A/N: Glad you guys are enjoying the fic! And yes, Jesse is coming out
quite annoying...it's something I really didn't plan for, but most things
are. Oh well, he'll change.
Mystique Angelique, since you asked, my name is Bianca. Yes, I did indeed make myself an evil demon in my trilogy. And yes, Rebirth will be completed—but you'll probably have to wait till school's out because unfortunately, I don't have much time, and Rebirth takes a lot out of me. Btw, I LOVE your stories!!!! Well, story—I still have to read your sequel. I need to make time, cuz it'll be an all-day thing (love to read them all at once). But I know I'll love that one too!
And Amanda, I love you too. I LOVE ALL MY REVIEWERS!!!!!!!
o.O
Um.....yeah.
I'm babbling now.....onto the story..........
The Mediators Chapter 3
"He's such a jerk! I mean, being so insensitive at lunch, and then—"
K, so I'll sneak out after everyone's asleep. I already mapped out an emergency escape route out of my room (even though I was hoping it may not be necessary, but hey, Suze never gets what she wants, does she?) That would be, obviously, out the window and down to the ground. Silent, stealthy...of course, getting back up...
"And you'll never believe what he said after that wood fell on Bryce and Jesse! He said—get this—he said, 'They deserve it'. I mean, really—"
What'll I do once I sneak into the school? I mean, it won't be so simple. It never is. Can Heather be reasoned with? Is it possible? Maybe I should bring my mediating stuff, ya know, just in case... I would need a picture of Heather, though. Well, not if she's there. Is she dumb enough to stand in the middle of a circle of candles?
.......probably.
What if she's smarter than she seems?
"—no respect for life!!!! Seriously, can you believe him????"
Then I am screwed.
I turned slowly to Cee Cee, and smiled pleasantly. "Well, why don't you don't ask him out?"
"Exactly, just what I thought you'd say—" She stopped suddenly, opened and closed her jaw like a fish without water, then shut it and stared at me in silent shock.
"Yeah, you heard me, Cee." I dumped all my books into my locker, and checked that my lip gloss wasn't messed up in the little mirror I taped on the inside.
"...I...can't..."
I sighed. After sixteen years of looking out for number one...and Gina...and all lost souls...suddenly I'm now being sucked into the chaotic melodrama that is high school. I realized in that moment that it might be work. Was I ready to try living a normal life while...well, while just NOT being normal? Was it even possible?
I turned to Cee Cee. She was clutching her books tightly to her chest, biting her lip and looking down at the floor. I grabbed her books and pried them from her arms. She looked at me, and the instant our eyes met, I saw something very vulnerable and insecure in them, which was totally contrary to the strong, confident image I had of her. Then she hardened those fierce purple eyes, and stared me down, something most dead people have trouble doing.
"Cee...you've gotta stop hiding behind your books." What's happening???? Suddenly I'm an all-powerful guru on life??? I've only known her a day, I can't change her life!!!!
"You've gotta try and...well, try and experience life. Real life, not just potential colleges and plans for the future. Here, now. Ya know?"
She grabbed her books back from me. "...yeah. Yeah, I know I have issues in the social department. I'm a hermit, alright? I mean, I act kinda happy and stuff...but I know I'm hiding a big part of myself. It's just...tough."
"We're all hiding a part of ourselves," I said, and as those words left my mouth, I saw Heather walk out of the wall behind Cee Cee. Her head turned towards me, and she stared at me, slowly gliding across the hall. It was a dark, accusing stare. She disappeared into the wall across the hall from us, and I saw the corner of her lip curl slightly. I shivered lightly as she vanished from view.
"You're hiding a part of yourself, Suze?" Cee Cee said, cocking her head to the side, and I looked back at her. She was studying me carefully.
I slammed the locker door shut, and I almost screamed as I met Jesse's dark gaze, who had apparently been hiding behind my open locker door.
"Jesse!" was all I could say.
I mean, seriously. Is he stalking me?
There was a slightly weird moment in which I stared at Jesse, Cee Cee fairly ogled Jesse, and Jesse simply leaned against the locker next to mine with his arms crossed over his chest, looking moody. Hey, when Jesse's around, he's the center of everything, isn't he?
Finally, I broke the odd silence with a graceful and witty "Um—erm..."
Then Cee Cee giggled nervously. "You—ah—hah hah...you gave us a fright there—um—J-Jesse!"
"I apologize," he said formally, without any hint of emotion. "But I have a date with Suze, and I must speak with her privately."
A—A—A DATE?????????
Wait, wait—there are many kinds of dates. There are—"Oh, I'm going on a romantic date with my super-hot Spanish boyfriend!" dates. Then there are "Me and my girlfriends are planning a date at Club Abyss!" dates, though that can be taken many different ways. Then there are "I'm gonna be late for my date with the boss to discuss business"...which would be this. Business. Pure business. Deal with Heather. Right. **cough**
"Oh," Cee Cee said, her mouth making a perfect "o". Then suddenly she grinned a really wide grin that looked like it might crack at any moment. "Alright then. I'll see you—tomorrow, Suze."
"Um—yeah. Sure. Totally. Uh-huh. Bye."
"Bye."
She turned and walked away stiffly.
...oh god, what the hell was she thinking now??? He used the word "date". "Date"!!!!! As in, "Is Suze going out with that guy?????"
No, Cee Cee, don't leave me alone here!!!!!!!
Jesse turned those haunting eyes of his onto me again. I stared at him for a long, overwhelmed (for obvious reasons) moment. Wondering about different ways I could take the solemnity out of those lonely eyes.
"I'd like to apologize, Susannah," he said suddenly. "I was not very respectful to you in Father Dominic's office. I suppose...we'll have to learn to work together. I'm just used to working alone."
"But—" trouble breathing—"doesn't Father D help? I mean, the whole 'mediating team' thing?"
He shut his eyes and smiled, the kind of smile I could picture hovering over me mischievously, as he—
"He—uh—comes up with those "plans" of his. I come up with my own. They've never failed me yet."
"Oh." I lifted my chin, trying to look like I wasn't about to melt into the floor with a worshipful sigh. "Well, I accept your apology, Jesse."
He lifted his head a bit, and that stubborn piece of hair once again fell over his face, covering his eye.
Why am I noticing all these annoying little details?
"Why, thank you, querida."
Was that sarcasm?
"Um. Sure."
I looked away from him, looking back at the spot where Heather had disappeared into the wall...
"May I accompany you to your house, Susannah?"
"What?"
"May...I...accompany...you..."
I shook my head, maybe a little too hard, and I'm sorry to say that I grinned little goofily. Ya know—school girl crush grin. Puppy love. Ack.
"No—never mind that—I mean—"
Don't panic. Take a deep breath. Oh god—what does that incredibly smug little smirk mean?!?!?
"Sure. Yeah. If you want." I inhaled deeply. "Um, why?"
He uncrossed his arms, and stuck his hands into his pockets, suddenly looking very bored. "I'm going over there anyway. Band practice."
"B-band?"
"Yes. I'm part of a band, with your stepbrother Jake."
Guitar god. Guitar god. With Sleepy. I was suddenly assaulted by mental images of Sleepy banging on the drums, slowly falling asleep and going slower and slower until finally tipping over onto the drums, and I snorted aloud.
"You find that funny?" he asked, giving me a side glance.
"No, no," I said. I couldn't picture Sleepy doing anything other than...well, sleeping. "No...um, what's your band called?"
"Half Alive."
"Oh. Um. How ironic. Cuz. Ya know."
"Yes, I know." He turned away from me, gazing down the slowly emptying hall. "Let's go...this isn't the place for us to talk." Then he chose that moment to toss me a sexy grin over his shoulder. "We need privacy..."
I swallowed. Hard. Was he baiting me on purpose? Oh, god, he so knew. It was so obvious. So freaking obvious. Goddammit.
...oh, well. Like it would work out. Life isn't a romance novel, where everything fits together perfectly. Life is pile of puzzles pieces from millions of different puzzles, and you are lucky if you find two that fit, and stupid if you try to make two pieces fit that won't.
Or something like that.
As we left the building, I turned left to walk home, and Jesse turned right. I stopped.
"Um, my house is this way."
"You're walking?" Jesse was looking at me like I was crazy.
"Well..."
Why was everyone ragging on me just because I don't know how to drive?! It's not my fault! ARRRRGGHHHH!!!!
"I can't drive." So lame! "Um—I come from New York. I couldn't get my license...until...um..." Why do I say "um" so much? "...um..."
"Oh," Jesse said. "Well, I could give you a ride."
My stomach tanked. In the background, I could hear an angelic chorus echoing, singing romantic rhapsodies and sweet nothings. Fireworks...oh god, I was grinning again, wasn't I? JESSE WANTED TO GIVE ME A RIDE HOME!!!
"Um. Ok. Sure," I said. Unfortunately, all that came out was a weird squeak. Yes, I squeaked at Jesse. I SQUEAKED AT JESSE. How much sadder can I get? Please, someone tell me?
Then this weird smile came over Jesse's face. An "I know something you don't know" kind of smile. And I wanted to die right there. What was wrong with me? Why was I acting like such an idiot around this guy? I've met hot guys before, and I never lost it this bad before.
"Well, Susannah," he said slowly, deliberately, rubbing it in my face that I am incredibly lame, "Since your speech seems slightly impaired, I simply must insist that you come with me. We cannot have you wandering the streets in your state, after all—you might hurt yourself."
I recovered from my humiliation enough to smack him over the back of the head (his hair was just as soft and silky as it looked). He laughed aloud—a deep, rich laugh that reverberated in my head, and jogged something in my memory...why does all this seem so familiar? I laughed a little with him, and he held his hand out to me.
"Come with me, querida."
SWOON.
"Don't call me stuff in Spanish," I snapped as I took his hand.
A few minutes later, we were cruising towards my house in a sleek silver camaro. Ah, Sleepy must be so jealous. He's been saving up for one of these things for years. Jesse justified his owning one with some story about his aunt leaving it in her inheritance to him—HA! I'll bet he stole it...
...yeah, ok. I'm fishing for any reason for this guy to not be as perfect as he seems. I can't help it. Because he seems too perfect. Apart from the fact that he seems to have a bit of an evil streak in him, and his overall attitude towards life is cynical and gloomy...but hey, so is mine.
And...he just lit a cigarette...
"You shouldn't do that," I said.
"What, smoke?" He said, taking a long, slow drag. "Why ever not, Susannah?"
"Because. You know. Lung cancer. Bad breath. Trouble breathing. Surgeon's general warning. Death. Plenty of reasons." I crossed my ankles and stared our at the road, realizing I was sounding like the Health teacher. Despite how hot he looked as he held that cigarette between two fingers, his arm hanging lazily out the window, it just...didn't seem right for him. I think I was genuinely concerned for his health.
"Who gives a fuck about death?" he said, and took yet another deliberate drag. He turned and gave me a dangerous looking smile, and blew the smoke out of his nostrils, filling the car with noxious airborne tar. I coughed. My virgin lungs were very sensitive to second-hand smoke.
"Live fast, die young, and have a beautiful corpse? Yeah, I don't feel like having to mediate you anytime soon."
"Are you calling me beautiful, Susannah?" He said, that stupid grin still plastered on his ungodly gorgeous face.
"Wha—no! Don't be getting any ideas—"
"Besides, if I died..." he leaned over, and panic flooded me as he took his eyes off the road, and put them on me, instead. I felt one of his hands snake up my side, skimming lightly over my skin, leaving fiery trails wherever it touched, finally reaching my neck. A cruel smile graced his lips, and he scraped his nails gently against my throat. My stomach dropped as I sensed a hidden threat. "...I wouldn't let you mediate me..." Then he whispered into my neck, "I would haunt you."
For a moment, I felt my heart stop. Dark visions were filling my over- active imagination. Alarms were blaring in my head. Who was this guy, who was so incredibly compelling, so dangerous, and who seemed to be trying to seduce me? Or was he just toying with my mind?
I felt his finger touch my bottom lip, and I blinked in shock. "What do you think you're doing!" I suddenly blurted out, and I put both my hands on his chest (oh man...that's a hard chest...) and shoved him back as hard as I could, which was just enough to get him off of me. "You'll get us both killed!"
He chuckled evilly and put his hand back on the wheel. How long was that? Were we really so lucky that we just happened to stay on the road while he wasn't looking at it or touching the wheel? Did he have some kind of self- driving car? Why did I let him harass me like that? WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON?
"Relax." He took another puff off his cigarette, and I felt like snatching it away from him and tossing it out. But I restrained myself. "I wouldn't kill you."
"Sure you wouldn't. Trying to off the competition, aren't you, Jesse? I'll show you...I'll have Heather out of our school by midnight tonight! HAH!"
........ok, I didn't really say that. But I wanted to. This is what I really said.
"Um.......yeah........."
Assertive, aren't I? Well, I was a way more assertive person before I met him this morning.
"You don't believe me, querida?"
We were now pulling into the driveway of the Ackerman household. As I saw Andy wave cheerfully at us from the open garage, some of my strength magically returned.
"Jesse, don't call me stuff in Spanish."
He put the car in park and pulled the key out.
"And...don't touch me like that ever again."
He turned his dark eyes on me, and his face was suddenly expressionless, a steel mask. He was a different person.
"I apologize for frightening you. My actions were uncalled for."
Then he opened the door, and climbed out. I followed suit, and stood frozen in the driveway, watching him enter the house like he lived there in shocked silence.
Was I missing something here? He just showed me two completely opposing personalities...a strangely formal, respectful, chivalrous guy...and totally evil seemingly suicidal guy.
A chilly breeze kicked up, unusual for the time of year, and I wrapped my arms around myself.
Which one was the real Jesse?
A/N: I know, not much happened. There will be some real developments in the plot next chapter, I promise. BTW, the double personality is a classic symptom of manic depression. I just figured Jesse was a little TOO perfect as a ghost, so I decided to give modern-day Jesse some issues, to compensate for my own insecurities, hah. Yes, he has some very serious issues indeed, as you'll see later on.
Okay, now REVIEW to tell me how much you hate me!!!!!!
TTFN
Mystique Angelique, since you asked, my name is Bianca. Yes, I did indeed make myself an evil demon in my trilogy. And yes, Rebirth will be completed—but you'll probably have to wait till school's out because unfortunately, I don't have much time, and Rebirth takes a lot out of me. Btw, I LOVE your stories!!!! Well, story—I still have to read your sequel. I need to make time, cuz it'll be an all-day thing (love to read them all at once). But I know I'll love that one too!
And Amanda, I love you too. I LOVE ALL MY REVIEWERS!!!!!!!
o.O
Um.....yeah.
I'm babbling now.....onto the story..........
The Mediators Chapter 3
"He's such a jerk! I mean, being so insensitive at lunch, and then—"
K, so I'll sneak out after everyone's asleep. I already mapped out an emergency escape route out of my room (even though I was hoping it may not be necessary, but hey, Suze never gets what she wants, does she?) That would be, obviously, out the window and down to the ground. Silent, stealthy...of course, getting back up...
"And you'll never believe what he said after that wood fell on Bryce and Jesse! He said—get this—he said, 'They deserve it'. I mean, really—"
What'll I do once I sneak into the school? I mean, it won't be so simple. It never is. Can Heather be reasoned with? Is it possible? Maybe I should bring my mediating stuff, ya know, just in case... I would need a picture of Heather, though. Well, not if she's there. Is she dumb enough to stand in the middle of a circle of candles?
.......probably.
What if she's smarter than she seems?
"—no respect for life!!!! Seriously, can you believe him????"
Then I am screwed.
I turned slowly to Cee Cee, and smiled pleasantly. "Well, why don't you don't ask him out?"
"Exactly, just what I thought you'd say—" She stopped suddenly, opened and closed her jaw like a fish without water, then shut it and stared at me in silent shock.
"Yeah, you heard me, Cee." I dumped all my books into my locker, and checked that my lip gloss wasn't messed up in the little mirror I taped on the inside.
"...I...can't..."
I sighed. After sixteen years of looking out for number one...and Gina...and all lost souls...suddenly I'm now being sucked into the chaotic melodrama that is high school. I realized in that moment that it might be work. Was I ready to try living a normal life while...well, while just NOT being normal? Was it even possible?
I turned to Cee Cee. She was clutching her books tightly to her chest, biting her lip and looking down at the floor. I grabbed her books and pried them from her arms. She looked at me, and the instant our eyes met, I saw something very vulnerable and insecure in them, which was totally contrary to the strong, confident image I had of her. Then she hardened those fierce purple eyes, and stared me down, something most dead people have trouble doing.
"Cee...you've gotta stop hiding behind your books." What's happening???? Suddenly I'm an all-powerful guru on life??? I've only known her a day, I can't change her life!!!!
"You've gotta try and...well, try and experience life. Real life, not just potential colleges and plans for the future. Here, now. Ya know?"
She grabbed her books back from me. "...yeah. Yeah, I know I have issues in the social department. I'm a hermit, alright? I mean, I act kinda happy and stuff...but I know I'm hiding a big part of myself. It's just...tough."
"We're all hiding a part of ourselves," I said, and as those words left my mouth, I saw Heather walk out of the wall behind Cee Cee. Her head turned towards me, and she stared at me, slowly gliding across the hall. It was a dark, accusing stare. She disappeared into the wall across the hall from us, and I saw the corner of her lip curl slightly. I shivered lightly as she vanished from view.
"You're hiding a part of yourself, Suze?" Cee Cee said, cocking her head to the side, and I looked back at her. She was studying me carefully.
I slammed the locker door shut, and I almost screamed as I met Jesse's dark gaze, who had apparently been hiding behind my open locker door.
"Jesse!" was all I could say.
I mean, seriously. Is he stalking me?
There was a slightly weird moment in which I stared at Jesse, Cee Cee fairly ogled Jesse, and Jesse simply leaned against the locker next to mine with his arms crossed over his chest, looking moody. Hey, when Jesse's around, he's the center of everything, isn't he?
Finally, I broke the odd silence with a graceful and witty "Um—erm..."
Then Cee Cee giggled nervously. "You—ah—hah hah...you gave us a fright there—um—J-Jesse!"
"I apologize," he said formally, without any hint of emotion. "But I have a date with Suze, and I must speak with her privately."
A—A—A DATE?????????
Wait, wait—there are many kinds of dates. There are—"Oh, I'm going on a romantic date with my super-hot Spanish boyfriend!" dates. Then there are "Me and my girlfriends are planning a date at Club Abyss!" dates, though that can be taken many different ways. Then there are "I'm gonna be late for my date with the boss to discuss business"...which would be this. Business. Pure business. Deal with Heather. Right. **cough**
"Oh," Cee Cee said, her mouth making a perfect "o". Then suddenly she grinned a really wide grin that looked like it might crack at any moment. "Alright then. I'll see you—tomorrow, Suze."
"Um—yeah. Sure. Totally. Uh-huh. Bye."
"Bye."
She turned and walked away stiffly.
...oh god, what the hell was she thinking now??? He used the word "date". "Date"!!!!! As in, "Is Suze going out with that guy?????"
No, Cee Cee, don't leave me alone here!!!!!!!
Jesse turned those haunting eyes of his onto me again. I stared at him for a long, overwhelmed (for obvious reasons) moment. Wondering about different ways I could take the solemnity out of those lonely eyes.
"I'd like to apologize, Susannah," he said suddenly. "I was not very respectful to you in Father Dominic's office. I suppose...we'll have to learn to work together. I'm just used to working alone."
"But—" trouble breathing—"doesn't Father D help? I mean, the whole 'mediating team' thing?"
He shut his eyes and smiled, the kind of smile I could picture hovering over me mischievously, as he—
"He—uh—comes up with those "plans" of his. I come up with my own. They've never failed me yet."
"Oh." I lifted my chin, trying to look like I wasn't about to melt into the floor with a worshipful sigh. "Well, I accept your apology, Jesse."
He lifted his head a bit, and that stubborn piece of hair once again fell over his face, covering his eye.
Why am I noticing all these annoying little details?
"Why, thank you, querida."
Was that sarcasm?
"Um. Sure."
I looked away from him, looking back at the spot where Heather had disappeared into the wall...
"May I accompany you to your house, Susannah?"
"What?"
"May...I...accompany...you..."
I shook my head, maybe a little too hard, and I'm sorry to say that I grinned little goofily. Ya know—school girl crush grin. Puppy love. Ack.
"No—never mind that—I mean—"
Don't panic. Take a deep breath. Oh god—what does that incredibly smug little smirk mean?!?!?
"Sure. Yeah. If you want." I inhaled deeply. "Um, why?"
He uncrossed his arms, and stuck his hands into his pockets, suddenly looking very bored. "I'm going over there anyway. Band practice."
"B-band?"
"Yes. I'm part of a band, with your stepbrother Jake."
Guitar god. Guitar god. With Sleepy. I was suddenly assaulted by mental images of Sleepy banging on the drums, slowly falling asleep and going slower and slower until finally tipping over onto the drums, and I snorted aloud.
"You find that funny?" he asked, giving me a side glance.
"No, no," I said. I couldn't picture Sleepy doing anything other than...well, sleeping. "No...um, what's your band called?"
"Half Alive."
"Oh. Um. How ironic. Cuz. Ya know."
"Yes, I know." He turned away from me, gazing down the slowly emptying hall. "Let's go...this isn't the place for us to talk." Then he chose that moment to toss me a sexy grin over his shoulder. "We need privacy..."
I swallowed. Hard. Was he baiting me on purpose? Oh, god, he so knew. It was so obvious. So freaking obvious. Goddammit.
...oh, well. Like it would work out. Life isn't a romance novel, where everything fits together perfectly. Life is pile of puzzles pieces from millions of different puzzles, and you are lucky if you find two that fit, and stupid if you try to make two pieces fit that won't.
Or something like that.
As we left the building, I turned left to walk home, and Jesse turned right. I stopped.
"Um, my house is this way."
"You're walking?" Jesse was looking at me like I was crazy.
"Well..."
Why was everyone ragging on me just because I don't know how to drive?! It's not my fault! ARRRRGGHHHH!!!!
"I can't drive." So lame! "Um—I come from New York. I couldn't get my license...until...um..." Why do I say "um" so much? "...um..."
"Oh," Jesse said. "Well, I could give you a ride."
My stomach tanked. In the background, I could hear an angelic chorus echoing, singing romantic rhapsodies and sweet nothings. Fireworks...oh god, I was grinning again, wasn't I? JESSE WANTED TO GIVE ME A RIDE HOME!!!
"Um. Ok. Sure," I said. Unfortunately, all that came out was a weird squeak. Yes, I squeaked at Jesse. I SQUEAKED AT JESSE. How much sadder can I get? Please, someone tell me?
Then this weird smile came over Jesse's face. An "I know something you don't know" kind of smile. And I wanted to die right there. What was wrong with me? Why was I acting like such an idiot around this guy? I've met hot guys before, and I never lost it this bad before.
"Well, Susannah," he said slowly, deliberately, rubbing it in my face that I am incredibly lame, "Since your speech seems slightly impaired, I simply must insist that you come with me. We cannot have you wandering the streets in your state, after all—you might hurt yourself."
I recovered from my humiliation enough to smack him over the back of the head (his hair was just as soft and silky as it looked). He laughed aloud—a deep, rich laugh that reverberated in my head, and jogged something in my memory...why does all this seem so familiar? I laughed a little with him, and he held his hand out to me.
"Come with me, querida."
SWOON.
"Don't call me stuff in Spanish," I snapped as I took his hand.
A few minutes later, we were cruising towards my house in a sleek silver camaro. Ah, Sleepy must be so jealous. He's been saving up for one of these things for years. Jesse justified his owning one with some story about his aunt leaving it in her inheritance to him—HA! I'll bet he stole it...
...yeah, ok. I'm fishing for any reason for this guy to not be as perfect as he seems. I can't help it. Because he seems too perfect. Apart from the fact that he seems to have a bit of an evil streak in him, and his overall attitude towards life is cynical and gloomy...but hey, so is mine.
And...he just lit a cigarette...
"You shouldn't do that," I said.
"What, smoke?" He said, taking a long, slow drag. "Why ever not, Susannah?"
"Because. You know. Lung cancer. Bad breath. Trouble breathing. Surgeon's general warning. Death. Plenty of reasons." I crossed my ankles and stared our at the road, realizing I was sounding like the Health teacher. Despite how hot he looked as he held that cigarette between two fingers, his arm hanging lazily out the window, it just...didn't seem right for him. I think I was genuinely concerned for his health.
"Who gives a fuck about death?" he said, and took yet another deliberate drag. He turned and gave me a dangerous looking smile, and blew the smoke out of his nostrils, filling the car with noxious airborne tar. I coughed. My virgin lungs were very sensitive to second-hand smoke.
"Live fast, die young, and have a beautiful corpse? Yeah, I don't feel like having to mediate you anytime soon."
"Are you calling me beautiful, Susannah?" He said, that stupid grin still plastered on his ungodly gorgeous face.
"Wha—no! Don't be getting any ideas—"
"Besides, if I died..." he leaned over, and panic flooded me as he took his eyes off the road, and put them on me, instead. I felt one of his hands snake up my side, skimming lightly over my skin, leaving fiery trails wherever it touched, finally reaching my neck. A cruel smile graced his lips, and he scraped his nails gently against my throat. My stomach dropped as I sensed a hidden threat. "...I wouldn't let you mediate me..." Then he whispered into my neck, "I would haunt you."
For a moment, I felt my heart stop. Dark visions were filling my over- active imagination. Alarms were blaring in my head. Who was this guy, who was so incredibly compelling, so dangerous, and who seemed to be trying to seduce me? Or was he just toying with my mind?
I felt his finger touch my bottom lip, and I blinked in shock. "What do you think you're doing!" I suddenly blurted out, and I put both my hands on his chest (oh man...that's a hard chest...) and shoved him back as hard as I could, which was just enough to get him off of me. "You'll get us both killed!"
He chuckled evilly and put his hand back on the wheel. How long was that? Were we really so lucky that we just happened to stay on the road while he wasn't looking at it or touching the wheel? Did he have some kind of self- driving car? Why did I let him harass me like that? WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON?
"Relax." He took another puff off his cigarette, and I felt like snatching it away from him and tossing it out. But I restrained myself. "I wouldn't kill you."
"Sure you wouldn't. Trying to off the competition, aren't you, Jesse? I'll show you...I'll have Heather out of our school by midnight tonight! HAH!"
........ok, I didn't really say that. But I wanted to. This is what I really said.
"Um.......yeah........."
Assertive, aren't I? Well, I was a way more assertive person before I met him this morning.
"You don't believe me, querida?"
We were now pulling into the driveway of the Ackerman household. As I saw Andy wave cheerfully at us from the open garage, some of my strength magically returned.
"Jesse, don't call me stuff in Spanish."
He put the car in park and pulled the key out.
"And...don't touch me like that ever again."
He turned his dark eyes on me, and his face was suddenly expressionless, a steel mask. He was a different person.
"I apologize for frightening you. My actions were uncalled for."
Then he opened the door, and climbed out. I followed suit, and stood frozen in the driveway, watching him enter the house like he lived there in shocked silence.
Was I missing something here? He just showed me two completely opposing personalities...a strangely formal, respectful, chivalrous guy...and totally evil seemingly suicidal guy.
A chilly breeze kicked up, unusual for the time of year, and I wrapped my arms around myself.
Which one was the real Jesse?
A/N: I know, not much happened. There will be some real developments in the plot next chapter, I promise. BTW, the double personality is a classic symptom of manic depression. I just figured Jesse was a little TOO perfect as a ghost, so I decided to give modern-day Jesse some issues, to compensate for my own insecurities, hah. Yes, he has some very serious issues indeed, as you'll see later on.
Okay, now REVIEW to tell me how much you hate me!!!!!!
TTFN