A/N: Hey-dee-ho neighbors! I'm back! Thought ya could get rid of me, eh? Ah, I'm just kidding. I love ya'll for reading my story. I'm on a roll right now yay! Enough of my blabbering. Oh, Meg owns it all! But I'm sure you already knew that!

A special thanks to Princess Roxanne for being my first reviewer! You rock! Thanks for the tips!


"How is your grandfather doing?" Father Dominic asked me with concern. I knew he would ask that. Well, doesn't everyone?

"Uh, he's doing okay. Getting better everyday," I informed Father D, stifling a chuckle. Truth is, my grandfather is fine. It's all a stupid act. And I'm stuck playing along with it. You see, my grandfather and I have a lot in common. And Suze does too, if only she'd give in and admit it. We are shifters.

My grandfather, I hate to say, is mighty powerful for an old guy that sits in front of the TV everyday. Of course, it was either that or he could go to an insane asylum. Because those were the only options my ignorant father gave him.

My dad is clueless; he has no idea about our power. He thought my gramps was insane because he published a thesis about our powers. Yeah, my gramps is Dr. Oliver Slaski...and I am SUPPOSED to be Paul Slaski, but my dad changed our names.

Even though I'm bitter about it, I can kind of see why. I mean, I think I'm the only one in my family to keep my 'gift' a secret. My grandfather published so much of it, for anyone and everyone to see. And my brother, Jack, told everyone he could. So that's where he got it. I had no idea that kinda thing was genetic.

But Jack's gift is different from the one that was handed over to Pops, Suze, and me. Jack is a medium or mediator...whichever you prefer. He has the ability to see, communicate, and interact with those who are deceased. But gramps, Suze, and I are so much more.

"Hey, Father D? What's up with Suze? I tried to talk to her today, is she okay?" I asked innocently. I know, not very tactful on my part, but I knew that Father Dom was always worried about the poor girl. Maybe he could even give me some insider info. Fr. D let out a huge sigh and rubbed his temples. Oh, she's that bad, eh?

"You can tell me Father Dom," I said, looking him straight in the eye. With the right amount of concentration...

"I don't know what to do with that girl. If she's not beating up lost souls, she's exorcising them. And she usually never tells me about them, I end up finding out from Jesse..."

"Jesse?" I interrupted.

"Yes, Jesse. He comes in here often, usually concerning Susannah's newest trouble-making scheme. He seems to care for her, which helps. Without him, she'd get into much more trouble," Father Dom informed me. Of course, without my...um...persuasion, good ole Padre would have never said any of that. Heh. What he did say, though, made me a little upset. She told Jesse more than she could tell Father Dominic. She really does love him. But not for long, my friends, not for long.

After signing a few papers, I left Father D's office. I headed back to homeroom, which would be getting out in twenty minutes. I opened the door and was greeted by Mr. Walden; "You must be Paul Slater. Take a seat." He pointed to a desk, which was perfect for me. Because it was right next to Suze's. When she saw me take my seat, she banged her head on her desk a few times.

"Hey Suze," I said as I gave her a quick wink. She grumbled something inaudible. Maybe I was in over my head. I turned back in my seat and faced the front of the class. Now I was losing. And as you know, I hate to lose. After wallowing in my defeat for the rest of the period, Mr. Walden dismissed us to go to lunch. Suze high tailed it outta there. I followed for a bit, and noticed she was headed to the office of Father Dominic. So I sunk my head low and went to lunch, alone.

Oh, but not for long. Kelly Prescott found me. Great.

"Hey Paul, are we still up for lunch?" Kelly asked while she took my arm.

"Uh huh," I replied boredly. It was nice of her to make me feel welcome and all, but seriously I was having a bad day. And I was not in the mood. Kelly dragged me to what I supposed was the 'in' table.

"Hey guys, this is Paul Slater. The new kid. Make him feel welcome, or else," Kelly introduced me. It made me wonder what she'd do to them if they didn't make me feel welcome. Suck their blood? Poke their eyes out with her perfectly manicured nails? Nah, she might break one. The others greeted me with a warm welcoming. And that was all there was to it. Too easy. And soon, I had them eating from the palm of my hand; hanging on my every word.

"So how did you meet Suze?" one of the girls, Debbie Mancuso, asked with her eyes wide in curiosity.

"My family was visiting here in the summer. We stayed at the Pebble Beach Hotel and Golf Resort, and Suze was working there as one of the hotel babysitters. She helped out a lot with my little brother. I guess you could say Suze and I had a thing," I told them as they were practically drooling. Kelly was boiling with jealousy. I could sense it.

"Well, Suze is a cool person. But she stinks as a VP...I know that," she said as she twisted her hair.

"Suze was vice president of your class?" I asked in wonder. Although, its no surprise now that you think about it. Considering how easy it was to become popular. And Suze, well, she was very personable, when she wasn't afraid of someone.

"Yeah, but she wanted to have a few beach cookouts instead of a big dance, I mean, how stupid is that?" Kelly said. Everyone agreed that it was a stupid idea and they started to laugh. Except for me, I just kept silent.

"Hey Paul, maybe you should run for VP against her! I mean, you seem smart and stuff, and you could so win" Debbie suggested. Not such a bad idea. But I declined the offer. I mean, Suze was already upset with me. No need to rock the boat. Hey, I had turned into a softie. And you know what they say...only live in Northern California once, or you'll become too soft. Too late.

I looked longingly at the table in which Suze sat at. I saw that she was back from her little meeting with the good father. She was sitting between her friend CeeCee and her guy friend Adam McTavish. CeeCee seemed to be questioning her, obviously questions Suze didn't want to be asked. Just then an awkward looking redheaded eighth grader came up to her table and shoved a bright orange flyer under her nose. She began to lecture him or something. Oh, that must have been one of her stepbrothers. Then she jumped from her seat and stalked over to Brad Ackerman, one of the dumbest people I had the misfortune to know, who was socializing in the basketball court.

"Hey, check that out," I said as I pointed over to the brewing conflict.

"Uh oh, looks like Simon has an issue to bring up with her stepbrother," one of the jock types said. Brad Ackerman was her stepbrother? No wonder she seemed a little upset all of the time. The lunch table I was sitting at was close enough to see and hear the whole thing.

"Do you really think that Mom and Andy are going to allow you to have this...this...whatever it is?" Suze asked calmly.

"Yeah, well, what they don't know isn't going to hurt them." Brad replied dumbly.

"Brad, don't you think they're going to notice when they look outside their bedroom window and see a bunch of naked girls in their new hot tub?" Looks like Brad decided to have a little party.

"No, 'cause they aren't going to be around Friday night. Dad's got that guest lecture thing up in San Francisco, and your mom's going with him, remember?" Ooh...this is good. Suze's mouth was gaped open in shock.

"And you better not tell them, or you'll be sorry," Brad spat viciously. Suze could take him any day of the week. But I don't think Brad was going to try to beat her up. He wasn't THAT stupid.

"I'll be sorry? Um, excuse me, Brad, but if your dad finds out about this party you're planning, you're the one who's going to be grounded for the rest of your life, not me," Suze said with a laugh. Boy was she wrong.

"Nuh-uh. 'Cause if you even think about saying anything, I'll tell them about the guy you've been sneaking into your room every night," Brad's face said as it lit up with a terrible expression of victory. Oh, ouch. I was strangely intrigued by how Suze was gonna get out of that one. But I was even more intrigued by who Suze was supposedly sneaking into her room

"Yeah, think you're so slick, don't you, letting the guy sneak up into your room every night, huh? How's he get in, anyway? That bay window of yours, the one over the porch roof? Well, I guess your little secret's blown now, huh? So you just keep quiet about my party, and I'll keep quiet about this Jesse guy."

I had been drinking some water, and as he mentioned the name of Jesse, I started choking on it. Jesse? Brad knew about Jesse? Now I needed answers. Were they...no they couldn't be. Suze was upset earlier when I mentioned Jesse; they were in a fight, I thought. They aren't together. No way. No freaking way.

Suze was just as shocked as I was about that statement Brad made, but she quickly spat, "Oh yeah? Well, what about Jake? I mean Jake's not going to let you have a bunch of your friends over to get wasted."

"Are you kidding? Who do you think's providing the beer? Jake's gonna steal me a keg from where he works," Brad sneered. By now the whole assembly yard was watching the heated argument with wide eyes, ooo-ing and ahh-ing at every word those two threw at each other.

"Jake? Jake's getting you beer? No way. He would never...How much are you paying him?" Suze asked as her voice raised.

"A hundred big ones. Exactly half of what he's shy on that Camaro he's been wanting."

"What about David? David's going to tell."

"No he isn't, 'cause if he does, I'll kick his bony but from here to Anchorage. And you better not try to defend him, either, or your mom's gonna get a big fat helping of Jesse pie."

And then she punched him. Suze punched Brad, because of what he said about Jesse. Instantly I stood up to intervene, but some coach was already there to break it up. Suze crumpled up the flyer, threw it on the ground, and stormed over to Father Dominic. The crowd that was gathering around them earlier left, still buzzing about the whole ordeal. Finally everyone cleared out, and I was alone out in the assembly yard. I walked over to the crumbled invitation and picked it up.

"It's party time at 99 Pine Crest Road. Bring a swimsuit if you want to have some hot 'n' frothy fun in the hot tub. A keg will be provided," The invite said. It also had a picture of a girl drinking beer, obviously drawn by Brad himself. I pocketed the invitation.

'For later,' I told myself. Then something caught my eye. It was a small but beautiful hair clip I saw Suze wear earlier this morning. It must have fallen off as she was battling with her stepbrother. I could give it back to her...no wait...I had another idea. Jesse was going to pay big time. So was Suze, after my plan was completed. And then who'd be the one to save her this time? That'd be me. Genius, Paul, just pure genius.


A/N: Again thanks for reading! Muahaha! It was 4 pages on my word processor this time. And surprisingly, last chapter was shorter than I thought. Teehee tell me what you think of this chapter. The fight scene with Suze and Brad was one of my favorite parts in Haunted. Heh!