Disclaimer: DO YOU HAVE TO RUB IT IN????

A/N: HEY MY LUVLIES!!!

Nice Hayley: You truly are a nice Hayley. And I know that's not easy in this harsh, not-nice world. I envy you. Glad to hear you've been taking your chill pills. I find it helps. Do you have like a Texan accent? Kinda, "Howdy!"? Or am I being unbelievably naïve and British...?

Kewine: haha, golly-tamale. I like it.

Michelle: Aaaaaaw, you think I'm good!!!! YOU ROCK. Aaaw. I'm all smiles and rainbows now.

Mystique Angelique: Seriously, you CONTINUE to make my day whenever you review. (I've never done a hospital scene before, I became quite overwhelmed with all the options – does she die? Does she have amnesia? Does she go momentarily insane and BITE OFF EVERYONE'S TOES??? Like I said, I was overwhelmed. And hyped up on candy...

Universalcall: I'M FROM ENGLAND. In the middley bit.

Lizzie9: I'M UPDATING

Jenny: I am cracking on my next chapter! I really wanna go to California, it sounds like PA-RA-DISSSSSSSSSSSSSSE

Ghost Magic: Hehehe, thank you, thank you! I will write more. Maybe. If I get enough reviews...

I shot up to the headboard of my bed, away from Ghost Bitch. I gripped my bed covers and self-consciously wrapped one arm across my stomach, across my injuries. My mouth was dry and my stomach felt suddenly empty. Hot bile flashed in my throat and I swallowed it down, barely.

"Wha- what do- what-" I couldn't get the words out. My breath was short, slowly fading from my now too-small body. I felt like a twig, a single touch from her and I could snap in half. I was so scared. And where was Jesse? I needed him. Anyone.

Louisa took a step forward and I rammed myself harder against my headboard. My head hit my wall but I didn't notice the pain.

Louisa had her usual smile on her face, to me it looked like a death grin.

"What? Not even gonna say hello to your old pal?" She took another step toward me, her head cocked to the side again.

"Don't!" I screamed the instant her foot hit the floor. The word just leapt out of my mouth.

Louisa frowned. "Don't what, Susie?"

My eyes darted around the room frantically. I needed a shield. Anything. Oh God, I was so scared.

"Don't come near me!" I shrieked. Louisa tutted. Honest to God, she tutted. Like I was some poor invalid who had done something wrong, but she couldn't punish me because I was what I was. An invalid.

"Aw, Susie. Don't be like that! I didn't mean it!" I stared at her incredulously. What was this bitch on?

"You didn't mean to propel me into the path of a speeding pickup?" I said in disbelief.

Louisa just smiled. That smile was really beginning to piss me off. I slowly climbed off my bed. "You didn't mean to break several of my ribs?" I took a step towards her. My rage was radiating off me. I heard a car pull up in the driveway but I didn't acknowledge it.

"You didn't mean to put me in a coma for two weeks?" Another step. "You didn't mean to scare the living crap outta my family?" I didn't say crap. I took another step towards her and heard the doorbell ring. "You didn't mean to almost kill me?" I screamed the last two words and Louisa took a step back. Panic and fear flitted across her face.

"Now Susie, it was an accident. I just get angry sometimes..."

Footsteps were coming up the stairs.

"Yeah, well guess what, Louisa, I get angry too. And when I get angry, instead of throwing someone into the road and almost killing them, I pound them. And I pound them hard. And Louisa, I am going to pound your bitchy ghost ass all the way to hell, you should feel at home there, it is where you were born."

I registered the door of my bedroom opening, but I was too busy jumping on top of Louisa to pay attention. I landed straddling her and I glowered down at her face.

"This is payback, bitch. You're gonna understand the real meaning of pain." My fist flew into her face, then my other one. They were unstoppable. I climbed off her, crouching down and holding on to her shirtfront, then dragging her up with me. Her nose was bleeding and she was looking dazed.

"Suze!" I heard a man's voice say my name in shock.

I punched Louisa when she was able to stand without my help. I punched her snooty face so hard she flew across the room into my wall. I saw a blue sparkle out of the corner of my eye then stalked over to Louisa. She was starting to stand and she looked angry.

I distantly catalogued my chest hurting and my wrist and shoulder throbbing ominously. She glared at me.

"You bitch-" she began, her eyes were flashing.

"Oh, save it for someone who cares." I turned my side to her and raised my leg. "Oh wait, no one does care about little Louisa, do they?" I cocked my head to the side as I said this and when the fury flashed in her eyes, I kicked her under the chin. She flew back into the wall again.

"Alright, alright, that's enough, Suze," someone was grabbing my elbows from behind. I turned around sharply.

"Get offa me, Paul," I growled through clenched teeth.

"Suze, Suze, come on. Just...calm down. OK?"

And that's when the pain hit me. A sharp gasp escaped from my lips and my knees buckled.

"Suze? Oh my God, are you alright?" His eyes were dark with concern and he grabbed me around the waist to prevent me from falling down. His hands scorched me and I felt my body flush. My breath started coming out in short gasps, I don't know whether this was a result of Paul or the hurt I was experiencing, or both. All I knew was that it hurt like hell.

I looked up at Paul in the eye and in an instant fell into his body. He clasped me tighter, like he never wanted to let go. In that second when I had looked into his eyes, I had seen fear. Fear for what? Me? Or me kicking his ass like I had kicked Louisa's? I felt tears spring to my eyes as the stabbing pain increased. "Ow," I whimpered.

"Alright, let's get you on the bed," he said gently into my ear, then scooped me up so I was cradled in his arms, my head burrowed into his chest. I looped my arms around his neck and held on tight.

He gently plopped me on the bed and sat down next to me. "Where does it hurt, Suze?" His voice was urgent, but he tried to keep it calm to reassure me. I pointed to my wrist and my stomach/chest area. Then the giggles started. The pain was so ridiculously bad, you had to laugh, really. Paul tenderly lifted up my arm and examined my wrist. It was red and swollen.

"It doesn't look too bad, I think you just over did, huh? Sheesh, guess those anger management classes ain't going too well, eh?" It was a stupid joke - and if I were in my right state of my mind, not only would I have not let him touch me, let alone hold me, I wouldn't have laughed - but his jokiness and voice were comforting and it was a nice feeling.

"They were cancelled after I put the counsellor in hospital," I weakly replied. Paul laughed and it sent shivers up and down my spine. It was a deep, manly laugh that showed in his eyes. I smiled as I stared into them.

He coughed after a few seconds and looked away. "Right," he said briskly, "Let's take a look at those ribs." I was still gazing at his face when he said this so I didn't really understand what he had said.

Until he gingerly started lifting up my shirt bottom.

"What are you doing?" I shrieked. He looked up at me as though I'd grown another head. "I'm checking your ribs for any damage." I just stared at him.

"I'm-I'm fine. It doesn't hurt any more." To strengthen this utter lie I tried to sit up. The stabbing pain was so fierce I yelped and fell back down. Paul was instantly leaning over me, his eyes full of concern. He cupped my face in his hands. "Suze? Suze, are you alright?"

"Ow..." I said feebly.

"That's it. I'm taking a look." I weakly protested, but it didn't do any good. He lifted up my shirt (not all the way, thank God, I was spared some dignity) and tentatively peeked my bandages away. He started touching parts of my stomach, whenever I winced or gasped he would just nod and continue poking. Finally he was done. "I think you just overdid it, and strained yourself."

"Thanks for that diagnosis, Dr P," I said sarcastically with my eyebrow raised.

He raised his in response. I cracked up. He grinned back. Suddenly I was aware that my shirt was still halfway up my body. I felt my cheeks heat up as I tugged it down. Then I realised my bandages weren't done up properly so I fumbled with them awhile, not achieving anything my fingers were trembling so badly.

Eventually Paul caught my hands in his. I looked up at him in shock and he placed my hands by my sides. He took my bandages and smoothly pulled them back into place.

His hands would occasionally graze my stomach and I would feel that body- flush again. When the bandages were in place, Paul sat there for a few seconds staring at my now-bandaged belly. A very nice, flat belly, I'll have you know. I coughed and his eyes shot back up to my face. A faint tinge appeared on his sculptured cheeks.

Hold the phone. Paul? Blushing?

Suddenly a shimmer appeared on the other side of my bed. It was Sean.

"Hey, are you alright?" His voice was breathless. Which shouldn't really surprise me seeing as he has no breath...

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied.

"Wow, you really taught Louisa a lesson back there!"

"You saw?" I don't remember seeing him... Then I remembered, that blue shimmer out of the corner of my eye must have been him.

Sean nodded and then saw Paul. He instantly straightened his body and squared his shoulders.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was gravely and anger reverberated through it.

"Oh, um, Paul was just passing. Yeah. And he-he helped me with my-my, you know, my hurts." Sean raised an eyebrow. "My stomach. He helped me with my stomach." Sean's other eyebrow went up. "My stomach was hurting and he helped me!" I practically screamed this, which caused Paul and Sean to look at me with both their eyebrows almost flying off their foreheads they were so high.

"Ah hem. Yeah." I sat up and twiddled my thumbs, staring at the wall opposite me.

"Um, listen Suze. I'd better be going," I turned to look at Paul and opened my mouth to protest. Then I realised who he was and quickly shut it. Instead I nodded my head. Paul stood up off the bed. He paused then quickly ducked his head and lay a kiss on my cheek. Then he walked out of the room.

Oh. My. God.

I lifted a hand to where he'd kissed me. It felt warm. And kinda wet. Ew. I wiped it off hurriedly.

"That guy's a jerk, Suze. Stay away from him." Sean stood stock still, but his voice said everything about what he was feeling.

"He's-he's not that bad," I said quietly, picking at my bedspread.

"Yes, he is." I remained silent, plucking loose threads on my sheets. "What about Jesse?" He asked sharply.

I looked up at him.

"What about Jesse? I'm not cheating on him, Sean. Sheesh. Look. Paul was there while I was attacking Louisa, Jesse wasn't."

"I was there." Sean whispered.

"I know, Sean. And I appreciate it. I mean, you always seem to be there when I need you. When Jesse isn't. I'm just saying that Paul-"

I didn't get to finish my sentence because at that precise moment in time, Sean kissed me.

That's right. Sean's lips were on mine. And they were working on overdrive. They were nice and full. Kinda juicy.

Wait, what was I thinking? I love Jesse. J-E-S-S-E. Not Sean.

Then why was I kissing back???

I jerked away.

"What are you doing?" I screeched.

"Kissing you," he replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Which I guess it was, seeing as his lips were on my lips, and his tongue...

No! Bad Suze.

But when his lips came to mine again...Well...

I tried to pull away and crawled further up my bed. Sean had other ideas. His lips stayed locked with mine, and my crawling back only encouraged him to climb next to me.

Make that, on top of me.

And then his hand was trailing up my leg, and under my shirt. I swatted his hand away and jerked my head back. This caused my stomach to pull and my ribs to ache. My and flew to my stomach as I flinched.

"Ow!" I squinted my eyes closed as the pain began to fade.

"Suze! Are you okay?" I opened them to find Sean peering at me. His face was so close our noses were touching. My eyes drifted to his lips and then snapped back to his eyes.

Must look at his eyes. Must not look at those soft, juicy, moist, red, shapely, delectable-

"My-my stomach hurts again," I stammered. Sean frowned and bent his head to look at my stomach.

"Sean, I think you'd better leave," I said calmly and evenly. I looked straight in his eye, and he looked back.

And then he was gone.

I visibly relaxed and lay there, staring at the canopy of my bed,

Had that just happened? Why had it happened? Would it happen again?

Why could my life not just be normal?

There was a familiar shimmer by my bed and I groaned inwardly. What did he want? I turned on my side, hoping Sean would think I was asleep.

Instead another, more welcome, voice whispered my name.

"Susannah?" I snapped my head around and a smile broke out on my face.

"Jesse!" He smiled back at me.

"How are you feeling?" A frown appeared on his face and he sat down on the bed. I felt a blush creep up on me.

"Me? Oh, I'm good. You know. Just been sat here all day. Sat here with no one to occupy me. I mean, keep me busy. With, you know, stuff." Jesse gave me an odd look.

I laughed nervously.

Jesse leaned over to kiss me and whispered, "Do not worry, querida, I am here now." Normally this would have sent shivers up my spine. But today, I couldn't bear to be touched by him. What kind of mutant-freak am I exactly?

"Urm, you know what, Jesse? I'm feeling kinda sore. And tired. Yeah, sore and tired. And I gotta my rest for tomorrow cos, you know, it's a school day." Jesse looked a little confused but his face softened and instead he said, "Goodnight, then, querida," and kissed my on my lips. Then he was gone.

I forced a smile and got ready for bed.

That night I dreamed I was on a quiz show. The million-dollar question was, "What do you do next?" I lost the money to an old wrinkly who answered, "Buy a condo in Florida and scatter my husband's ashes in the sea," because I didn't answer in time.

Because I didn't know.

A/N: I have no idea what the relevance of the old lady buying a condo in Florida and scattering her husband's ashes in the sea is. Seriously. I'm just odd. And I hate old ladies. I hate old people full stop. They give me the creeps. But there's always that one old lady on a quiz show winning the top prize even though she's gonna drop dead anyway. I mean, what a waste! And what does she do with her prize? Spend it on a holiday. A washing machine. A new purple hat. Fools. Hiisssssss.

ALSO: thank ye very much, ye kindly kings of New England, ye princes of Maine, for telling me where thoust are inhabiting. KEEP IT UP.