Disclaimer: I own the actions of the characters in this story, but not the
characters (exceptions are: Sean, Louisa. That is all) and not the series
"Mediator". That is owned by Meg Cabot. Not me. Not you. Just Meg. Got it?
A/N: Sorry if this has taken a while, my impatient clutch of faithlings, but I have started school again and the teachers insist that I have no life outside of school! Just 'cos they don't have one... Anyway, this chapter is ESPECIALLY long, as a tribute...so you'd better enjoy!
Just kidding.
...
Btw, SEAN IS A GHOST. HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS A BITCH TO HIM, HE IS GETTING FEELINGS FOR SUZE. SUZE LOVES JESSE. JESSE LOVES SUZE. PAUL LOVES SUZE. SUZE HATES PAUL...sorta...BUT SEAN IS DEFINITELY DEAD. I'm sorry you Sean lovers. I truly am...* snorts, points, laughs, and mocks *
(just kidding)
ALSO, ANNA S, YOU SHY WRITER-TO-BE, I WILL GET YOU WRITING, WITH YOUR FANTASTIQUE WRITING SKILLS, JUST YOU WAIT...(don't tell Haydn about any of my obsessions either...or about this...please)
ANNA S has encouraged me through and through, thank you, Anna. She has not mocked me, she has not pitied or laughed or bullied me. I owe you my life...or, at least, half a Mars bar...
*********************************************************************
Sunday morning I got a call from CeeCee and Adam.
"Suze! Yo! It's CeeCee!" She shrieked in my ear.
"Well, duh, CeeCee," I replied, cradling the phone between my chin and shoulder, checking my nails for any flaws. None. Today was a good day in the world of Suze Simon.
"OK," continued CeeCee eagerly. "So me and Adam are heading to the beach at this moment in time. Want us to pick you up?"
"Sure. What time will you be here?"
"Bout 15. See you soon!" She hung up, but not before I heard Adam yell, "See you Su-uze!"
I ran to my to my chest of drawers and rummaged about. Finally, I found my turquoise bikini and put it on. In the bathroom, of course. I grabbed all my essentials – lotion, money, hat, sunglasses, towel – and rammed them all into my beach bag. Then I quickly tied on a sarong and slipped my feet into a pair of flip-flops. As I had time to spare, I added a layer of sparkly lip-gloss. Perfect. I was also having a good hair day. Now I just had to slip out of the house without Jesse noticing. He was pretty cool about, for a guy over 150 years old, but his lips thinned dramatically and his body stiffened when he saw me wearing only a bikini. I mean, back in his day, the ladies wore underwear that covered almost the entire body. Now-a-days your lucky if half the women wear underwear.
But I didn't think Jesse needed to hear about that. Which is why I keep all of my...ah hem...nice underwear hidden inside other clothes. I barely ever wear them, but, like the Boy Scouts wisely say, Always be prepared. Makes sense to me.
I heard a car horn toot outside and I ran downstairs. Adam was standing by the passenger car door of his shiny, expensive Volkswagon and CeeCee was leaning out of the back seat window. Adam had already made her cram into the back seat. I gave her a sympathetic smile then said hello.
Adam opened my door for me with an elaborate bow.
"Your carriage awaits, Madame."
"Why thank you, kind sir." CeeCee groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Don't encourage him, we're supposed to be making him normal."
I laughed and Adam slipped behind the wheel.
When we arrived at the beach - after such a short time I wondered if we were being lazy not just walking there - he parked the car in the car park and we all strolled along the beach to find a suitable spot. CeeCee and I grinned at each other. Our usual place by the lifeguard was free. Adam just moaned. The lifeguard nodded at us with a slight twitch of his lips. Beautiful.
After an hour, I was the colour of Pocahontas and so was Adam. CeeCee was wearing her usual sun-guard clothes – a long-sleeved, purple T, baggy lime green trousers, and a purple hat the size of one of those novelty Mexican hats. As if she wasn't weird enough wearing winter clothing.
Everyone who gave her odd looks was scared away by the three of us, barking madly like dogs then collapsing with laughter...
I guess you had to be there.
While we were all lying down, Adam and CeeCee arguing about the difference in taste between Diet Pepsi and regular Pepsi (as if it wasn't obvious), I heard the sand beside my outstretched arm shuffle and rustle together. I lifted my sunglasses and squinted up.
There was a girl my age standing over me.
She wasn't casting any shadow on me.
Because she wasn't blocking the Sun.
Because she was a ghost.
"Urm, you guys, I'm gonna go get something to drink, I'll be right back." They ignored me and carried on arguing. If they didn't get together soon, I think I would rip my hair out. And that's not easy for me to say.
The girl walked beside me, "Hi, my name's Louisa," she looked like a Louisa – wavy, shiny light-brown hair with blonde streaks in it, sparkling blue eyes, frilly white top and lilac peddle-pushers, with her head cocked to one side like a small bird and one hand on her ever-so-small hip. And she was polite.
"Hey, I'm Suze." We plodded along the sand for a while longer in silence so as not to attract any unwanted attention, then climbed the exhaustingly large amount of steps to get onto the sidewalk. We found a bench and sat down.
"So...name your glitch," I squinted at her then lowered my shades.
She made a clicky noise at the back of her throat and looked away. She crossed and uncrossed her arms in her lap, then crossed and uncrossed her legs. It was somewhat annoying. I looked across the street and watched the people wandering about. Lucky so and so's. They don't have to worry about dead people. I could almost picture their thoughts:
'Did I leave the iron on?'
'I wonder what time Jimmy will finish football.'
'I hope my girlfriend isn't allergic to daisies...'
And my thoughts?
'I hope it isn't too hard to mediate this chick - I wanna get back to kissing my dead boyfriend.'
Finally, ghost girl turned around and looked at me.
"My fiancé killed me."
OK, that was unexpected.
I sat there gawping while she looked around herself calmly, if she had some lipgloss, she would have put some on.
"Ub...ub...ub..." I muttered gormlessly, resembling a fish spectacularly.
Finally I got my senses back.
"And you don't mind?"
She just looked at me like I was mad.
"Not really. The guy was a pig, if you know what I mean," except she didn't say pig. She raised an eyebrow at me. I didn't know what she meant.
She sighed and rolled her eyes at me. Man, was this one weird chick.
"I met him when I was fourteen-" she began. But I interrupted her.
"And how old are you now?"
She just rolled her eyes again. I got the feeling she and Kelly Prescott would get on very well.
"I'm seventeen now. Anyway-"
"And you were engaged? But you're only seventeen!" Okay, now she just looked disgusted.
"Will you let me finish? God. Anyway, I met Harry when I was fourteen. He was eighteen. He seemed to really like me, and he was really good-looking, you know? So we started going out. Then, a year later, he proposed. I was really shocked. I mean, I hadn't even told my parents I had a boyfriend! But Harry told me not to worry, we would wait until I was eighteen, and then we could get married legally, without my parents' consent. So for the next two years we lived quite happily together. Most nights I would stay over at his and tell my parents I was at a friends. But yesterday... He said I was getting too clingy," I noticed her hands were clenched into fists, "and that he had found someone else. Someone younger, thinner, prettier, better." She gave a bitter laugh. "He showed me her picture. He had a smug look on his face, and I knew. I knew that was the end of our love."
She shook her head. "I don't even hate that witch who replaced me," except she didn't say witch. She looked me right in the eye and I saw she was speaking the truth when she next said, "I just feel sorry for her."
I was speechless.
Harry was disgusting. A pervert, a freak. A pig, to say the least. And a user.
But why did he kill her? And why was she not bitter about it?
"How did he kill you, Louisa?" I asked in a soothing voice. I thought it might bring out some emotion.
But no, it didn't.
"It wasn't really his fault. I went round to his house, I just needed to talk to him. So I knocked on the door. But he didn't answer. I knocked for hours. I knew he was home, his car was in the drive and the lights were on. So I went to look through the window. And she was there. With him. Cuddling up on the sofa. Already looking like a happily married couple." A shadow passed over her face and a scowl disrupted her perfect features. It made her look like a pug. I had a feeling she might be a bit like the ghost Heather, if she got angry. Yippee, more fun for the Mediator.
"So I got angry. I grabbed a rock, and threw it through the window. It broke through and landed on the carpet. I hid behind a bush in the garden and he came out. With a gun. I didn't mean to startle him. But I just had to speak to him, before he went back inside to her. So I jumped out from behind the bush." She paused and looked thoughtful, "I guess I jumped a little too jumpily, though. Cos next thing I knew, he had turned to me, real scared looking, and he had pulled the trigger. He was real sorry, though, he told me just before I died."
A sad smile played on her face.
I sat in silence, staring straight in front of me. Wow. That was one heck of a story. It would definitely be going in the collection.
"So, how come you're still here? Cos, no offence, you don't look very upset or anything. So, what's holding you back?"
For the first time she looked a bit scared.
"I-I don't really know... Will you help me?" She looked straight in my eyes and grasped my hands. "Will you?"
Before I could reply that Yes, I would help her - a huge shadow cast itself over us. I raised my shades onto my head so I could see clearly.
"Of course she'll help you. It's what she does. Unfortunately. It's also one of her few weaknesses. One of her very few imperfections. But I'm going to change that," his eyes glinted at me and stared at me in that unnerving way.
I just rolled my eyes. This scene was getting tiresome.
"Paul, piss off. I'm not in the mood." And I wasn't. The heat was making me a bit drowsy. I glanced at Louisa. She was looking Paul up and down, very unsubtly. A sly, cat-like smirk spread on her face. Her shoulders went back slightly and her chin lifter up.
"Hello...Paul, was it?" She stood up and offered her hand in an oh-so lady- like fashion. Did she think Paul was gonna get down on one knee and kiss it? Her voice had suddenly lowered itself into a husky whisper. Now why can't my voice do that whenever I'm talking to Jesse?
Paul glanced at her briefly, uninterestedly. Then turned his eyes back to mine. Only I knew his disgust at the mere thought of a relationship with someone dead.
I stood up, I realised it was getting late and Adam and CeeCee were probably wondering where I was.
"I have to go Paul, Adam and CeeCee are probably-"
"Suze! Su-uze! Oy, Simon!" We all turned around and saw Adam running up the stairs. CeeCee carrying everything we brought to the beach behind him. Adam ran up and gave me a big, unnecessary bear hug.
"We thought you were dead!" No, just conversing with them. He gasped in a very over-played voice. I giggled and pushed him away. He hugged me again, this time rocking me side to side gently.
I saw CeeCee glowering at me behind Adam's back.
"Um, Adam, you can...you can let go now," when he didn't let go I yelled very loudly in his ear.
"ADAM!!!!"
Needless to say he let me go. CeeCee smirked.
"I think you have to accept it, Adam, you just aren't destined for Suze," she said. Adam heaved a sigh, "Alas, rejection! When will it cease?"
"When you stop being such a dufus," she retorted.
"Or when you ask CeeCee out," I muttered, only CeeCee, Paul and Louisa heard me. CeeCee glared at me with naked panic in her eyes. I just rolled mine.
I felt a tap on my shoulder. Louisa mouthed at me, "See you soon." Then gave me the thumbs up sign and dematerialised.
"We're heading back now, Suze. Come on, you know how your dad gets if you're late for dinner," said CeeCee as she prodded me in the back with the beach umbrella.
I stopped walking abruptly. My dad? A chill went down my spine at that instant sense of sorrow that flashes when unhappy thoughts and memories are brought up.
"Step-dad," CeeCee quickly corrected. She had stopped moving too. So had Adam and Paul. A cold hand on my bare arm made me jump. It was Paul. He had concern in his eyes, mine was slightly blurry. I blinked then frowned. Paul couldn't see me tearful. It's just...it had been so long since I'd last spoken to Dad or seen him. I felt guilty, and angry...and hurt. Guilty that I hadn't tried to contact him. Angry that he hadn't tried to contact me, and hadn't been there when I need him – Heather, Tad's uncle Marcus, Michael, Paul. Then I felt the overwhelming emotion of hurt, so sharp it tweaked my stomach muscles. I bent slightly to ease the stabbing needles in my stomach. I coughed when I recovered.
CeeCee was giving me a curious look. Adam was graciously looking away. Paul was staring at me. Hard. I avoided everyone's eyes and grabbed my stuff from CeeCee.
"Let's go." And I walked off.
A/N: Sorry if this has taken a while, my impatient clutch of faithlings, but I have started school again and the teachers insist that I have no life outside of school! Just 'cos they don't have one... Anyway, this chapter is ESPECIALLY long, as a tribute...so you'd better enjoy!
Just kidding.
...
Btw, SEAN IS A GHOST. HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS A BITCH TO HIM, HE IS GETTING FEELINGS FOR SUZE. SUZE LOVES JESSE. JESSE LOVES SUZE. PAUL LOVES SUZE. SUZE HATES PAUL...sorta...BUT SEAN IS DEFINITELY DEAD. I'm sorry you Sean lovers. I truly am...* snorts, points, laughs, and mocks *
(just kidding)
ALSO, ANNA S, YOU SHY WRITER-TO-BE, I WILL GET YOU WRITING, WITH YOUR FANTASTIQUE WRITING SKILLS, JUST YOU WAIT...(don't tell Haydn about any of my obsessions either...or about this...please)
ANNA S has encouraged me through and through, thank you, Anna. She has not mocked me, she has not pitied or laughed or bullied me. I owe you my life...or, at least, half a Mars bar...
*********************************************************************
Sunday morning I got a call from CeeCee and Adam.
"Suze! Yo! It's CeeCee!" She shrieked in my ear.
"Well, duh, CeeCee," I replied, cradling the phone between my chin and shoulder, checking my nails for any flaws. None. Today was a good day in the world of Suze Simon.
"OK," continued CeeCee eagerly. "So me and Adam are heading to the beach at this moment in time. Want us to pick you up?"
"Sure. What time will you be here?"
"Bout 15. See you soon!" She hung up, but not before I heard Adam yell, "See you Su-uze!"
I ran to my to my chest of drawers and rummaged about. Finally, I found my turquoise bikini and put it on. In the bathroom, of course. I grabbed all my essentials – lotion, money, hat, sunglasses, towel – and rammed them all into my beach bag. Then I quickly tied on a sarong and slipped my feet into a pair of flip-flops. As I had time to spare, I added a layer of sparkly lip-gloss. Perfect. I was also having a good hair day. Now I just had to slip out of the house without Jesse noticing. He was pretty cool about, for a guy over 150 years old, but his lips thinned dramatically and his body stiffened when he saw me wearing only a bikini. I mean, back in his day, the ladies wore underwear that covered almost the entire body. Now-a-days your lucky if half the women wear underwear.
But I didn't think Jesse needed to hear about that. Which is why I keep all of my...ah hem...nice underwear hidden inside other clothes. I barely ever wear them, but, like the Boy Scouts wisely say, Always be prepared. Makes sense to me.
I heard a car horn toot outside and I ran downstairs. Adam was standing by the passenger car door of his shiny, expensive Volkswagon and CeeCee was leaning out of the back seat window. Adam had already made her cram into the back seat. I gave her a sympathetic smile then said hello.
Adam opened my door for me with an elaborate bow.
"Your carriage awaits, Madame."
"Why thank you, kind sir." CeeCee groaned and rolled her eyes.
"Don't encourage him, we're supposed to be making him normal."
I laughed and Adam slipped behind the wheel.
When we arrived at the beach - after such a short time I wondered if we were being lazy not just walking there - he parked the car in the car park and we all strolled along the beach to find a suitable spot. CeeCee and I grinned at each other. Our usual place by the lifeguard was free. Adam just moaned. The lifeguard nodded at us with a slight twitch of his lips. Beautiful.
After an hour, I was the colour of Pocahontas and so was Adam. CeeCee was wearing her usual sun-guard clothes – a long-sleeved, purple T, baggy lime green trousers, and a purple hat the size of one of those novelty Mexican hats. As if she wasn't weird enough wearing winter clothing.
Everyone who gave her odd looks was scared away by the three of us, barking madly like dogs then collapsing with laughter...
I guess you had to be there.
While we were all lying down, Adam and CeeCee arguing about the difference in taste between Diet Pepsi and regular Pepsi (as if it wasn't obvious), I heard the sand beside my outstretched arm shuffle and rustle together. I lifted my sunglasses and squinted up.
There was a girl my age standing over me.
She wasn't casting any shadow on me.
Because she wasn't blocking the Sun.
Because she was a ghost.
"Urm, you guys, I'm gonna go get something to drink, I'll be right back." They ignored me and carried on arguing. If they didn't get together soon, I think I would rip my hair out. And that's not easy for me to say.
The girl walked beside me, "Hi, my name's Louisa," she looked like a Louisa – wavy, shiny light-brown hair with blonde streaks in it, sparkling blue eyes, frilly white top and lilac peddle-pushers, with her head cocked to one side like a small bird and one hand on her ever-so-small hip. And she was polite.
"Hey, I'm Suze." We plodded along the sand for a while longer in silence so as not to attract any unwanted attention, then climbed the exhaustingly large amount of steps to get onto the sidewalk. We found a bench and sat down.
"So...name your glitch," I squinted at her then lowered my shades.
She made a clicky noise at the back of her throat and looked away. She crossed and uncrossed her arms in her lap, then crossed and uncrossed her legs. It was somewhat annoying. I looked across the street and watched the people wandering about. Lucky so and so's. They don't have to worry about dead people. I could almost picture their thoughts:
'Did I leave the iron on?'
'I wonder what time Jimmy will finish football.'
'I hope my girlfriend isn't allergic to daisies...'
And my thoughts?
'I hope it isn't too hard to mediate this chick - I wanna get back to kissing my dead boyfriend.'
Finally, ghost girl turned around and looked at me.
"My fiancé killed me."
OK, that was unexpected.
I sat there gawping while she looked around herself calmly, if she had some lipgloss, she would have put some on.
"Ub...ub...ub..." I muttered gormlessly, resembling a fish spectacularly.
Finally I got my senses back.
"And you don't mind?"
She just looked at me like I was mad.
"Not really. The guy was a pig, if you know what I mean," except she didn't say pig. She raised an eyebrow at me. I didn't know what she meant.
She sighed and rolled her eyes at me. Man, was this one weird chick.
"I met him when I was fourteen-" she began. But I interrupted her.
"And how old are you now?"
She just rolled her eyes again. I got the feeling she and Kelly Prescott would get on very well.
"I'm seventeen now. Anyway-"
"And you were engaged? But you're only seventeen!" Okay, now she just looked disgusted.
"Will you let me finish? God. Anyway, I met Harry when I was fourteen. He was eighteen. He seemed to really like me, and he was really good-looking, you know? So we started going out. Then, a year later, he proposed. I was really shocked. I mean, I hadn't even told my parents I had a boyfriend! But Harry told me not to worry, we would wait until I was eighteen, and then we could get married legally, without my parents' consent. So for the next two years we lived quite happily together. Most nights I would stay over at his and tell my parents I was at a friends. But yesterday... He said I was getting too clingy," I noticed her hands were clenched into fists, "and that he had found someone else. Someone younger, thinner, prettier, better." She gave a bitter laugh. "He showed me her picture. He had a smug look on his face, and I knew. I knew that was the end of our love."
She shook her head. "I don't even hate that witch who replaced me," except she didn't say witch. She looked me right in the eye and I saw she was speaking the truth when she next said, "I just feel sorry for her."
I was speechless.
Harry was disgusting. A pervert, a freak. A pig, to say the least. And a user.
But why did he kill her? And why was she not bitter about it?
"How did he kill you, Louisa?" I asked in a soothing voice. I thought it might bring out some emotion.
But no, it didn't.
"It wasn't really his fault. I went round to his house, I just needed to talk to him. So I knocked on the door. But he didn't answer. I knocked for hours. I knew he was home, his car was in the drive and the lights were on. So I went to look through the window. And she was there. With him. Cuddling up on the sofa. Already looking like a happily married couple." A shadow passed over her face and a scowl disrupted her perfect features. It made her look like a pug. I had a feeling she might be a bit like the ghost Heather, if she got angry. Yippee, more fun for the Mediator.
"So I got angry. I grabbed a rock, and threw it through the window. It broke through and landed on the carpet. I hid behind a bush in the garden and he came out. With a gun. I didn't mean to startle him. But I just had to speak to him, before he went back inside to her. So I jumped out from behind the bush." She paused and looked thoughtful, "I guess I jumped a little too jumpily, though. Cos next thing I knew, he had turned to me, real scared looking, and he had pulled the trigger. He was real sorry, though, he told me just before I died."
A sad smile played on her face.
I sat in silence, staring straight in front of me. Wow. That was one heck of a story. It would definitely be going in the collection.
"So, how come you're still here? Cos, no offence, you don't look very upset or anything. So, what's holding you back?"
For the first time she looked a bit scared.
"I-I don't really know... Will you help me?" She looked straight in my eyes and grasped my hands. "Will you?"
Before I could reply that Yes, I would help her - a huge shadow cast itself over us. I raised my shades onto my head so I could see clearly.
"Of course she'll help you. It's what she does. Unfortunately. It's also one of her few weaknesses. One of her very few imperfections. But I'm going to change that," his eyes glinted at me and stared at me in that unnerving way.
I just rolled my eyes. This scene was getting tiresome.
"Paul, piss off. I'm not in the mood." And I wasn't. The heat was making me a bit drowsy. I glanced at Louisa. She was looking Paul up and down, very unsubtly. A sly, cat-like smirk spread on her face. Her shoulders went back slightly and her chin lifter up.
"Hello...Paul, was it?" She stood up and offered her hand in an oh-so lady- like fashion. Did she think Paul was gonna get down on one knee and kiss it? Her voice had suddenly lowered itself into a husky whisper. Now why can't my voice do that whenever I'm talking to Jesse?
Paul glanced at her briefly, uninterestedly. Then turned his eyes back to mine. Only I knew his disgust at the mere thought of a relationship with someone dead.
I stood up, I realised it was getting late and Adam and CeeCee were probably wondering where I was.
"I have to go Paul, Adam and CeeCee are probably-"
"Suze! Su-uze! Oy, Simon!" We all turned around and saw Adam running up the stairs. CeeCee carrying everything we brought to the beach behind him. Adam ran up and gave me a big, unnecessary bear hug.
"We thought you were dead!" No, just conversing with them. He gasped in a very over-played voice. I giggled and pushed him away. He hugged me again, this time rocking me side to side gently.
I saw CeeCee glowering at me behind Adam's back.
"Um, Adam, you can...you can let go now," when he didn't let go I yelled very loudly in his ear.
"ADAM!!!!"
Needless to say he let me go. CeeCee smirked.
"I think you have to accept it, Adam, you just aren't destined for Suze," she said. Adam heaved a sigh, "Alas, rejection! When will it cease?"
"When you stop being such a dufus," she retorted.
"Or when you ask CeeCee out," I muttered, only CeeCee, Paul and Louisa heard me. CeeCee glared at me with naked panic in her eyes. I just rolled mine.
I felt a tap on my shoulder. Louisa mouthed at me, "See you soon." Then gave me the thumbs up sign and dematerialised.
"We're heading back now, Suze. Come on, you know how your dad gets if you're late for dinner," said CeeCee as she prodded me in the back with the beach umbrella.
I stopped walking abruptly. My dad? A chill went down my spine at that instant sense of sorrow that flashes when unhappy thoughts and memories are brought up.
"Step-dad," CeeCee quickly corrected. She had stopped moving too. So had Adam and Paul. A cold hand on my bare arm made me jump. It was Paul. He had concern in his eyes, mine was slightly blurry. I blinked then frowned. Paul couldn't see me tearful. It's just...it had been so long since I'd last spoken to Dad or seen him. I felt guilty, and angry...and hurt. Guilty that I hadn't tried to contact him. Angry that he hadn't tried to contact me, and hadn't been there when I need him – Heather, Tad's uncle Marcus, Michael, Paul. Then I felt the overwhelming emotion of hurt, so sharp it tweaked my stomach muscles. I bent slightly to ease the stabbing needles in my stomach. I coughed when I recovered.
CeeCee was giving me a curious look. Adam was graciously looking away. Paul was staring at me. Hard. I avoided everyone's eyes and grabbed my stuff from CeeCee.
"Let's go." And I walked off.