Ch 4 Identical Girls Meet

"Suze, what on earth is going on?"

I noticed that the bonds were cut and magically "disappeared", Jesse was gone, and, I shudder to think, Paul was still on me. I blushed furiously and tried to get up.

My mom eyed Paul with interest. Great. Her and my social life.

"Oh Suze," she sounded pleased. Too pleased, "you found a boy! Come down and let me introduce myself."

NO mom! I thought. He's a jerk! I don't like him.

"I'll let you two carry on. Oh and dear," she said, whispering to Paul, "Suze has something in her drawers that you might find handy."

I screamed. Paul looked at me and grinned. I quickly jumped up and wiped my mouth. "It's okay, mom, let's go downstairs. Who do we have for company?" I asked.

My mom eyed Paul with interest and mumbled, "You have good taste."

"MOM!"

She coughed. "Other than him, whom, he will be eating with us," I gaped at her, "we have some relatives over. I haven't heard from them in ages!" and she dashed off, probably going to tell the world that she saw her daughter "making out" with a hottie.

There was a moment's silence. Then Paul glanced at me. "So I can stay?"

"Yeah," I replied bitterly, "only for dinner and IF you do stay, in the living room."

He shrugged. "Sounds good to me." Then he grinned evilly. Where was Jesse in all of this? I quickly turned my back to Paul and put on the tank top. I caught Paul peaking and I bitch-slapped him.

"I deserved that," he said wincing. Ha! That's what a guy gets for messing with Susannah Simon.

Crissi's POV

As soon as we got off the plane, I was ready for a change.

But not that ready. I didn't realize that it was so sunny here. Gah! It hurt my eyes just to look at all the sunshine. And that ocean and the palm trees. I swear. I looked wildly around trying to spot Sean, which was hard because my eyes REALLY hurt. Sean, I thought calling him to me. Come to me, please? As soon as I said 'please' Sean popped up in front of me.

"Sean!" I squealed. "Don't do that!"

He shrugged. "Sorry Crissandra, couldn't resist." He hugged me. "Is it always this sunny here?" he asked.

"Yup, it's California, remember?" I said. I knew Sean didn't die in Michigan, his body just got moved to Michigan. Obviously his family didn't want his body in England. Why was he still here anyway?

"Well," Sean said cheerfully. "I'll get your luggage." I was nodding when I realized what he said.

"Wait-no! Don't! People are going to stare if they see suitcases levitating all over!" I hissed.

Sean looked alarm. "I was just trying to offer a favor, miss," he said.

I sighed. He was just too damn hot for his own good. "Do me a favor," I said. "And don't fall for any pretty girl ghost." Sean grinned and kissed my cheek. Even though every British person kisses a friend or relative, it still frazzled up my nerves when he kissed me. I hauled my luggage of the conveyer belt and quickly made my way to mom, a woman that looked like she was twenty. She eyed me suspiciously but I couldn't wipe off the silly grin on my face because Sean was next to me.

"Where are we going, Mom?" I asked as we got in the car. I was wondering where the heck we were going.

"We are going to your aunt's home," she said stiffly. Gosh, talk about Ms. Congeniality! Why was she acting like a bitch? Yeah, she was a major bitch but still! Can't a girl complain? I adjusted my blouse that I…bought. Mom wanted me to look presentable, so I ditched the gear and donned an ugly pink thing and blouse. I sighed as I peered out the window. I saw ocean. And hills, palm trees, and bright sunlight. Joy... I did NOT need one to ruin my perfectly pale complexion. I looked at my arms. Oh yeah, a good day at the beach would just burn me up...

Sean kissed my hand. I all of a sudden felt the car stop.

"Mom, what time is it?" I asked her.

"It's 5:30 a.m." I got out of the car and looked at a beautiful crème colored house. It looked old but I saw that people have made progress on it. I grabbed Sean's hand and we all went inside. I was greeted by three boys yelling, "Welcome!". They stopped abruptly and stared.

"Suze?" asked the shortest guy, a red-headed geek with dork glasses and sticky-out ears. Typical nerd, so predictable. It's going to be entertaining making fun of him!

I shook my head. "Not Suze, Crissi. How'd you get Suze out of that?"

Then I heard a girl say, "What's going on?"

Everyone looked up at the stairs and my jaw dropped. I saw a girl who looked exactly like me, same eyes, same hair, same height, everything. Even this other talent. I saw her eye Sean. She was also a mediator! I gasped. "Who is that?" I asked.

"That," said a boy with dark hair and the good looks of a Spaniard, "Is Susannah Simon, or Suze if you want."

I knew who that person in my mind and photos was! It was Suze. And as soon as I studied her, I knew she was competition…and could get me screwed for being a mediator if anyone found out. I also noticed this boy was really hot, he looked at me, then Suze, then me, then Suze as if making up his mind about something.

"Who the hell is that?" Suze said loudly. I heard someone cough. It was my Aunt.

"That girl you're referring to is Crissandra Simon, your cousin."

Suze's POV

Stunned; okay, here I come downstairs seeing what all the fuss and commotion is about at five in the morning and I see a girl that looks like my twin. I quickly locked Paul in the spare room and ran down the stairs only to have Jesse follow me. Where did he come from...?

"Susannah," he whispered. "Cuál es nombre de esa muchacha? She looks like your twin!" (what is that girl's name?)

What the heck? Cool-number the easy cha-cha? Whatever. I was still peeved after his mysterious vanishing.

I gawked at this "girl" I eyed her cautiously. First Paul, then her, gosh, is the sky falling? She had the same eyes and same hair except her hair was cropped short. She even had the same exact, bizarre green eyes… except hers had a cold look to. Coincidence? I think not. She was wearing a pink mini skirt and white blouse that had a small, red stain at the front. Obviously, she was messy with the ketchup. Or whatever that red thing was. Lucky her; she had shapely legs and looked like a model except my height. Something was wrong…even though she looked like me, wearing pastel colors, the look didn't…suit her. I couldn't criticize her because she looked exactly like me but…something was wrong with her. Still, I was astonished; not because of her Revlon lip gloss (did I see a tinge of black underneath?) but because I noticed a guy at the door. No one seemed to notice him except me…and her. He was a blonde, cute, but not hot.

"Dumb blonde," I secretly thought and he was also gawking at me. His gaze kept darting between me and that girl and he whispered something to her. She shushed him and we all made eye contact; the guy's expression was, "What in God's name," and the girl's was, "Freaky...I-hate-you-with-my-guts-already". I saw their eyes look beyond me and I knew they were looking at Jesse.

"Who the hell is that?" I said. I heard someone cough. It was my mom.

"That girl you're referring to is Crissandra Simon, your cousin." I noticed Crissi's eyes flashed to Jesse and she EYED HIM!

I gaped. No one looks at Jesse like that! Then again, no one ever has.

"Well," said Andy cheerfully. He was obviously oblivious to the tension in the room, "let's eat. I guess I'll make some breakfast."

I groaned with exasperation and ran up the stairs, grabbing Jesse's collar and saying loudly because I knew it looked kind of freaky if I stuck my hand out and said, "Ouch, crick. Well, I'll go change into something cuter."

"Yeah," Brad grunted. Gosh, I forgot all about my brothers. Who would like that ape again? Please remind me. "I forgot that you had to finish up business with Paul. Is it getting hot in your room? I can turn on the air conditioning if you'd like."

I glared at him. "Shut up," I shouted and quickly ran up the stairs. I was in my room when I noticed Jesse was distracted.

"Jesse, what's wrong?" I asked. I was scared that he was falling for the hoax downstairs.

"Nothing at all, querida," he said vaguely. "Who is she, Susannah?" I really hoped that he was still upset about the kick thing or why else is he not telling me? I didn't know why, but I was concerned. Yeah, who the heck was that little b-i-t-c-h? From that glare she gave me, I knew she was trouble. And I knew she hated me. Is she trying to ruin my life?

"Jesse, I have to change. I'll meet you in the dining room." I hugged him. Jesse seemed stunned but then wrapped me in his arms.

Ah...bliss...

I let go of Jesse and he went through the door. Before he left, though, I had to remind him not to harm Paul; and leave Paul to me. I sighed and turned around. I wanted to do an experiment. Could Jesse tell the difference between Crissi and me? I opened my closet and pulled out a pink skirt and white blouse... I changed and quickly left the room seeing if I could talk to Crissi. I bounded down the stairs and went into the kitchen. I saw Crissi talking to Blonde Boy. I interrupted their conversation.

"Hey," I said quietly.

"Hi, yourself," she replied coolly, looking irked that I interrupted their tête-à-tête. It didn't help that she was glaring at me. Again.

I lost half my confidence and felt anger building up. "So...we are cousins, right?" I asked.

"Yeah, why? Oh duh, we look alike, I figured. I've seen you before...in a dream," she said slowly, as though talking to a second grader. I could tell she was leaving some crucial information out.

"Are you a shifter, medium, or mediator?" I asked.

"I'm all of those. If you're a mediator you're a medium. Also, I happen to be a shifter. Lucky me."

I was running out of polite conversation starters. "Oh..." I finished lamely and she rolled her eyes. I could kick myself. "I can't shift without a headache though... Someone (Paul) "was" teaching me how to though."

I looked around and saw Blonde Boy looking at me, studying me. "Boyfriend?" I asked, pointing.

"Yeah, deliberately ignore me, as if I don't speak proper English!" he smiled, "the name's Sean."

"Yeah," her spirits lightened up and she seemed interested in this topic. "Sean's hot, isn't he." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Was this girl for real? Has she seen Jesse yet? I noticed the in-between message: don't mess with him.

"Yeah...hot, but he's not as hot as my boyfriend." I blurted.

Crissi eyed me and smiled coyly. "You're lying. He's not your boyfriend; you're just obsessed with him, aren't you?" I felt my eyebrows rise. How did she know?

"Yeah," I blushed way red, "how do you know? Is it stamped on my forehead or something?"

Crissi gave me an evil grin and I was really freaked out. Yeah, the cute school girl look? SO did not go with her grin. And it was quite apparent that she smeared black lipstick off beforehand and applied red over it. Very subtle. Close up, I could tell that her eyes weren't delicately done, either. No…they were a shimmery, pale pink, but under it all…black.

"Well, you're blushing and I can," she leaned closer for some more storyteller drama, "read minds."

I didn't want to, but I asked anyway. "Teach me! It would be useful against some people," It would be great against Paul.

"Sure," she said vaguely, obviously mad at herself for telling, "how about I teach you now?"

"That would be spectacular."

Crissi got in front of me. "Close your eyes and concentrate on reading the other person's mind. Think of it as tapping into another's mind. Got that?" I nodded. "Okay, now empty whatever you are thinking and think that you are me which isn't very hard." I nodded again. I was scared she might do something. "Okay, now that you think you are me, focus on entering my mind."

I focused on reading her thoughts and suddenly, my vision blurred and I could see a brunette wearing black running away from home and getting picked up by the police. I saw a girl thrashing around in an asylum. I saw a teenager spraying pepper spray at a boy and running away, laughing. I saw a girl in a bar smoking and dressed up as…

I shuddered and found myself on the floor, panting with Crissi looking down on me. "Well? Did you see anything interesting?"

I nodded. "You make a good teacher. Did you really use the pepper spray?" She cackled and took out a can from a pouch she tied as a sash and tossed it. "Oh yeah, and you should have been there."

…

Okay, this girl was crazy. Maybe that's why she was in an asylum. I didn't blame her, but that last bit changed my complete image of her. I don't care how prissy she dressed today but she is F-A-T-A-L!

I had enough of that and excused myself. I went upstairs only to run into Jesse. He walked right past me and went downstairs. He NEVER went out of my room before! "Querida, Qué usted está haciendo? What are you doing? And what did you do to your hair?" What the heck? I rushed after Jesse and gaped at him; he was facing Crissi and talking to her! I saw her eye Jesse all over and I ran up to Jesse and poked him. Hard. "Dude, Jesse, who's the one who had to get ice for your crotch when I kicked you?" Jesse blushed and looked at Crissi then me.

He looked at Crissi first.

"Nombre de Dios!" Susannah! You two look alike!" No duh, genius. I noticed Sean glaring at Jesse. Jesse looked around and noticed Sean and he said, "Hello, I'm afraid we haven't been introduced." Okay, way too courteous. Jesse, if I were you, I'd punch Sean. I noticed Crissi's eyes were closed and she opened them and looked at me angrily so I stopped thinking things. I couldn't take it anymore. I ran back up the stairs and into my room. I slammed shut the door and looked around. No Crissi, no Jesse. I felt my spirits sink. So he rather spend time with that slut than me! How rude. I noticed that the bottom drawer was mysteriously open so I closed it and picked up a wrapper and threw it out. My room was strangely stuffy. I sighed and flung myself onto the bed; and landed right on Paul.

How could I forget?