Timeout

By: ChocolateEclar

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that has to do with the Mediator Series by Meg Cabot/Jenny Carroll, including Jesse (*tear, tear*), Suze, Paul, Father Dom, CeeCee, Adam, etc. 

Claimer: I fully own Miss Evelyn "Eve" Gemma and the plot. (I still wish I owned Jesse instead of Eve though.)

To LasDosQueridas: Here's the update! ^__^ Thanks a bunch for the review.

To Lizzie9: I suppose this is fairly confusing thus far. (But between you and me, if you're confused now, after you read this chapter you're confusion will probably be far more. Don't worry though, I'll clear things up…eventually. *laughs*) Anyway, thank you for reviewing!

To Corcra: *laughs* ^_^ Meg definitely needs to post a longer preview for Twilight. It's bad enough we have to wait about ten months for the book. In a more recent entry in her blog (diary) on her website, she said it'll be awhile before she posts another teaser, otherwise she'll have posted the whole book by the time it actually comes out. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wouldn't object to that. Hehe. I'm especially wishing for a preview with Jesse in it. I just can't get enough of him. Too bad that, up until this chapter, he hasn't made an appearance in my fanfic… Well, thank you so much for the review.

Chapter 2: Searching

I didn't skip second period – but I didn't go directly to it either. Instead, I snuck out into the Mission's graveyard. Can you blame me? I wanted to make sure Jesse was really missing even though I knew I was just grasping for straws.

The graveyard looked deserted from the gateway, but I stepped down the worn dirt path anyway. He wasn't there. Jesse, I mean.

"Jesse!" I called out. No answer. Not like I had expected one.

I sighed. I would have to see Paul. If I knew anything about this guy, it was that he was usually behind anything suspicious lately.

If the case were that Jesse was actually just steering clear of me, I'd kill him – I know he's already dead, but you know what I mean. Curious as to why I'm so mad at this ghostly hottie? Let me explain.

You'd think that after our second kiss and his confession of loving me passionately (I wish!) that everything would be perfect, right? Then you'd be wrong.

What is it with this guy and kissing me and taking off for days?! Seriously, what'll happen if there's, well, more than kisses? Will he disappear for a month?! Jeez. All men are alike. Even one hundred and fifty year old men.

Okay, I know what you're thinking. Jesse didn't actually leave right after our kiss. In fact, he watched me like a hawk afterwards. Seriously, the guy has overprotectiveness issues. I couldn't turn a corner without catching a shimmering glimpse of him dematerializing.

All right, it wasn't a bad thing at first. I mean, it was kind of cute. But seriously, a girl needs some space, right? Like I need him hovering over my shoulder when I'm doing my homework.

But then, he vanished. One morning he was sitting on the window seat reading from one of Doc's science books; it was called The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality by Brian Greene. It looked pretty complicated and I had my doubts about how much even Jesse understood.

I was kind of mad at him because the previous day he had sort of suggested Father Dom handle the case I was on. I was mediating a six-year-old dead girl in a bathing suit! How could he suggest I couldn't handle the spoiled brat?!

So what if the kid had chucked sand and rock at me at the beach? I could so handle the little monster. She had these huge watery blue eyes and a head topped with brown curls. She was wearing a pink, two-piece bathing suit with ruffles around the waist. Apparently she'd drowned hence the attire. I smacked her, she burst into tears, and she decided to move on instead of facing my wrath. That was the end. How easy was that?

So, afterwards, Jesse and I had gotten into a fight over his "overprotective issues" and my "irrational pride." I mean, I like Father D and all, but I can handle myself thank you very much. No offense to the priest, but what can a sixty-year-old man do that a sixteen-year-old girl can't?

Don't answer that.

If you think I'm being too harsh on Jesse, just remember the following things about my love life in the past that have caused me to become so strict with my boyfriends:

Boyfriend #1 Bryce – He became injured by his crazy ex-girlfriend/ghost and never really spoke to me again.

Boyfriend #2 Ted – He gave me my first kiss – which was interrupted by Jesse. Then, he didn't believe me about his psychotic uncle, causing us both to nearly be murdered. Fun times…not.

Boyfriend #3 Michael – He was never really ever an actual boyfriend – though people like my stepbrother Dopey will tell everyone differently. I mean he was a murdering geek with a nice bod… That's one strange combination.

Boyfriend #4 Paul – I don't even want to go there. The guy is creepy. If he sticks his tongue in my mouth again, I'll slug him no matter how much I've been afraid of him in the past.

Last of all, but most important:

Boyfriend #5 Jesse – Hmmm… What words can I use to express the hot Spanish ghost? Try: hot, stubborn, HOT, my Latino Lovely, and dead cowboy… Have I missed anything?

Jesse means well, but I can take care of ghosts.

I'll admit it. It was a kind of a stupid dispute. That doesn't mean I wasn't still mad at him when I woke up the next day though.

All right, so we didn't even talk about the fight. We said good morning, I went, to school, and when I came home…well, he was gone.

So now I needed a ride to Paul's house… Just great – note my utter sarcasm.  Since I didn't want Adam or CeeCee to know about this whole thing – for if I asked Adam for a ride, he'd definitely tell CeeCee – that left one option.

I would have to call Paul for a ride. Argh. I needed to phone him anyway to let him know I was coming. But first, it was back inside and to second period, or I'd be the one in trouble.

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Several hours afterwards and I was home. It was no surprise to me that Jesse wasn't in my room sitting on the window seat like he used to. But that would change soon enough because I was going to go see Paul. It wouldn't be pleasant and I was due for our weekly meeting anyway. I mean, who wants to voluntarily visit the devil's spawn? Not me, that's for sure. I would've just talked to Paul in school, but I didn't want to be seen in public with the creep, nor did I want to encourage him.

I went into the bathroom – just in case Jesse really was just avoiding me and decided to apologize or something – and took a look at my reflection. I wanted to look as unattractive as possible for Paul. There was no way I was going to use any  "feminine wiles"– as Father Dom put it – to get my way with Paul. Jesse maybe, but definitely not Paul.

I slipped into a navy turtleneck sweater and jeans even though this was California and, as such, it was nearly sixty degrees out in October. Grabbing a pair of Clarks Cosmopolitan – these cool, black high-heeled boots – I bounded out my bedroom door. I slipped them on as I hurried down the stairs, and, needless to say, I nearly fell down the last few steps, but I didn't care. I was going to find Jesse one way or another.

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After calling Paul, I sat on the porch and waited for him to give me a ride to his house. I hoped my Cosmopolitan boots would hold out if I had to escape from him. The last incident with a pair of new shoes had left me with poor blistered feet that couldn't take that abuse again.

It wasn't long before he arrived.

"Hey, Suze. It's about time you called. I was starting to think you'd forgotten our little deal," Paul said, eyeing me from his convertible. I'd been secretly going over to his house once a week for two hours to learn about being a shifter. If I didn't, well, then I was sure Paul would exorcize Jesse. The thing is, I had a feeling he had anyway. Jesse hadn't known what I was doing. I was afraid that if he did, he would go confront Paul and get exorcised and my whole time with Paul would've been for nil.

I decided to get right to the point. "What did you do to Jesse, Paul?" I demanded.

As soon as Paul started to laugh, my insides went cold. "I've kept my end of the deal, but Jesse has gone to the Shadowland," he said.

"Liar," I hissed.

"Oh, come on, Suze," Paul grumbled. "Jeez, you're stubborn, but that's something I like about you. Face it, Jesse's moved on. Didn't you two have a fight before he left?"

I was cold all over now. "What makes you think that?" I croaked. Paul wasn't the devil's spawn. He was the devil, and by making that deal with him, I'd sold my soul.

"You were pretty peeved for awhile a few weeks ago. Wasn't that when he disappeared?"

"You've been spying on me," I accused. I was certain of it. He couldn't know all this if he wasn't, could he?

Chuckling Paul said, "Whatever you say, Suze. Why don't you come on over for your lesson?"

"Why should I? Jesse's gone already, isn't he?!" I riposted. As much as I hated it, my eyes were filling with tears and it was getting harder to keep the squeak out of my voice.

"Just call Jesse. I'm sure he'll answer," Paul answered smoothly.

My instinct told me immediately he was up to something. "He'd better, or I'll be at your house…with a machete," I threatened. Ha! Lame threat, I know, but take that, Paul! Too bad he seemed totally unfazed by my warning.

He laughed and said, "I'll be at the library for a few hours if you still wanna meet. See you, Suze."

I waited until he was gone before running back into the house, up the stairs, and into my bedroom. "Jesse!" I yelled.

With bated breath, I watched as a familiar shimmer appeared before me. I let out a little noise between a gasp and a yelp and watched as the one person I'd longed to see for the past few weeks materialized.

Of course, it was Jesse De Silva in all his sizzling glory…except he wasn't looking so good. It took me a moment to realize that though.

He seemed off somehow. There was this funny look in his eye, and, to tell the truth, for probably the first time in his undead life, he looked worse for wear.

It was as if he'd been dragged cross-country by his ankles. His white shirt was crumpled loose, so more of his chest than ever was showing. Even his crisp, dark hair was disheveled and limp – like mine is when I've been sick and haven't moved much in days. He blinked at me in astonishment for a moment before grasping my right hand tightly.

"Susannah," he said in a tone I've couldn't define. He'd never used it anytime beforehand. Now I know it was panic. He definitely knew something I didn't.

"Where have you been?" I gasped. Way to go, Suze. Really romantic. The guy looks like hell, so he probably has a really good reason for disappearing, and you go and yell at him.

"Listen to me, querida," he said softly. "You mustn't see Paul Slater anymore."

"How did you know I was-" I began.

"It doesn't matter. Promise me you won't see him, Susannah," he insisted.

"Jesse, what's going on? Did Paul do this to you?!" I demanded, fury rising within me.

Jesse's face contorted into a sad grimace and he persisted, "Promise me, querida."

So I promised him. I mean, how could I not when he was looking at me so pleadingly? He started to dematerialize then.

"Wait! Where are you going?" I cried out, clutching his wrist.

He shook his head and replied, "Nombre de Dios, Susannah. My time with you has gone already. He said – never mind. Just keep your promise, querida."

And then, he was gone. My hand went limp at my side as tears pricked the corners of my eyes. Something was terribly wrong. I not only had to worry about Eve, but Jesse and Paul too.

What was going on?

Jesse, please come back!!

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A/N: Since I'm traveling about 300 miles for a contest with my family and laptop, I thought I'd post this chapter before I left. ^_- If you're wondering, chapter 3 is pretty far done. (It's already 5 pages.)

A/N 2: Remember, all I ask for is one helpful review for the next chapter to be posted. More is better though. They inspire me to write more. *laughs*

A/N 3: Next chapter expect beat-up Jesse – I adore him, yet I've written him as a victim thus far – to make another appearance and Paul's scheme to be well underway. ^__^

'Til then! Bye!