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Jessie knew what she wanted in life. A rich man, preferably the richest he could possibly be, who was beautiful and would pamper her and attend to her every need. Which she knew was just the hyperbolic equivalent of what she wanted: a man who was comfortable in his living situation, nice looking and sweet, as opposed to the thorns Jessie had to deal with from her old job. Oh, and she wouldn’t settle — but that doesn’t mean it should’ve been hard to find an upstanding guy who loved her, right?
Right ?
So why was she sitting at a table at Pallet’s best (only) restaurant because of some man’s insistence (because Jessie herself would have not picked this place — too much proximity to that damn twerp) alone ? Why was this beautiful lady (because she was nothing short of beautiful) seconds away from ruining her make-up with tears that weren’t worth her while? And why, why out of all of that, was she getting pity looks from not just James and Meowth, but the other customers as well?
With a huff and a slight slam of her hand against the table, Jessie stormed off. She didn’t even bother to take note if James and Meowth followed or not.
“Oh there you are, Jess you had us worried,” James said, causing Jessie to turn her head towards him and Meowth, before realizing that her make-up was running, so she burrowed her head into her knees, so they wouldn’t see her at her weakest.
“Yeah, thank gosh yer safe.”
Jessie definitely regretted them having to see her like this.
It wasn’t new, being stood up like this. She was used to it and worse, even. But something about turning a new leaf, deciding not to dedicate her life to crime but to her passions instead… Something about wanting to be a better person and actually live a decent, meaningful life (since any life with James and Meowth by her side was worth it, but they could’ve been so much more) made the third rejection by flaking hurt more.
“He could’ve at least had the audacity to say no to my face,” Jessie said as she attempted to stifle her sniffles. “What kind of person just leaves ?”
“A coward,” Meowth said.
“Yes, a coward definitely not deserving of you,” James added. Jessie couldn’t see him at this moment, still hiding her face, but she could just imagine him nodding at that. And keep nodding as he added, “A man like that doesn’t deserve you.”
And he was damn right.
…Still hurt though.
Wiping her face one last time, Jessie regained her strength, pumping a fist in the air even as her face was most likely smeared with mascara and red lipstick — it didn’t matter, it was just the three of them — and declared, “Yeah, he didn’t deserve me! He wouldn’t be able to handle me. Too much of a scaredy-cat to play with the adults.”
“That’s the spirit!” Meowth said, and he and James went to hug Jessie. The embrace felt warm. Something Jessie was desperately missing right now — the tucked away steps of… Some place that she struggled to find (look, Pallet Town was a pitiful town, she couldn’t find many private places to hide) had a draft, and the crying was making her face freeze with the wind added to it. She desperately wanted to savor that hug, but a lady’s voice cut through and stopped it short.
“Hey! You two!”
“James? Meowth? What did you two do?” Jessie asked, her tone like that of a disappointed parent. They said they were going to do better. They said no more crime.
“We uh —”
“Kinda dined and dashed?” James finished.
“You idiots !” Jessie shouted, whipping out her fist to pummel them both in the head. As the two begged for forgiveness from her, Jessie made eye contact with the lady who chased them down. And she must’ve still had smeared make-up on her face, because the lady’s own expression was soft. Not at all one of anger like she should’ve had.
“I’m so so so sorry for these blubbering idiots idiocracy,” Jessie said, turning James and Meowth around to face the lady, who she assumed was the restaurant owner, or something, since she had a ladle still in her hand.
The lady put her hands on her hips, giving off an aura of motherly concern that even gave Jessie fear, despite her never once causing her trouble. “Well,” she started out, her expression turning softer, but not as soft as what she had given Jessie moments before. “Since you haven’t left the town and seemed to be comforting a friend…”
“You’ll let us off the hook?” James pleaded, only to get the lady to cross her arms and shake her head.
“The restaurant’s getting a bit busy right now — it always does around this time — and even with my son helping out, well, let’s say it still does get a little hectic. So how about this? You two come back early tomorrow morning for a full shift and I won’t call Officer Jenny on you. Is that fair?”
“Yes ma’am,” the two said in unison, earning a small clap from the lady.
“Great! I’ll see you then!”
Jessie had just meant to drop James and Meowth bright and early and do some exploring of Pallet by herself (even though there really wasn’t much to explore, but she supposed she’d better get used to knowing where things were on her own and not because she was following the twerp around), but the lady had other plans.
“Oh you, come here!” she had said when Jessie pushed James and Meowth through the door like they were children reluctant to go to school. Initially, Jessie was paranoid, knowing that stern motherly look that the lady could give. But she didn’t do anything wrong for once, so she cautiously headed towards the lady.
“Are you okay?” she asked. Jessie balked. “It’s just that —” the lady gave the same soft expression she had given Jessie the day prior, most likely trying to suppress the blown out of proportion reaction she had “ — you got stood up yesterday, it seemed like. And you didn’t even try our food! We were all concerned,” though, Jessie didn’t know who this “we” was, “and I really… Felt bad.”
“Oh you don’t have to feel that way at all!” Jessie said, waving and laughing it off like it was no big deal. “He was just some jerkface I met,” she turned her face towards the wall and puffed out her chest to give an illusion that she was over it, “and well, y’know how men are. Some just can’t take the heat. Really, it’s fine.”
The lady’s hands had interlocked themselves and she held them to her chest, her eyes still pitying Jessie, making her uncomfortable. “Are you sure?”
“Positive!”
“I still want to make it up to you —- how about breakfast? On the house! After all, I need to teach your two friends how to make some of our dishes, right?”
“I, uh, suppose so?” Jessie didn’t even know her name . She didn’t know Jessie’s name.
Why was she being so kind?
“Oh, uh —” Jessie stammered, realizing as the lady had left, that she had never gotten her name. But the lady had already disappeared into the kitchen by the time Jessie remembered, so she just had to… Hope she wouldn’t forget when the food came. (She forgot when the food came.)
All she knew was that the lady had light brown hair that was tied up in a nice low ponytail by a blue elastic.
All day, Jessie couldn’t forget that lady’s kindness.
(Nor could she forget how good that breakfast was and how she definitely didn’t have enough to afford it as often as she’d like, unless she wanted to work for her like James and Meowth were.)
Even as she got hit on multiple times, she felt as if what had made her on cloud nine that day, as she returned back to pick up her two friends, was the fact someone had been so kind to see that Jessie enjoyed the food that she cooked.
When she arrived at the restaurant, she saw the three of them sitting at an empty table, discussing something unbeknownst to Jessie.
“Ah it’s Jess!” Meowth shouted, and the lady turned around and smiled. Jessie could practically feel herself melting away.
“Oh welcome back!” the lady said with a smile, this time wider than what she had been greeted with. “Your friends were amazing! Currently I’m asking them if they want to work full time — they were such a big help! And I didn’t know James could cook! He handles the recipes so well…” She trailed off, her hand on her cheek as she thought of what had apparently transpired. Though Jessie herself felt a warmth in her heart for two reasons: for her friends getting a job with someone so nice, and a second one, unbeknownst to her.
Oh! She had never gotten the lady’s name, nor had she properly thanked her for the meal.
“Thank you, by the way, for earlier,” Jessie said, bowing deeply as if she had troubled the lady, who waved it off the same way Jessie had waved the rejection earlier. “It was amazing, Miss, uh…”
“Delia!”
“Delia, right,” Jessie said, smiling now that she had a name to the face.
And something made her heart unable to shut up. Something made Jessie’s face flush red as she stammered, trying to figure out how to repay the kindness Delia showed. Jessie wouldn’t take simply just, receiving a meal and not doing anything for the person back. That cost money after all. And Jessie prided herself on managing to have enough for a decent meal for two at the current moment, just in case her date was cheap and wouldn’t pay for her share.
“Would you like dinner sometime? So we’re even, not for any other reason…” Though, the last part was barely audible, so Jessie doubted that Delia heard it.
Immediately, Delia clasped onto Jessie’s hands, bringing them up and between their faces. “I would love to!” she said, before realizing just how red Jessie was and letting go. “Oh, I’m sorry, was that too much?”
“No, I, uh…”
Jessie just never thought she would fall for a woman.