A/N: Hello there! I'm back from the beautiful N'awlins! I think I've fallen in love with that city! Seriously, there is music and art everywhere down there. I came back from my little trip with an inbox full of lovely reviews! Thank you so much for making me all squishy and happy on my return. Well, folks, this looks like the end of the line for this story. I know it was so short, and I'll explain myself later. Now I'll answer some of my lovely reviewers!
Esodes08: Mystique Angelique's stuff is awesome! We both have a different version of Paul, which reflects how we see him. I love her dangerous, leather clad Paul! But I just can't help but feel so bad for my Paulie. I really don't know why I incorporated Meg's preview in the story; I really should just do my own thing (I'm working on it). But I felt that I had to put something out before I left! I think CeeCee POV's rock, so let me know when you put it out, okay?
Sweettooth: Thank you! I feel so loved! Don't worry, I'm continuing after I respond to everyone.
Rissa: You really liked it? I'm glad! I'm trying really hard to make this good, although it's a little shaky.
Pretty-in-pink898: Well, I left for New Orleans the second after this was posted so I'm sorry I couldn't put up more! Don't hate me!
Mystique Angelique: You were so right! It does need major buildup! I wrote that chapter without really looking over it because I was pressed for time. I see how it went from Paul going "Haha! We managed to fool the cops!" and then he just jumped to "Suze hates my guts and she'll never like me…I'm so depressed." But you know Paul is sort of jumpy. He's pretty moody, if you catch what I'm saying. I think you have the highest "Wow Factor" because you've written so many cool things and you're three years younger than I am. This time, I'll make it better! I promise!
Devil at Heart: Well, thanks for the review! I seriously feel so loved!
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I was baffled, stymied, completely perplexed. I didn't even get a wink of sleep for the rest of night. I got up from my bed and walked into my bathroom only to regret my action. I looked like a complete wreck! It was so bad that I was pretty glad that it was the weekend because no one would have to see me with those heavy bags under my eyes. Curses, Paul, why? Why do you have to play with my mind?
I needed someone to talk to. Not my mom or Andy, they really wouldn't understand the situation. Not Jesse, he would probably get all angry at me for making a deal with The ever evil Paul. Father Dom, well…I really didn't know what he'd think. He'd probably think that Paul and I were getting all buddy-buddy or something.
Which we weren't. I mean, just because he showed me some old mansion that belonged to one of the sisters of the man I love doesn't mean that he's my friend…does it? I mean, he kind of got me out of danger and even risked his life to get something that he thought would be important to me. And it was! The Bible, I mean. So, what? Now I'm his friend? It doesn't work out like that, does it? None of my normal friends freak me out and haunt my dreams. And they definitely don't threaten to get rid of my sort-of boyfriend…not that they can really see him or anything. Oh, and they don't talk about time travel either.
Okay so that ruled out CeeCee and Adam. I mean, they'd never understand any of that. I needed someone reasonable, practical, but at the same time, very open-minded. And one person came to mind…Doc.
So I made my way to Doc's room down the hall. He was possibly the smartest person I knew. He knew also kind of knew about Jesse. He'd be perfect, right?
"Um, David," I called from behind his bedroom door. I heard some shuffling about and then a small voice called back, "Come in!"
I slowly opened the door to reveal my youngest stepbrother quickly punching buttons on his calculator while sitting in front of his computer. Typical Doc, I thought to myself with a smile.
But I think my smile quickly left my face when he asked, "Suze, are you okay? What's going on?"
Oh my God. He was not only a super-brain. He was, like, psychic or something!
"Uh, I'm good. And, uh, nothing's going on," I stuttered.
Doc didn't seem too convinced. I mean, he was too smart to take any of the bull I just gave him. "You don't look so good. Is there something on your mind?" he asked as he set down his Ti-83 calculator on his computer desk.
Gosh yes Doc, I thought to myself, there is just too much. I was about ready to spill my guts as I had the other day and tell him about Jesse and the Bible…and even what Paul said. But then something held me back. Now I just wanted to run back into my room and try to forget about all of this.
"Well, uh, not really. I mean, uh, I was just wondering…" I stumbled yet again. Why couldn't I just tell him? I mean, Doc was my favorite of my stepbrothers and possibly the one that could help me the most. Just do it, Suze!
I started again unsteadily, "I was just wondering…"
"Wondering what, Suze?" David asked as I struggled with my words.
I hesitated a bit more. I think I even had butterflies in my stomach. I guess part of me was afraid that Paul was telling the truth. I just couldn't stand for him to be right.
"Is…is time travel possible?" I finally managed to choke out. "Time travel?" Doc asked while he raised an eyebrow. I nodded worriedly. Me and my big mouth!
"Well, theoretically and mathematically, yes," he answered while he was searching for something in his bookshelf.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my throat tightening, making it hard to talk.
He plucked a book off of his bookshelf, set it down and started looking for more books. He answered, "According to Einstein's general theory of relativity, there is absolutely nothing in the laws of physics that would hinder time travel. The only problem is that there isn't anything to accelerate our matter fast enough to go back in time."
"So, it's completely inhumanly impossible?" I asked hopefully. "I never said that, Suze," Doc said. "It's just that I-I really need to know," I confessed. "It may be hard to execute, but it is possible," Doc explained. "How?" I breathed, sitting on Doc's bed in order to keep from fainting.
"Some theories include usage of rotating black holes. Diving into one would allow you to emerge into another time period. Some like the theory of 'wormholes' which one black hole is connected to another place and time or even the same place at a different time. Time passes at different rates on either end of the wormhole, thus if you fell through one, you would be thrown into the past or even the future."
"So I could just turn back time and, I don't know, stop someone from dying?" I asked incredulously, looking up at Doc from his bed. "Not exactly," Doc replied as he adjusted his glasses, which poked from his massive read curls. I raised my eyebrow and waited for him to explain.
"Some scientists believe that there is some sort of 'natural law' that keeps people from being able to travel backwards in time. Or if it didn't inhibit the ability to time travel, it would cause you not to be able to change it at all. It would be necessary in order insure that certain paradoxes don't occur. Let's say, for example, that you prevented your dad from dying-"
"What?" I asked as I squirmed uncomfortably at the thought.
"Just as an example, Suze. If you kept him from dying, mom wouldn't have married my dad, and you would still be back at New York. We wouldn't have met, and we wouldn't even be having this conversation."
For a minute, that actually sounded nice. I could be back in New York where I grew up. Things would return back to normal. Gina and I would have gotten to spend all of high school together, just as we had always said we would. Father Dominic couldn't criticize me on my methods of mediation. Paul Slater would be living his life in Seattle…away from me. But then I would have never met Jesse. I heaved a shudder. Would I really give all that up, just so I could be with Jesse? The answer came from deep in my heart, absolutely positively YES with all of my heart and soul!
"Do you see why that would be bad, Suze?" Doc asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
More than you know, David, more than you know!
Doc took my silence as a yes. He took the stack of books that he had put on his desk and plopped them on my lap. "Here," he said with smile, "Take these. They should help out a bit."
Cosmic Time Travel: A Scientific Odyssey by Barry R. Parker and Quantum Strangeness and Space-Time by Sherrill Roberts were only two of the many books he gave me. It all seemed so overwhelming. I lugged the books back to my room and set them down by my window. Then I plucked a random one and started reading.
"Time travel?" I heard a distinctly Latino accented voice say. Uh Oh!
"Um…I uh, I'm doing a project," I stammered.
Jesse crossed his arms and leaned on my bedpost, looking all hot and stuff, while I was sitting on my bed with huge bags under my eyes with a huge book sprawled on my lap. Isn't that just always how it is?
I was a little worried that Jesse didn't buy my little story. I mean, he seemed to study my face for a while, as if searching for something. Then he took a seat on my bed and with one index finger, he lowered the book onto my lap. Then he turned his dark eyes to mine and bore his gaze onto me. I laughed uncomfortably for a bit, quite possibly making myself look like a complete loon.
"Well, when you are done, would you let me read them?" Jesse asked, showing all of his pearly teeth encased in his lovely knee-melting smile. "Uh huh," I replied softly as I felt my cheeks begin to burn.
I felt terrible for lying to Jesse. Actually, I wasn't really lying if you thought about it. See learning about time travel was like a research project. I was doing my 'homework'. Okay, I know. I'm terribly bad at this. But you know what, it'll all be over once I get enough information to show Paul that what he was saying was truly preposterous.
"Querida, you must be tired," Jesse said as he pulled the book off of my lap and set it down next to me on the bed.
I shot up about a mile and stammered, "W-what? Me tired? Why would I be tired?"
Jesse scooted closer to me and placed one of his warm hands on my burning cheek. "Susannah, are you sure you're all right?" he asked, his face only inches from mine. "I'm great Jesse. Everything is just fine. It's…perfect," I said as I plastered a smile on my face.
I'm such a…a liar! It was bad enough that I couldn't tell Jesse about my deal with Paul. Now I couldn't even stand to tell him what was bothering me. There was so much I was hiding from him. It made me wonder when I'd spill my guts about those things too. I'd been doing that a lot lately. But this time, I feared, it might get me into even more trouble than usual.
But a few minutes later, all my thoughts flooded from my brain. I think it tends to do that when the guy I'm madly in love with lays a kiss on me suddenly. And for that moment I really did believe everything was just fine…that it was perfect.
That was the biggest lie in the entire world.
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A/N: Thanks again for reading. That's the end folks. I know it sucks, but I'm not feeling very inspired with this fic. You understand? I think I've milked it for all that I can. I do have another idea for a rocking series, one I've tossed around for a bit. Basically, the whole junior class at Mission Academy goes on a field trip to the San Juan Capistrano Mission. Of course, trouble ensues when Suze confronts a ghost of a mischievous little girl that died in an earthquake in 1812. Any ideas? Please tell me. I'm really sorry guys, but I'm a total flop! You guys make me feel all special, and I feel as if I've let you down on this one. So please, help me out guys by just understanding! I LUV YOU ALL!!!
Nice Hayley
