Run Away, Chapter 2:

Mrs. Nikki Slater: Thanks for reviewing, girl! I'm glad you liked.

sum1: Um...I said Jesse was slightly outta character...

UnangelicHalo: KAT-KAT! There's a reason Andy hired Jesse right off the bat...lol...

Clavel: Glad you liked!

Wow ya'll rock for reviewing to my first chapter, even though I haven't updated in forever...

XOXO

Kaitie

Andy's POV:

I got the call around eleven o'clock at night. Enrique De Silva, an old college buddy of mine, called to say his son had left home. "Up and left in the middle of the night." Enrique said, his Spanish accent coming out in full force. "I don't know why he would do such a thing. He is unbalanced, perhaps..."

"He's not unbalanced, just a man." I said. "Jesse's twenty, now, right?" I had never met Enrique's kids- The De Silva's lived in Seattle and we never had time to travel.

"Yes, twenty going on stupid!" Enrique exploded.

"I'll keep an eye out for any stray De Silva's, okay?" I said, trying to go back to sleep.

"Thank you, mi amigo." Enrique said. He flew off the handle, spraying Spanish everywhere, then hanging up.

"And if I find any, they will be kept far away from your loony behind." I sighed, hanging up the phone.

How was I to know that a De Silva would show up in my future home just a few short hours later?


"Hey, Andy!" I looked up from the housing plans to see Marco Roberts, one of the new hires, running towards me.

"Yeah, Marco?" Please please don't be a problem with the plumbing...

"Did the house come with a Latino guy in one of the bedrooms?"

Huh?

I raced to the mentioned bedroom to find Jesse De Silva lying on an old mattress in what was going to be my stepdaughter's room.

Jesse looked beaten, dirty, and very much like a refuge straight from Mexico. From what I'd heard about him via Adriana, he was also a sensible kid with a stable head on his shoulders. He wouldn't leave home unless he was forced to or ready.

And since Jesse had plans to be a doctor, he wouldn't be ready until he was done with school, engaged, or married.

Well, no use in making him suffer. I'll give him a job. Kid can earn some cash, and this house can be finished sooner.

Jesse started to wake up, and was startled to see me. He probably thought he was in trouble or something, the way he scrambled up. I laughed and talked him into a job.

Two weeks later, Jesse'd proven himself. He was a sensible, capable young man with a solid head on his shoulders. I couldn't imagine why he'd left home, but I doubted he had left of his own accord.

I began to see Jesse as my own son. Sometimes I wished he were mine, just because he was better behaved than my own three boys. Everything was great.

Until Suze came. Then I realized...Jesse is a twenty year old man. Suze is a sixteen year old girl. Of course there'd be attraction!

Jesse's POV:

Maybe I should have gone home that night...

The Ackermans were settling into their new home and invited me to dinner and to stay the night if necessary. They said I could sleep on Susannah's day bed, and then meet her the next morning, if I'd like.

Well, of course I'd like. I'd seen pictures of the girl; neither seven years old nor girlie girl. She was a sight to behold in pictures, and I only hoped she was as beautiful in real life.

But Jake and I were up all night, putting finishing touches on various rooms and such. Mrs. Ackerman let me sleep as I was a guest.

I woke up about twenty minutes before the Ackerman's were due back. I figured I had enough time to shower, so I did so in Susannah's bathroom.

I threw off my shirt and pants, and got in the shower, shutting and locking the door behind me. As I was getting out of the shower, I heard a commotion in the room outside me.

Mrs. Ackerman was showing Susannah her new room!

EARLY!

¿Ah estimado Dios, qué yo haré? (A/N: Oh dear god, what am I going to do?)

I heard footsteps leaving the room and looked around for my clothing. Nombre di dios, where is it!

I wrapped a towel around my waist and tied it, then opened the door a crack and saw my clothing lying on the floor right outside the door, just out of reach so that I'd have to step out of the bathroom to actually get them.

I stepped out and heard a female voice go, "Holy hot damn!"

I sincerely hope that was Susannah...