(no subject)
27. Climb
James told her that her life would be so much easier if she didn’t look at everything in such competitive terms. She knew he was right, but it was so hard to just let things go when Cassidy was flaunting her successes in their faces.
Normally she would have been able to control her anger by simply ignoring the other girl if they happened to cross paths. Not today, though. As soon as she saw Cassidy across the cafeteria, strutting around in that new uniform, she knew there would be no escaping it.
“ Jess…” James muttered, putting his tray down and sitting down on the other side of the booth. “ You know she’ll be more inclined to come over here if she catches you staring at her like that.”
“ Is it that obvious?” she briefly glanced at him before returning her attentions to her rival. Jessie had of course heard rumors that Cassidy and what’s his face had been promoted to Elite status, but actually seeing her so regal and proud, clad in the same style of black, red, and white that the redhead remembered her mother wearing was enough to make her heart sink.
“ Yes, very obvious.” James answered. “ If I didn’t know any better I might think you were attracted to her.”
Meowth said something about Jessie having the hots around a mouthful of food.
“ Oh, shut up.” She snapped at them both. Looking her partner head on, she continued, “ She’ll come over here anyway as soon as she spots us. She’ll seek us out and rub it in our faces, and you’d better just be glad her partner isn’t here to egg her on about it. That damn Cassidy…”
Jessie slammed her fist on the table, causing their glasses, plates, and silverware to rattle.
“ Speak of the devil. Better gather your thoughts, Jess.” James sighed. He was half hoping that she would go ahead and dig into her macaroni salad. Maybe if her mouth was full it would prevent her from saying something she might regret later. Cassidy did have influence over them now, after all.
“ Well, well!” the blonde’s sing song voice cut through their conversation. “ If it isn’t Jess and Jim!” She walked over with a bounce in her step and invited herself to sit beside James.
“ So, Jessie.” She laughed, drawing out the other girl’s name in a very provocative manner. “ Notice anything…different?”
“ Let’s see…” came the apathetic response as the redhead looked her over for half a second before completely focusing on her food. “ You cut your hair.”
“ Very funny.” Cassidy seemed to be trying very hard to feign amusement before informing them of the obvious.
“ I suppose you’ve heard by now that Butch and I were promoted to Elites this week. Isn’t that just wonderful?”
“ Congratulations.” James said, intending to play as neutral as Switzerland but getting a death glare from his partner anyway.
“ Where IS your green-haired garbage disposal right now?” Jessie forced a smile. It was hard to keep it at that.
“ Actually, if you must know, he’s off making a security deposit on our new and very spacious apartment right this moment! Very far from where we started, aren’t we?” Cass seemed nostalgic. “ It seems we’ve passed YOU in the ranks now!”
“ That’s not going to be true for long.” Jessie barked. “ Enjoy the power while you can.”
“ Really?” the blonde seemed interested. She leaned forward. “ So tell me, how are you two doing? Work wise, I mean.”
Jessie narrowed her eyes and didn’t say anything. James gulped and downed the rest of his water, praying that this wouldn’t get out of control.
“ Oh?” Cassidy continued. “ You’re the same rank you were when you were first admitted into Team Rocket? Hm. Well, good luck with that, Jessie-Jess. I’d love to stay and chat but I have some important Elite business to attend to. Nyahahahahahahaa. Ta-ta!”
Jessie bristled at her over-exaggerated laugh and huffed as the other girl finally walked away.
“ James.” She said, turning to glare at him. He knew what was coming.
“ Yes?”
“ We have to get on the ball. There’s no way we can let them stay ahead of us in the ranks for long.”
“ Well what do you suggest we do?” James asked. “ We’re trying as hard as we can.”
“ We could pick offa da little weak ones foist.” Meowth offered. Jessie and James turned to look at him.
“ Explain yourself, Meowth.”
“ Well if da Boss is looking for quantity over quality, we ought to head off and pick on da trainers who are just startin’ out their journeys.”
“ Nobody can say anything if we’re bringing in some pokemon just about every weak.” Jessie and James shared a smile.
“ Not to mention, it would be an excellent way to train Ekans and Koffing.” James added. “ Once they’re more powerful, we can take on more powerful trainers and steal their more powerful pokemon.”
“ Might I suggest our own Viridian City?” Meowth seemed very pleased with himself. “ Second stop for trainers on dere way from Pallet Town.”
“ I have an even better idea.” Jessie leaned forward. “ I say we hit up the pokemon center.”
They had to dream big if they were going to get farther than Cassidy and Butch. Jessie explained to them how they might as well just rob the pokemon center and take all the beginning trainers’ pokemon in one haul. A feat like that would be much more impressive, after all. Then, all hands in, they decided that tomorrow would be the day they made it to the next rung in the ladder of success.
Takes place after "Training Daze" and sometime shortly before Jessie and James make their first appearance in the anime.