Chapter 2. Paul and My Family?

Andy had prepared a Mexican dinner; fix-your-own taco or burrito. With this yummy buffet, I wondered if this was anything like the kind of dinners Jesse might have grown up with.

All through dinner the conversation seemed completely centered around Paul and I. "Where did you two meet?" "How long have you known each other?" "Were you planning on going anywhere else together tonight?" "No? Well... if you change your mind and want to go somewhere, that's fine by both you father and I."

I tried to be casual about quickly answering the questions, but it didn't really work. I felt like I was being interrogated about a boyfriend or something. Which Paul and I were definitely not. I hoped the topic would loose interest, but of course it didn't. Paul gave his input whenever he wanted to; which was just about all the time.

After dinner we headed to the living room to 'visit'. After thinking for a few moments of what my escape options were, I came up with something. "Mom? I think I ate too much tonight at dinner. I'm not feeling too well. I'm going to go up to my room for the night." Good job, Suze. Sure to win Oscars. I didn't totally lie. I wasn't feeling well, and I really did want to go up to my room. But not for exactly the reasons I was giving off.

"Suzie? You have a guest! You can't just leave him here!" I could tell she wanted me to ask her if Paul and I could go upstairs to visit alone, or if we could go somewhere other than our house together or something along those lines. That's just the kind of daughter my mother deserved to have. But no. She has a girl who is in love with the ghost of a really hot Latino guy that died over 150 years ago, and haunts- I mean, unfortunately, only once in a while haunts- my bedroom.

"I know Mom," I said, laying it on thick, "But I'm really feeling sick."

My mother's face visibly sank as she realized there was no chance I would be proposing this night turn into a real date. She heaved a sigh and turned to Paul. "I'm sorry, Paul."

"It's ok Mrs. Ackerman. I just need to talk to Suze for a few minutes and then I'll be on my way. Thank you both very much for dinner." He said as he turned to Andy.

Both Andy and my mother jumped up from their seats on the couch to leave Paul and I sitting in the living room alone. Soon to follow them were my three brothers, Brad lifting his eyebrows in a very suggestive, disgusting, gesture. I didn't hesitate giving him a great view of my longest finger.

Paul, seeing this, laughed a little. I turned to him, and gave him a good smile, knowing that any second I wanted, I could leave his presence and head up to my room. Head up to Jesse. I smiled even bigger at that thought, before Paul's voice brought me back to reality. "I planned to take you out for a ride after dinner, but my plans have changed just slightly having been invited in for dinner. But I'd still very much like to go." He told me looking straight into my eyes. He is so creepy. Would I go? That's a toughie. No. I was not going.

"I'm sorry, Paul. I'm feeling kind of sick right now. I'm going up to my room, and you? You are going to get in your car alone, and go home. Dinner is over. I'll walk you out." I smiled, got off the couch, and headed for the door. Paul followed me.

When we got to the front door, he turned to face me. He was standing only a foot away. All I could think of was getting upstairs, away from him.

"Listen, Suze. I know you like me. You know I love you. I'll wait for you to realize this, but not forever" He leaned in a little closer. I could feel the collar of his unbuttoned shirt against my chest. It was extremely unnerving. As I squirmed to get away, he leaned down and kissed me. I pushed him away, but it didn't take much. He smiled, and walk out the door, giving a little wave with his fingers before disappearing from view.

The first thing I did when he left was wipe my mouth off until I was sure I got the taste of his mouth off, which took a while. Then I ran up to my room. I opened the door and as I did so, thoughts ran rushing into my mind. Recapping dinner, mostly. Then that kiss. Nothing good came of any of it. I slammed my door, and walked over to where my radio was and turned it up as loud as it would go.

I could feel the music vibrating through the floor, the walls, and I could feel it in me. It shook out all thoughts in me. I walked over to the window seat which was usually occupied by my favorite ghost, my favorite anyone, Jesse. Where was he? Probably scared off by all the noise coming from my room. But it hadn't stopped him from coming before. He'd be by sooner or later. Hopefully sooner.

I looked out the window at the ocean. It was still just as beautiful as when I saw it for the first time in the car ride to my house. The cool breeze coming through my window felt wonderful against my face. The sun was beginning to set, making the sky look a pinkish color. My music was still blaring, now on a song by Good Charlotte. A good song, and even better with the volume is as high as it was. I continued to stare out at the ocean as I listened.

Suddenly, I was jerked out of my thoughts, as the volume was turned almost down to a whisper. I whipped around, ready to start screaming at whoever had the nerve to barge into my room, and turn down my radio, and disturb my bliss. But when I turned around I realized I didn't want to yell. It was Jesse. But just because I didn't want to yell, didn't mean I was going to let him off the hook.

"Why'd you turn it down? I liked it loud!" I asked, aiming for the pissed off look, but after getting a good look into his deep brown eyes the look faded from my face.

"Nombre de Dios, why was it that loud?! You could hear it all the way down at the academy!" He searched my face, probably to see if I was upset in a crying way, or upset in a rage way. Neither would he find, no matter how hard he searched.

"I was thinking. I like loud music when I'm thinking." Just after the words left my mouth I knew they were lies. I was trying not to think.

But now that he was here I wanted to talk. I mean, I was really enjoying the peace and stuff, but he was here now, and I had waited to talk to him since the moment he left when I had to leave for breakfast this morning.

Dropping the subject, I asked "What'd you do all day?" He looked a bit shocked that I changed the topic so quickly, but he didn't seem to mind.

"I read another book from the library, and helped Father Dominic with some issues regarding the church, but for the most part I read. What have you been up to?"

I did not want to tell him. But I'd already found out what kind of trouble can occur when I don't tell him something that has happened between Paul and I, and it didn't turn out well. Besides, I was trying to be as truthful as I could with Jesse. I could tell him about Paul, and leave out the kissing part, and the part where he told me he loved me. He didn't need to know about any of that anyways. I was trying to forget it.

"There was school. Same as always. Then I came home, did some homework for the weekend. And oh yeah, Paul stopped by." I didn't take a chance to look at his face. I knew what his reaction would be. He'd be upset, and want to know why.

"What did he want? Why did Paul stop by?" See. Told you so.

Keeping calm, I took a chance and looked up at him. I had to sooner or later, or I'd feel like a big coward. He looked somewhat mad but not at me. I looked straight into those dark eyes that made me melt, and tried to sound confident as I answered him.

"He came by to ask me to go out for dinner with him. Of course I said no. Then my mom walked in and invited him for dinner. We ate, my family talked with him, he left. End of story. He did ask me to go for a ride with him, but dinner was much more than enough time with him, and I already said I felt sick, so I refused." I told you I wanted to be honest. I only left out was the kiss and his profession of love for me. Jesse had already gone through hearing about Paul doing all that before, why put him through it again?

He seemed to believe me. He relaxed quite a bit. That's not to say that he looked happy, but he wasn't as angry. He walked up to the window seat where I was sitting. I scooted over and he sat down. You really don't know how great it felt to have the guy that you're completely lost in love with sitting right there next to you, looking you right in the eye and with the sexiest smile plastered on his face.

He put his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him, still smiling. "I love you, Querida." He said as he leaned down and kissed me. You know that wonderful feeling I was just talking about? It was growing stronger.

I put my arms around his neck and pulled myself even closer to him. I felt his washboard abs against my chest, and his hands begin to rub my back as the kiss grew. I never wanted it to end. And from his kissing I don't think he wanted it to either. Eventually I needed to breath though. Sometimes I wish I was a ghost too, things would be so much easier if I was. We could finally be together, and in moments like this I wouldn't have to stop so often to catch my breath; because ghosts don't breathe.

As I gently pulled away, I rested my forehead against his. His hands were still around my waist, and mine still around his neck. It was a comfortable silence. I knew what I wanted to say.

"I love you, Jesse." I wanted, and needed, to say it out loud. And there we were again. Kissing more. It was wonderful. But again, after a while mind you, I had to pull away. This time, he pulled away too.

"I have to go, Querida. Father Dominic will be wondering where I have headed off to. I'm sorry." He smiled warmly and lovingly, just before beginning to dematerialize.

"Good-bye, Jesse." I said, in a high pitched squeak as I watched him leave.

Once he was gone, I turned to look back out the window. Darn Father Dominic. Why, oh why, did he have to insist that Jesse move away? It sucked. If only Jesse could stay living here with me. Things would be perfect. I could see him all the time, and even if we weren't kissing, I could enjoy every second of it. Sometimes priests make it so easy to hate them.

After watching the sun disappear behind the horizon, I took a long shower, and hopped into my pj's and eventually into bed. Jesse was the thought that stayed in my mind as I slipped into a comfortable slumber, and stayed in mind through all my dreams.

Softly, right before I completely succumbed to sleep, I heard, "Sweat dreams, Querida.", and felt a soft kiss on my forehead.