I was running up his driveway now, banging on the door when Paul answered it.
"Suze?" he said.
"Where's Jesse?" I asked craning my neck to see behind him.
"What?" he said innocently. He stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
"You heard me." I snapped. Instead of answering me he glanced up at the sky.
"Looks like it's gonna rain." he commented.
"Paul. Tell me what you did to him now or I swear I'll..." I never did get to finish my threat.
"Suze did it ever occur to you that I don't know where Jesse is? I mean you're his girlfriend. You should know." he said, still looking at the sky. He shook his head, "look, I know this is hard for you to accept due to your recent joyful reunion, but if Jesse runs off with some dead chick....that's really not my fault." I glared at him, but then I started to feel kind of stupid. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Jesse really wasn't here.
Oops.
"Fine. Alright. See you in school." I muttered. Paul rolled his eyes, then grinned.
"No goodnight kiss?" he asked.
"Not on your life." I said. Paul sighed.
"Night Suze." he said, pulling the door closed behind him. I started to walk down the driveway wondering what I was going to tell CeeCee about her car. When I was just out of his driveway I stopped.
How did Paul know Jesse was back?
Running back up his driveway, I was about to knock on the door when someone grabbed me around the waist and pulled me backwards into the bushes.
"Matt!?"
"Shhh...Shut up for a second." he said. He watched the door for a couple of seconds before grabbing my arm and pulling me after him, deeper into the bushes.
"Matt...no....he's got Jesse in there..." I said struggling to free myself. He rolled his eyes.
"That much I gathered."
"Mind telling me why we're going the wrong way then?" I asked. Matt spun around and grabbed me by the shoulders.
"Look..... could you just trust me? We're gonna get Jesse out. I promise." he said. Then, without waiting for a response he continued dragging me through the bushes.
"Fine. Where are we going." I asked. He sighed and shook his head, clearing the branches in front of us with one hand.
"What exactly was your plan after you knocked on his door and demanded that he release Jesse?" he asked.
"Um...I hadn't really gotten that far."
"Exactly. You can't just knock on his door and tell him not to exorcize your boyfriend and expect him to listen."
"You have a better idea?" I said doubtfully.
"As a matter a fact. Yeah. I do." he said, parting the bushes to reveal an open basement window in the back of Paul's house. I stared at Matt in awe.
"Your taking my job." I said.
"What?"
"I'M supposed to be the delinquent. Your Robin Hood. Remember?" I said, referring to his kleptomania involving muggers.
"As long as I don't have to wear green tights." he laughed. Hearing voices, I quickly scrambled through the window. Matt materialized next to me. I groaned
"No. Your not coming. It's an EXORCISM. You can't be there." I said. He just shook his head.
"You can't take Paul alone."
"Jesse'll be there." I said.
"Jesse may also be unconscious. Or detained. Or trapped somewhere. Or..." he stopped seeing the expression on my face. I knew what that last "or" meant.
"No. I'm not going to think about that." I said, "I have to go."
"Fine. I'm coming." he said.
"Christ. Fine. I give up." I said walking to the door with Matt right behind me. "You are ridiculously stubborn."
"Look who's talking." he said, smiling as I glared at him. I started to walk up the stairs when suddenly, I stopped, staring at a door on the right. Red light was spilling from under it, but I didn't hear any chanting.
"You think that's the exorcism?" I said to Matt.
"Either that or the Merritt Parkway." he muttered. I glanced up at him. "Bad experience with traffic lights." he said in response to my look. I nodded and ran to the door when I heard chanting. Matt grabbed my arm though.
"No. I'll distract him, you get Jesse." I nodded.
"Hey," I said suddenly, "try not to get yourself killed." He looked down at his hands, which were glowing.
"It's not likely" he said grinning. Then he walked in.
The room wasn't like those one's where exorcisms in movies take place. Like, those big circular ones, with all the candles, and you know, swastikas or whatever painted all over the walls. It was just like your typical boiler room. Except bigger. A lot bigger. Well he did have a huge house.
I drew in my breath sharply. Jesse was unconscious, tied up, and leaning against a wall, with Paul's Biker minion standing over him. Smiling I saw that Biker Bob had a black eye and an obviously broken nose. The downside what that Jesse's neck looked like it was broken. I knew it wouldn't stay that way, but I felt like sobbing. Paul was SO getting his ass kicked.
Paul. Right. Where was Paul.
Apparently he'd just noticed Matt.
"What the hell are YOU doing here?" he asked, glancing at the biker.
"Enjoying the pleasure of your company." Matt replied, as he slowly walked toward Paul, hands in pockets. He sighed. "Look. I have a deal for you."
"A deal?" Paul said doubtfully.
"Yah. A deal." Matt said, "look, I don't want to be dead okay. Seriously. I mean, I'm seventeen for christsake. I can't DIE." I narrowed my eyes. What was he doing?
"What's your point?" Paul said.
"Well...you want Suze. I can get you Suze. But Suze has something that I want. I'm pretty sure she knows how to bring me back to life, or at least one ghost back to life. I think she was planning on telling Jesse here tonight. Lucky for us, he's very protective. Now, I don't exactly have anything against Jesse in particular, except that while he's around, I'm still dead. My hopes for reincarnation are flat. But if he's gone..."
"Why do you need me?" Paul asked.
"Because the whole reincarnation thing takes two mediators, and Father Dom doesn't do stuff like that. Creeps him out or something. If you do this reincarnation thing, I'll get you Suze." Matt said. I was having trouble breathing. He's acting Suze. He's just acting. It's not real. I heard a moan from across the room. Jesse was starting to wake up. I stepped back to stop myself from running towards him.
"What makes you so sure you can get me Suze?" Paul asked.
"I've lived with her for a year. I know how her mind works. If she doesn't know you performed this exorcism, I can get you Suze." Matt said. He's acting. He's acting. "Do we have a deal?"
"Deal." Paul said, beginning the chanting. Just then Jesse's eyes opened, and landed on me, looking through the crack of the door.
"Querida..." he whispered.
"What did you say?" Paul asked. Then he saw me. "Suze!"
"Shit." Matt muttered. He grabbed two metal pipes behind him and threw one to me. "How're you at baseball?" he asked me, going after the biker and knocking him into the circle of glowing light Paul was creating. I grabbed Jesse under his arms and dragged him out. Paul looked up, and noticed that not only had he succeeded in exorcizing his indentured slave, but Jesse was still there and Matt was about to swing a metal pipe at his head. Needless to say, he ran.
"Not so fast." I muttered going after him.
"Suze, No!" Matt yelled, but it was too late, I was out the door.
"Meet me at the house!" I yelled over my shoulder. I caught up with Paul just as he was getting into his car. He smiled at me.
"Changed your mind?" he asked. I punched him. Anyone who's had their boyfriend exorcized knows how satisfying the sound of cracking nasal cartalidge can be when that cartalidge belongs to the exorcist. Paul moaned and shook his head, "Why can't you love me Suze?"
"You exorcize my boyfriend, not once, but twice! You leave me up in that shadow land place with him and your LITTLE BROTHER, and you completely trash my house. Not exactly the best way to a girl's heart. Just for future reference."
Then I left.
I guess I'd forgotten just how far Paul's house is from...well anything really. I'd only been walking for about ten minutes when I felt someone materialize beside me.
"Hi Jesse." I said softly. I looked up at him. He was looking at the sky. "No stars tonight." I said. He looked at me.
"Why did you do that?" he asked softly. I sighed.
"I love you, you moron." I said. Jesse smiled
"I guess it hasn't sunken in yet." He was quiet for a minute but then he took a deep breath, "Look, you know this can't go anywhere. I mean...it can...but I could move on to...whatever's out there, we could never actually date or get married, I just..."
"Are you breaking up with me again?" I asked.
"No! I just want to be sure you know what you're getting into." he said. I was quiet for a minute, "Susannah?" he said nervously. I smiled.
"I happen to know exactly what I'm getting into." I said kissing him.
"Susannah..." he said quietly, "I don't think I deserve you." Okay. I admit it. I started to panic a little. I thought he was going to tell me he was leaving again. But then he kissed me.
"If Paul ever touches you again..." he said softly.
"He told you? About last year?" I asked wincing.
"Yes. An all to detailed account of his plan." he said. I sighed.
"Sorry. I didn't want you to hear about it like that." I said. He smiled.
"Querida I doubt you wanted me to hear about it at all." he said. I shrugged.
"I just didn't want you to kill him or anything, or go after him and get exorcized." I said. Jesse grimaced.
"I would never kill Paul, I wouldn't want him to be stuck as a ghost. Think of what he would do if he could materialize anywhere."he said.
"Your saying he's to irresponsible for death?" I said. Jesse smiled.
"Exactly." he said. I started to laugh but it turned into a yawn. Jesse took one look at me and scooped me up.
"Whoa..what...hey..."
"Susannah we have at least ten miles to go and you're exhausted."
"Am not." I said stubbornly. Jesse raised his eyebrows. "Okay well only a little. But I am perfectly capable of walking by myself just because I'm tired doesn't mean-"
"Susannah, shut up." he said laughing.
Who was I to argue?
"Suze?" he said.
"Where's Jesse?" I asked craning my neck to see behind him.
"What?" he said innocently. He stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
"You heard me." I snapped. Instead of answering me he glanced up at the sky.
"Looks like it's gonna rain." he commented.
"Paul. Tell me what you did to him now or I swear I'll..." I never did get to finish my threat.
"Suze did it ever occur to you that I don't know where Jesse is? I mean you're his girlfriend. You should know." he said, still looking at the sky. He shook his head, "look, I know this is hard for you to accept due to your recent joyful reunion, but if Jesse runs off with some dead chick....that's really not my fault." I glared at him, but then I started to feel kind of stupid. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Jesse really wasn't here.
Oops.
"Fine. Alright. See you in school." I muttered. Paul rolled his eyes, then grinned.
"No goodnight kiss?" he asked.
"Not on your life." I said. Paul sighed.
"Night Suze." he said, pulling the door closed behind him. I started to walk down the driveway wondering what I was going to tell CeeCee about her car. When I was just out of his driveway I stopped.
How did Paul know Jesse was back?
Running back up his driveway, I was about to knock on the door when someone grabbed me around the waist and pulled me backwards into the bushes.
"Matt!?"
"Shhh...Shut up for a second." he said. He watched the door for a couple of seconds before grabbing my arm and pulling me after him, deeper into the bushes.
"Matt...no....he's got Jesse in there..." I said struggling to free myself. He rolled his eyes.
"That much I gathered."
"Mind telling me why we're going the wrong way then?" I asked. Matt spun around and grabbed me by the shoulders.
"Look..... could you just trust me? We're gonna get Jesse out. I promise." he said. Then, without waiting for a response he continued dragging me through the bushes.
"Fine. Where are we going." I asked. He sighed and shook his head, clearing the branches in front of us with one hand.
"What exactly was your plan after you knocked on his door and demanded that he release Jesse?" he asked.
"Um...I hadn't really gotten that far."
"Exactly. You can't just knock on his door and tell him not to exorcize your boyfriend and expect him to listen."
"You have a better idea?" I said doubtfully.
"As a matter a fact. Yeah. I do." he said, parting the bushes to reveal an open basement window in the back of Paul's house. I stared at Matt in awe.
"Your taking my job." I said.
"What?"
"I'M supposed to be the delinquent. Your Robin Hood. Remember?" I said, referring to his kleptomania involving muggers.
"As long as I don't have to wear green tights." he laughed. Hearing voices, I quickly scrambled through the window. Matt materialized next to me. I groaned
"No. Your not coming. It's an EXORCISM. You can't be there." I said. He just shook his head.
"You can't take Paul alone."
"Jesse'll be there." I said.
"Jesse may also be unconscious. Or detained. Or trapped somewhere. Or..." he stopped seeing the expression on my face. I knew what that last "or" meant.
"No. I'm not going to think about that." I said, "I have to go."
"Fine. I'm coming." he said.
"Christ. Fine. I give up." I said walking to the door with Matt right behind me. "You are ridiculously stubborn."
"Look who's talking." he said, smiling as I glared at him. I started to walk up the stairs when suddenly, I stopped, staring at a door on the right. Red light was spilling from under it, but I didn't hear any chanting.
"You think that's the exorcism?" I said to Matt.
"Either that or the Merritt Parkway." he muttered. I glanced up at him. "Bad experience with traffic lights." he said in response to my look. I nodded and ran to the door when I heard chanting. Matt grabbed my arm though.
"No. I'll distract him, you get Jesse." I nodded.
"Hey," I said suddenly, "try not to get yourself killed." He looked down at his hands, which were glowing.
"It's not likely" he said grinning. Then he walked in.
The room wasn't like those one's where exorcisms in movies take place. Like, those big circular ones, with all the candles, and you know, swastikas or whatever painted all over the walls. It was just like your typical boiler room. Except bigger. A lot bigger. Well he did have a huge house.
I drew in my breath sharply. Jesse was unconscious, tied up, and leaning against a wall, with Paul's Biker minion standing over him. Smiling I saw that Biker Bob had a black eye and an obviously broken nose. The downside what that Jesse's neck looked like it was broken. I knew it wouldn't stay that way, but I felt like sobbing. Paul was SO getting his ass kicked.
Paul. Right. Where was Paul.
Apparently he'd just noticed Matt.
"What the hell are YOU doing here?" he asked, glancing at the biker.
"Enjoying the pleasure of your company." Matt replied, as he slowly walked toward Paul, hands in pockets. He sighed. "Look. I have a deal for you."
"A deal?" Paul said doubtfully.
"Yah. A deal." Matt said, "look, I don't want to be dead okay. Seriously. I mean, I'm seventeen for christsake. I can't DIE." I narrowed my eyes. What was he doing?
"What's your point?" Paul said.
"Well...you want Suze. I can get you Suze. But Suze has something that I want. I'm pretty sure she knows how to bring me back to life, or at least one ghost back to life. I think she was planning on telling Jesse here tonight. Lucky for us, he's very protective. Now, I don't exactly have anything against Jesse in particular, except that while he's around, I'm still dead. My hopes for reincarnation are flat. But if he's gone..."
"Why do you need me?" Paul asked.
"Because the whole reincarnation thing takes two mediators, and Father Dom doesn't do stuff like that. Creeps him out or something. If you do this reincarnation thing, I'll get you Suze." Matt said. I was having trouble breathing. He's acting Suze. He's just acting. It's not real. I heard a moan from across the room. Jesse was starting to wake up. I stepped back to stop myself from running towards him.
"What makes you so sure you can get me Suze?" Paul asked.
"I've lived with her for a year. I know how her mind works. If she doesn't know you performed this exorcism, I can get you Suze." Matt said. He's acting. He's acting. "Do we have a deal?"
"Deal." Paul said, beginning the chanting. Just then Jesse's eyes opened, and landed on me, looking through the crack of the door.
"Querida..." he whispered.
"What did you say?" Paul asked. Then he saw me. "Suze!"
"Shit." Matt muttered. He grabbed two metal pipes behind him and threw one to me. "How're you at baseball?" he asked me, going after the biker and knocking him into the circle of glowing light Paul was creating. I grabbed Jesse under his arms and dragged him out. Paul looked up, and noticed that not only had he succeeded in exorcizing his indentured slave, but Jesse was still there and Matt was about to swing a metal pipe at his head. Needless to say, he ran.
"Not so fast." I muttered going after him.
"Suze, No!" Matt yelled, but it was too late, I was out the door.
"Meet me at the house!" I yelled over my shoulder. I caught up with Paul just as he was getting into his car. He smiled at me.
"Changed your mind?" he asked. I punched him. Anyone who's had their boyfriend exorcized knows how satisfying the sound of cracking nasal cartalidge can be when that cartalidge belongs to the exorcist. Paul moaned and shook his head, "Why can't you love me Suze?"
"You exorcize my boyfriend, not once, but twice! You leave me up in that shadow land place with him and your LITTLE BROTHER, and you completely trash my house. Not exactly the best way to a girl's heart. Just for future reference."
Then I left.
I guess I'd forgotten just how far Paul's house is from...well anything really. I'd only been walking for about ten minutes when I felt someone materialize beside me.
"Hi Jesse." I said softly. I looked up at him. He was looking at the sky. "No stars tonight." I said. He looked at me.
"Why did you do that?" he asked softly. I sighed.
"I love you, you moron." I said. Jesse smiled
"I guess it hasn't sunken in yet." He was quiet for a minute but then he took a deep breath, "Look, you know this can't go anywhere. I mean...it can...but I could move on to...whatever's out there, we could never actually date or get married, I just..."
"Are you breaking up with me again?" I asked.
"No! I just want to be sure you know what you're getting into." he said. I was quiet for a minute, "Susannah?" he said nervously. I smiled.
"I happen to know exactly what I'm getting into." I said kissing him.
"Susannah..." he said quietly, "I don't think I deserve you." Okay. I admit it. I started to panic a little. I thought he was going to tell me he was leaving again. But then he kissed me.
"If Paul ever touches you again..." he said softly.
"He told you? About last year?" I asked wincing.
"Yes. An all to detailed account of his plan." he said. I sighed.
"Sorry. I didn't want you to hear about it like that." I said. He smiled.
"Querida I doubt you wanted me to hear about it at all." he said. I shrugged.
"I just didn't want you to kill him or anything, or go after him and get exorcized." I said. Jesse grimaced.
"I would never kill Paul, I wouldn't want him to be stuck as a ghost. Think of what he would do if he could materialize anywhere."he said.
"Your saying he's to irresponsible for death?" I said. Jesse smiled.
"Exactly." he said. I started to laugh but it turned into a yawn. Jesse took one look at me and scooped me up.
"Whoa..what...hey..."
"Susannah we have at least ten miles to go and you're exhausted."
"Am not." I said stubbornly. Jesse raised his eyebrows. "Okay well only a little. But I am perfectly capable of walking by myself just because I'm tired doesn't mean-"
"Susannah, shut up." he said laughing.
Who was I to argue?
