Chapter 1

Ok. So here it is, the first day of my senior year in high school. Most people are so freaking out about it, senior year, I mean.

But I'm not.

I guess that's what happens when you have your whole life in front of you and you DIDN'T lose the one thing that's important. In my case, it's my boyfriend.

And no, I'm not one of THOSE girls who are like "OHMIGOSH, my boyfriend JUST broke up with me, I'm SOO not gonna live without a guy in my life" crap. Because those girls aren't totally and completely in love with their boyfriends…no, see, they THINK they are, but let me tell YOU something…they're not.

But I am.

See, I've risked my life for him-Jesse-and he's risked his life for me…and that is something that those other girls probably did NOT do.

But if he's REALLY your true love, then it's all worth it (the risking my life for him part).

So yeah, back to the whole first day in senior year thing…

Kay, so I was thinking that what bad thing could ACTUALLY happen this year….since…

my ex-archenemy-Paul-decided that I was right and that we so did NOT belong

together and that he'll leave me alone

I have a boyfriend….and not JUST a boyfriend (as we've discussed earlier), but my one TRUE love…the guy I could just spend the rest of my life with….

my parents (yeah, I've gotten used to Andy, but I will NOT call Dopey or Sleepy my brothers…not in a MILLION years) got me a car!! And sure, it was no bmw convertible, but it was a CAR.

I have Jesse

oh yes…I have Jesse…and did I mention that people can ACTUALLY see him now?

and the most important thing….is that I have Jesse

But, looking back, I think I was pretty stupid to think that nothing bad could possibly happen…I mean, it IS me after all…but we'll get to the whole bad part when we get to it

Cause the whole bad part of it (well, at least the supernatural bad part of it) doesn't come in until later…

So, back to that day…

"I'm telling you Suze, I'm telling you…there IS another one of us out there." Paul said, leaning against my locker.

See, Paul and I has apparently become "buddy-buddy" and are now "friends", without the whole "we're meant to be together thing." And we've been learning about the whole mediator (Shifter. Shif. Ter) thing together, and he (Paul, I mean) has declared that there's another one of us out there, and she's apparently coming to Carmel.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that there are a BUNCH more mediators…" I began.

"Shifters." Paul corrected

"Whatever, Shifters out there, but that does NOT mean that she's coming to Carmel, FIRST of all, why would she come to Carmel…" I stuffed my books in my locker and closed it, and turned to face him. "…And SECOND of all…how do YOU know, what…did you feel something wrong in the force."

He flashed those pearly white teeth at me. "Something like that."

I glared at him.

"And, I also saw this…" he said, pulling out a newspaper article from his bag and handing it to me.

"THE MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR PRINCESS, ELAINE, OF THE T INDUSTRIES HAS DECIDED TO MOVE TO CARMEL." I read aloud. "So?" I asked.

"So?! Suzeey Suzzeeyy Suzzeeyy…" Paul said with a tsk tsk. "I can't believe you don't know about Ms. Elaine T."

"Well, I haven't been up to date in the latest celebrities lately…but what does that have anything to do with a new shifter coming to Carmel?"

"Uhm…because SHE'S the new shifter that's coming to Carmel."

"What? YYEEAAAHHH, Paul…whatever you're smoking…."

" Okay, EVERY shifter knows about Elaine… she's like the MAIN shifter…she's like the BOSS of the shifters…I'll bet…. that even Father D would know about her. She's a LEGEND."

"What?!"

"YEAH, but the thing is, I don't think she's only a shifter…"

"Ok, I'm so completely lost."

"See, Elaine's family is supposedly REALLY magical…like, REALLY magical…there's witches, fairies, vampires, wizards, immortals, shapeshifters, and probably even more mystical creatures that we NEVER thought was possible..." Paul raised up a hand when he saw that I was about to interrupt. "…no, I'm not done…I know what you were gonna say…well, that's not possible. But I think it is. Because I did some research and…"

"Look, Paul, I would really love to listen to your whole story here, no matter how insane you are right now…but I gotta go talk to Father D, and YOU'RE gonna be late for class." I interrupted, already walking towards the principal's office.

Paul hesitated, then started to walk backwards to his class in the deserted hallway. "But I AM gonna tell you about all of it Suze…be sure of THAT." He called out, then turned.

"Get off the meds Paul!" I yelled back.

I was about 2 inches from the office when I ran into someone. I looked up and held my breath. Seriously, I was THAT stunned.

It was a girl.

I ran into a girl…but she was probably the prettiest girl I have ever seen. Ok, and no, I'm not turning Lesbo on you, but I seriously would've KILLED to look like her.

She looked asian…but NOT asian. She was tanned, tall, skinny, and Heidi Klum would probably not have lit a candle against her. Yeah, she was THAT pretty. She had green eyes, like me, but her eyes shined and were penetrating.

So yeah, there I was, feeling sorry for myself that I didn't look that good, when she said, "Hi."

And I said, "Hi, I'm Susannah Simon, but most people call me Suzie, or Suze, or Suzeeeyy...you know, with the y, but sometimes with the e…or, you know the e AND the y…but yeah, you can pretty much call me anything."

OMG, what the HECK was I babbling about?

But she didn't even look at me funny, well, she did for a second…and then she composed her face into a smile and took out her hand (I think she wanted to shake hands). And said, "Nice to meet you Suzie, I'm Elaine T…and people just call me Elaine."

Uh…yeah, I kinda forgot what happened then, cause I was so stunned…

…But I'm pretty sure I didn't even shake her hand and instead just stood there staring at her like a blow fish that's been…er…inflated.