This isnt exactly what i wanted to write for this chapter...but im trying to remember where this story was going...


I was sitting in government, trying to pay attention. Honestly I was. I shared this class with 20 other people, and in those twenty, Paul, Jesse, and Kelly-look-at-me-Prescott surrounded three of my four corners. I sat in the middle, with my head held up by my right arm. Jesse kept glancing at me from his seat next to mine, urging me to pay attention. I sat straight, and looked around the room.

"Are you lost Simon?" Kelly whispered from the seat behind me.

Jesse tapped my desk in order to get my attention away from the blonde behind me.

"What Suze, you need Rico here to keep you in line?"

I heard a pencil break from the person seated to my right. Not now Jesse.

I looked at him. Silently pleading for him not to start anything. I remembered our conversation the other day at the ranch.

I wont do anything, unless he does it first

I looked forward, trying to keep my gaze away from the two glares facing each other, but the same two that put me in the middle-almost literally-of their war.

Okay, so Paul had his right. Jesse unconsciously took me away from him. But it was more of my fault than anything. Jesse didn't tell me to fall in love with him. It just happened.

If Paul had a problem, then his problem was with me.

Just then everyone turned in their seats, Mr. O'Neil stopped talking, and everyone was looking at me.

Had I said that out loud?

"Slater, de Silva, Simon? Is there a problem?"

I'm not exactly sure how Jesse's name came into the list, but then I turned to look at him and saw him standing up, facing Paul, hands fisted.

"I believe there is a problem here Mr. O'Neil. Wouldn't you say de Silva?"

Jesse didn't say a word. In a past life (before Paul), I'd always wondered what it would be like if two guys were fighting over me. Of course, this hadn't happened in New York, but now that it was happening, I didn't like it. I didn't like it one bit.

"Jesse, it's okay, sit down before you get in trouble." Jesse looked down at me, and his face seemed to soften, but he looked away to the teacher, and sat down.

"Oh yes, Jesse. You don't want to get in trouble. Listen to Suze like a good little boy and sit down."

Jesse was still sitting, but his hands were clenched, and his jaw was hard once more.

"de Silva, Slater. Detention, tomorrow after school"

"Oh Teech. Don't do this. Paul and I have reservations at-"

"Well, then you can cancel them for detention to Ms. Prescott."

I couldn't let Jesse be alone with the two of them for however long Mr. O'Neil tried to keep them.

"Um, Kelly, you might want to schedule it in your diary." I said it loud enough for everyone to hear it.

"Simon. You're welcome to join us. In fact. It's mandatory."

I smiled with contentment, and nodded.

"Sure Mr. O'Neil. I'll be there."

When the bell rang, I was the first to get out of my seat and walk out. Paul was escorted out by Kelly, and Jesse was the last to walk out.

"Jesse you promised." I grabbed his hand, and stopped him.

"Susannah, I know. I really am trying. But when he says things like that. Insinuating that I'm treating you like a slave. I don't want you leave me."

I heard the fear in his voice.

I grabbed his hands, as the halls cleared for lunch.

Never in my life had I met a guy who was so in touch with his feelings. Jesse, who was always so calm, and sure, now fearful.

"Jesse," I kept the gaze straight, and I put his hands on my heart.

"There is nothing that can be said or done to make me go back with Paul. I love you. I know who you are, and that you'd never put me in danger. Which is one of the reasons why I love you. The comparisons between you two are like night and day. And I happen to prefer the night time. Just ignore him."

Jesse nodded, and then smiled.

"You really love me?"

I couldn't help but laugh.

I stood on my tip-toes, because Jesse being who he was, was very tall. I barely pressed my lips to his, when I heard the sound of laughter and froze.

"Awe, how sweet."

The difference between anyone living, and anyone dead was remarkably obvious. For once, they were transparent, as we were not, and they glowed, as we did not. I felt Jesse tense beside me.

"Querida, I think you should go to lunch. I'll meet you there soon."

It was about the ghost?

I knew for a while, that Jesse had some ability to see ghost as I did, but it hit me that he didn't know about my ability. Wasn't that something Father D. would have told him right? Or was that my job?

Now was better than never right?

"Jesse, you see him right?"

The ghost was about as tall as Jesse, but somehow older. His hair and eyes were dark, and his face looked as if he had been dark in it's previous life.

"Susannah go-wait you see him?"

Jesse looked from the ghost and me.

"If you're referring to the ghost, then yes. I see him. I meant to tell you sooner, but it just slipped my mind."

"Then you are a mediator too?"

"And so is Paul. Only he doesn't help them. He considers himself God's Greatest Gift to the world.

"HELLO!" the ground shook, and Jesse moved himself in front of me.

"Do I know you?" Jesse asked the ghost, scrutizing both of our faces.

"You might. But she does." he gestured to me. His accent was Hispanic, and I couldn't recall why he was so familiar.

"de Silva are you not?" he asked Jesse.

"Yes."

"You're family and I go way back. It was this one's fault I ended up dead and you ended up riding towards you're ranch, and onto the life that should have been mine."

Judging by our confusion, the ghost rolled his eyes.

"He did something didn't he? That's why I'm here?"

"When exactly did you die?" I asked. Judging by his appearance, I'd say mid 1800's.

"Too long. I was sleeping pretty nicely. Until I heard a voice calling me. Waking me up. Talking about revenge. Then I see you, and what is a guy to think? I remember the night I followed you into the barn, and this one was there. It was all good, until I fell." the ghost kept on talking.

"What do you mean he did something? Who are you talking about?" Jesse asked, cutting off the cowboy.

"There were three of you total on the loft. Didnt see much of him, but i've been dead enough to think it through."

all of a sudden, Paul appeared almost out of nowhere next to the ghost, and he held on to the ghost's arm.

"You werent supposed to be here." he looked at the ghost.

Just as quick as he'd come, they were both gone.

"What---"

"We need to get out of here, i have to show you something" Jesse grabbed my hand and the next thing i knew, we were in his truck heading towards his house.


We were in the library about a half hour later looking through old books. Well i was looking through old books, Jesse was scanning the wall of portraits.

"Jesse, what exactly are we looking for?"

"The ghost said that my family and his family go way back, there has to be some picture of him somewhere. That tells us who he is at least."

I joined him at the wall, and pointed to the one in the top corner.

"There. Look. What's the caption say?"

Jesse had acquired a ladder and climbed up to take a closer look.

"Nombre di Dios Susannah."

I walked over to the bottom of the ladder where Jesse was climbing over.

"I've seen this man before. Remember that story with my ancestor, where one tried to kill him on the way to meet his bride?"

I nodded, okay Jesse get to the point.

"This is that man."

I looked at the picture and recognized him as the ghost that was in the school just hours before.

"Felix Diego?" Never heard of him, but he sure did look familar.


my mom is rushing me!!!