Disclaimer: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MUST YOU MOCK ME SO????
A/N: Okay, this chapter actually sucks beyond belief. I wrote it after When Harry Met Sally which was showing on the TV and finished at like 2am. So I blame TV for this suckiness. I apologise PROFUSELY.
I am loving Britney Spears' song Need You. How cute is it? And the video! Och! What a cute guy! And did you check out his abs? Cor blimey, gov'ner.
AND English TV also showed Earthquake 10.5 – does anyone else love the guy who plays Clark's dad in Smallville? The actual show (Earthquake) isn't amazing, though. Quite the disappointment.
I painted my newly grown nails purple, too. I know I know, my life is worth writing about. But let me just tell you, it was a pretty exciting shade of purple. I'm also going to get my ear pierced again. You know, at the top of the ear? I have two on the bottom already. I think it will look groovy, baby, yeah.
I don't even know why I'm babbling on like this. But it's either that, or watch the amazing film Ice. With great acting, great graphics, and a great storyline. Not to mention the script: "I used to think I loved you cos you're tough. Now I know, it's cos you're not." Give that scriptwriter a prize.
Kewine: I went to the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland! I can't remember it though, but I was vewy vewy ickle back then. Golly golly golly tamale – you've got me saying now! I keep getting odd looks from my friends...so what else is new?
Muzacgurl: I'm glad you love reading my story. I love writing. Sometimes. When I'm very drunk. (I'm kidding). And I'm glad you agree with the old ladies thing!
Brittany: Haha, Paul maybe nice now...but what about later? We all know Jesse will never be bad..........................or will he...........? Doo doo doo doo (Twilight Zone theme tune)
Alexis De Silva: A little obsessed, me thinks? Guessing from the name? Well so am I. We wil be obsessed....TOGETHER. I hope you get off your death bed to pee and stuff. Otherwise – ew.
Nice Hayley: Hahaha, "ya'll" I LOVE people who say "ya'll". It's like a dream come true...I will also make YOU into a doll.
Gothic Granny: GOTHIC GRANNY????? Put down that glue and keep your nose AWAY!!! Also, demonic laughing on a stormy day? Seriously, step away from the glue, everyone knows that is HIGHLY dangerous – the government are thinking of making it illegal. I like Evanescence, espesh their chante nouveau. Tres bon, tres bon. I had NO IDEA you were named after a kiddies sweetie! Lolly. How cool is that? Do you get sticky like after you've been in the rain or something?
Universalcall: PAUL WILL DIE??? AND MOVE ON???? YOU MEANIE!!!! I think you should leave. Kat, wow, I'm learning everyone's real names today. I feel so privileged.
School. I stepped out of the car, and stood staring at it.
Why was I so nervous? Scared, and giddy?
I felt a light shove on my shoulder.
"Yo, earth to Suze. Anyone there? Dude, we gotta actually get into the school for it to count as going to school." I shook myself out of my trance and turned to glare at Brad. Then I pushed my shoulders back, held my head up high, and strode into school. Like the proud, fashion-queen I am.
"Su-uze! Oh my God, Suze! You're back! You're ba-ack!" I grinned as CeeCee flew into me, wrapping her skinny arms around me.
"Oof! Cee, I'm supposed to be recovering, not very easy when I'm being crushed." CeeCee stepped back after a second and grinned at me. "You're back!" She screeched one last time.
My smile almost split my face.
"I'm back!" I replied, throwing my hands up in the air. CeeCee led me to our classroom, hopping slightly with badly disguised frivol. I frowned but didn't say anything. I had never seen her this excited before. It was making me nervous.
When we got to our form door, she stepped aside and looked at me eagerly. I frowned at her and opened to door...
To find my whole class grinning madly at me and a horde of balloons clinging to the ceiling with a tangle of ribbons hanging down from them. But that's not the worst bit.
Oh no. Because drooping from the ceiling was also a sign. A sign saying "Welcome back, Suze!" with red hearts and, get this, a bunny. A bunny smiling. CeeCee shot me an apologetic look and whispered quickly in my ear, "We tried to do the poster ourselves – me and Adam – but Kelly and Debbie insisted they should do it, what with them being closer to you, and all."
And, speak of the devil, there they were, rushing forwards, arms open like they were nurses from a rehab clinic and I was a patient. And then they were swallowing me up in their expensive perfume and soft, shiny hair. It was hell. Why did I ever leave the hospital?
"Urm, Debbie? Kelly? Ribs? Yeah? They were recently broken." I was beginning to wonder if these girls worked out. That death grip they had me in? Lethal. Luckily Mr Walden stepped forward and gently pulled them off me.
"Nice to have you back, Suze," he said, smiling.
I smiled back. I had to. "Thanks. And thanks for-" I gestured at the balloons and banner, "- this! It's really...thoughtful of you guys." I smiled round at everyone who beamed back with a smile that clearly said, "I hope you're not contagious."
How lovely.
I did my dutiful thank-you-so-much-for-making-me-feel-welcome-and- appreciating-I-am-a-weak-soul-who-needs-help – your help – I-don't-know- what-I-would-without-you smile and walked over to my chair. Everyone seemed to get the message and returned to theirs.
And so school began.
I would like to say it passed without much incidence. But that would be lying. That would be too much for little ol' Suze to have a happy normal day at least once in my life. Far too much. Exactly what had I done that had pissed God off so much? OK, don't answer that.
Around lunch time I told my fans – a group of about twenty who had decided I wasn't stable enough to even walk to my locker on my own – that I needed to pee. In those exact words. Hoping, hoping, they would take the hint and leave me alone. But when I turned round and found Debbie and Kelly still following me, I elaborated.
"Kelly, Debbie, as much as I appreciate your helping me," cue for them to beam in an oh-isn't-she-so-cute-acknowledging-she-needs-us way, "but I do not need your help when I go take a leak. I am not an invalid. I just got hit by a car. That's all."
They gasped and clasped their hands to their mouths in shock when I said that last bit. Did they think I was in denial or something? That by mentioning the fact I almost got killed, I would collapse in shock?
I growled at them and they scattered. Huh. Instead of heading towards the loos, I just leaned against the wall. Never had school been so...overwhelming. Anyone would've thought I'd actually died and had been resurrected. Tonnes of people get by hit by cars everyday, right? And it's not like anyone at this school hasn't had a near death experience before, either. Hell! Someone had even died! Or rather, committed suicide.
But you get my drift.
I'd barely had time to look at CeeCee and Adam.
While I was busy contemplating running out of the school and never coming back, a soft whisper in my ear brought me back to reality, sharpish.
"So how you doing?" I turned around and saw Paul, leaning over me with a grin on his lips. I dragged my gaze from his lips and concentrated on his eyes...not much help, what with them being so...nice. They were so clear and icey, they're kinda refreshing too. Like on a hot day, and then you dive into a cool, clear wave and suddenly you feel so alive and refreshed. That's what his eyes were like. Dangerous.
"How do you think I'm doing? I feel like I have a bunch of groupies following me everywhere. Not nice."
Paul chuckled and came round to the front of me. I gulped and kept my eyes from wandering over his body. He was wearing a pale blue T that showed his fine chest and stomach, and his jeans that...well. Calvin Klein doesn't know what it's missing.
"They just care for you. We all do. I do." He said this with such a penetrative gaze I had to look away.
"Paul, you know I'm with Jesse," I looked up at him, almost pleading with him. Why didn't I trust myself? I loved Jesse. That much was true.
Paul's face instantly darkened.
"Yeah? Well I also know you and I would be great together. I know I would make you the happiest person alive. I know I could give you so much more than that cowboy ghost ever could." He spat this out with so much venom – and so much truth – it stung.
"Paul, no. We are not going down this path again. Alright?"
Paul opened his mouth to say more – God knows what – when guess who materialised next to him? How come it's always him who appears when Paul is near me?
"You heard her, Slater. Now get the hell away from her."
Paul jerked round to face Sean.
"You. What, are you following Suze now, or something? She can take care of herself. She doesn't need some dead loser stalking her." Paul's eyes were flashing and his voice was a growl. Any second now I expected lightning to start shooting down from the sky and thunder to start crackling.
"I'm stalking her? What about you? You can't get your hands off her, you perve. She doesn't like you, so get over it and move away." Sean stepped up to Paul and Paul did the same to Sean.
"You don't know anything, deadbeat." (Get it? Deadbeat. Hahaha)
"I know that Suze prefers me to you, anytime." Did he just say that? Oh God. This could get icky.
"In. Your. Dreams," Paul hissed. And then he lunged.
Hooh boy.
Paul tackled Sean against a classroom door which sprung open. This caused them to overbalance and fall over together, in a whirl of fists and legs. I would've laughed if I hadn't been so worried about being overheard.
So I just ran after them. "Paul! Stop! And you, Sean! Guys!!!"
But Paul just picked Sean up and threw a fist in his face. Sean whirled round and into the teacher's desk. He quickly levered himself up and turned to Paul, who he in turn punched. I heard Sean's nose snap back into place as I heard Paul crack out of. Paul didn't notice the flood of blood gushing down, but just threw his entire body at Sean. They flew into the all the desks, scattering them like they were a flock of frightened birds.
I ran over to them and hauled Sean up off of Paul. Sean was so startled I was able t throw him brusquely away, and I crouched down to Paul, trying to assess the damage.
"What is it that people hate about my nose, Suze?" I didn't laugh. I suspected he had a concussion.
"C'mon, let's get you to the nurse," I grabbed his wrists and yanked him up. He giggled. Once he was upright, he staggered and I had to loop his arm around my neck, as I looped mine around his waist. We turned awkwardly to the door to find a bulk blocking it.
"Sean, get out of the way," I said huskily. Paul was heavy and my ribs were contracting. I was in pain.
"No. This is between me and Paul, Suze. Let him finish his fight." Sean was staring hard at Paul who was looking bewildered around the classroom.
"No, Sean, this is not between you and Paul. This is about me, therefore it's between you, me, and Paul. And as I far as I'm concerned, there is nothing between us. So just drop it. OK?"
Sean's face went through an eloquent series of transformations. First, there was confusion. Then comprehension. And then shock. And then?
Then there was anger.
Oh man was there anger.
And I've seen a lot of anger in my life.
And this was the first time I've ever felt it down to my toes. Down to my heart.
I was afraid.
"Se-Sean. Please, don't be angry. Um, look. I really appreciate the help you've helped me through this- this hard time, but, you know. Maybe you should consider moving on. Or at least, getting out of the way."
Sean's face was scrunched up in what can only be called an ugly way. Ugly ugly way. I mean seriously ugly. I shuffled to my left a bit (amazingly hard with Paul leaning on me on the left). But Sean just stepped to the left to block even more of our path.
"I don't think so, Suze. It's not over until I say it's over. And to me, Suze, to me it's only just began. Paul hurt you, and I'm going to protect you. I am going to save you, I am going to be your prince in shining armour, Suze. And you are going to love me for it."
I gaped at him. What the hell was he on about?
"Sean, Paul hasn't hurt me. In fact, you hurt him. And I don't need a prince – I have Jesse." As I said the last bit, I straightened myself up to make myself look taller and looked him defiantly in the eye.
His burned back.
"I can deal with Jesse. I'm the one who's always there when you need him. Not Jesse himself. Me. I'm the one you want. I'm the one you need." My eyes flitted around the classroom. Maybe there was a spare ruler I could throw at him? Maybe a compass? I don't know. Just anything.
Sean saw this and frowned even deeper.
"Oh no no no no no no. Don't even think about it, Suze. You're here with me. You'll be leaving, with me. Just you and me Suze. Just you and me."
And that's when I did it.
"JESSE!!!!!!!!!" As soon as I screamed his name, Sean's blanched.
And then he tackled me.
Or that's how it felt.
What he really did was grab me round my waist – here I dropped Paul and he fell with a clatter and a "Whoa" against the tables, then crumpled into an elegant heap on the floor – and then plopped me onto one of the desks. He then proceeded to snog my tiny little heart out. I say snog, but really he just crushed his lips to mine.
And that's when my real knight in shining armour rode in on his white horse.
Make that, he materialised.
In his whirl of blue sparkles.