Summary- Suze and Jesse have perfect marriage… until a fatal car crash changes everything… who won't make it through the night? But when all hope is lost, will there be a chance to make everything perfect again?

Disclaimer- I own the plot and only some of the characters… everything else goes to Meg Cabot.

Chapter One

I, Susannah de Silva, have the perfect life.

For the last five years, I have been married to the most perfect man, Jesse de Silva. Although I was only seventeen when he proposed to me, Mom and Andy realised how serious I was about Jesse. I guess they figured he was a gentleman, and would never even dream of doing anything to hurt me.

They let me move into his apartment a week or so after he proposed to me. No, we didn't do 'it'. Jesse didn't want to dishonour me or anything, and I realised that I wasn't quite ready for it, anyway. So we did it the old fashioned way, and waited until our wedding night.

We got married on my eighteenth birthday. It was Jesse's idea- we couldn't decide on the date, and he figured it would be the best birthday present for me. The day was one I'll never forget- we got married in the afternoon on the beach. We'd laid out a red carpet as the aisle, which I walked down alone. Andy wasn't hurt or anything, because I'd finally found the courage to tell him about my 'gift'. I told him that I still missed my dad, 'cause I didn't really loose him until a year ago. So he agreed that out of some form of respect, I should walk down alone.

We moved into a house three years ago. It's located in the same neighbourhood as Mom and Andy. We weren't planning on moving into a house too soon, but when I found out I was pregnant, we figured it would be best. Of course, we borrowed most of the money from the bank, but with Jesse's salary, we should be able to pay it off without much of a problem.

So I gave birth to a beautiful little girl. We called her Isabella, after Jesse's youngest sister. She looked exactly like Jesse, especially with her dark, silky hair, except she had my eyes. We were planning to have more children once we got settled a bit more.

Jesse graduated from Carmel Med. School a year ago, and was working at Carmel Hospital with the sick kids. He loves it, and he's really got a way with kids. I've met most of his patients, who all love me. Apparently Jesse tells them so many stories about me.

I've been working as the head-designer at 'Miracle', the brand-new top-selling fashion label located right here in Carmel, created by no other than Gina Davies. It's exactly the job I wanted, because it's so flexible. Because I can work from home, we don't have to worry about paying day-care for Isabella. So I can spend so much more time with her, which I love.

But so much else has happened here in Carmel;

Jake got married to Hailey, whom he met in college. Yes, he got accepted into college. As if that wasn't shocking enough, he decided to become a doctor. Yes, Sleepy became a doctor. He works with Jesse, with the sick kids.

Brad found a girl he actually cares about, Elizabeth. They've been dating for almost two years now. He's also followed Andy and is became a carpenter.

David's in college to become a scientist. He managed to skip the last three years of school. Everyone's positive he'll find a cure for cancer. He also scored himself a girlfriend, Jen.

CeeCee and Adam got hitched three years ago. Once Adam finally worked up the courage to ask Cee out, everything was great for them.

Gina moved to Carmel four years ago. She started her own fashion label, 'Miracle'. And she got married to Matt Davies one year ago.

Paul, Jesse and I have become really good friends. I guess we finally forgave him for trying to kill Jesse. He became a lawyer and is dating a mediator, Charlie. No, Paul didn't turn gay, Charlie is short for Charlene.

So that brings us up until, well, today, really. It was CeeCee's birthday. Adam decided to throw her a surprise party, and when he took her out for dinner, we decorated the house. I guess it was a surprise because CeeCee looked as if she'd seen a ghost.

Not that she ever has, though.

It was nearing midnight, and Jesse and I had to go and collect Isabella from Mom and Andy.

I hugged CeeCee, 'Happy birthday, again,' I said. She smiled, showing off her pearly white teeth. Braces worked miracles.

'Thanks,' she said. 'Well, I guess you guys had better go and get Isabella.'

'You know I want to stay longer,' I said. 'It's just that we'd better take her off Mom and Andy so they can get some sleep…'

'Everyone will probably be leaving soon, anyway,' CeeCee said. 'I'll see you guys later.'

'Bye,' Jesse and I said. We walked down their drive and onto the road, where Jesse had parked the car. He unlocked the door and opened it for me. Still a gentleman, I thought.

'Querida,' he said. I pecked him lightly on the lips.

'I love you,' I whispered.

'I love you too,' he said. I smiled and slid onto the seat. Jesse shut the door and took the drivers seat before starting the car.

'I had fun tonight,' I looked at Jesse. 'It's not often that we do stuff with everyone, anymore.'

He sighed and put his hand on my knee. 'I know. Maybe we should have everyone at our house more often.'

'But we never have the time,' I said. 'Between our jobs and Isabella…'

'We could always ask for the time off work,' he suggested. I guess I must have been smiling at him for a while because he asked what I was smiling at.

'You always come up with a solution for everything, even if it's simple,' I said. He laughed,

'Querida, you just don't bother to think of something.'

'Hey! I do so… sometimes,' I trailed off. I looked back at the road and was immediately blinded.

Jesse slowed the car. 'I wish they'd turn their headlights down, I can't see a thing.' He pressed the horn a few times. No change.

'Jesse, I think he's speeding up,' I said scared. I couldn't help it. I just had this really bad feeling. Jesse saw me shaking and grabbed one of my hands.

'Querida, everything is ok,' he said. 'Relax, nothing is going to-'

I never got to finish hearing what Jesse was saying because I blacked out.

I woke up coughing. The smell of smoke and gas hung in the air.

My eyes slowly fluttered open. I was still sitting in Jesse's car, but the front had been smashed. There was a car directly in front of me, headlights on full, smoke coming from the engine. Someone had opened the car door on my side and was shouting at me. I blinked a couple of times at them before I registered what they were saying. They'd called 911 and the ambulance was on its way, but I should stay put in case there was any major damage.

And then I realised Jesse. I twisted my head so that I could see him. He was hunched over the steering wheel, his face covered in blood. I felt my eyes widen to their limits. 'Jesse!' I screamed. I tried to touch him, but the seatbelt was restricting my movement. I could feel the tears begin to sting my eyes as I fumbled with the seatbelt, trying to break free. I finally un-clicked the belt and pushed past whoever was standing at my door. I could hear them shouting at me, trying to get me to stay where I was, but nothing mattered. Jesse was in serious trouble.

I was shaking as I made my way around the back of our car. People had turned on their porch lights and were starting to come out of their houses to see what the noise was. I opened his door and mumbled, 'Jesse…'

I could feel my knees failing on me. 'Jesse… Jesse, please wake up. Jesse!' I shouted.

I fell to the ground and put my head in my hands. 'Jesse…' I wailed. I felt somebody's arms wrap around me. I tried to shake them off but they gripped tighter.

'Miss, I need you to stand up,' they said.

'No!' I cried. 'Jesse…' I tried to look up at him but my tears made everything blurry. I could hear sirens in the distance. People had begun to gather around the crash. I punched the car door over and over again, but the pain didn't go away. I was going to loose Jesse... my beloved, perfect Jesse.

They left me alone after that. I could feel people starring at me, hear their whispers, as I sobbed on the ground, occasionally shouting Jesse's name.

I heard the ambulances screech to a halt. Doors were opening and slamming shut everywhere. Sirens were wailing and the red and white lights were flashing all over the wreck. A paramedic rushed over to me, and pulled me to my feet and tried to pull me over to the ambulance. I tried to wrestle them away; all I wanted to do was be by Jesse.

'Miss, we need you to go to the ambulance to be checked. More importantly, we need you to move so we can get this young man to a hospital,' the EMT said.

'No… Jesse!' I screamed. I tried to run to Jesse but they held me away. I watched as two paramedics rushed over with a stretcher, and after checking he was ok to move, lifted him onto the stretcher and carried in into an ambulance. I fell to the ground and cried as I watched the ambulance speed off into the distance. 'Jesse…' I mumbled. 'I love you, Jesse…'

Sob… poor Jesse. Will he make it through the night? And what happened to the driver of the other car? Please review, cuz otherwise you won't find out what happens! Plus, it didn't suck that much…

The next chapter will be more dramatic, cuz this chapter was an introduction sort of thing. And it will be longer.

X bridget X