Chapter Two: A Blast from the Past
I hate you, I love you. I just can't remember to forget you. Who are you, who needs you? You make me feel alive, I die, so high. I'm crawling on the ground. I have found I can fly One of these days it all comes together. One of those days that goes on forever. Think I sound crazy? Maybe, whatever. What's it all about?
It's about life, it's about fun, It's over before it has begun, It's about you, it's about me, It's about everything between and I say, I'm saying goodbye to you, I say hi to you with no clue. It's about time that I make up my mind
It's simple, confusing, the truth is I'm winning but I'm losing. And pulling and pushing, won't do me any good. It could, it should. I'm honest to myself that the truth is I lied
Time is creeping behind me, surrounding around me. Fading the words so desperately. Now give me a reason that I can believe in. Time is something you can't rewind. One of these days it all comes together. One of those days that goes on forever. Think I sound crazy? Maybe, whatever, What's it all about?
"It's about Time" Lillix Jesse's P. O. VNombre de Dios, I can't believe what's just happened, I just can't. I was going on with my daily routine, you know: Get up, make out with Susannah while trying to get dress, have breakfast, have a row with Daisy, stand sarcastic comments by Isabel, take Hector to school, stand Abby's sarcastic comments at the teachers lounge, put up with the giggling girls on my way to my classroom, and everything was just fine… everyday average, the life that I've learned to love…
Then, just as I was going to get a coffee before start to grade papers on French Revolution when…
"Well, well, well" this voice said at my back "Isn't here Rico Suave?"
I turned around, already irritated because there was only one person who ever called me that "Slater, what are you doing here?"
"That's how you say hi to an old pal?" Paul Slater said, still the arrogant brat he has always been. I was just about hit him "for old times sake" when Daisy came
"Dad" she said happily "Can you give me some money? I forgot my lunch-money" she was smiling, smiling in that way that makes her look just like Susannah. I just stared at her, she blinked "What? Do I have something in my nose?"
"She looks just like Suze" Slater said, he had been looking at her, I didn't like the tone he used, Daisy's glanced at him, as if she hadn't even notice he was there, and for some reason she put herself behind me, they same way she did when she was a little kid and we took her to the circus, clowns freak her out. And lets face it, there is no bigger clown than Paul Slater.
"¿Quien es, papi? (Who is this, daddy?)" she asked lowering her voice, "Es amigo de mama? (Is a friend of mom's?)"
"No lo llamaría amigo, mas como una patada que te cae en el higado y se queda ahí pateando (I wouldn't call it a friend, is more like a foot landing on your liver that it just stays there kicking)" I answered, she kept her head under my arm, peeking out my left side "Tell Mrs. Marsh (the cafeteria lady) that I'll pay her later" I said patting her head, wanting her out of there as soon as possible, she nodded, unbelievable obedient, she just walked away "Y Daisy," she looked back when I called after her "Quedate con Isabel, no se separen (Stay with Isabel, stick together)"
"So, is Suze kid, huh? What age did you knock her up anyway? I understand than in your day you married young and died at 35, but how could you drag Suze into that?"
"Slater, just Shut it" I said lowering my voice to dangerous levels "Stay away from my wife" I have to admit it, I was using that tone that speaks volumes of male possession, but I didn't care, "And don't even dare to cross paths with my kids"
"So kids it is? No just one, is good to know" he said mockingly "I might want to also found out who this Isabel is" Ok, I lost it, I punched him in the nose, just there. No one threatens my family like that, and liking it or not Isabel and Abby fit that description too, he was plotting to mess with everything that I hold dear. He had scared my little Daisy, I had to do something.
"Jesse!" Father Dom said holding my arm so I couldn't punch Slater again "To my office, NOW!"
Abby's P. O. V.
"Alright class" I said just as I dismissed my freshman biology class "Hand over all your singed parent-consent forms for the Aquarium" as usual, Daisy and Isabel were the last ones "Isabel, I'll sing yours, I forgot to do it at home"
"No need mom, Dad did" she said cheerfully, she is always so cheerful. Mmm, I have to make a mental note on searching her room for illegal substances, no one is naturally that Cheerful. Anyway, I thanked the fact that at least my husband is responsible for our kid, he didn't remembered the contraceptives 14 years ago, but now remembers the permission for a school trip, go figure. "Hey mom, can you loan me some dollars for lunch?, I forgot my money at home"
"Tell Mrs. Marsh to charge it to my account" I said, like Hell I'm giving that girl money. "Now, go. And try to eat something healthy just for once"
Ok, I was checking the forms, making sure they were all legitimate, I was placing them al neatly in the folder to take it to Father D's Office when I noticed a post it "New Math teacher" Mr. Smith, the old math teacher was supposed to go with us to the Aquarium "Paul Slater. Notify him about field trip" Paul Slater? Paul Slater? Like in the little pain in my ass Paul Slater? What the hell he was doing in here? I ran out to Father Dom office to verify this, but I didn't had to go that far for confirmation.
Just outside my classroom I found him, holding his nose with one hand, from that I gather he had already run into Jesse. But that didn't stop him from being his usual arrogant self
"Abby, dear. Long time, no see" he said smirking "We are going on a field trip tomorrow, right? Can't wait" And with that he leaved me there as he walked to the Infirmary. Then I ran again to Father's D office
At Father D's Office:
"I can't believe you Jesse" Father Dom scowled yelling "You're nearly forty, you can't go around acting like an immature teenager, punching people just for the fun of it"
"It wasn't people" Jesse yelled back "It was Paul Slater!"
"I know who he is, but right now we can't do anything about it, the county appointed him as teacher after Mr. Smith accident. And till I find a suitable replacement, he is going to stay. You have to learn to control your temper around him, you're just giving him what he wants"
"Father Dom, Daisy is here, so is Isabel. Paul could hurt them, or Abby"
"Abby can take care of herself, and there is no reason why Paul would want to hurt the girls, they are no mediators nor do they have any kind of power. There is no motive"
"Paul doesn't need motives, he just wants to annoy…"
"Dom" Abby said storming in "What the hell? I just saw Paul walking oh-so.happily in the hallway" Abby continued to curse in both English and Spanish, Father Dom let her rant till she said something particularly blasphemous, then he finally told her to cut it.
Isabel's P. O. V.
I was going to the cafeteria, to get good places in the line while Daisy went to get money from her dad. Just there, in the middle of the hallway I saw someone rather familiar, too bad almost no one else could see him
"Hi Oliver" I said smiling but quietly. For everything it might be confusing in this world, I know Oliver watches our backs, Daisy's and mine I mean.
"Hello, little one" he said happily, but then he turned serious "Listen, I don't have much time right now, but I just want to tell you to keep your eyes open. Someone is coming…"
"You know I'm not afraid of ghosts"
"This one is rather alive, and he is looking for people close to you and Daisy. This person… just stay alert. And tell Daisy to stay alert too. Tomorrow I'll go with you guys"
"But mom will see you"
"She won't, don't worry" and then he vanished into thin air. He has that habit
Daisy's P. O. V.
This is so weird, so, so weird. First that guy appears, I don't think I have ever seen Dad that angry at anyone, it wasn't straight out anger, but more like this rage. That guy he was talking to just now, I don't know…
"Isabel, the weirdest thing just happened" I said the second I saw her, a thin glow-y light had just vanished next to her "Was that Oliver?"
"Yeah, he was weird, he said we should stay Alert"
"Well, dad just told me to stick with you. He was talking to this dude, I don't think they like each other very much. And Mr. Dude mentioned my mom"
"What do you recon this is all about?"
"I don't know, mate, I don't know. This Mr. Dude I tell you about, well, call it a hunch, but he irks me in the wrong way"
"A clown-y kind of way?"
I had to laugh, but then I turned serious "I'm afraid is worst"
Later that day, well, it was night already…"Jesse?" Suze asked softly that night while they watched TV, Jesse's head in her lap, she was running her fingers through his dark hair "You have been quiet today"
"Is nothing, Querida" he said not wanting to disturb her by mentioning certain failed-attempt-of-human-being "Just lots of work. I'm not as young as I used to be"
"You're just perfect, Jesse" she said smiling. Jesse looked at her, lost in thought. Then got up, took his querida by the arms and kissed her, deep and long, the perfect mixture of passion and tenderness
"I love you" he said, pulling away from her
"What was that all about?" Suze asked playfully, once she could speak properly again.
"For a second" Jesse said still looking at her "I couldn't believe how beautiful you are" his voice was so sincere. Suze kissed him lightly
"You know," she added with a mischievous grin "Daisy and Hector are already sleep, and we could keep it really quiet…" a kiss "…lock the door…" another kiss. Jesse understood what his wife was offering and, without hesitation, he took her in his arms and carried her upstairs to their bedroom.
"My beautiful Susannah" Jesse said as he closed the bedroom door behind him … "Mi Querida"
End of Chapter Two
Notes: Hope you like it. Things to be explained in the next chapter. Love to kewine and to reesespeices88, thanks for reading.