SECRECY
Chapter 7
"Take the sine of angle 'A' and multiply it by side 'b' and then divide that by side 'a'. And then find the inverse sine of that answer."
I nodded and did all that in my calculator. And I got it right.
Score one for Suze!
I looked at Jesse in amazement. "Wait, so that's it?"
He nodded and smiled. "That's it."
I smiled, happy that I knew how to do this stuff — and that I had a better chance of passing the quiz on Monday — and shut the algebra book in my lap, placing it next to me in the sand.
Jesse and I were at the beach. This became our regular spot for his tutoring me in all things mathematical. He even offered to help me with chemistry, to which I thankfully accepted. I was on the brink of failure in that class.
Thank God for Jesse. Seriously.
The sun was beginning to set on the horizon and the sky was illuminated with pinks and oranges. It was simply beautiful.
Usually I went to the beach during the day to get a tan and whatnot, but I never really came at night. So I never once — the whole time I've lived in Carmel — had I witnessed the beauty that is a Californian sunset.
Boy was I missing out.
I laid back in the sand and just let the sweet salty night air wash over me. The sound of the waves crashing ashore was soothing to my overworking mind.
I felt Jesse's eyes on me and turned to face him. I smiled at him but also gave him that look that was like 'what?'.
"You don't do this very often, do you?" he asked.
I raised my eyebrows. "Do what?"
"This," he said, gesturing to the ocean and the beach and the sunset. When he saw that I still didn't get what he meant, he said, "Relax."
I sat up and looked at him strangely. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He sighed. "It means that you never take time to relax and enjoy yourself. I've noticed the way you act sometimes, the way you just need some time to forget everything and be by yourself."
"One," I said, "I'm not by myself. And two, I do so relax. Do you not see me fall asleep in class?"
He chuckled to myself. "That's not what I meant, querida."
"Well—" I stopped abruptly and looked him straight in the eye. "Wait, what did you call me?"
He completely ignored my question. He just stood up and started to walk towards the ocean.
"Hey!" I cried. "Where are you going?"
And he ignored me, yet again. Ugh.
What the hell did I do? Was it something I said? Or maybe I smell bad?
Just for good measure, I lifted my arm up and very subtly sniffed my armpit. Nope. No B.O.
Grumbling, I got up out of my comfy spot in the sand and walked over to him. "Jesse," I said, putting my hand on his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
He turned around and shook his head. "Nothing," he said. "I was just thinking, is all."
Although I knew it was definitely not nothing, I didn't push it. It was his choice to tell me. And if he didn't, then, well, he didn't.
"Okay," I said. I noticed he wasn't smiling anymore. He didn't look like he was angry or upset or anything, but his mood had definitely darkened.
We both started walking along the shore of the beach. I didn't feel like sitting back down, then. I felt like I had to move around and do something. And I guess Jesse felt the same, since he was walking right next to me.
"Have you . . . have you ever wanted to do something so badly, but you know you shouldn't?"
Surprised at his random topic, I answered, "Um, no, not really. I mean, I've done things that I shouldn't have in the past, but its not like I ever wanted to do them in the first place."
"Ghosts?" he inquired knowingly.
I nodded. "Yeah." The wind picked up then and I felt my hair being tossed around carelessly by it. "So, what did you mean by that, anyway?" I asked.
"Just a hypothetical question," he said.
But I knew better than that. I stopped dead in my tracks, which caused Jesse to stop, too, and look at me. When he had completely come to a stop and was looking me dead in the eye, I asked, "Jesse, what's really bothering you? I'm your best friend, you can tell me."
And he went and laughed at me. It wasn't a mocking laugh or anything, but it still felt like he was laughing at my attempt to pry information from him. Which, I guess I was and all.
"Susannah," he said, "there are some things that I just cannot discuss with you."
If he thought I was going to stop there, boy, was he wrong. "What? You think I'll go and gossip about it or something? Jesse, I'm not like that. I don't do that, like mostly every other girl in our school does."
He sighed. "No, that's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean, Jesse?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "Susannah, you're a . . . a woman. I guess I feel . . . uncomfortable discussing my problems with you."
Suddenly realizing what he meant, I grinned. "Oh," I said. "I think I see what's going on. Girl problems, Jesse?"
He looked at me in shock. "No," he said. "Not that."
"Oh, don't play dumb with me. Who is it, huh? What girl in school do you have a crush on?"
He continued walking again. Faster than before. Huh, I guess he was annoyed with me.
Oh well.
"I'm not gonna stop bugging you until you tell me, Jesse," I said, trying to catch up with him. By that time, it was pretty much dark out, so I could just see the outline of his figure. I was hoping he wouldn't start running away from me. I so am not good with running in flip-flops, especially in the sand.
I caught up with him, finally, and told him to stop.
He didn't.
So I ran in front of him, which caused him to stop. He nearly bumped into me, but it served its purpose.
"Come on, Jesse, just t—"
Only, I didn't get to finish what I was saying, since, all of a sudden, I felt his lips on mine, warm, soft, and luscious.
Needless to say, I forgot what I was bugging him about.
His hands came to my waist and pulled me into him, so he could get better access to my lips. I wasn't thinking at all during the time that our lips were locked. It didn't even register that Jesse and I were best friends.
But then the waves were breaking on shore, closer and closer. The cool water came up to my ankles and the sudden rush of cold water on my skin startled me.
I pulled back quickly from Jesse.
Only then did I realize what had just happened.
Jesse had just kissed me.
A/N: A little short, I know, but I updated really fast!That's gotta count for something, right?Don't forget to review!
trisisabel - I was having a weird moment, hence the weird comment.
Leash - Who says they're even getting together? What if Paul just comes in and sweeps Suze off her feet? Hey, you never know, it could happen.
Silver Nemesis - There's no good Mediator fanfic without Paul. He just creates so much drama.
Sharkina - I'd like to join you in the giggle-fest, Aina. Let's just hope the beach is deserted. Or really dark.
