Chapter 1

I saw Jesse walk around the front of his new car and open the door for me. 'Why thank you, sir.' I said, grinning up at him and carefully pulling my airbrushed legs out of the car. I had to hold Jesse's shoulder as I stood up, because my 4-inch heels made me wobble a little, as I stepped onto the unpaved ground.Touching Jesse, in the flesh was amazing. I could feel his warmth linger on my slightly browned skin. 'There is something I need to show you, Susannah.' Jesse looked down at me, with those limpid pools.

Compared to Jesse, a Godfather loving, had-been ghost still getting the hang of wearing jeans Paul means absolutely nothing to me, well almost. Jesse is the most incredible guy. I mean, he definitely has his head on straight with how to treat a girl. I mean, not that I like him pulling back every time things get a little hot, but it makes me feel special, like the relationship is about so much more than that.

I bent down- not breaking eye contact with him- and slid my heels off of my feet. 'Uh yeah, OK.' I said, totally un-romantically! I mean, can I break a mood, or what? I followed Jesse through the grass, then onto the sand, still holding the thin straps of my well-picked, prom shoes in one hand. Jesse touched my wrist gently as he sat down, near the water's edge. Then he slid his rough fingers in between mine and sighed, almost quiet enough for me not to hear. I looked down at the cold, wet sand he obviously wanted me to sit in. Now let me just say that if anyone else had asked me to sit down, there, in my prom dress, no less, I would have totally not- but when Jesse squeezed my hand softly and nodded next to him, I couldn't help but melt. As uncomfortable as it was, I plopped down close to him, and breathed in deeply of the salty air.

'Burr…It's kind of chilly out tonight, huh?' I said, moving closer to Jesse and snuggling into his side. He lifted his strong arm, and wrapped it around my bare shoulders. Jesse had taken off his jacket, unbuttoned his first button and rolled up his sleeves. Wow, he's getting the hang of this not-wearing-ruffly-shirts-thing. I'm proud. I looked down at his brown, so very much alive arm and sighed. I loved Jesse like this. I mean, I loved him as a ghostly glow too, of course. But this new sense about him, just the realness of the whole thing, it made my whole body tingle.

I gently rested my head on his shoulder. After a few moments he brought his strong hand to my chin, barely touching it, like he thought I was so delicate that I might break. He tilted my head. I looked into his soft eyes, then at his lips. I watched him gently close his eyelids. Then, following his lead, I closed mine too. I felt his lips press softly against my own as I slowly raised my hand and slid it behind his neck, feeling his soft curls and warmth.

He pulled away after a moment of complete and utter bliss, looked into my eyes for a moment, then carefully plucked a large shell from the sand beside him, and handed it to me. I have to tell you, I had no idea what was happening. I mean, what was I supposed to do? Say "Thanks Jesse…for this lovely…shell."? So I took the shell in my hand and leaned against his shoulder once more. But Jesse wasn't finished with the shell thing. Guys…They can be so confusing sometimes. 'Querida,' He said, touching my hair and smiling a little, 'Open it.' I still couldn't imagine what was so important in there, so I just did as Jesse had told me, and opened it. Let me tell you, I was stunned. It was so beautiful. A small silver heart embedded with diamonds, real diamonds, on a silver chain. After gasping quietly, I hesitated then said, 'No. No, Jesse. You can't afford this. You need this money for Med. School.'

I tried to put the shell back into Jesse's hand but he just sat there calmly watching me and smiling with that incredibly romantic, heart-melting smile. 'I want you to have it Susannah,' He said as he brought the silver necklace to my neck, 'I love you.'

The words rolled off his tongue with such elegance. The salty air brushed my cheeks, softly, and for a moment I closed my eyes. It was something I thought I'd never hear Jesse say, not in a million years. I should have known he loved me, after everything we'd been through. I just somehow had never pictured it being spoken out loud. It wasn't the first time someone had said they loved me. My mom and dad had said it plenty of times. Oh, and maybe the occasional guy who just wanted inside my pants. I suppose that was why Jesse saying it was so special. He only did because it was the truth, not so I would give him something he wanted…Well, maybe wanted. No one had ever expressed so much honesty, responsibility and true understanding with those three simple words. Jesse didn't just say them; he had thought long and hard about them and had completely understood the significance of the whole thing. Almost as if he was committing to love me on the beach that night, and for the rest of forever, even if it meant dieing. And for a guy who'd already been dead for 150 years, it was quite significant for him to be totally okay with promising his new life to some sixteen year old girl from New York.

And then it happened. From deep inside of me, it spilled out, like water spilling over the sides of a bathtub. This was something I had wanted to tell Jesse practically since I'd met him that afternoon in my bedroom, but had always kept it a secret for fear he didn't feel the same. I looked at him straight in the eye, rested my chin on his shoulder, and then whispered softly into his ear, 'I love you too, Jesse.'