice her opinion. ******************************************************* "Hey Jess, sorry about your dad." Jonny peeked in her room. "That's exactly the reason you didn't want to get together with me," Jessie shrugged, "you knew he'd react like that to any change, I didn't." "I'm sorry about before." "No Jonny," Jessie laughed, "I was in a bad mood, so I took it out on you." "I'd still like to make it up to you somehow." "Sure, come on in," Jessie smiled, "we could talk about old times or something." "All right, I'll be right back though, you want a beer?" "No thanks." "And I know you drink Jess, because Athena had at least one martini." Jonny wagged his finger at her. Jessie couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah yeah yeah, but I don't drink beer," her eyes twinkled, "you do realize that dad doesn't keep any in the house and your dad only has wine?" "Never under estimate Jonny Quest," he winked, "like I said, be right back." And in a flash, Jonny was gone. Jessie giggled to herself and Jonny walked back in, his duffel bag slung over her shoulder. He sat on the floor next to the bed where she was sitting. "What, are you going to show me your variety of black shirts?" Jessie laughed, slipping on the floor next to him. "Not at all Jess," Jonny reached in the bag and pulled out a beer, "not at all. "Oh, I bet you think you're so clever." Jessie rolled her eyes. "You know it." Jonny winked once again. Jessie pulled her own duffel bag towards her and produced a clear bottle. "Guess you're not the only clever one." She smiled, pulling out a Yale shotglass. "What'd ya bring?" "Vodka, want some?" Jessie smiled, pouring herself a shot. "I thought you hated vodka." "I thought you didn't drink." She answered as Jonny popped open a beer. "Hey, it's been almost six months since we've really seen each other," he took a swig of beer, "people change." "Yeah," Jessie agreed, downing her shot of vodka, "people do change." "You know something Jess, would you have thought a year ago that we'd be sitting in your room drinking alcohol we smuggled in the house?" "No way," Jessie shook her head, "not in a zillion years." "How much did you bring?" Jonny asked as he finished his beer. "Just a couple of bottles," she poured another shot, "how about you?" "A few twelve packs." "How long do you imagine that'll last?" She looked him dead in the eyes. "Hell if I know, but not long enough." He opened another beer and finished it in one large gulp. "Yeah, I know what you mean, music?" Jessie stood up and walked to her radio. "Sure." Jonny grinned, moving up to Jessie's bed. She turned on a local rock station then smiled. "If I'm smart then I'll run away," she sang along with the radio station, "but I'm not so I guess I'll stay. Heaven forbid. I'll take my chance on a beautiful stranger. I looked into your eyes. And my world came tumbling down. You're the devil in disguise. That's why I'm singing this song." Jessie brushed her hair off her face as she sat down next to Jonny on the bed. "Wow Jess, never knew you had such a good voice." Jonny looked into her eyes. "It's nothing special." Jessie looked down as the song continued. "You know the lyrics are right, I look into your eyes and my world comes tumbling down." Jonny pulled her face up to look at him. "Jonny maybe you should go." "But Jessie." "No Jonny, I mean it, I don't want things to go too far. We're both a little intoxicated right now." "Jessie, the lyrics say to stay." "No Jonny, they said 'If I'm smart then I'll go away,' I want to be smart Jonny. I can't be stupid, not anymore." "Jess." "Please Jonny, just go." "One more drink Jessie, a toast?" "Fair enough," Jessie smiled, pouring herself a shot. Jonny opened a fresh beer. "To tomorrow?" Jonny suggested. "Tomorrow." Jessie nodded. Quickly choking back their drinks, Jessie and Jonny swallowed before looking back at each other. Jessie turned her head towards Jonny, briefly wondering if she should change her mind. "Goodnight Jess." Jonny kissed her cheek, picked up his bag and walked out the door. Jessie turned off her radio, then collapsed on her bed, her mind traveling once again. ******************************************************* Jessie turned to Eric when the waiter appeared once again. "I am so sorry," the waiter smiled, "but I forgot to ask what you would like to drink." "I'll have a beer." Eric said. Jessie opened her eyes in shock. "And you miss?" The waiter asked. "Oh, I'll just have a Sprite or something." Jessie said quickly. The waiter nodded and moved on. "Eric, I thought you didn't drink." "I just told you that." Eric shrugged. "God Eric, you told me that at prom, we already were a couple, it's not like your drinking would scare me away." "I had to be perfect for you Jessie, so if I had to go for a night without drinking, then so be it." Eric looked Jessie in the eyes. "But you didn't," Jessie realized, "when you went to get water I kissed you and you tasted like vodka, you said you tried the spiked punch, but that's not the truth, is it?" "I wanted to have a drink, but I didn't want to shatter your image of me." Eric looked nonchalant. "Eric, I was already going to Europe with you, going to Yale with you. What, did you think one beer would change all that?" "It's not like I didn't have competition for you." He muttered. "You're not the person I thought you were," Jessie whispered, then she turned to the table, "excuse me everyone, I'm going to have to go upstairs." "Excuse me," Eric smiled his charming smile at everyone before rushing after her, "Jessie wait, let me explain."