All of the characters in this story belong to Meg Cabot with the exception of Mandy and her family.

This is my first story posted here I hope you like it!

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1

"What!" I shouted at Paul who was leaning over his desk, which I was currently occupying. I was over his grandfather's house for my shifter lesson. I would have much rather been down on Carmel beach with my boyfriend but no, I was in the bedroom of the single person I hated most in the world. We did have an agreement though. Going to these lessons was the only way for me to be sure that Paul would stay away from Jesse.

"You, as a shifter, have the ability to decide weather or not a ghost dies in the first place." Paul repeated sternly looking me in the eye.

"Since when?" I asked hardly believing my ears.

"Suze you have always been able to. You just needed me to show you how." Paul replied in his usual lewd tone. "This is just one of the many things I can teach you. If you let me."

That tone of his sent shivers down my spine, and not in a good way. Not like the way my boyfriend Jesse always did.

"But how?" I asked disregarding his last comment

"Haven't you ever wondered where all those doors lead to in the shadowland?" He asked I nodded in response, "Each of those doors leads to a different time period. The time when someone died. Everyone who has died has their own door, by going into that door you enter the time that person died thus giving you the ability to save someone from their death." I looked at him speculatively not quite believing what he said, "The catch is you only have 48 hours, at most, to save someone, and you can only go through his or her door once."

"So that means..." My voice trailed off thinking of Jesse and what my recent discovery meant for him. For us.

"It means that with my help we can save your precious Jesse from his untimely death." Paul said with a smirk reading my thoughts.

That scared me in a way that nothing has ever scared me before, and trust me being a Mediator I have had my share of scares. No what scared me about this was that it meant that if Paul has his way I might never get to meet Jesse.

"You know what, I have to go." I stood up practically pushing Paul over. I really had to get out of there.

"Touched a nerve didn't I?" he said in that arrogant voice of his.

"No, I just need to get home." I said rushing past him.

"Think about it Suze." He said as he grabbed my arm on my way past him.

"Think about what?" I asked as I turned to face him but I already knew what he was going to say.

"He died when he was only twenty years old. He had an entire life ahead of him that someone took away," he said in a very cryptic voice. "Don't you think he would want a second chance?"

"What do you know about what Jesse wants?" I asked pulling my arm from his firm grasp.

"Just think about it that's all I'm saying" And with that I slammed the door in his face.

I didn't know what to think. Of course Jesse deserved a second chance at life. That didn't necessarily mean that he wanted it. At least that's what I wanted to think. I couldn't make this decision for him and I definitely didn't think Paul could either. I needed help, someone else's opinion.

I decided to call my friend Adam for a ride home. There was no way I was walking all the way back to my house. I knew from experience that a hot Carmel sidewalk and new shoes did not mix well. Adam never minded giving rides since he got his new car. He was a great guy; my friend Ceecee had an obvious thing for him.

We were almost to my house when he asked the inevitable question, "Why are you hanging around with Paul Slater? I thought you hated him."

"I do, but its kind of a long story." I replied not wanting to get into the details.

"Oh okay." He said taking the hint as we pulled up my driveway, "Just watch your back and remember I'm always here if you need my help." Adam didn't like Paul much either. He always thought he was pretty shady.

"Thanks Adam I appreciate it." I said with a smile as I got out of his car. I really did appreciate it; I never really had any friends like him back in New York so I wasn't about to take them for granted.

Luckily I got home just in time for dinner. If I hadn't my step dad Andy would have been very upset. You don't want to see Andy upset.

"Hi Susie where have you been?" my mom asked carrying a bowl of salad into the dining room. I hated being called Susie. My mom was the only one allowed to call me that.

"Just working on a history project with Paul." I replied. I couldn't exactly tell her he was teaching me how to go back in time to stop people from dying.

"We don't have a history project," Dopey strolled in with a stupid grin on his face. "Why don't you tell us what you were really doing with Paul, Suze?"

"I have to go put my books away." I said running up the stairs before he had the chance to stop me again.

After dinner I was flipping through my latest issue of Cosmogirl, but not really taking anything in. What If Paul tried to prevent Jesse's death himself? What would I do without him? Jesse has always been there for me. If he was never around I probably would be dead by now. He helped me escape Heather, Michael, and The RLS Angels. Not to mention Diego, Maria, and Paul. I suppose I wouldn't have had to worry about that situation without him though.

I was thinking of this and a little tear rolled down my cheek. Maybe Paul was right. As much as I hated to admit it Jesse had every right to the life he never had. I would probably be the worst girlfriend ever if I didn't stop Diego from murdering him. It was just so unfair. Just when we can finally be open with each other about our feelings this has to happen.

"Querida, what's wrong?" I hadn't noticed Jesse appear over by my bay window.

"Its nothing really," I tried to muster up a smile, "When did you get here?"

"Susannah, I know something is wrong." He took hold of my hand and gave me that severe look that could make me confess to anything.

"It's just that..." I was going to tell him I really was but, just then, the phone rang.

"Suze its for you" Doc said coming into my room I thankfully grabbed the phone before Jesse could protest. It was Ceecee. She called to ask me about an article she wanted me to write for the school paper. Something about how I was going to help the student body as the newly elected vice president of the junior class. By the time I hung up the phone Jesse was gone. I felt terrible for blowing him off like that but that just wasn't the way I wanted to handle the situation.

The next day I went straight to Father Dominic's office to tell him about what Paul had told me.

"Well that just doesn't seem possible Susannah," Father Dom stated after I explained what Paul told me, "I have never heard of anyone being able to go back in time, mediator or not."

"This is strictly hypothetical," I queried, "but say it is possible. What would the right thing to do be?"

I could tell that this question made him uncomfortable. "Well that is a hard question and I suppose it depends on the circumstances of the death." Replied Father Dom, "If you are thinking about Jesse and saving his life I say no. It isn't safe. You never really know what is on the other side of all those doors you tell me about and you know from experience how dangerous Diego is."

I thought about that but it wasn't myself that I was worried about. I wasn't afraid of a door and I could take Diego and Maria. I just wanted to do what was best for Jesse.

"I understand that but Jesse was killed," I responded, "He wasn't suppose to die."

"I do agree with you on that but, I don't want you taking any chances with this." He said sternly.

I wasn't getting anywhere with this, "I should get back to class before I miss the whole period."

"Yes that would be best," he said, "but remember what I said Susannah."

On my way back to class I ran into a not so familiar figure looming in the deserted hallway. A figure of the supernatural variety. She noticed me looking right at her and I could see a frightened expression spread across her face.

"Can you see me?" she asked in a shaky voice.

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