Chapter Four: If you say yes now.
Mi dinner with the De Silvas was a success. Eugenia De Silva, or Abuela as I was instructed to call her, welcomed me warmly into the Ranch and she also made me sit besides Jesse. Mapi willingly let me seat in her usual chair, so I would be near him.
As a result of that dinner, Jesse asked if he could escort me to the next big dance in his aunt's house. Of course I said that he could. Then started my search for the perfect dress. The one that would make him realize I'm the one for him.
Jess was responsible for the design of the dress, I diagnosed myself with a hoop-skirt allergy; and Jess managed to make a dress such that even when the skirt was big – to accentuate my small waist – it wasn't hop-y and uncomfortable. The main color was white, with hints of red here and there. It was really pretty, even the seamstress thought so when I took the design to her to get it made.
But the best validation came from Jesse, who's jaw dropped the second he saw me when he picked me up at the Rectory.
During the whole trip to his aunt's house we didn't had any trouble finding things to talk about, it was just so easy being around him. Then Jesse introduced me to his friends, and he was being all possessive about it. When one of his friends tried to flirt with me, Jesse would pull me closer to him and eye the friend in question warningly. And at dinner, I sat next to him again, he just took my hand and shoved me to the seat next to him.
Everything was just fine, save for the fact that we ended up right in front of Maria and a just-out-of- jail Felix Diego – who had paid a lot of money to get out of jail and keep the whole thing, about him trying to kill Jesse, quiet.
Maria was going on and on about how she descended from Spanish Royalty or something, Jesse and I weren't listening, we were playing "Is it a wig or is it not?" about the other people seated around us. But then Maria addressed me directly,
"Excuse me?" I said, not having a clue of what she was saying.
"Oh, I was just saying that the cross you're wearing is very pretty," she said in her sweet-I-don't-break-a-plate voice.
"Thanks," I said smiling even when I knew my tone was not friendly.
"But is that all you're wearing? Didn't had any more jewelry for the evening?" now she flashed some of her heavy duty rings.
"My mother taught me that it was proper for young girls to dress and adorn themselves with modesty." I said, remembering what my mother had told me about wearing her pearls to a school dance back when we lived in New York.
"Your mother was right, my dear." Abuela intervened from a few seats down me. "I often tell this girl," Abuela pointed at Maria with her finger, "that she looks like a jeweler's display but she won't listen."
"Well," I went on encouraged by Abuela agreeing with me – or with my mom more likely, as Maria looked me as if she wanted me to drop dead right on the spot, "I also believe that less is more. Overdoing, whereas is on your clothing or jewelry, is a way of showing insecurity. Either you're trying to hide something or you're trying to make up for something that you lack. Is either one of those or a case of really bad taste, which by no means is any better."
Maria just crossed her arms over her chest and a anti-esthetic scowl crept to her face. Suddenly she wasn't quite the Belle of Salinas County. To aggravate her annoyance Jesse started to laugh, right in her face. Luckily they were already serving dessert and we didn't had to put up with Maria for much longer.
Since neither Jesse or I were that enthusiastic about dancing a nice polka –which was what they were playing at the time – Jesse suggested we went outside to the gardens. We weren't alone or anything, there were plenty other couples outside. Jesse had worked his way into holding my hand, and we were very comfortable like that, trying to make up the constellations in the sky.
Then I saw him, I could recognize him any where. Why Paul had to come to ruin my day – or night?. He saw me and started to walk toward where we were. Jesse saw me go pale and offered to get me something to drink.
"Wait here," he said, "I'll be right back."
"Well, well, well, well, If it isn't Suze Simon," Paul said coming to stand in front of me.
"What do you want Paul? You don't belong here." I said
"Neither do you. I came to take you back to where we belong: the XXI century-"
"I'm not going anywhere, let alone with you." I managed to keep my voice from shaking, but I did shiver when Paul caught my arm. I was still trying to break away when Jesse came back. He did not looked pleased with the sight of Paul's hand around my upper arm while I tried to push him away. Not pleased at all.
"I believe the Miss Simon wants you to let go of her, Mister." Jesse said in this very cold voice that almost made me shiver.
"Really? Well, I'm not planning on letting her go so…" I never got to know so what? Because Jesse launched himself at Paul. Seriously, like that time in creepy Shadowland. One moment Jesse was there and the next his fist was hitting Paul square on the nose.
Once again, Paul was being a baby about it. "You broke my nose, I can't believe you broke my nose." I was, by then, getting a sense of déjà vu.
"I'll broke more than that if you don't leave Susannah alone," Jesse said. Go my cowboy!
It was dark, but I could see that Paul's image was starting to fade. "You'll regret this. Do you understand? I'll make you sorry," Paul yelled before starting to backing up.
"You're welcome to try" Jesse answered, sounding all like the cowboy of my dreams. Paul swore and Jesse just stood there watching him dissolve into the darkness.
"Hey!" Jess said softly by my side, now she still didn't looked like a ghost, she looked more like Paul had… like an astral projection. "I just came to say goodbye."
"Where are you going?" I whispered.
"Home. And thanks to you, that is." I know I looked very puzzled. "I'll see you around, Suze." I moved to give her cross back. "No, keep it. Don't worry, it will find it's way back to me." And just as it was her custom, she vanished. I was wondering if I ever would see Jess again, I didn't even knew her last name or anything about her for that mater. Yet, somehow, I had felt at ease with her from the start.
"Susannah?" Jesse's voice made me come back to reality. "Querida," ahh, that word, my name… "who was that?"
"Oh, that was just Paul Slater. I know him from before, he is just this big idiot whose major entertainment in life is making my life miserable," I said, all of this was true.
"And why is that?" he asked curious.
"Oh, I just said 'No' when he wanted me to say 'Yes' and he never got over that," Again, this wasn't a lie. But I don't really want to talk about it right now."
Jesse looked at me – like deciding something – and then took a step in my direction. I continue to babble. "Really, I need a break. Especially," I said significantly, looking up at him, "from talking. That's what I especially need a break from. Talking."
Now he was right in front of me. "Fine," Jesse said. He reached up and cupped my face in both his hands. "We don't need to talk."
And that's when he kissed me.
On the lips.
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End of Chapter Four
Notes:
Did something here sounded familiar???? : )
I hope that's ok, becuase is basically the end of Darkest Hour.
Now, the end comes in the next chapter, you'll see who was Jess, why she wanted Jesse and Suze to get together, and what's going on with the other Suze and her very alive boyfriend in the XXI century. (Sorry about the Roman Numbers, but is the way we write the centuries in spanish, and I guess old costums die hard).
Gotta go, I hope that Chapter Five stays out of my head long enough for me to get some of the school work done (I HATE FINALS)
Love ya!
Alex. (a.k.a. Clavel a.k.a Auryn Faith a.k.a Whatnot)
P.S. Sorry about the bad grammar and stuff