Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Meg Cabot's The Mediator Series. I want to thank those of you who have waited while I was stuck on this chapter. I hope you like it. I am more then likely not to update alot this week so please bare with me. -Kia

Chapter Three – The Day Before the Festival

It is Friday the day before the festival. I have agreed to go with Paul to please my dad. Who still insists on making me stay home while they are in the fields all day every day. I am so bored I wind up just falling asleep most days and speeding all night talking to Jesse. Today my father arrived home late with bags in-hand. He went straight to his room not telling my brothers and me what was in those bags. We sat down to dinner with Jesse's place filled by Paul who has ate dinner with us all this week since the first time Monday night.

"Wow, this is really good, Suze," said Paul.

"Thank You," I said.

"You're welcome," said Paul.

We ate dinner like we have every night with the occasional compliments and small talk around the table. I try to keep my mouth shut as much as possible. Paul tries to keep me involved with what is going on, but one of my brothers helps me by taking the spotlight for me and putting it on Paul. They also keep the conversation to things that do not concern me. Have I ever mentioned that my brothers are the best.

After dinner Paul left with a kiss at the door on each cheek. I cleaned up from dinner and retired to my room waiting for my midnight meeting with Jesse. After about half an hour of sitting on my bed there was a knock on the door.

I straightened up and said, "Come in."

Though the door walked my dad with the bags he was carrying earlier.

"What's in the bags?"

"A present for you," my dad said as he walked in and towards my bed.

"Seriously," I asked for I perked up at this piece of information.

"Yes," he said as he pulled out a beautiful gown from one of the bags that were now on my bed.

It was a pale pink 1850's dinner dress. It was a tissue taffeta, light as a feather and would have such a lovely feminine rustle when you move. It was also a one piece with a boned bodice, back hidden hook-and-eye closure. It was amazing but I knew there was a hidden agenda for such an impressive present.

"What do you want in return?"

"For you to behave yourself around Paul and to get to know him. I want you to be his girlfriend if he asks."

"Dad, I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because I dislike him very much. He is a jerk. His views for the future of women are the same as today. They are to stay completely separate from the Men's world. How can I be with someone who will not allow me to fight for my rights in the new world."

"Sweetheart, who in today's world would allow you to fight for your rights as the woman you are?"

"Jesse, for one and I bet there are more than him who don't want to show themselves to their fellow men."

"You cannot be serious, Susannah?"

"But I am. Before all this Paul business I worked in the fields with you, Jake, Brad, and David."

"Yeah, it's has taken 'this Paul' business for me to realize how I have kept you from being one of the girls and made you one of the boys."

"I like being one of the boys. I hate the girls around here. I don't get along with any of them."

"Yeah, well you will learn to get along with them."

"Why? You already took my best friend from me. Why should I listen to you? If mom was alive she would push me to be all I can be and who I want to be. She wouldn't have forbidden me from seeing my best friend. She would have understood me."

"Yeah, well she's not here and you have to listen to me, because I am your father."

"Fine, you win, but that does not mean that I am going to be your Suze anymore, dad. I will never forgive you for this as long as I live."

"Fine here," he yelled as he ran out the door and threw it closed behind him.

I stood there for a few minutes then I went through the bags. There were three other dresses just as beautiful as the first. There was also a corset, several pairs of stockings and four pairs of shoes. One pair for each dress.

I put these things away in their rightful places. Then I lied down on my bed and fell asleep. I was awoken by stones being thrown at my window. I knew it was Jesse. He had been coming to my house every night once he was sure everyone in his house was asleep. We talked each night for about an hour each night. We told each other about our days. Then I went to my room and waved good bye from my window and watched Jesse walk away until I couldn't see him anymore.

Tonight was no different. I got up went to the window to let him know I was awake and on my way. I then walked down the corridor making sure no one was up. Next I headed down the stairs and out the door to the porch, where Jesse was sitting on the bench.

"Good evening, querida," Jesse greeted me. As usual my insides flipped at the sound of that word even though I had no idea what it meant.

"Don't you mean good morning, Jesse?"

"Of course. What happened today?"

"My father bribed me"

"How did he brib you?"

"He bought me four fancy dinner gowns, a corset, four pairs of shoes, and several pairs of stockings. In return he asked for me to behave myself around Paul and to be Paul's girlfriend if I am asked to be so."

"No, please tell me your father did not ask this of you?" Jesse pleaded.

"He did and I accepted."

"How could you accept, querida?"

"By wanting to stay on my good side and not letting my mother down."

"Your mother would rather you live you life free of any man then the wife of a man like Paul."

"I know, but it wouldn't look good if my father's only daughter did not find a suitable husband."

"But querida…"

"No buts Jesse this is how this has to be handled and I have already made up my mind. Please be the friend I need right now and encourage me to do the right thing even though it goes against everything I believe in?"

"Sure, Susannah. I'll be your friend," with that he wished me luck for the next day and gave my right hand a kiss as he squeezed it tight.

I went to sleep that night with my mind racing trying to decide if I had made the right decision.

Hey everyone. Did you like it? Let me know what you think. A link is on my bio page of the type of dress I'm talking about. Just incase you have no idea what I am talking about. Because to tell you the truth I have no isea what I am talking about. But whatever. -Kia