A/N Thanks for the reviews, guys, you rock! Sorry its taken so long to be updated, I've been glued to MSN Messenger (blame Nick, not me!) and also, I've been busy with exams and homework. So now,enjoy! R&R!

Chapter 14

Dear Suze, wrote Brad. I'm sorry I scared you off earlier, and I'm sorry my stupid brother interrupted our little heart-to-heart. Wanna meet up later? There's a clump of trees behind the house, so by the biggest one, nine o'clock. I'll be waiting.

Brad x

What was that 'x' doing at the bottom? And why was he so intent on meeting me? It seemed he had a bit of a crush...

"Whats that?" asked Jesse sharply. I folded the paper up and tucked it under the duvet.

"Nothing," I said quickly.

"It was a note," said Jesse firmly.

"If you knew what it was, why did you ask?" I snapped. Now, I was beginning to realise why I felt so antagonised in the daydreams.

"Because, querida, I was wondering whether or not you'd tell me."

Then I finally snapped. This guy may be hot stuff, but he was interfering, cocky, and a teeny bit too intellegent.

"What is it with you and the whole querida thing?" I asked rudely. "Because in case you havent noticed, I do not not speak Spanish. I live in a world where most people speak English, even if not fluently. So speak English, you're American!"

OK, maybe that sounded better in my head. Jesse's mouth twisted, suggesting he longed to laugh, but he wouldnt let himself.

"So, a note from Jake?" he asked casually, as if my outburst hadn't happened.

"Yes," I lied. "So if you dont mind, I'm going to get changed."

Jesse scowled, but politely dematerialized. Ghosts. I dont think I'll ever understand them until I'm old and saggy. I dont think I'll ever understand Jesse, ever, being a boy and a ghost.

0000

"Suze," said Brad conversationally and he strode from the tree he was leaning on, up to me, and kissed me on the cheek. "Decided to come?"

"I guess," I replied. Well, duh. What else would I be doing in a forest?

Dont answer that.

"Wanna sit?" asked Brad, gesturing to a mossy stone. Seeing as this wasnt my Ralph Lauren skirt I was mucking up, I took a seat next to him.

My whole body tensed when Brad brought out his bottle of vodka. I'd already let one alcohol - related issue slide, but this was a second.

Then, handing it to me, he sighed.

I took the flask, but didnt drink.

"Are you ok?" I asked him.

"If I was ok, would I be meeting my brother's girlfriend and getting wasted?" he replied. I took that as a no. I lookws at his exhauseted eyes, his faint stubble, his wet lips. He was depressed, real depressed. I couldnt save him any other way. My dad used to say, "If you cant beat 'em, join 'em. I wondered if he'd say the same in this situation. I sighed. If my dad was dead, I'd want to make sure his wishes were met. So I followed his stupid motto and took a sip.

The fiery liquid trickled down my throat, sorching the skin. I felt it glide down my insides. Then, I found one sip was followed by one glug, and one glug was followed by two glugs. Two glugs were followed by three glugs, and three by four. I remember my mind becoming light-headed, and my grip on the flask, becoming loose.

Then the last thing I remember was looking at Brad, him looking at me, and feeling his lips meet mine. And the scary part was, I didnt seem to mind.