The Mediator - Next Generation - Chapter 1

Julians Pov

''Anna, Alisia, Alexia, Alanna, get a move on your going to be late,'' my mom called, I smiled, my sisters were not morning people, the twins least of all. Personally I think it's because their capacity to get up in the mornings was split instead of copied, but whatever.

Allie - full name Alisia Louesa di Silva - bounded down, sachel in hand, strolling to me she picked up my car keys, and

gave me a wink. ''My turn,'' she said brightly.

''Allie, you must have not put your contacts in this morning, because picked up my car keys,'' I commented warningly, first rule of de Silva car travel, oldest calls dibbs on kids-car driving privlages. But now I'd finnished High School, it appeared that at least one of my younger siblings was trying to get in on my car - no way.

But before I had the privlage of telling this to my dearly annoying sister, an unknown guest made their presence known. I should think that now would be a good time to mention that this guest was of the deceased variety. Mom had apparently not noticed the ghost that both myself and Allie were starring at.

''Geez!'' she exclaimed upon turning, shooting me and Allie a exasperated glance - to which we responded to with shrugged shoulders - ''Um, morning, how can I help?'' she asked the spirit, falsely bright.

The ghost was nothing out of the ordinary, a guy, around forty, slicked back black hair, a neat grey stripped suit and a toothbrush moustache. Now you ask how would me, an average - if an above average looker - half spainish eighteen year-old college freshmen know about what constitutes as normal for ghosts? Well that's easy, I'm a mediator. Again before you ask, a mediator, like me - and incedently my mum, dad, and all four sisters - is someone who can see, speak to and even touch ghosts. Unbelievable I know but trust me how else could it be explained that my dad is technically nearly two-hundred years old - but I would point out, no longer a ghost.

Leaving mom to it I took back my keys and headed out the door, Allie following. ''Hey I'm driving remember? You no longer go to High School, as much as you'd love to recapture the glory days, but you've got college now and going to be eaten alive''

I just rolled my eyes, I was used to the teasing, as the only boy with four sisters I was outnumbered. ''Ha, ha, well tough luck, my scheduled changed I'll now be your driver for the foreseeable future, sorry,''

Allie pretended to pout but it didn't really work as she was grinning as well. Already stood by the car was Alex - Alexia Susannah di Silva - who quickly dived in the front seat when I unlocked the car, this making Allie pout for real, Although I got on with all my sisters, niether love nor money could get Alex and Allie to get along, it was one of the great mysteries of life. Both were complete oppisites, take their dress sense for example, Allie:neat knee length denim skirt with sequin belt and a pink a white gypsy top, her feathered brown hair up in a neat pony tail. Whereas Alex, well I don't pretend to understand different sorts of clothing but she deffinitely gave me a better understanding, today it was her standard baggy black pants with white and red stitch and like thirty pockets and a studded belt, matching black Chuck Taylor Allstars - with red stiching, again - then a baggy black band top - My Chemical Romance? - a leather jacket, then her straight hip length black hair hung loose, falling over her face basically all the time.

The twins finally arrived, Anna - Anna Sarah di Silva - and Alanna - Alanna Carmen di Silva, does anyone else think our parents were on drugs during our naming? - not bothering to even excuse themselves, instead as was custom they began flicking throught the cd's for this mornings music. If they were talking to Alex then it would be hers, which was most of the time, if they weren't it was the radio or nothing.

Finally we arrived in the parking lot of the Junipero Sierra Mission Academy, listening to the dulcet tones of Amy Lee and Evanescence. The twins were gone instantly, Alex was next, the Allie more slowly as she checked her make-up then straightened her skirt, ''See ya!''

Alexia's POV

Waiting until, Julien left, I walked over to the Silver 911 Porche parked three spaces away, the door opened as I reached it.

''Well, this is a surprise,'' I commented, well it was, as far as I new this had been a summer thing. Basically I'd met this guy over the summer down at the beach, and well we'd pretty much hit it off, but he was supposed to be going home for school, or at least was. But I was completely non-chalant about it. After all despite my not being like my sisters I still was exactly stuck for choice when it came to guys, so this dude wasn't any different - except that I actually like him.

''A nice one I'd like to think,'' he replied cockily, but that wasn't new he was always confident and sure about himself, like when his dad had walked in on us making out in their summer house, he'd been all 'oh hi dad,' while I might had he was still lying on top of me and needless to say I actually blushed - one of the few times in my life - I'd never been so tempted in my life to shift, but of course my mom and dad when they'd explained to each of us in turn about being mediators they also had told us the possibility of having a Shifters abilities, though they'd been vague on what that actually entailed.

Rule one. Ahead of also help ghosts and all of that was never shift - or preform an exorcism - as anything but a last resort.

Anyway, as I sat there I took in his appearence, the same ear length blonde hair, same piercing blue eyes - and just the right height to kiss - although he wasn't in jeans for once. Smirking he leaned over and kissed me so deeply that when he pulled away I was breathless.

''Well best get moving, don't want to be late.'' he said brightly I as gulped, switching my almost non-existant brain back on.

''Late? Late for what?'' I asked following suit and getting out of the car.

He gave me a smile, you know the one, it used to annoy the hell out of me. ''School of course, oh didn't I tell you? My dad moved back this way, business, you know. Well see you around.'' and with that he casually strolled away.

Alisia's POV

The first day off a new school year is always one of my favourite times, catching up with friends you haven't seen much or at all over the summer, new schedule, a clean slate. And of course, more dances.

I flip my hair casually, earning myself one or two apprecaitive glances, as I reach my locker - code 16; the age I'd love to be forever, 25; christmas day, and 13; for luck.

''Oh my God, finally, you're here!'' exclaimed Melissa Armstrong, one of my two best friends in the whole world, as she found me at my locker. For the next few minutes we, of course, discussed our ensembles for the coming year, and despaired at some of the trully heinous outfits we'd already seen, - 'rip-off cashmere, with a burberry skirt, honestly, what a crime! - then my other best friend Isabelle Collins - whose half english - came up to us, in her usual self-contained manner, but had a little smile playing about her lips that said she had some juicy gossip.

''So, I hear we're getting some new students,'' Izzy, whose dad is a school govenor and key benifactor, was always in the know on things like these, ''two brothers, from Chicago.''

''Ooooh who?'' burst out Mel, who was, needless to say a lot more exubrant than either Izzy or me, ''come on spill, please?''

like Izzy wouldn't tell anyway, for all her containment on her own emotions and life she was always readily avalible for gossip.

''Chris and Tobias Slater, their dad is like a mega rich lawer, who, apparently used to come here also,'' this was all said in Izzys usual slow and deliberate manner, every word carefully chosen for effect. Mel smiled hungrily, although we are not exactly stuck for choice for guys aroung here, new blood is always welcome, especially of the rich variety.

My family isn't exactly stuck in the financial department, my Dad being like one the highest paid doctor surgeons in Carmel, and my mum being one of the best defence lawers in California. But they've got this annoying idea that we've got to learn the value of a dollar, so in summer, for example this one, we had to get a job - I worked at this cool designer shop in the mall, the twins only 15 went summer school for extra-curriculars, Julien, as he's saving for his own place worked, as my mum suggested at Pebble Beach Golf Resort, but as usual Alex got away with it she had some job at a shop on the beach front, so in reality spent most of her summer vacation at the beach, typical - so basically it totally drained my social time, except for night-time parties, so a rich boyfriend could solve situations like that.