" I just don’t like her!" blurted out Jessie. She was sitting in the shade 
of an olive tree with Jonny.
	"You sure you aren’t being paranoid, Jess?" asked Jonny. He had started 
believing in Jessie’s gut feelings but this time, he questioned it.
	"I’m not paranoid!" Jessie said forcefully. "That woman creeps me out!"
	"What about her creeps you out? Is it her eyes? Or is it that weird 
necklace she wears? The one with the snakes weaving around it." Jonny looked 
at Jessie, a slight hint of doubt in his voice. What was he doubting? He 
asked himself. Jessie’s sanity or Stheno’s behaviour?
	"Nothing physical, actually. Just an inner feeling." Jessie turned away. 
She hated it when Jonny gave her that concerned look.
	"Just forget about her. It may be good for my dad to see someone sometimes. 
Let’s go in." Jonny got up. He hauled Jessie to her feet gently. "Or would 
you rather enjoy the sunset?"
	"Definitely the sunset. It’s either that or my dad’s shower singing." 
Jessie made a face and strode towards the beach. She sat on a grassy bank, 
staring at the crimson horizon. A second later, she sensed Jonny settling 
down beside her.
	"Hey, if you have anything that’s really bothering you, and you wanna talk 
about it, you can tell me. I won’t think you’re insane," said Jonny, turning 
her head gently towards his. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
	Jessie smiled. In the fading sunlight, he looked almost perfect. She took 
hold of his warm hand and gave it a squeeze. She rested her cheek on it, 
feeling its comfortable warmth. She kissed it gently.
	"Ever seen anything so beautiful?" Jessie asked, referring to the gorgeous 
sunset.
	"Yes. You!" Jonny said breathlessly, a seductive whisper in her ear. He 
pulled a strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. "Or actually, you 
win hands down!"
	"You will say almost anything to make me happy, won’t you?"
	"Yes."
	"You’re incorrigible, Jonny Quest."
	"Does that mean irresistible?" Jonny teased.
	"No, more like irritating." Jessie pinched his hand, hard.
	"Oww," Jonny winced.
	The last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon. Darkness was 
beginning its reign. Jonny and Jessie went back to the hotel, into separate 
rooms which they shared with their fathers.
	"Is he out yet?" asked Jonny, plopping himself beside Hadji on the couch.
	Hadji shook his head and continued watching a documentary on the mating 
habits of Indian cobras. Every now and then, he reached into a big bag of 
potato chips. Hadji was the only person Jonny knew who could eat snacks 
while watching a boring documentary.
	Suddenly, the hissing of the shower stopped. Benton emerged from the 
bathroom, wrapped in a huge towel. He went into his room and came out ten 
minutes later, dressed in a white mandarin collar shirt and tan slacks. He 
smelled of his favourite Calvin Klein fragrance.
	"So, boys. What do you think?" Benton turned around once.
	Both of them flashed him a thumbs-up sign.
	"Were you this nervous when you first met mom?" asked Jonny.
	"I was a lot worse then. Your mother was the calm one. Her calmness calmed 
me down." Benton said, slightly wistfully.
	"Hope you are not feeling too nervous right now. Go for it." Jonny urged.
	"What time will you be back?" asked Hadji.
	"Late-ish. Don’t stay up for me. I can take care of myself. Or at least 
Race can take care of me." Benton grinned. He grabbed a set of keys and left 
the room, leaving a trail of cologne behind him.
	Jonny made a face. "I really hate that cologne!"
	"Father loves that cologne. If you hate this one, wait till you hear 
Jessie’s description of Race’s," said Hadji. "We just have to wait for her 
now." He took a glance at his watch. 
"Five...four...three...two...one...zero!"
	Someone knocked on the door as Hadji smiled triumphantly. "There she is 
now."
	Jonny opened the door and Jessie stormed in. "I can’t believe my dad 
drowned himself in that horrible cologne!"
	"Jess, the only reason you hate that cologne is because Jade gave it to 
Race," reasoned Jonny. Jessie’s crimson hair appeared to be flaming.
	"It doesn’t suit him. It’s too... too."
	"Too citrusy?" Jonny offered, looking warily at Jessie.
	"Too, I don’t know what! I just don’t like it." Jessie sat down on the 
couch, between Jonny and Hadji. She reached into the bag of potato chips and 
grabbed a handful.
	"What is really disturbing you, Jessie?" Hadji prodded gently. He smoothed 
down his ponytail and pushed it aside.
	"Nothing. Much. I can’t understand why my father has to date every vixen he 
meets!"
	"He just needs to find the right person to settle down with. Right now, 
he’s not really ready to commit."
	"Yeah, I guess. Maybe I’m still hoping that he get back with my mom. 
Foolish, huh?"
	"Not if you think of it from a different angle," interrupted Jonny. "I 
sometimes wish my mom hadn’t died."
	"Yeah, in my case my father. My Dr. Quest is the best adopted father anyone 
could ask for." Hadji straightened himself.
	"Is it just me, or is this place getting a little solemn?" asked Jonny, 
desperate to change the subject. He looked meaningfully at them.
	"It’s not you. Let’s go for a walk," said Jessie. She got up and dusted off 
the crumbs.
	"I’ll get changed first," said Hadji. He gestured at his drawstring pants. 
He emerged a minute later in a clean shirt and the same pair of Bermudas he 
had worn in the afternoon. "Ready?"
	Jonny got up and opened the door. "We’ll get the spare key from reception 
later. Pops took the one we have." Hadji and Jessie followed him out of the 
room.
	"Let’s go. Town square anyone?" asked Hadji. The other two nodded.
	The town square loomed ahead of them, a blinding entity. Lights in every 
corner lit up the place. A huge crowd crowded around a woodcarving 
exhibition. A skilled woodcarver stood on a simple platform, rapidly 
chiselling at a block of wood, drops of perspiration dripping from the 
carver’s forehead.
	Jessie bought an owl. The perfect figurine was carved out of a block of 
wood, every intricate detail pain stakingly chiselled into place. Jessie 
handled the beautiful carving gently, turning it in the light so that she 
could see it from every angle.
	"Anybody wants a drink?" asked Jonny, flapping his collar. His shirt was 
plastered to his back with sweat and he had unbuttoned the first few top 
buttons.
	"I would," said Hadji.
	"Yeah, me too." Jessie gave Jonny a smile.
	"You two wait for me. I’ll go and get the beverages. Back in 
half-a-minute." Jonny turned to run towards a nearby coffee shop.
	"A Diet Coke for me," Jessie called after Jonny.
	"A regular for me," shouted Hadji.
	Jonny simply nodded and continued his short journey to the coffee shop. He 
came back a minute later, holding three cans of carbonated drinks. He handed 
the can of Diet Coke to Jessie and tossed the regular to Hadji. He popped 
open his own can of root beer and took a long refreshing swig.
	"So, where to now?" Jonny asked, taking another sip from his can.
	"The beach. There’s a cool breeze now." Hadji took a last sip from his can 
and tossed it into a nearby trash can.
	"Practising on your jumpshot, Hadj?" teased Jonny. He knew Hadji disliked 
basketball.
	Hadji simply shrugged and took Jessie’s empty can and threw it ten feet 
across, neatly into the trash can. He gave Jonny a smug smile and headed 
towards the beach. Jonny drank the last drop of root beer and tossed it 
behind him, smiling as he heard it fall into the trash can..
	Hadji and Jessie sat on a grassy bank. Jonny sat beside them, lying down on 
his back, staring at Orion. The stars glittered like diamonds in the sky. He 
felt happy, content at the moment. His brother had just returned from 
Bangalore, after nearly two years to join them on the family vacation. 
Hadji’s mother had packed all the bags immediately, before Hadji could 
change his mind.
	He turned his head slightly and gazed at his two best friends, one a 
brother, the other, his girlfriend. They were talking animatedly, laughing.
	Jonny got up and strolled away quietly. Jessie and Hadji had a lot to catch 
up on and he didn’t want to intrude. He took off his shoes and walked on the 
damp sand, kicking at the foamy edge of the calm waves. A pleasant ocean 
breeze blew, tugging at his wavy hair. He had let his hair grow long for the 
summer. His golden mane now reached his shoulder. He had meant to cut it 
before coming to Greece, but Jessie had convinced him to keep it till they 
got home to Maine.
	Jonny picked up a smooth pebble and handled it gently in his hands. Jessie 
had been acting strange lately. Distant. Sometimes she was hostile. Then she 
would act normal again. Sometimes in her mood swings, she would refuse to 
return his hugs or kisses. He would then stop, feeling hurt.
	I wish I knew how she really felt about me, thought Jonny, throwing the 
pebble as far as he could into the sea. He heard a small splash and smiled 
to himself. Time to be getting back, he thought, taking a short look at his 
digital watch. He walked back quickly, his footsteps silent on the soft 
sand.
	As he approached the grassy bank, he stopped cold. He stared in disbelief 
at the bank. Even in the moonlight, he could see everything, the vision so 
clear and vivid. Jessie and Hadji were locked in a passionate kiss. Jessie 
is kissing Hadji! Screamed a voice in his head. No, she wouldn’t. Hadji is 
kissing her, argued a weaker voice. What difference does it make? The first 
voice demanded. She is kissing him back.
	Jonny crept closer to get a better view. His disbelief had vanished, 
replaced by intense anger. Anger fuelled with jealousy. How could they 
betray his trust? When had this started? An endless torrent of questions 
threatened to drown him. Jonny collapsed to his knees, feeling hurt and 
helpless. Then, he got up. He crept away quietly.
	Jonny wandered around mindlessly, lost in thought. At last, he stumbled 
across a tavern. Jonny flashed his ID and entered. He sat on a high stool 
and ordered a Bloody Mary.
	"You sure you don’t mean a Virgin Mary?" asked the bartender, picking up 
few bottles and juggled them skilfully.
	"What’s difference?" snapped Jonny.
	"A Virgin Mary is a drink without the alcohol and the sin," replied the 
bartender.
	"Give me the manipulative slut then!"
	The bartender nodded and mixed the cocktail and poured it into a tall glass 
and slid it across the counter. Jonny picked up the glass and tipped it into 
his mouth, pouring half the glass into his throat, ignoring the burning 
sensation. He sat the glass down for a moment and picked it up again. 
Tipping the remains of the alcoholic beverage down his throat, Jonny 
signalled for another one.

**********************************************************************************
	Jessie pulled away from Hadji. She could still feel his soft lips on hers. 
Hadji advanced again, moving closer.
	"No, Hadji. Not yet. Not until I say something," Jessie said, stopping him.
	"What is it?"
	"This doesn’t feel right. It’s not fair to Jonny. I feel guilty." Jessie 
looked deeply into the two dark pools that stared back at her.
	"I do too. But it’s not your fault. Our love just blossomed. None of us can 
be blamed." Hadji reasoned.
	"We have to tell him. I have betrayed his trust long enough. If you won’t 
do it, I will!" Jessie glared at Hadji. She hated it when he acted like 
this.
	"I know. I have too. But how would he react?" said Hadji. A worried frown 
crossed his face.
	"I don’t care. He’s better off knowing now rather than later." Jessie 
picked up a pebble and hurled it as far as she could. She felt really 
guilty, not the type of guilt you felt when you caused someone else trouble 
but the type which ate at your insides, devouring your soul. It wasn’t the 
type of guilt which could be forgotten after some time.
	Hadji just nodded. "We’ll tell him tonight then. By the way, have you seen 
him?"
	Jessie looked around, and shook her head. "I haven’t seen him for about 
twenty minutes." She glanced around again.
	"Maybe he went back to the hotel," suggested Hadji.
	Jessie nodded and got up. She headed back towards the hotel, walking as 
fast as she could. She heard Hadji rushing after her but she continued at 
her pace.
	At last, the hotel building loomed up in the near distance. She entered and 
went straight to the hotel room Jonny shared with Hadji and his father. She 
waited for Hadji to arrive. He unlocked the door and they rushed inside. The 
room was quiet and nothing seemed to have been disturbed.
	"He didn’t come back." Jessie reported.  She looked at Hadji, feeling a 
little worried.
	"You think he saw us?" Hadji asked. He stuck his hands into his pockets, 
avoiding Jessie’s eyes.
	Jessie’s eyes grew wide. "Oh no! I hope not!"
	"We better look for him. He could be doing something crazy," said Hadji.
	"Where? He could be anywhere. Who knows what he’s doing right now? He could 
be taking a long walk for all we know!" Jessie’s voice showed the slightest 
hint of hysteria. She took a deep breath to calm herself down.
	"Then, what are we supposed to do?" asked Hadji, his voice rising. It was 
unusual for him to shout but he felt helpless right now.
	"I don’t know. And stop shouting!" said Jessie. She glared at Hadji. "You 
are making me nervous."
	"Me? You’re the one who started," argued Hadji. Then, he raised his hands 
in surrender. "I’m sorry. It’s just the pressure." He drew Jessie closer to 
him and kissed her gently.
	Suddenly, Jessie’s warm, soft lips changed to a punch from a hard fist. 
Hadji stumbled backwards, tasting the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. 
He rubbed his bleeding lip, leaving a smear of blood on his dark face. 
Slowly, his dazed vision came back into focus. He came eye to eye with a 
seething Jonny.
	"How could you?" he demanded, his voice low and his words slurred and 
almost incoherent. "How could you?" This time the question came out more 
distinct. Jonny clenched and unclenched his fists.
	Hadji looked away, looking away from Jonny’s watery eyes. "I...."
	"How long have you two been together behind my back?" asked Jonny. His eyes 
were beginning to lose their glaze and his furious expression was nearly 
completely replaced by confusion. He looked so vulnerable.
	Jessie waited for Hadji to answer but replied when he didn’t utter a word. 
"Since last summer," she whispered.
	Jonny spun around and looked at her, pain obvious in his eyes. "Why didn’t 
you tell me then? Why did you wait for me to find out a year later?" He was 
leaning close to her now. So close that she could smell the alcohol in his 
breath. So close that she could smell the stench of stale cigarette smoke on 
his clothes.
	"I don’t know," Jessie stammered. "I was confused then. I didn’t know who I 
loved more. I’m sorry Jonny."
	"You mean you loved two people at the same time?" asked Hadji in disbelief. 
He shook his head to emphasise his displeasure.
	"You were always so swamped up in your work that you hardly cared about me. 
Jonny, on the other hand, was attentive and caring. But he didn’t provide 
the security I needed sometimes. Security of my future. I can take care of 
myself, but I want to spend my life with someone who can truly care for me, 
take care of the family," Jessie said, looking from one boy to another. "I 
didn’t know who I wanted to spend my life with."
	"Have you made up your mind, Jess?" asked Jonny. His long hair was slicked 
back from his face with perspiration. He gazed at her with his blue eyes.
	Jessie shook her head, indicating no.
	"When were you planning on telling us this?" asked Hadji.
	"I don’t know. When I had made up my mind, I guess."
	Suddenly, the doorknob twisted. Someone was outside, opening the door.
	"Can we continue this conversation tomorrow, when Jonny is more sober?" 
asked Hadji. He looked questioningly at the other two.
	Jonny simply nodded and Jessie did the same. A moment later, Benton walked 
into the room, oblivious of the gloomy atmosphere around him. He was 
whistling a happy tune.
	"You three still up? Or did I wake you up?" he asked, a foolish question 
for the doctor.
	"We were just going to turn in. How was your date?" asked Hadji, trying to 
sound cheerful.
	Benton didn’t notice Hadji’s forced tone. "Stheno was amazing. We just 
clicked. I have not met a woman who shared my interests in nearly twenty 
years." He beamed at the three before going into the bathroom to wash up. 
"By the way, what happened to you, Hadji?"
	"I tripped on a sidewalk and hit myself," said Hadji, hurriedly. Benton 
seemed to be satisfied with the answer.
	"Where do we settle this?" asked Jonny. He looked as sober as anyone had 
ever seen him. Only a slight hint of flush remained on his chest.
	"We’ll meet tomorrow in the lobby and head somewhere quiet to talk. Be 
ready by ten o’clock in the morning," whispered Hadji.
	Jessie nodded. "Okay. See you guys then. I’d better be going. Good night."
	"See ya then," said Jonny, heading towards his room.
	Hadji simply nodded and opened the door for her. He closed it after her and 
went to Jonny’s room. He knocked on the door before entering. He wanted to 
have a long talk with his younger brother.

**********************************************************************************