Thank you Angel of the Storms and DarkFairy! No, there aren't enough
Mediator fics out there, but I'm doing my civic duty to spread the word.
Also, we need Where-R-U fics!!
Also, I'm not sure about updating quite so frequently. I only got 2 reviews so far. I think the more reviews I get, the faster I'll update. Sound fair?
On with the plot!!
*********** Haunted
Chapter 3
For the next few days, I didn't see much of Jesse. Or my family, for that matter. Sleepy was determined to deliver more "za" than ever, Andy's time was occupied installing the hot tub, my mom was busy covering a mudslide down in Pasadena, which is yet another thing I'd never heard of until moving here, and Doc was busy doing whatever it is twelve-year-old boys do. Dopey, for his part, was still grounded, and I assumed he spent most of his time attempting to reach his goal of one-sixty-eight.
However, I did hear from Paul, albeit indirectly. Of course, of course, the last person I want to even think about, I hear from.
Unlike certain OTHERS I could mention.
And I "heard" from him more and more by the day. Flowers, candy, what have you. Which, I must say, would be flattering if it wasn't coming from someone I'm scared to death of.
And, do his parents know how much he is spending on me? Back in Brooklyn you could get a dozen roses "Cheep! Cheep!" from some dude who didn't speak English on any corner, but here in California, where you have to buy from a florist, let me tell you, they are not that cheap. Or bug-infested.
And just where are his parents, anyway? Do I want to know?
I know I shouldn't care, seeing as he obviously doesn't, but what would Jesse think if he found out I was getting gifts from another guy? Probably hurt, if he cares at all.
Bearing this in mind, I stuffed the flowers in the garbage. So sue me.
I kept the candy, though. Hey, free chocolate is never anything to be sneered at.
As I popped a raspberry-crème filled one in my mouth, the door opened and Doc's head appeared. "Kelly Prescott's here," he said, sneaking a glance around my room to see, I'm sure, if any ghostly presences lurked in the corners.
I wish.
"Tell her I'll be right down," I said. Doc's head smiled and withdrew into the hall. As his footsteps disappeared down the stairs, I strode to my mirror to check my appearance. I applied some lip gloss and Mocha Mist, which matched my skirt-and-sweater set perfectly. I ran a brush through my hair, which I had spent quite awhile straightening that morning.
Satisfied, I grabbed my purse and the money we had raised to buy supplies for the beach cookout tomorrow. Kelly was supposed to bring the list of what we needed, and as I walked over to where she waited, I saw she had. She waved the list at me. "I have the list. Do you have the money?" she asked, glancing approvingly at my ensemble as I told her I had. Who would have guessed I'd get the approval of the Queen of the In Crowd here? Although, it must be said that Carmel is not exactly the hippest, most happening place in the old U. S. of A.
"Good. Let's go," she said, and flounced out to her new car her father had bought her, as she informed me, that summer for her birthday. Apparently she neither knew nor cared that I had yet to get a driver's license, let alone enough money on Andy's AmEx to buy a new car. I sighed and got in, mourning this unfortunate by-product of growing up in Brooklyn. I could kick ghostly butt, pick out the hippest outfit on the western seaboard and flag down a cab at rush hour in the rain with the best of them, but drive a stick shift? Not. So not.
I was reduced to watching enviously as her manicured hands expertly flipped the car into second as we rounded the corner into the shopping center.
I was still pondering the vagaries of my city-bred circumstances as we shopped. All in all, it wasn't too bad. Most of the class committee was helping us get the supplies for the cookout, so we had split up into a few groups and we were prowling the store. I, unfortunately, was stuck with Kelly, as she was the president, and my ride.
However, my train of thought was abruptly derailed when an all-too- familiar voice at my shoulder said, "Suze. You look lovely today."
Glancing around to see if Kelly was in earshot (she was at aisle 10, comparing the prices of Heinz versus store-brand ketchup), I hissed, "What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?"
Paul grinned lazily. "Now Suze. How could you think that of me? I just wanted to see how you liked my gifts. I thought you'd like the roses."
As if. Any guy can buy a girl roses. If he'd really wanted to impress me he could have done something I, personally, would have liked, such as a new kickboxing video. I decided not to tell him that I'd already polished off one of the boxes of chocolates. I didn't want him getting the wrong impression, after all. Even though the chocolates were really, really good.
"As a matter of fact, I threw them away. Now, if you'll excuse me," I turned to walk over to Kelly, who had decided on the store-bought and was making her way over.
Cheapskate.
Paul, however, had other ideas. He grabbed my arm in a grip of steel and turned me to him.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Suze. You know, I haven't been entirely truthful with you about why I came here today. "
I glared at him, not deigning to answer. His perpetually cold hands were cutting off the circulation to my arm, and I wiggled my fingers a bit to keep them from going completely numb.
He seemed to notice this, and loosened his grip somewhat. "Suze, you and I would make an unstoppable team." His voice had the same steel iciness that his grip did. "You and I are alike in more ways than you know. I want to answer all your questions. Come with me tomorrow night at the beach. It's the perfect setting for us to talk." He lowered his voice. "Romantic and - "
I didn't let him finish. He was really starting to creep me out. I took advantage of his loosened grip and spun away. "I told you already. I have a boyfriend." I felt a pang at how untrue this statement was, but I didn't let it distract me. "Leave me alone."
His eyes flashed. He looked so terrifying for a second I considered making a break for it then and there. But then the second passed, and he smiled. Albeit evilly.
"No," he said, and walked out of the store.
I let out my breath, flexing my fingers against the pins and needles that still threatened.
:"Suze Simon." Kelly was right behind me. I hoped she hadn't heard much of our conversation.
No such luck. "What's with the Red Baron impression? He is the cutest boy in Carmel, and the whole town knows you haven't got a boyfriend."
Not true! He wasn't the cutest boy in Carmel.
Possibly the cutest LIVE boy in Carmel, but let's not split hairs.
I sighed. What was with people getting involved in my non-existent love life lately? Did I not have enough problems without other people butting in?
"Well, this way he's free for you."
Kelly looked surprised, and a bit confused, but quickly recovered and spent the rest of our time shopping and also most of the ride back talking about how "fine" Paul was.
*************
REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!! The more reviews I get, the faster I'll put it up.
Also, I'm not sure about updating quite so frequently. I only got 2 reviews so far. I think the more reviews I get, the faster I'll update. Sound fair?
On with the plot!!
*********** Haunted
Chapter 3
For the next few days, I didn't see much of Jesse. Or my family, for that matter. Sleepy was determined to deliver more "za" than ever, Andy's time was occupied installing the hot tub, my mom was busy covering a mudslide down in Pasadena, which is yet another thing I'd never heard of until moving here, and Doc was busy doing whatever it is twelve-year-old boys do. Dopey, for his part, was still grounded, and I assumed he spent most of his time attempting to reach his goal of one-sixty-eight.
However, I did hear from Paul, albeit indirectly. Of course, of course, the last person I want to even think about, I hear from.
Unlike certain OTHERS I could mention.
And I "heard" from him more and more by the day. Flowers, candy, what have you. Which, I must say, would be flattering if it wasn't coming from someone I'm scared to death of.
And, do his parents know how much he is spending on me? Back in Brooklyn you could get a dozen roses "Cheep! Cheep!" from some dude who didn't speak English on any corner, but here in California, where you have to buy from a florist, let me tell you, they are not that cheap. Or bug-infested.
And just where are his parents, anyway? Do I want to know?
I know I shouldn't care, seeing as he obviously doesn't, but what would Jesse think if he found out I was getting gifts from another guy? Probably hurt, if he cares at all.
Bearing this in mind, I stuffed the flowers in the garbage. So sue me.
I kept the candy, though. Hey, free chocolate is never anything to be sneered at.
As I popped a raspberry-crème filled one in my mouth, the door opened and Doc's head appeared. "Kelly Prescott's here," he said, sneaking a glance around my room to see, I'm sure, if any ghostly presences lurked in the corners.
I wish.
"Tell her I'll be right down," I said. Doc's head smiled and withdrew into the hall. As his footsteps disappeared down the stairs, I strode to my mirror to check my appearance. I applied some lip gloss and Mocha Mist, which matched my skirt-and-sweater set perfectly. I ran a brush through my hair, which I had spent quite awhile straightening that morning.
Satisfied, I grabbed my purse and the money we had raised to buy supplies for the beach cookout tomorrow. Kelly was supposed to bring the list of what we needed, and as I walked over to where she waited, I saw she had. She waved the list at me. "I have the list. Do you have the money?" she asked, glancing approvingly at my ensemble as I told her I had. Who would have guessed I'd get the approval of the Queen of the In Crowd here? Although, it must be said that Carmel is not exactly the hippest, most happening place in the old U. S. of A.
"Good. Let's go," she said, and flounced out to her new car her father had bought her, as she informed me, that summer for her birthday. Apparently she neither knew nor cared that I had yet to get a driver's license, let alone enough money on Andy's AmEx to buy a new car. I sighed and got in, mourning this unfortunate by-product of growing up in Brooklyn. I could kick ghostly butt, pick out the hippest outfit on the western seaboard and flag down a cab at rush hour in the rain with the best of them, but drive a stick shift? Not. So not.
I was reduced to watching enviously as her manicured hands expertly flipped the car into second as we rounded the corner into the shopping center.
I was still pondering the vagaries of my city-bred circumstances as we shopped. All in all, it wasn't too bad. Most of the class committee was helping us get the supplies for the cookout, so we had split up into a few groups and we were prowling the store. I, unfortunately, was stuck with Kelly, as she was the president, and my ride.
However, my train of thought was abruptly derailed when an all-too- familiar voice at my shoulder said, "Suze. You look lovely today."
Glancing around to see if Kelly was in earshot (she was at aisle 10, comparing the prices of Heinz versus store-brand ketchup), I hissed, "What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?"
Paul grinned lazily. "Now Suze. How could you think that of me? I just wanted to see how you liked my gifts. I thought you'd like the roses."
As if. Any guy can buy a girl roses. If he'd really wanted to impress me he could have done something I, personally, would have liked, such as a new kickboxing video. I decided not to tell him that I'd already polished off one of the boxes of chocolates. I didn't want him getting the wrong impression, after all. Even though the chocolates were really, really good.
"As a matter of fact, I threw them away. Now, if you'll excuse me," I turned to walk over to Kelly, who had decided on the store-bought and was making her way over.
Cheapskate.
Paul, however, had other ideas. He grabbed my arm in a grip of steel and turned me to him.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Suze. You know, I haven't been entirely truthful with you about why I came here today. "
I glared at him, not deigning to answer. His perpetually cold hands were cutting off the circulation to my arm, and I wiggled my fingers a bit to keep them from going completely numb.
He seemed to notice this, and loosened his grip somewhat. "Suze, you and I would make an unstoppable team." His voice had the same steel iciness that his grip did. "You and I are alike in more ways than you know. I want to answer all your questions. Come with me tomorrow night at the beach. It's the perfect setting for us to talk." He lowered his voice. "Romantic and - "
I didn't let him finish. He was really starting to creep me out. I took advantage of his loosened grip and spun away. "I told you already. I have a boyfriend." I felt a pang at how untrue this statement was, but I didn't let it distract me. "Leave me alone."
His eyes flashed. He looked so terrifying for a second I considered making a break for it then and there. But then the second passed, and he smiled. Albeit evilly.
"No," he said, and walked out of the store.
I let out my breath, flexing my fingers against the pins and needles that still threatened.
:"Suze Simon." Kelly was right behind me. I hoped she hadn't heard much of our conversation.
No such luck. "What's with the Red Baron impression? He is the cutest boy in Carmel, and the whole town knows you haven't got a boyfriend."
Not true! He wasn't the cutest boy in Carmel.
Possibly the cutest LIVE boy in Carmel, but let's not split hairs.
I sighed. What was with people getting involved in my non-existent love life lately? Did I not have enough problems without other people butting in?
"Well, this way he's free for you."
Kelly looked surprised, and a bit confused, but quickly recovered and spent the rest of our time shopping and also most of the ride back talking about how "fine" Paul was.
*************
REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!! The more reviews I get, the faster I'll put it up.