That's right. He had the nerve to just disappear on me like that! I should put like, a ghostly homing device on him. But it's not like there is one, so I'm stuffed.

Oh, ab fab. Paul had been successful in his wish to get me to take those lessons with him. What scared me the most was that he'd fill my head with crappy lies about shifting and in a time of need, they wouldn't work. I wouldn't put it past him.

'Ah!' I yelled, as my hand was scratched viciously. 'Spike!'

The scruffy fat thing hissed at me, and flicked his tail indignantly, before jumping onto the floor. Yeah, that thing how cats always land on their feet? Not happening with Spike. Oh, he had too much blubber pulling his stomach down for that to be possible. I snorted as I heard the squelching thud of feline on wood.

Serves him right for clawing my desk.

I glanced around. My window seat was empty, and looked very lonely. I wished that Jesse would come here, I needed to talk to him. I mean, seriously, what dude kisses a girl, and then doesn't do anything? Forgetting that the kiss was in a graveyard, and that the kisser is. oh, gee. dead? Yeah, a bit of a bummer. But exactly! Jesse was supposed to be a gentleman! He couldn't have done something so cruel as to twist my heart like that. I mean, that wasn't very gentlemanly. that was. badassly!

I suck, I really do.

Why does my life suck so? I mean, seriously, I didn't ask to be a mediator, a liaison between the living and the undead. So why did I have extra- complicated things added to my already complicated life? Not fair, if you ask me.

But then, no one ever asked me about the mediator thing.

I was jerked from my thoughts by the hand on my shoulder.

~*~

My heart clenched in shock. Not Paul.Please don't let it be Paul.

'Hello, sweetie,' smiled a familiar face. It was a kind, middle-aged face. And they were my eyes.

'Dad,' I snapped, 'Don't- don't do that!' He chuckled, his small beer gut juggling slightly.

'I do my best, honey,' he grinned, and squeezed my cheek, like he used to do when I was little. In spite of myself, I smiled.

'What do you want?' I asked.

He looked annoyed. 'Jesus, can't I come and say hello? Or do I need written permission?'

'Not a bad idea,' I said through gritted teeth. I was still a bit jumpy.

Again, he laughed, and gave me a hug. 'I've missed you, Susie,' he said, messing my hair. That peeved me.

'Do you have any idea how long it takes me to do this every morning?' I asked acidly, smoothing my horrible pony down. I know, I hate ponies too, but hey, I can't wear my hair down all the time. Might get lice, hey? Whatever.

This sent him into fresh mirth. Okay, now I was narked. 'Dad, stop laughing. I have stuff to do.' That was when he suddenly looked serious.

'Susie,' he began, but I was all, 'Don't you call me that!' He, however ignored me.

'Listen, Suze, I have been hearing things about what's been happening to you lately. First you got yourself exorcised that time, which was completely stupid of you. You could have died! Then, you go and get yourself kissed by. we're not sure what he is yet, but we are looking into it-'

'We? Are you talking about Jesse?' I asked, baffled. I guess if was from my father that I had inherited my babbling trait.

'No, I'm talking about that other mediator, Paul,' he said grimly, staring at me levelly, with emerald eyes, 'And then, you go back to that Shadowland! You shouldn't be using your powers for things like that. It isn't right-'

'How do I know what'd right?' I asked brusquely. 'You aren't a very reliable source of information, are you?'

He looked at me steely. 'Suze, you be a good girl. If I hear that boy coming near you,' he made a rapid slash with his index finger across his neck, and grimaced savagely. 'If he lays another hand on you-'

'Would you relax?' I asked. Spike had wandered back over, eyeing my father warily. My father bent to pat the cat, but Spike swiped up at his hand brutally.

Annoyed, I kicked him to the other side of the room. Flying felines, hell yeah. It was kind of weird, hearing a strangled, squashed kind of meow as he soared at the wall, but my ears will get over it.

'Suze, that is a creature of God, don't kick it,' scolded Dad.

'Since when did you believe in God?' I yawned boredly, picking up a copy of Dolly, and flicking through. Mmm, six signs of flirting? Intriguing.

'So, I'm going to be watching you.'

"He stares at you a lot." Well, I guess Jesse did that, seeing that I was the only one who could catch him at it.

'.very closely. You've given us all.'

"His voice gets softer whenever you two talk." Does it? I've never noticed. I'll see.

'A great big scare, getting your feet burnt like that.'

"He sometimes stares straight into your eyes". That was definite. Well, maybe, only that was before the kiss. Now, he'd be all like, "oh, Father Dom needs me," and dematerialize, and all.

'.Susie, I'm serious. We are all really.'

"You hung up on him. He called you back". Considering he can't really use the telephone, this one was unlikely.

'.really worried about you. And another thing.'

"He remembers little things you mention in casual conversation". I guess, but that was just annoying, not flirting. Great.

'.That Jesse boy is really starting to bother me. I saw you to.'

"He tries every possible way to touch you". Well, I wouldn't say Jesse was exactly outgoing here, but when he wanted something, he wasn't afraid to go all touchy-feely. Does that count?

'.kissing in the graveyard!'

Okay, now that caught my attention. Deny it! 'You saw that?!' I gasped, being way hypocritical of my resolution to deny it. This was basically admitting it. Damn, I'm so screwed.

'It's not healthy, honey. He's a ghost. You shouldn't-'

'SUZE!' yelled a voice, 'Suze, I need to show you something!'

~*~