Authors Note: Words don't express how sorry I am for not updating. Field hockey takes over my life, and school is unfortunately starting. The first week just ended today, and next week is already lined up for papers, tests, and late night field hockey games. If I've lost any readers on the way, I'm sorry. Hopefully this update will get you back. Again, I'm really sorry for not updating.
Suze and Jesse do not belong to me, sadly. They belong to the wonderful Meg Cabot.
Suze POV
I woke up the next morning in the same clothes that I arrived in. Disgusted with myself, I stripped off the blankets, and ran as fast as I could to the shower without falling flat on my face. Carefully wrapping my cast in a plastic bag so it wouldn't get wet, I stepped into the shower. Automatically I felt all my stress being lifted off of me. I wasn't worrying about Peter, my mother's new fiancé, and surprisingly I wasn't worrying about how I was going to spend the whole summer with Mr. Goodlooking.
You guys are smart. I'm assuming I don't need to clarify exactly who Mr. Goodlooking is.
After attempting to shave, I decided it was time to go face the world. But as I stepped out of the tub, I felt my left foot slip on the wet tiles, bringing me straight down and smacking my head hard.
Jesse's POV
As soon as I woke up, I heard the phone ringing in the main villa. Quickly throwing on some clothes, I ran over, hoping that the phone would not awaken Susannah.
"Hello, Simon residence," I answered. A frantic woman was on the other line, but the connection was distorted.
"Peter? Is that you?" the woman asked. I could faintly hear the bustling of a subway in the background, coupled with a foreign language that I could not understand.
"Never mind, I know who this is. Can I speak to Suze? It's her mom, from India!" Ms. Simon replied. As soon as I was about to call for Susannah, she called for me. It sounded like her voice was coming from the bathroom across the hallway.
"Ms. Simon? I'll be right back, I'm going to get her now. Please stay on the phone," I said quickly, while I put the phone down.
"WAIT, PLEASE HURRY. THIS IS THE ONLY PHONE I CAN FIND…!" As I walked over to the bathroom, I chuckled as I heard Ms. Simon screaming.
Walking towards the door, I could hear the sound of the shower. "Susannah, are you okay?" I asked, while rapping on the door two times.
"No, I'm not okay. Do you think I'd call for your help if I wasn't?" Susannah replied tersely. Eight in the morning and she was already feisty.
"I need help, my foot is stuck!" Susannah's voice seemed far away, so I leaned closer to the door to get a better listen. I tested the knob, but it did not budge.
"You have to unlock the door if you want my help," I kicked the door a few times to show emphasis. And, of course, to make her annoyed.
I could tell she was gritting her teeth as she gave me her reply, "I can't. I told you. My foot is.. my cast is wedged between the bathtub and the toilet."
Unable to keep my feelings in, I burst out in laughter. How could she be so clumsy? "How did you do that?" I asked in between my laughing fit.
"When I stepped out of the tub, I slipped and… it doesn't MATTER how I did it. It just happened. And now I'm stuck. And I'm starting to panic, and that's not a good thing. I have asthma, and even though I haven't had an attack for a while, stress is one of my triggers. And right now, I'm feeling really stressed," Susannah's voice increased in speed and seemed frantic when she said that.
Nombre de Dios, she had panic attacks? I have to get her out of there, and fast. Thanks to some of my night classes, I knew exactly how to lessen the possibility of an attack.
"Susannah," I said sharply. "Stop talking. I'm going to get you out in a couple of seconds. Don't worry, querida,".
Ignoring her questions about that particular word, I reached on top of the door frame, looking for the pin shaped key that could unlock any door. I cursed loudly when my fingers did not find it.
"Jesse? What was that? What's going on? Why are you cursing? I'm stuck in here, aren't I? You can't get me out!" Susannah was screaming now, panic and terror lining her voice. My heart contracted tightly in my chest. I immediately froze. Why was I suddenly filled with worry for Susannah? I hardly knew the girl, and I wasn't so sure if I wanted to get to know her. She was pushy, irascible, testy, and a bunch of other adjectives I could think of.
Who was I kidding? She was beautiful, and her attitude pushed me to find out what the real Susannah was like beneath her rough exterior. I shook my head, getting rid of the thoughts that I should not be having.
"You're not stuck. I told you I'd get you out, didn't I?"
"You're lying," She accused sharply.
"You don't know me well enough to tell when I'm lying or not. And I really am going to get you out," I quickly ran to the kitchen, hurriedly opening and closing cabinets to find the misplaced spare key. When I finally found it, I sprinted back to the bathroom door. Inserting the key, I whipped the door open, to find Susannah's naked back facing me.
I stood completely still, entranced by her. Her wet, chestnut colored hair was curling at the nape of her neck. Her skin, pearly white, still glowed from the after affects of the shower. I was in shock. My little trance was interrupted by a shrill scream.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?! You can't come in! I don't have anything on!"
I backed out of the doorway quickly, shutting it so I was on the other side.
"You didn't tell me that before," I sputtered in self- defense.
"I was taking a shower. What did you expect?" Susannah replied angrily.
I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my shorts and shook my head, smiling, "You're a piece of work."
As I should've known, she heard me, "What did you just say?"
I sputtered again for a moment before answering back, "I said, what do you want me to do then?" I needed to get Susannah safely out of the bathroom, and into some clothes before my thoughts began to wander to the sight of her body.
"That's not what you said. And don't lie to me again De Silva!"
"Susannah, do not worry about that right now. I'm coming in to give you a towel to cover yourself up," I said. But did I really want that?
Of course not, I'm a guy. But a decent one, if any. I would not take advantage of Susannah while was in such a compromising position. I wouldn't take advantage of her at all, she was my boss's daughter.
Nombre de Dios, she was not good for me at all.
"Okay, here we go. I'm coming in now," I opened the door slowly, not wanting to scare her.
"Close your eyes. I don't want you seeing me without anything on. Well, it's not like there's anything to see anyway. I'm no model," Susannah yelled.
But she was wrong. I had seen. And a model did not deserve to be compared to Susannah. She was much more.
Sighing, I closed my eyes and traveled into the doorway. By mistake, one hand brushed against her skin. She was still wet. And she smelled lovely. Trying not to think about what part of her body I just touched, I moved quickly to my left. Too quickly. My foot caught on something and I felt my other foot slip under me. The next thing I knew, I heard my neck crack on the wet tile, and I was lying flat on my back.
Suze's POV
The morning was bad enough already, and it became even worse when Jesse just strolled on in the bathroom. What was he thinking? I was in the shower! Of course I'd be naked.
This moment in my life is going to haunt me forever. I know it will.
But when Jesse fell as soon as he came in, I laughed out loud. His face was ridiculously adorable, his eyes closed in concentration to keep them closed. But as soon as I heard the crack of his head on the tile, my laughter abruptly stopped. I wanted to get to know this guy, not kill him!
I wrapped his towel around my body, and leaned over him, "Jesus, Jesse? Are you alright? You should have been more careful in here," I said, as I began to slap his face lightly. As my hand connected with his face, I felt tingles run up and down my arm, and I shivered delightfully.
"Me? I'm the one who should be careful?" he asked incredulously as he lifted his head to see what he tripped over. "Nombre de Dios. What the hell are your crutches doing in the bathroom?!" When he was sitting up fully, I saw little droplets of blood in the white tile.
"Oh, God. Jesse, you're bleeding," I said frantically. I began to sift my fingers through is hair, feeling his head for bumps or more blood. His silky black hair felt so good, running through my fingers. All of a sudden, I heard Jesse let out a moan.
Was it just me, or was that a moan of…pleasure?
"Dios, that feels so good. Is this my reward for rescuing you?" To my delight, Jesse's eyes opened, and his black inky pools looked straight into my green ones. He looked me up and down, all the way down to my cast encased leg. I shivered again, feeling as if the towel was doing nothing for me whatsoever.
But as soon as he opened his eyes, they started to roll back into his head. His body started to sway back and forth. Shit, what the hell do I do?
I moved fast, wrapping my arms around his broad chest, feeling his muscles tighten under my touch. I brought him back to a sitting position and yelled into his face, "Jesse! Snap out of it, will you? You probably have a concussion, and I can't even get to a phone to call 911. Do they even have 911 in Aruba?! Please, wake up!"
"The phone!" Jesse spit out. "Somebody is on the phone for you." Seeing as he could now support himself, I sadly tore my arms away from him, already feeling empty without his touch.
Go ahead and say it, I can hear you already.
Fine, I'll say it for you.
I'm a goner. I've only been here for 12 hours, and I can't stop thinking about my Dad's intern.
"I don't care about the damn phone. Here, let me help you up. I promise to not make a habit of hurting you anymore," I apologized. It was the least I could do.
Jesse's face broke out into a lopsided grin that made my heart go double time, "You think you're a tough guy, don't you?" he said, his eyes still trained on me.
"Very tough. So, maybe it'd be safer if you keep your distance," I said. Yes, stay as far away from me as possible. I cannot like you. We'd be living right across from each other. My dad would see us! How embarrassing.
Jesse shook his head and smiled coyly, "I think that's going to be a little bit difficult , querida. You're the boss's daughter. And his instructions to me were to stick close to you," He said.
I froze, his words registering in my mind. This couldn't be happening.
My dad ordered Jesse to look after me.
Jesse was my babysitter.
Oh, god.
Which meant, that I was nothing more than just a little task for Jesse to complete for my father. He would never fall for me. He probably has a blonde, blue eyed, gorgeous girlfriend on the island somewhere. The idea angered me.
My anger got the best of me, "Need I remind you that I'm 18 and fully capable of taking care of myself," I responded tensely.
Jesse glanced at my amused, "Oh, so you can take care of yourself? Then why is it that I had to come and help you with this bathroom situation? Why couldn't you take care of that yourself?" Jesse smiled triumphantly.
What a little jerk, mocking me like that.
I ignored that comment, "Whatever. I don't like the idea of you sticking close to me. I don't need a babysitter," I grabbed my towel securely and started to stand up.
"You don't want me hanging out with you?" I shook my head, he didn't understand.
"I don't want you to do it because it's Philip's orders," I glared at him, making my way out of the bathroom into my bedroom. If he wanted to hang out with me, then it would have to be his decision, and his decision only.
He followed me into the room, "I'm afraid you do need a babysitter. At least, until that thing comes off," he glanced at my legs both with appraise and disgust. The disgust, I was hoping, was directed towards my cast.
I began to get frustrated. I hated this stupid cast, I hated mom for making me stay in Aruba, and I hated Jesse, who seemed to think I was 5. "Wrong again. I've been living with this thing for six weeks. I only missed one day of school because of it. I've been doing it all. Climbing stairs, getting the subway, going on the bus. And I did it by myself, with no ones help. If you think I need your help, you are very wrong. Now, I appreciate your heroic act. Now, don't you have to go to work or something?" There. I hope I got my point across. I did not want him near me at all. His face showed hurt, and yet he still took one step towards me.
"No, I have the day off. I'd just as soon hang around you today, if that's okay."
Of course that's not okay! Is this guy dumb? I've already embarrassed myself in front of him more times than I can count. If I hung out with him for the whole day, it would be too much.
"That may not be such a good idea." I said, as I placed my hands on his powerful chest and pushed him out of my room. "Now out of here. Out of my bedroom."
He protested, but I slammed the door in his face.
Outside in the hall, Jesse heard the click of the bedroom door lock and smiled.
This would be too much fun to miss. He was definitely sticking around today.
Note: So that's it! Sorry if it was crap, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. Please review! I won't get mad if you don't, I don't really deserve them after not updating for so long. But if you feel forgiving, please do review Hopefully I can update soon, and I really mean it this time.
