A/N: Thanks so much for the wonderful reviews! Well, I got my six reviews in less than a day, and I was so happy that I set off to work on the next chappy immediately. I'd just like to warn you, that there is some lime near the end of this. For those of you don't know, it means some sexual content. So if you're offended by that kind of thing, guess what? IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM! ^_^ j/k, actually it is my problem, cuz then I get less reviews, and then I get mad. Well, you have been warned...
Angel Wings-Chapter 6
I managed to successfully avoid Cee Cee and Adam for the rest of the day. I pretty much avoided conversations with anyone, only talking when I absolutely had to. If people thought I was acting strange, they didn't say anything. It was as I was whipping out my umbrella to trudge home in the rain that they finally caught up to me.
"Suze!"
I tried to pretend that I didn't hear, but there was no ignoring them.
"Suze, wait up!"
I turned with a sigh. Cee Cee came running from down the hall, Adam at her heels. He was starting to follow her around, I noted with the barest hint of a smile. They slowed to a stop in front of me. Both of them bent over, hands on their knees, gasping for air. I couldn't help but smile.
"You know, you guys really need to get into shape."
Cee Cee glared up at me. "Thanks for reminding me."
"No prob," I said.
Cee Cee stood up. "Listen, Suze…um-"
"Look, everything's fine, alright?" I snapped. I didn't want to deal with this right now. I couldn't deal with it. "I just…really need to get home now-"
"Everything is not fine," Adam cut in. "Everything is definitely NOT fine. Cee Cee told me you were acting weird today, and I definitely see it now-"
"MY LIFE IS *FUCKING PERFECT!"
I don't know where it came from. But the words exploded from me before I could stop them. The crowded hall went quiet. Everyone was staring at me. For an instant I thought I saw him in the crowd, but, as always, my mind was playing tricks on me.
"Susannah, you will watch your language in the halls, please," piped the old bird-like librarian.
Cee Cee and Adam were the worst. They were looking at me like they had never seen me before. I looked Cee Cee in the eye, and said quietly, "I'm sorry, ok? You're right, everything's not perfect. But I can't tell you why…" I took a step back, towards the exit. My eyes were slowly filling with tears. "I just can't."
I turned and pushed my way through the door. A blast of icy rain hit me full in the face, mixing with my tears. I slammed the door shut against all those eyes and began walking briskly home, my umbrella still in my hand, forgotten. His name was a whisper on my lips…
I cried softly, my tears hidden by the rain.
"You horrible *bastard…I hate you!" I started running. "I HATE YOU!"
He waltzed into my life, all polite and *fucking smiles. He saved me, he understood me, he made me fall in love with him. He kissed me, he touched me, he ripped my *fucking heart out from my chest! I gave myself to him…willing to make the ultimate sacrifice…
And he left me. He just abandoned me. He crushed my stolen heart. He must have planned it all along. He disgusts me. I hate him more than anything.
"I'd rather have Paul than you, you *bastard," I said, an iciness in my voice that sounded foreign to my own ears.
Please don't say that, querida. Please say you didn't mean that…
Is this what it feels like to have your heart broken…?
6 months later…
"Pass me the lotion, Cee," I said.
Cee Cee lifted her hand, blindly rummaging through her bag without tearing her eyes from this month's issue of Cosmo. She tossed me the bottle and I lifted the shoulder straps of my bikini, rubbing the lotion on. I popped the cap back on and flipped back at Cee Cee. It hit her square in the forehead. She glared at me.
"Suze, I'm trying to learn how to get the man of my dreams, here," she said coldly.
"Really?" I said with interest, and moved over to sit by her, and had a look at the article. "Let's see…Eye contact, smile, laugh at his jokes, but not too loudly, listen to him talk about himself, invite him to the movies…Cee Cee, I don't know if you realize this, but you've already got Adam wrapped around your finger."
Cee Cee smiled slowly and looked at me with hope. "Really? I mean, I don't know…"
"Cee Cee, look at him. Wherever you go, he follows. Whenever you appear unexpectedly around him, he drops whatever he's holding. He stutters around you. And he's buying us hotdogs, for god's sake! He's got it pretty bad, Cee."
"But Cosmo says-"
"Forget what Cosmo says. Listen to what I say. I know this stuff."
She looked at me slyly. "How would you know this stuff?"
"Because-" Then I realized exactly why I knew this stuff, and I looked away quickly, already feeling the familiar stinging behind my eyes. "Well, I've read enough Danielle Steel to know…"
Cee Cee gazed out at the crashing waves, behind which the sun was beginning to set. It was a gorgeous summer day. My last summer as a rebel teen.
"So, are you excited? I mean, we're going to college, Suze…"
"Yeah…"
"HOTDOGS! Get yer hotdogs, right here ladies!"
Cee Cee and I both turned. Adam was walking across the sand towards us, balancing a tray of hotdogs like a waiter.
"Here ya go, Suze," he said, handing me a hotdog. He turned the Cee Cee. In a surprisingly suave gesture, he lifted her hand to his lips and gave it a soft kiss. I saw their eyes meet, and Cee Cee blushed. "And here is your gourmet hotdog, madam," he said, handing her a hotdog with a smile.
"Thank you," Cee Cee said quietly.
I must admit, Adam had turned into quite the dreamboat over the years. He had himself a set of washboard abs not unlike Je-um, Brad Pitt's, and he had a nice face. A very nice face. Almost as nice as…well, it was a nice face. Cee Cee had also blossomed over the years. In my opinion, she was prettier than Kelly now. Way prettier.
We sat there munching our food for a while, watching the surfers fall off their boards. When I was full, I leaned back on the blanket and watched the sun go down. "There goes the sun…"
"And I say, it's alright!" Adam practically shouted. Cee Cee laughed, but I just kept staring at the sun, which had streaked the sky a golden blood-red color. It wasn't alright. It would never be alright.
Ever since we-um, I fought Paul that day so long ago, there had been no word from him. Was he planning something? Or maybe he really was dead…
No word from Je-um, well…he just kind of…disappeared, too. Not that I mind. Oh, no, I don't mind at all. I'll bet he's *fucking some hot demoness right now. Which is way more than he ever did for me. Way more than I ever wanted him to do for me. I…never wanted him at all. He's an *asshole.
I realized I had been clenching my jaw shut, and I relaxed. *Asshole…
"Hey, Suze, is something wrong?" Cee Cee said.
"Huh?" I turned to look at her. "Oh-no, nothing's wrong. I just…" I sighed. "…really need a boyfriend, I guess."
Cee Cee brightened. "Hey, we could totally find you a boyfriend, right Adam?"
"What?" Adam said, and I realized with a smile he had been staring at Cee Cee from the corner of his eye. "Oh, yeah, yeah, of course…"
"No, it's alright, I'll find one myself…"
"Don't you start arguing about it!" Cee Cee said, starting to pack up her stuff. "I know plenty of hot guys that would be very interested in you."
I started packing up as well, noting how Adam's brows had gone up a little when Cee Cee had mentioned knowing plenty of hot guys.
"Ok, ok," I said, getting up and lifting my bag onto my shoulders. "I'll meet a few guys. Only because you're so stubborn."
"Great, I'll introduce you to Jesse first, and-"
My heart skipped a beat. "Who?" I said, freezing.
"Um, Jesse, my cousin. He just moved from Arizona…are you ok…?"
I stared at her for a moment, then laughed nervously. "Oh, yeah, I'm great…I was just wondering for a second if you-um-meant someone that I kind of know…"
"Oh, you know a guy named Jesse? He's not from our town, is he?" she said, as we began walking towards Adam's car.
"Um-no. He…moved away last year."
"Oh, that's too bad. Did you guys have a thing going on?"
I shifted uncomfortably. "Um, what do you mean?"
"Ya know, were you like, a couple?"
"Oh. Um-I guess you could say that." I loved him with all my heart, and he left me, I felt like saying.
"Oh. That sucks that he had to move away. Hate when that happens."
"Yeah…"
"Hey, ladies, can you wait up?" Adam called from behind us. He looked kind of annoyed. "Oh, don't mind me," he said, noticing that we had fallen silent, "You two just keep on talking about your hot guys-"
"Adam, would you like to go see a movie with me on Saturday?" Cee Cee interrupted. What ensued was a Kodak moment. Adam dropped everything he was holding, namely the blankets and towels, and his and Cee Cee's bags, and just gawked at Cee Cee. Cee Cee turned a bright red, and said, "Ok, well, if you didn't want to go…"
Adam nearly fell over. "No, no, I'd love to go! Um, pick you up at seven?"
Cee Cee smiled. "Sure. That'd be great!"
Then they just kind of stood there, looking at each other and smiling, until my voice brought them both back to earth.
"Aw, how romantic! It's about time you two hooked up."
Adam visibly colored, and bent down to gather all the things he had dropped. Cee Cee, still smiling, bent down to help him.
That was when I saw him.
He was about a block away, dressed all in black, leaning against a tree, his arms folded over his chest. Watching me.
My breath caught in my throat, and my shoulder bag slipped onto the ground.
"Oh…my…god…"
He turned away, and crossed the street. I watched him until he got to the other side. That was when a huge truck went behind him, obstructing my view of him. When it passed, he was gone.
Again.
I could feel the blood draining from my face. I bent over and picked up my shoulder bag with my trembling hands. I swallowed, still staring at the spot he had been a moment ago.
Then I heard Cee Cee and Adam start giggling. I turned, and there they were, laughing for no reason, Adam holding everything again, and Cee Cee holding her bottle of lotion.
"What'd I miss?" I asked, trying to convince myself it had been my imagination.
"Oh, nothing," Cee Cee said, still giggling. "Just, we had everything all packed up, and we were getting up, and my lotion fell out of the bag, and…well…it was just kinda funny."
I quirked an eyebrow. "Wow, I guess it's true what they say. Love makes you stupid."
Cee Cee glared, but she smiled at the same time. Behind her, Adam was fidgeting, blushing again.
And in that moment, I missed Jesse more than I ever had before.
Midnight found me wide-awake and restless in my bed. I couldn't get to sleep for the life of me, and yet I was dead tired. And it wasn't like there were any more nightmares of Paul keeping me awake…it was just…well, obviously, it was what had happened today. You know, seeing…him. Seeing Jesse. Seeing the *bastard after-what?-six months? If he thought he was just gonna get me back, no problem, after abandoning me, he had another thing coming.
Something pounced on me and mewed softly. I couldn't see in the darkness, but I knew it was Spike. Spike and I had become quite good buddies after Jesse's disappearing act. He was actually pretty sweet, as long as you were his one and only. And since his ex-one and only was gone, that left me. Poor Spikey.
I started stroking him absently. "What do you think, Spike? Think I'm crazy?"
Spike began purring softly, and I chuckled. "Well, I guess I'd have to be, if I'm talking to a cat."
He mewed again, and fell over onto his back, stretching lazily, and imploring me with his eyes to scratch his tummy.
"Alright, alright, you psychotic kitty." I moved my hand and scratched his tummy. He was starting to sound like Andy's vibrating massager. I sighed. "Do you still miss him, Spike?"
Spike let out what sounded like a whimper.
"Yeah," I said, and I took a deep breath as the back
of my eyes prickled for the second time today.
"Yeah…me too, buddy."
That was when the weird thing happened. It was like a wave of shadow fell across the whole room, almost like a car had just passed by or something, but none actually did. It only lasted about two seconds, but to me, it seemed to last much longer. I shot up into a sitting position. Spike fell off of me, hissing. He wasn't hissing at me though. He was hissing at a spot on the window seat, it seemed. My eyes glued to the window seat, I slowly reached my hand to the side of my bed, pulling out baseball bat…
"Who's there?" I said loudly, keeping my voice steady and firm. "Paul?"
A voice in the back of my mind was shouting "IT'S JESSE, YOU IDIOT!", but I ignored it. I was seriously hoping it wasn't. I found myself dreading having to face him for some reason.
Spike leaped off the bed then, no longer hissing. He leaped onto the window seat, and started sniffing around suspiciously. Then, as if some hunch had been confirmed, he lied down and started purring.
There was no denying who it was, now. But where was he? I mean, ok, he's on the window seat. But why can't I see him, then?
I got up slowly, and, still wielding the baseball bat, I walked over to the window seat. I was getting a little scared, now. For some reason, I would rather have Paul leap out at me than Jesse. At least if it was Paul, I could hit him with the bat. If it were Jesse, what would I do? Spit at him? Curse him out? Run into his arms and kiss him? Tell him hate him? Tell him I love him? Or maybe hit him with the bat anyway?
Spike started sounding like Andy's vibrating massager again.
I reached the window seat, and reached out my hand. Nothing but air. I hesitantly touched the window seat, bat still at the ready. Nothing. Then why was Spike lying there so happy? His eyes were closed in what seemed to be great pleasure. Like somebody was giving him a great backrub. I put my hand on his back, not knowing what to expect. An invisible hand, maybe? Nothing. Except that when my hand touched Spike, his eyes snapped open and he hissed at me.
"Ok, ok, sorry," I mumbled, lowering the bat. "Jeez, you don't have to-"
I gasped as strong arms suddenly wrapped themselves around me from behind. "I was waiting for you to put that thing down," he said gruffly into my ear.
I shiver went down my spine. "J-Jesse-"
"The one and only," he whispered, and his grip on me tightened. I couldn't explain it, but he seemed different. I didn't get the same feeling of security that he used to give me. He made me feel jumpy. Like it was Paul holding me, not him. But it was Jesse. Somehow I just knew.
"Thought you'd forget me, didn't you?" he whispered again, now rocking me slowly from side to side. "Thought you'd find someone better?"
"You-you abandoned me-"
A low primal growl came deep in his throat. Spike was observing all this from the window seat, still purring loudly.
And out of nowhere, the fear was replaced with anger. I struggled to get out of his unwanted embrace, but I couldn't for the life of me. He chuckled at my efforts.
"You left me, Jesse! Don't come back thinking I'll be all happy to see you. You were my prince charming once, don't expect to be that ever again! Now let me go!"
To my surprise, he did. I stumbled forward a little, almost falling. In fact, I would have fallen, if some kind of invisible, wind-like force hadn't blown me upright again.
"Oh, that's right, you're a big bad demon now. I almost forgot."
I turned, and there he was. And he didn't look like the Jesse I knew and loved at all. He had on leather pants and boots, and what looked like a silk tee. Over it was black leather long coat. He looked GOOD in leather. All he needed was a pair of glasses to look like a guy from the Matrix movies.
What he was wearing wasn't the big difference though. For one thing, his hair was kind of spiky. Not crazy spikes like Paul had when we-when I fought him, but just the barest hint of spikiness. Perfect on him. His smile (which was he smiling very sexily at me right now) was slower and more sensuous, more confident, somehow. And then his eyes…were dark and kind of shadowed…and completely emotionless. Overall, he was completely irresistible to any woman. Any woman, except me.
"What the *fuck happened to you?!" I practically shouted. "You-you're not Jesse anymore! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were possessed by Paul again!"
Jesse did that slow smile again. "I've been around…finding out about my powers…you know…"
"No, I don't know." I sat down on my bed. "Enlighten me."
I realized with a sick lurch that I had said that same thing to Paul when he had first come to my room.
Jesse removed his long coat with what seemed like deliberate slowness, all the while keeping his eyes on me. I hated it, but…I could feel myself getting wet. Jesse threw his coat on the window seat, right on top of Spike. Spike gave an indignant hiss and jumped out the window. Jesse didn't seem to notice. He slowly started walking towards me.
Damn, he was FINE.
I looked out the window with sudden interest as he sat beside me. "Susannah, why are you afraid of me?"
"I'm not afraid of you," I said stubbornly, staring at the moon. Jesse's hand brushed softly against my upper thigh. I jumped about a foot into the air. "Yes you are," he said pointedly.
I looked into his eyes. The previous coolness had been replaced by something much more Jesse-like. I relaxed a little. "Ok, I admit, you're making me a little nervous. You're acting weird."
He looked down. "Sorry if I'm acting differently. I just spent six months in the company of demons. And they're not much of a polite society, if you know what I mean."
I blinked. "You were with demons?"
"Yeah," he said, putting one boot-clad foot up on my bed, which I didn't mind at all. He looked hot in that position. "Bianca offered to teach me how to use my powers, so I've been staying at her place and training in what I guess you would call Hell. But it's actually not as awful as they say."
"So," I said, folding my arms over my chest. "You've been living with Bianca, have you?"
He gave me a sidelong glance. "Susannah, are you jealous?"
I sniffed. "Maybe."
He chuckled, and I'm saddened to say that my nipples hardened at the sound. "Well, I will admit that she tried to seduce me, but I completely ignored her advances."
"Uh, huh," I said, unconvinced.
"Really, I did." He lifted his eyes and looked into mine. God, I forgot what it was like to lose myself in those dark, intense pools…
"Was it true what you said?" he said suddenly, anxiety lacing his voice.
"What did I say?"
He looked down at the floor, and his voice broke slightly as he spoke. "That…you would rather have Paul than me?"
"Wha…" But then my eyes widened as I realized what he was talking about. "You heard that?"
He nodded. "I was…beside you the whole time…I never left you in case Paul would try to hurt you…"
I felt my eyes filling with tears again, but I pushed them back. "I didn't know…I didn't understand…I was just really angry…"
Jesse looked up at me again, and that slow, sexy smile spread across his face. I smiled back at him. Man, would I love to throw him up against the wall and screw him, just like Bianca said-
"You do realize that I can hear everything you're thinking, right?" Jesse cut in, quirking an eyebrow up and smirking.
"Oh, you can, can you?" I said, my face already burning up. What happened to all the times I swore I wouldn't let him win me back? All the times I said if he ever came crawling back I'd send him packing? There was never anything in there about flirting and blushing and being jealous.
Then a dark and evil thought seemed to well up from somewhere inside me, and I smiled sinisterly. In my mind, I recalled that old image of me and Jesse, up against the wall…
Jesse made a sound, somewhere between a laugh and a groan. "Ah, querida…" he purred.
I looked at him from the corner of my eye. He was staring at me intently, almost eagerly, his eyes hungry, and not for food, if ya know what I mean.
"Yes, Jesse?" I said innocently, smiling.
Ok, I'll admit it. I wanted him. I wanted him right now. Jesse gave me the slow sexy smile again, and I leaned back on the bed. I could feel him feeding that image in my head again…Jesse was slowly crawling, predator-like, to hover over my body. There was an excitement in me I couldn't quite place, but it thrilled along every nerve in my body.
Jesse put his hand on my stomach, his eyes never leaving mine. The Jesse in my head did the same. Slowly he slid his hand up my stomach, between the valley of my breasts, up onto my neck, and every muscle he skimmed over quivered under his touch…the Jesse in my head did the same, only going in the opposite direction…
He looked at me questioningly, the fire in his eyes unmistakable, and it touched me that he had the consideration to ask if this was ok. I nodded my head, and closed my eyes as I readied myself to be introduced to that wonderful world of pleasure that was legendary, which had eluded me until now…ooh, and Jesse was just too hot in leather...
A/N: What's that over there? Do I see some LEMONS in Suze's future? I'm quite sure Suze would love to have some LEMONS. Well, guys, I leave it up to you. REVIEW to cast your vote. Will there be a lemon or not? Actually, I already wrote the lemon ^_^' Oh, well! Should I post it or not? It's all up to you!
TTFN
Angel Wings-Chapter 6
I managed to successfully avoid Cee Cee and Adam for the rest of the day. I pretty much avoided conversations with anyone, only talking when I absolutely had to. If people thought I was acting strange, they didn't say anything. It was as I was whipping out my umbrella to trudge home in the rain that they finally caught up to me.
"Suze!"
I tried to pretend that I didn't hear, but there was no ignoring them.
"Suze, wait up!"
I turned with a sigh. Cee Cee came running from down the hall, Adam at her heels. He was starting to follow her around, I noted with the barest hint of a smile. They slowed to a stop in front of me. Both of them bent over, hands on their knees, gasping for air. I couldn't help but smile.
"You know, you guys really need to get into shape."
Cee Cee glared up at me. "Thanks for reminding me."
"No prob," I said.
Cee Cee stood up. "Listen, Suze…um-"
"Look, everything's fine, alright?" I snapped. I didn't want to deal with this right now. I couldn't deal with it. "I just…really need to get home now-"
"Everything is not fine," Adam cut in. "Everything is definitely NOT fine. Cee Cee told me you were acting weird today, and I definitely see it now-"
"MY LIFE IS *FUCKING PERFECT!"
I don't know where it came from. But the words exploded from me before I could stop them. The crowded hall went quiet. Everyone was staring at me. For an instant I thought I saw him in the crowd, but, as always, my mind was playing tricks on me.
"Susannah, you will watch your language in the halls, please," piped the old bird-like librarian.
Cee Cee and Adam were the worst. They were looking at me like they had never seen me before. I looked Cee Cee in the eye, and said quietly, "I'm sorry, ok? You're right, everything's not perfect. But I can't tell you why…" I took a step back, towards the exit. My eyes were slowly filling with tears. "I just can't."
I turned and pushed my way through the door. A blast of icy rain hit me full in the face, mixing with my tears. I slammed the door shut against all those eyes and began walking briskly home, my umbrella still in my hand, forgotten. His name was a whisper on my lips…
I cried softly, my tears hidden by the rain.
"You horrible *bastard…I hate you!" I started running. "I HATE YOU!"
He waltzed into my life, all polite and *fucking smiles. He saved me, he understood me, he made me fall in love with him. He kissed me, he touched me, he ripped my *fucking heart out from my chest! I gave myself to him…willing to make the ultimate sacrifice…
And he left me. He just abandoned me. He crushed my stolen heart. He must have planned it all along. He disgusts me. I hate him more than anything.
"I'd rather have Paul than you, you *bastard," I said, an iciness in my voice that sounded foreign to my own ears.
Please don't say that, querida. Please say you didn't mean that…
Is this what it feels like to have your heart broken…?
6 months later…
"Pass me the lotion, Cee," I said.
Cee Cee lifted her hand, blindly rummaging through her bag without tearing her eyes from this month's issue of Cosmo. She tossed me the bottle and I lifted the shoulder straps of my bikini, rubbing the lotion on. I popped the cap back on and flipped back at Cee Cee. It hit her square in the forehead. She glared at me.
"Suze, I'm trying to learn how to get the man of my dreams, here," she said coldly.
"Really?" I said with interest, and moved over to sit by her, and had a look at the article. "Let's see…Eye contact, smile, laugh at his jokes, but not too loudly, listen to him talk about himself, invite him to the movies…Cee Cee, I don't know if you realize this, but you've already got Adam wrapped around your finger."
Cee Cee smiled slowly and looked at me with hope. "Really? I mean, I don't know…"
"Cee Cee, look at him. Wherever you go, he follows. Whenever you appear unexpectedly around him, he drops whatever he's holding. He stutters around you. And he's buying us hotdogs, for god's sake! He's got it pretty bad, Cee."
"But Cosmo says-"
"Forget what Cosmo says. Listen to what I say. I know this stuff."
She looked at me slyly. "How would you know this stuff?"
"Because-" Then I realized exactly why I knew this stuff, and I looked away quickly, already feeling the familiar stinging behind my eyes. "Well, I've read enough Danielle Steel to know…"
Cee Cee gazed out at the crashing waves, behind which the sun was beginning to set. It was a gorgeous summer day. My last summer as a rebel teen.
"So, are you excited? I mean, we're going to college, Suze…"
"Yeah…"
"HOTDOGS! Get yer hotdogs, right here ladies!"
Cee Cee and I both turned. Adam was walking across the sand towards us, balancing a tray of hotdogs like a waiter.
"Here ya go, Suze," he said, handing me a hotdog. He turned the Cee Cee. In a surprisingly suave gesture, he lifted her hand to his lips and gave it a soft kiss. I saw their eyes meet, and Cee Cee blushed. "And here is your gourmet hotdog, madam," he said, handing her a hotdog with a smile.
"Thank you," Cee Cee said quietly.
I must admit, Adam had turned into quite the dreamboat over the years. He had himself a set of washboard abs not unlike Je-um, Brad Pitt's, and he had a nice face. A very nice face. Almost as nice as…well, it was a nice face. Cee Cee had also blossomed over the years. In my opinion, she was prettier than Kelly now. Way prettier.
We sat there munching our food for a while, watching the surfers fall off their boards. When I was full, I leaned back on the blanket and watched the sun go down. "There goes the sun…"
"And I say, it's alright!" Adam practically shouted. Cee Cee laughed, but I just kept staring at the sun, which had streaked the sky a golden blood-red color. It wasn't alright. It would never be alright.
Ever since we-um, I fought Paul that day so long ago, there had been no word from him. Was he planning something? Or maybe he really was dead…
No word from Je-um, well…he just kind of…disappeared, too. Not that I mind. Oh, no, I don't mind at all. I'll bet he's *fucking some hot demoness right now. Which is way more than he ever did for me. Way more than I ever wanted him to do for me. I…never wanted him at all. He's an *asshole.
I realized I had been clenching my jaw shut, and I relaxed. *Asshole…
"Hey, Suze, is something wrong?" Cee Cee said.
"Huh?" I turned to look at her. "Oh-no, nothing's wrong. I just…" I sighed. "…really need a boyfriend, I guess."
Cee Cee brightened. "Hey, we could totally find you a boyfriend, right Adam?"
"What?" Adam said, and I realized with a smile he had been staring at Cee Cee from the corner of his eye. "Oh, yeah, yeah, of course…"
"No, it's alright, I'll find one myself…"
"Don't you start arguing about it!" Cee Cee said, starting to pack up her stuff. "I know plenty of hot guys that would be very interested in you."
I started packing up as well, noting how Adam's brows had gone up a little when Cee Cee had mentioned knowing plenty of hot guys.
"Ok, ok," I said, getting up and lifting my bag onto my shoulders. "I'll meet a few guys. Only because you're so stubborn."
"Great, I'll introduce you to Jesse first, and-"
My heart skipped a beat. "Who?" I said, freezing.
"Um, Jesse, my cousin. He just moved from Arizona…are you ok…?"
I stared at her for a moment, then laughed nervously. "Oh, yeah, I'm great…I was just wondering for a second if you-um-meant someone that I kind of know…"
"Oh, you know a guy named Jesse? He's not from our town, is he?" she said, as we began walking towards Adam's car.
"Um-no. He…moved away last year."
"Oh, that's too bad. Did you guys have a thing going on?"
I shifted uncomfortably. "Um, what do you mean?"
"Ya know, were you like, a couple?"
"Oh. Um-I guess you could say that." I loved him with all my heart, and he left me, I felt like saying.
"Oh. That sucks that he had to move away. Hate when that happens."
"Yeah…"
"Hey, ladies, can you wait up?" Adam called from behind us. He looked kind of annoyed. "Oh, don't mind me," he said, noticing that we had fallen silent, "You two just keep on talking about your hot guys-"
"Adam, would you like to go see a movie with me on Saturday?" Cee Cee interrupted. What ensued was a Kodak moment. Adam dropped everything he was holding, namely the blankets and towels, and his and Cee Cee's bags, and just gawked at Cee Cee. Cee Cee turned a bright red, and said, "Ok, well, if you didn't want to go…"
Adam nearly fell over. "No, no, I'd love to go! Um, pick you up at seven?"
Cee Cee smiled. "Sure. That'd be great!"
Then they just kind of stood there, looking at each other and smiling, until my voice brought them both back to earth.
"Aw, how romantic! It's about time you two hooked up."
Adam visibly colored, and bent down to gather all the things he had dropped. Cee Cee, still smiling, bent down to help him.
That was when I saw him.
He was about a block away, dressed all in black, leaning against a tree, his arms folded over his chest. Watching me.
My breath caught in my throat, and my shoulder bag slipped onto the ground.
"Oh…my…god…"
He turned away, and crossed the street. I watched him until he got to the other side. That was when a huge truck went behind him, obstructing my view of him. When it passed, he was gone.
Again.
I could feel the blood draining from my face. I bent over and picked up my shoulder bag with my trembling hands. I swallowed, still staring at the spot he had been a moment ago.
Then I heard Cee Cee and Adam start giggling. I turned, and there they were, laughing for no reason, Adam holding everything again, and Cee Cee holding her bottle of lotion.
"What'd I miss?" I asked, trying to convince myself it had been my imagination.
"Oh, nothing," Cee Cee said, still giggling. "Just, we had everything all packed up, and we were getting up, and my lotion fell out of the bag, and…well…it was just kinda funny."
I quirked an eyebrow. "Wow, I guess it's true what they say. Love makes you stupid."
Cee Cee glared, but she smiled at the same time. Behind her, Adam was fidgeting, blushing again.
And in that moment, I missed Jesse more than I ever had before.
Midnight found me wide-awake and restless in my bed. I couldn't get to sleep for the life of me, and yet I was dead tired. And it wasn't like there were any more nightmares of Paul keeping me awake…it was just…well, obviously, it was what had happened today. You know, seeing…him. Seeing Jesse. Seeing the *bastard after-what?-six months? If he thought he was just gonna get me back, no problem, after abandoning me, he had another thing coming.
Something pounced on me and mewed softly. I couldn't see in the darkness, but I knew it was Spike. Spike and I had become quite good buddies after Jesse's disappearing act. He was actually pretty sweet, as long as you were his one and only. And since his ex-one and only was gone, that left me. Poor Spikey.
I started stroking him absently. "What do you think, Spike? Think I'm crazy?"
Spike began purring softly, and I chuckled. "Well, I guess I'd have to be, if I'm talking to a cat."
He mewed again, and fell over onto his back, stretching lazily, and imploring me with his eyes to scratch his tummy.
"Alright, alright, you psychotic kitty." I moved my hand and scratched his tummy. He was starting to sound like Andy's vibrating massager. I sighed. "Do you still miss him, Spike?"
Spike let out what sounded like a whimper.
"Yeah," I said, and I took a deep breath as the back
of my eyes prickled for the second time today.
"Yeah…me too, buddy."
That was when the weird thing happened. It was like a wave of shadow fell across the whole room, almost like a car had just passed by or something, but none actually did. It only lasted about two seconds, but to me, it seemed to last much longer. I shot up into a sitting position. Spike fell off of me, hissing. He wasn't hissing at me though. He was hissing at a spot on the window seat, it seemed. My eyes glued to the window seat, I slowly reached my hand to the side of my bed, pulling out baseball bat…
"Who's there?" I said loudly, keeping my voice steady and firm. "Paul?"
A voice in the back of my mind was shouting "IT'S JESSE, YOU IDIOT!", but I ignored it. I was seriously hoping it wasn't. I found myself dreading having to face him for some reason.
Spike leaped off the bed then, no longer hissing. He leaped onto the window seat, and started sniffing around suspiciously. Then, as if some hunch had been confirmed, he lied down and started purring.
There was no denying who it was, now. But where was he? I mean, ok, he's on the window seat. But why can't I see him, then?
I got up slowly, and, still wielding the baseball bat, I walked over to the window seat. I was getting a little scared, now. For some reason, I would rather have Paul leap out at me than Jesse. At least if it was Paul, I could hit him with the bat. If it were Jesse, what would I do? Spit at him? Curse him out? Run into his arms and kiss him? Tell him hate him? Tell him I love him? Or maybe hit him with the bat anyway?
Spike started sounding like Andy's vibrating massager again.
I reached the window seat, and reached out my hand. Nothing but air. I hesitantly touched the window seat, bat still at the ready. Nothing. Then why was Spike lying there so happy? His eyes were closed in what seemed to be great pleasure. Like somebody was giving him a great backrub. I put my hand on his back, not knowing what to expect. An invisible hand, maybe? Nothing. Except that when my hand touched Spike, his eyes snapped open and he hissed at me.
"Ok, ok, sorry," I mumbled, lowering the bat. "Jeez, you don't have to-"
I gasped as strong arms suddenly wrapped themselves around me from behind. "I was waiting for you to put that thing down," he said gruffly into my ear.
I shiver went down my spine. "J-Jesse-"
"The one and only," he whispered, and his grip on me tightened. I couldn't explain it, but he seemed different. I didn't get the same feeling of security that he used to give me. He made me feel jumpy. Like it was Paul holding me, not him. But it was Jesse. Somehow I just knew.
"Thought you'd forget me, didn't you?" he whispered again, now rocking me slowly from side to side. "Thought you'd find someone better?"
"You-you abandoned me-"
A low primal growl came deep in his throat. Spike was observing all this from the window seat, still purring loudly.
And out of nowhere, the fear was replaced with anger. I struggled to get out of his unwanted embrace, but I couldn't for the life of me. He chuckled at my efforts.
"You left me, Jesse! Don't come back thinking I'll be all happy to see you. You were my prince charming once, don't expect to be that ever again! Now let me go!"
To my surprise, he did. I stumbled forward a little, almost falling. In fact, I would have fallen, if some kind of invisible, wind-like force hadn't blown me upright again.
"Oh, that's right, you're a big bad demon now. I almost forgot."
I turned, and there he was. And he didn't look like the Jesse I knew and loved at all. He had on leather pants and boots, and what looked like a silk tee. Over it was black leather long coat. He looked GOOD in leather. All he needed was a pair of glasses to look like a guy from the Matrix movies.
What he was wearing wasn't the big difference though. For one thing, his hair was kind of spiky. Not crazy spikes like Paul had when we-when I fought him, but just the barest hint of spikiness. Perfect on him. His smile (which was he smiling very sexily at me right now) was slower and more sensuous, more confident, somehow. And then his eyes…were dark and kind of shadowed…and completely emotionless. Overall, he was completely irresistible to any woman. Any woman, except me.
"What the *fuck happened to you?!" I practically shouted. "You-you're not Jesse anymore! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were possessed by Paul again!"
Jesse did that slow smile again. "I've been around…finding out about my powers…you know…"
"No, I don't know." I sat down on my bed. "Enlighten me."
I realized with a sick lurch that I had said that same thing to Paul when he had first come to my room.
Jesse removed his long coat with what seemed like deliberate slowness, all the while keeping his eyes on me. I hated it, but…I could feel myself getting wet. Jesse threw his coat on the window seat, right on top of Spike. Spike gave an indignant hiss and jumped out the window. Jesse didn't seem to notice. He slowly started walking towards me.
Damn, he was FINE.
I looked out the window with sudden interest as he sat beside me. "Susannah, why are you afraid of me?"
"I'm not afraid of you," I said stubbornly, staring at the moon. Jesse's hand brushed softly against my upper thigh. I jumped about a foot into the air. "Yes you are," he said pointedly.
I looked into his eyes. The previous coolness had been replaced by something much more Jesse-like. I relaxed a little. "Ok, I admit, you're making me a little nervous. You're acting weird."
He looked down. "Sorry if I'm acting differently. I just spent six months in the company of demons. And they're not much of a polite society, if you know what I mean."
I blinked. "You were with demons?"
"Yeah," he said, putting one boot-clad foot up on my bed, which I didn't mind at all. He looked hot in that position. "Bianca offered to teach me how to use my powers, so I've been staying at her place and training in what I guess you would call Hell. But it's actually not as awful as they say."
"So," I said, folding my arms over my chest. "You've been living with Bianca, have you?"
He gave me a sidelong glance. "Susannah, are you jealous?"
I sniffed. "Maybe."
He chuckled, and I'm saddened to say that my nipples hardened at the sound. "Well, I will admit that she tried to seduce me, but I completely ignored her advances."
"Uh, huh," I said, unconvinced.
"Really, I did." He lifted his eyes and looked into mine. God, I forgot what it was like to lose myself in those dark, intense pools…
"Was it true what you said?" he said suddenly, anxiety lacing his voice.
"What did I say?"
He looked down at the floor, and his voice broke slightly as he spoke. "That…you would rather have Paul than me?"
"Wha…" But then my eyes widened as I realized what he was talking about. "You heard that?"
He nodded. "I was…beside you the whole time…I never left you in case Paul would try to hurt you…"
I felt my eyes filling with tears again, but I pushed them back. "I didn't know…I didn't understand…I was just really angry…"
Jesse looked up at me again, and that slow, sexy smile spread across his face. I smiled back at him. Man, would I love to throw him up against the wall and screw him, just like Bianca said-
"You do realize that I can hear everything you're thinking, right?" Jesse cut in, quirking an eyebrow up and smirking.
"Oh, you can, can you?" I said, my face already burning up. What happened to all the times I swore I wouldn't let him win me back? All the times I said if he ever came crawling back I'd send him packing? There was never anything in there about flirting and blushing and being jealous.
Then a dark and evil thought seemed to well up from somewhere inside me, and I smiled sinisterly. In my mind, I recalled that old image of me and Jesse, up against the wall…
Jesse made a sound, somewhere between a laugh and a groan. "Ah, querida…" he purred.
I looked at him from the corner of my eye. He was staring at me intently, almost eagerly, his eyes hungry, and not for food, if ya know what I mean.
"Yes, Jesse?" I said innocently, smiling.
Ok, I'll admit it. I wanted him. I wanted him right now. Jesse gave me the slow sexy smile again, and I leaned back on the bed. I could feel him feeding that image in my head again…Jesse was slowly crawling, predator-like, to hover over my body. There was an excitement in me I couldn't quite place, but it thrilled along every nerve in my body.
Jesse put his hand on my stomach, his eyes never leaving mine. The Jesse in my head did the same. Slowly he slid his hand up my stomach, between the valley of my breasts, up onto my neck, and every muscle he skimmed over quivered under his touch…the Jesse in my head did the same, only going in the opposite direction…
He looked at me questioningly, the fire in his eyes unmistakable, and it touched me that he had the consideration to ask if this was ok. I nodded my head, and closed my eyes as I readied myself to be introduced to that wonderful world of pleasure that was legendary, which had eluded me until now…ooh, and Jesse was just too hot in leather...
A/N: What's that over there? Do I see some LEMONS in Suze's future? I'm quite sure Suze would love to have some LEMONS. Well, guys, I leave it up to you. REVIEW to cast your vote. Will there be a lemon or not? Actually, I already wrote the lemon ^_^' Oh, well! Should I post it or not? It's all up to you!
TTFN