A/N: Merry Christmas, everyone! Just an idea that popped into my head after watching "A Christmas Carol" for the zillionth time. Hope you like it! This chapter is a flashback to 2 yrs ago, Christmas Day, at the Mission's Winter Formal.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: 2 yrs ago, Jesse and Suze broke up, on Christmas day. Now Suze is becoming Scrooge-like. She hates Christmas. When she is visited by the three spirits, will they be able to change her mind before it's too late?

Scrooged: Chapter 1: Bah, Humbug!

"Suuuuze!" Cee Cee whined. "We've been here for three hours!"

"Here" was the Carmel Mall. Tomorrow night was the Mission's annual Winter Formal, and I had yet to find the Perfect Dress. Jesse was taking me of course, so I had to look perfect. Cee Cee had found her dress over two hours ago and was getting a little impatient.

"Cee," I whined back, putting on my irresistible puppy-dog-pout face, the one I knew she would give in to.

And sure enough, Cee Cee gave a loud sigh and said, resignedly, "Fine."

That could buy me about another half an hour.

I know, I know. I shouldn't manipulate my best friend like that. Bad Suze! Hey, I wonder if Jesse would like me in a white dress. It gives off that innocent virgin vibe. Which I am. A virgin I mean. Alive Jesse was just as adamant about that subject as Ghost Jesse was. No sex! It kind of sucked, but I knew he thought it was best for us.

Curiously, I grabbed a kind of sparkly white dress off the rack and headed for the dressing room.

Half an hour later I still had not purchased a dress. White made me look too pale somehow, which was weird because shouldn't you look more tan against a white dress? Whatever, that's the story of my life. Shouldn't I have a tan by now? I mean, it is Carmel. The sun is always shining.

"Suze," Cee Cee said at the half hour mark.

Ha! See, I told you that puppy dog pout would buy me half an hour. Right on the dot.

"Cee Cee…" I started, but trailed off as something caught my eye. That was it. The Perfect Dress.

00 The Next Night 00

"Querida, you look beautiful," Jesse told me.

Hehe. I know. "Thanks, Jesse," I said modestly. "You look like a penguin." Oops, did I just say that aloud? Well, it was true. He really did kind of look like a penguin.

He raised his eyebrow, the one with the scar in it, at this remark, and I quickly added, "A very hot penguin."

Jesse looked like he was trying really hard not to laugh, but he couldn't hold it in. He burst out laughing. Was it something I said? Wait, Suze. Penguins live in cold places, like Antarctica, so being a "very hot penguin" would be a bad thing…

Do other people think this much!?!

"Um, I mean…"

But I was saved from having to finish that sentence when Jesse said, "It's okay, Querida. I know what you meant."

He did? I barely knew what I meant…Wow, he's good. I must be rubbing off on him. A few months ago he wouldn't have understood over half the things I said. See, I tend to babble.

What do you mean u know?

What's that supposed to mean?! You wanna take it outside?

Okay, seriously, do most people babble this much in their own heads?

"Susannah," he said, cutting off the rest of my thoughts, thank God. Erm, I mean…Thank Jesse?

I looked up into his dark eyes. He really did look good. But then again, Jesse always looked good. And, God, he was tall. Or maybe I was short? No, I couldn't be! Eek! I'm wearing heels every day from now on. Wait, Suze, you are wearing heels.

"I love you, Querida," he whispered.

"Love you, too, Cadaver Breath."

He smiled as he bent down to close the distance between us, which, considering my shortness, was quite a lot, and kissed me.

When he pulled back up a minute or two later, he laced his fingers with mine and led me to his car. Then, being the gentleman he is, he went around and opened my door for me. And, being the gentlewoman (if that's a word) that I am, I let him.

Then Jesse got in on the driver's side and we were off.

It was a quiet car ride. But it wasn't an awkward silence. It was comfortable, familiar. I liked just being there with him.

Finally, we got to the Mission. Jesse got out while I stayed put so he could open the door for me. He smiled as he took my hand to help me out, silently conveying his appreciation. Usually, I just jumped out myself and got a disapproving look. This was so much better.

The room the dance was held in was crowded. I needed to meet Cee Cee and Jesse wanted to talk to father Dominic about something. "I'll meet you under the mistletoe," I told him, a smile playing on my lips.

"Alright, Querida. I'll meet you there in fifteen minutes?"

"Sure." He leaned down and kissed me lightly. I saw Kelly and a few of her friends eyeing me evilly. They were just jealous because the hot guy likes me better. I felt like sticking my tongue out at them, but thought better of it. So instead I just went to find Cee Cee.

"Suze!" Cee Cee screamed when she saw me. "You look great!"

I know. "Thanks, Cee. You look great, too."

"Guess those three and a half hours at the mall paid off," she said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"I guess they did."

We went into the bathroom to "freshen up." I looked in the mirror. My reflection stared back at me as I straightened my dress-it's amazing how wrinkly it had already gotten from sitting in the car-and reapplied mascara.

The dress I had decided on was green, to bring out my eyes. It was full-length and strapless, with tiny sequins along the neck line.

I leaned in closer to the mirror. "Cee," I said.

"Yeah?"

"Is my nose shiny?"

She just looked at me. I flared my nostrils and she sighed. "Suze, calm down. Your nose looks fine," she muttered.

Not reassured, I pulled powder out of my purse. I opened it and dabbed a little on my nose. Looking back in the mirror, I started singing, under my breath so Cee couldn't hear,

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer had a very shiny nose. But he's got nothin' on Susannah, whose nose shines brighter than a flashlight."

Ha! I'll bet that'll make top ten in a few years. Maybe if I work on it, I can have it done by next Christmas…

Okay, back to my nose. It was seriously shiny. So shiny it was practically glowing. So I did the logical thing. I used the rest of the powder.

This created a huge white cloud around me from all the excess powder. As soon as it cleared, I leaned in to the mirror and stared in horror at my nose.

Oops.

Well, at least I don't look like Rudolph any more. Nope, my nose was white as snow. So I looked more like Frosty the Snowman. Wait, wasn't his nose a carrot or something? Okay, Suze, lets not go there.

I glanced over at Cee Cee, who'd been quiet for a long time. She was struggling not to laugh. I narrowed my eyes and glared at her, which only seemed to make it worse, if her bursting out laughing was any indication.

"Cee."

"Su-" she began, only to be cut off by her own hysterical laughter. "I'm-I'm-hahaha-sor-hahaha…"

Oh well. It could be worse. I mean, at least no one else could see me like this.

As if on cue, Kelly Prescott walked in. Cee Cee's laughter abruptly stopped as I stared in horror at Kelly.

She stared back, open-mouthed.

For a while, no one said anything.

But then the silence was broken by Kelly. "Suze?"

"Hm?"

"Um, you have a little something on your nose."

Silence.

"Gee, Kell, thanks," I said.

"No problem," she replied, missing the sarcasm in my tone.

It was nearly fifteen minutes later when I finally got all the powder off my nose, which, miraculously, was not that shiny. It was way past time to go meet Jesse. He'd probably thought I'd forgotten about him.

The mistletoe was hanging near the punch bowl. I was surprised mistletoe was allowed. Father Dom and Sister Ernestine were always busting people for PDAs. This was kind of asking for it.

As I pushed my way through the crowd, getting closer to the mistletoe, I saw a couple under it. It was Kelly and some guy who I couldn't see due to Kelly's face being plastered to his.

I roled my eyes. Now where is Jesse?

Just as this thought crossed my mind, the guy Kelly was making out with raised his head up.

He had dark hair and a scar through one eyebrow. As soon our eyes met, mine filled with tears and I turned and ran through the crowd.

"Susannah!" I heard him yell out behind me. "Querida, wait! I can explain."

I didn't stop, just ran faster.

I had barely made it out the door when I felt two strong arms go around me. Stupid heels. I could have gotten away if I'd just worn sensible shoes. So what if I was short?

"Querida," he said softly.

I didn't turn around, couldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

"Susannah, I didn't," he stammered. "She kissed me!"

That made me turn around. I put my face close to his and he leaned in to kiss me. But instead I started yelling. "Sure she did, Jesse. You weren't sucking face with Kelly Prescott and I'm the toothfairy!"

Not the best comeback, I know, but it was the best I could come up with at the time.

This time when I ran away, he didn't come after me.

A/N: plz don't hate me!! I'll fix it!

So did you like it? I need to know if I should continue it. If I get at least 3 reviews telling me to continue, I can probably have the next chapter up sometime tomorrow. But only if 3 reviewers tell me to continue!