Okay, chapter two up. Uh, yeah . . . thanks for everyone who reviewed! I
don't usually do this, but I will try to respond to SOME of the reviews.
Er, yeah . . .
~*~
Saz: I will NOT kill Susannah off just so you can have Jesse. Jesse is MINE! **Auto Disclaimer: Jesse belongs to Meggin Patricia Cabot, and not Lolly.** Hypothetically speaking!!
Sheba, Queen of: I don't speak Spanish fluently. Email me, and I'll tell you the secrets of my success, lol . . .
Rissa: I LOVE YOU! Er . . . that was weird . . .
ReaderCHica: I emailed you in response to your questions. That this is a sequel, and that's why it's different. Read that, and then you will get it.
purtymanagirl58: uh, Meg? Nah, I wrote an email to her, and she replied. Which was way cool. I just asked her some stuff about the mediator, and she answered. As in, "Dear Lauren, blah, blah fanfiction, blah, blah, princess diaries, blah, blah sneak peak of Twilight, blah, blah good luck with being an author." It was pretty cool. But nothing major. Still chuffed though . . .
happydrummergal: Yeeeeeeeees, Madeline. Jesse dooooooooes have a penis. Fact of life. That's very nice. Er, very . . . *backs away.* Nah, joking. Heh.
~*~
Okay . . .
**************************************************************************** ************
Suze's POV
'I'm keeping you, forever. You're not going to know what hit you. Pain night after night, just like I felt. I'm going to torture you, Susie. Make you scream, yeah, that's right. You'll beg for freedom. I'll never let you leave. Never. You're mine. I'll never get bored of inflicting pain. I'll never get bored of you, Susie . . . '
Blue eyes . . . Blue eyes!
I felt strong hands grab my lower back and thrust me into him. Hands snaked around my wrists, squeezing, constricting. Like pythons. I fought, but I could not do anything. Not a thing . . .
'Just you wait, Susie . . .
You'll fall for me soon.
I'll be there to catch you.
And I'll hold you prisoner,
Forever . . .'
Angular features lurked before mine. Those strong, intruding lips that seemed to drain me of hope, and those blue eyes that inspired a terror that crushed my heart, and made me freeze over, leaving me cold.
Chilled . . .
Dead.
'Let me go,' I wanted to scream, but nothing came out. Not a sound, not a breath. I couldn't even muster up the strength to struggle anymore. I was limp in his dominant, criminal embrace.
'Kiss me, Suze.'
No.
Never.
'Kiss me . . .'
Hypnotized, my lips drew nearer to his. I couldn't say a word, move a muscle.
And that sucking sensation returned. Like he was bleeding me dry of everything I have ever felt. Everyone I have ever loved.
And I was powerless against this dark magic.
And I was falling . . . Falling into him.
His world.
I could see everything as he saw it. From blue eyes.
Blue eyes, blue eyes!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~*~
'NO!'
I jerked upward, sweating heavily, and panting under my covers. I clutched my chest.
'Shit,' I gasped, and looked over at my clock radio. 3.59am.
It was just a dream.
No, a nightmare. Calm down, Suze. It wasn't real. It was a nightmare. I wiped my forehead, and went to open the window. I rush of cool sea breeze dried my face pleasantly. I sighed, as my breathing settled into a more regular rhythm.
Why?
Why did I let him haunt me like this? When he wasn't even here? How could he have such a powerful hold on me, even from a distance?
I still felt drained . . . And there, then, I collapsed on the window seat, crying.
~*~
'Suze?'
I turned around in my desk. Kelly Prescott was sitting behind me, chewing boredly on a pencil. Her blond locks draped around her angelic, snooty face, and her blue eyes considered mine vaguely. We were both in World Civ. doing a test. Mr Walden had gone out of the room.
'Yeah, Kell?'
'Well, I was just reminding you about my party to –' She stopped. 'Suze, you look, well, really bad. No offense or anything.'
Yeah, no offense, or anything, Suze.
I shrugged. 'Er, didn't sleep much,' I said carelessly. Too carelessly.
She raised her eyebrows. 'Yeah, whatever Simon. You're still messed up about getting beaten up by that mystery dude, right?'
I didn't say anything.
Because it was true . . . Mind, Kelly's best friend had played a cameo role in my injuries. Paul couldn't get ALL the glory for making me scream.
'Because, well, my dad, he's like, I lawyer, and he can so sue the guy. Or something,' she said, still chewing on the pencil.
Yeah, if only this guy couldn't just . . . disappear from jail or anything.
'Kelly, you're gonna get lead poisoning,' I pointed out.
She blinked, and stopped chewing her pencil. 'So, are you coming to my party? Because I can SO hook you up with a guy –'
'I'm with Jesse,' I replied sharply.
She smiled sneakily. 'Yeah, but he's in Spain, Suze.'
'No, he'd still be on the plane.'
'That's not what I meant. You can't expect a guy like Jesse to go to Spain, in a land of all these hot chicks, and stay faithful, right? I mean, come on, Suze. That's way naïve of you. And I'm sure the Spanish ladies can't keep their paws off of him, either. I mean, discussing Jesse De Silva here?' she said, with a somewhat lustful sigh there. 'You're just lucky you saw him first . . . I so would have bagged him.'
I turned back around. Could she be right? Would Jesse just forget about me like that? Go off and screw around with some señorita?
No, Kelly's just winding you up, Suze. Ignore her.
But –
'So come to the party, Suze. I mean, you so need to get out more as it is. And there's gonna be booze there, too! Dad is totally letting me, just as long as, you know, I'm careful with people driving home and stuff. Oh, come on, Simon. You said you'd come ages ago –'
'Okay, Kelly!' I hissed at her. 'I'm there.'
Really, that thing about her saying I needed to get out more had bugged me. Me? Not getting out? I get out a lot. I go to the beach, and, to the Coffee Clutch, and . . .
. . . break into people's homes to deal with feral ghosts . . .
Oh, yes. That counts SO much when my social life is concerned. Really.
So yeah. A party couldn't hurt, right?
'Pool party,' she shot at me. 'I have a pool.'
'Yeah, I kind of gathered that. Unless we were planning to be swimming in puddles.'
'Swimming?'
I turned around again. 'Er, thus the point of a pool? I mean –'
'Suze, Kelly! This is a test. Shut up and get on with it,' Mr Walden scolded as he marched back in. Mr Walden is generally an okay guy, but just don't get on his bad side.
'I'd expect better from the President and Vice of our sophomore class,' he went on, annoyed.
Okay, okay, cool it already.
I wished Jesse were here . . .
~*~
Pool party my ARSE!
I couldn't believe it! There I was, in a SWIMSUIT, with forty or so people flocking around me, in CASUAL! I stared in horror as people paraded around in SWEATERS. Slacks! Dresses!
But noooooooo swimsuits.
Kelly, I'm gonna KILL YOU!
How am I, Susannah Simon, ex-New Yorker, supposed to know that no swimming goes on a pool parties? That they are called pool parties simply so girls can stare at the pool, wishing they'd brought their bikinis to show off their fabulous bodies to all the guys? And for the guys, strictly for peeing in as dares?
I was outraged, I really was. I mean, REALLY.
I sighed, and walked over to get a handful of chips. This was so going to suck, I knew it. No one would ask me to dance, and even if they did, I'd have to turn them down. I'm committed you see.
To Jesse.
Who's in . . . Spain.
That was when a very flushed Debbie Mancuso, minion of Kelly, came rushing up to me, in a totally skanky tank top that was WAY too small for her. It was black, with a red lace fringe along the neck and red lace-up sides. And the pants matched.
Yeah, believe it. It was all I could to keep myself from laughing.
'Have you seen Brad?' she asked breathlessly.
'Dopey?,' I replied. 'Nah, he's grounded. He's at home.'
Yeah, for calling Adam a fag the other day. Ha ha to him, I say.
Debbie looked crestfallen. 'Really?' she asked sadly.
'I'm afraid it's true, Deb.' Then I added, 'well, not so afraid. But yeah.'
'Okay,' she said, pouting, and drifted through the crowd.
I smirked to myself. Stupid Dopey . . . Should start calling Debbie, er, Dopina, or something.
Dopey and Dopina, on dope!
Yeah, totally.
I sat for the next half an hour, dead bored. I mean, hey, I might not be the sexiest looking one here, but surely someone would ask me to dance, so I could reject them? Surely!
But no. You're not that pretty, Suze. Don't flatter yourself.
I stared sadly into my empty cup of punch. I was lucky I'd managed to get some alcohol free, before some of the jocks had spiked it. Kelly had gone off her brain at one of them. It was really funny to watch, but besides that, nothing much had happened. Then . . .
'Did you hear? Debbie and Brad are at it!'
I froze. Brad Ackerman? Hell no . . .
Scott Turner and his friend Eddie Harrison rounded on me. 'Hey Suze,' they leered. Eddie guffawed, and elbowed Scott. 'Wanna dance?' Eddie asked.
I scoffed cynically. 'No thank you.'
'Aw, come on,' he goaded, 'Bet you're shit.'
'Well,' I sniffed, 'You're not going to find out. I haven't sunk as low as dancing with losers, yet.'
Scott did this big "oooh!" thing, and hammered Eddie on the back, who gave me a dirty look.
'Man, you way uptight,' he whined, and walked away. Scott then foolishly tried his luck. He nodded at me, looking me up and down, with this sick, alive expression on his face. I felt like puking.
'Mmm, you look good tonight, girl. . . What do ya say, Simon?' he grinned coolly, semi-punching me on the arm.
'I say no,' I said shortly, and stood up and walked away.
But Mr Scotty Turner isn't the brightest candle on the birthday cake, is he now? He followed me through the crowd, then – I am so serious – groped my butt.
My eyes went wide in shock.
'Okay, that's it.' I seized him by the shirt, and pitched him head first into the pool.
He fell in with an almighty splash, yelling in surprise. It could have happened in slow motion, with his legs kicking and flailing in mid air.
Everyone stared for a moment, in stunned silence, and then burst into wild applause. 'You GO, Simon!'
'Woot! Turner got DUNKED!'
I beamed.
Scott resurfaced, looking livid. His gelled hair was plastered to his forehead, and his lip was quivering. He splashed about, trying not to sink in his heavy clothes. Beads of water flew everywhere.
Whoa . . . The dude sure was pissed off . . .
'You BITCH!' he gurgled, 'This jacket's bloody Armani!'
'Well, you shouldn't have worn it too a pool party, then,' I said lightly, crossing my arms smugly. I tossed my hair. 'Don't touch my ass, Scott.'
His mates were falling about laughing. It was way funny. I chuckled at him, and walked away, shaking my head knowingly. Well, at least someone thought my ass was worth touching. That was something. Even if the someone in question was a nobody.
'Suze!'
I turned around, and there, CeeCee and Adam were running towards me. Well, CeeCee not as enthusiastic as Adam, but yeah, whatever. She'd been acting way weird ever since that thing with Paul. And I hadn't even talked to her about it . . . I just couldn't bring it up myself even. What would I say? CeeCee is the defender of science everywhere.
'You just dumped Turner in a pool. Are you a goddess?' Adam wanted to know, and shuffled to his knees. 'I bow before you, oh boldest one . . . with strong arm muscles.'
'Get up,' I smiled, and gave him a hug. CeeCee smiled softly. 'Hey Suze,' she greeted shortly.
'Hi,' I replied. 'Avoid Kelly, you two. She was on a warpath when I told her I'd invited the two of you.'
'Of course,' Adam said sourly, 'We ain't cool.'
'You are way cool,' I frowned, 'Just, in an uncool way.'
CeeCee looked around. 'Wow, there's a lot of people from RLS here, aye?'
'Huh?'
'Robert Louis Stevensen,' she said, 'Duh? Our rival school?'
'Oh,' I said, 'them.'
It was true. Just in this courtyard of forty kids, majority was from RLS. And in the house, well, there were heaps in there, too. But I didn't exactly want to go and check all the rooms for a survey or anything, if you catch my drift . . .
Yeah, I had a feeling that the SERIOUS couples were kind of in there.
'Get a room,' CeeCee snapped to a duo intensely pashing it off. They turned and gave her a who-the-hell-are-you? look, and then continued.
'Suze, what's this I hear about Brad and Debbie?' CeeCee asked. Again I froze.
'What exactly have you heard?' I grimaced. Frankly, I didn't want to hear it.
'That they're all hot and heavy in Kelly's pool shed,' Adam answered for her.
One word for you: Ew.
That, was the understatement of the millennium.
YUCK! GROSS! WRONG! THE DOPES! EWWWWW!
'No,' I said, 'Dopey's at home. He's grounded. I know he is. For calling you a fag, Adam.'
Adam sneered. 'Damn straight . . . that he's grounded,' he said hurriedly, 'not that I'm a fag, obviously.
CeeCee shrugged. 'Check for yourself, Simon.'
I gave her a look.
'What? You don't believe it? Go see then.'
Fair enough. Trying to keep all my dinner as far down in my stomach as possibly, I walked over to the pool shed, through all the bushes, and peaked through the window.
Thank God. Both of them were still fully clothed. Hang on – erase that, due to the fact that Dopey had just ripped off his shirt. But yeah, they were only, I can safely say, kissing.
And Dopey was GROUNDED!
But, since when did I really want to go and see the Dopes make out? Now, struggling not to tarnish the window with vomit, I backed away, plainly disgusted. I kept backing away, right until I fell butt-first into the bushes, where I rescued myself from drowning completely in shrubbery by grabbing onto these spiky plants. I pulled myself up by them, and stumbled back into civilization.
'Well? Horizontal action?' Adam gulped, holding his stomach at the ready.
'Yeah, but not what you think. Strictly tongue hockey,' I reported, scratching my hands.
I pulled them over to a quieter area – CeeCee and Adam, not my hands, well, okay, them too obviously – where there were only a few shady RLS guys, but no one else, and was about to sit down, when someone tapped me gently on the shoulder.
I spun around, alarmed.
It was one of the RSL guys. He was, like, taller than me, and was totally wearing this silk tee and pants, and even this little chain around his neck. I blinked. Er, was he serious with the outfit? It was a bit New Jersey, right?
'Hi,' he said in the softest voice that I've ever heard – well, on a guy, Adrianna's was softer.
Again, I blinked. 'Er, hi . . .' I said slowly.
'Do you want to dance?' he asked.
I stared at him. 'No, I'm right,' I said awkwardly. I felt bad about turning him down. I mean, he didn't seem like a pig like Eddie or Scott, but still. I'm Jesse's girl.
Even if my Rico is in Spain.
I was horrified with myself.
Suze! Don't call him that! He . . . he called him that!
'Oh . . . ' he said, disappointed. 'Well, okay.' He turned and walked coolly – but not cockily – back over to his friends. They talked in quiet voices, and kept looking at me.
'Suze? Why'd you do that for?' CeeCee wanted to know.
'I . . . I can't dance,' I lied.
'Whatever, Simon. Is it because of Jesse? I mean, seriously, Suze, the guy's in Spain. He's not going to know.'
I snapped.
'Why does everyone want me to cheat on my boyfriend?!' I exploded, 'Do you have a problem with Jesse, CeeCee? Is that it?'
CeeCee stared at me. 'You're the one with the problem, Suze.' She sounded . . . hurt.
I jammed my eyes shut, and walked away.
'Wait!'
For God's sake . . .
'What do you want, Kelly?' I asked, miffed.
Kelly stood there in her lycra mini and her skimpy leopard skinned tank top, looking murderous. She snatched my by the elbow and hauled me into her house, into the bathroom.
'Okay,' she said irately, 'Why?'
'Er, being specific has been known to help in this situation, you –'
'Reject him!' she yelled squeakily.
'Who the –'
'That hot guy who asked you to dance!' she raged on. In high-pitched tones, might I add. Seriously, who needs the Comedy Channel when you can watch Kelly Prescott's eyes bulge like that?
'Him?' I laughed unsmilingly, 'Nah, I didn't feel like dancing.'
Her eyes went from popping to slits of bile. 'Look, Simon. I've had an eye on this guy. And no New York bimbo is going to stand in my way. You go out there and dance with him.'
I stared.
'Er, Kell? Logic much? Let's recap: You like a guy, he asks other girl to dance. Girl refuses. You blow up at girl, because you like guy. You tell girl to dance with guy, because you like guy? Shouldn't you be asking guy to dance? Are we getting the shittiness of your strategy here?'
'I just . . . I just want him to have a good time!' she stressed, clenching her perfectly manicured hands. 'Just dance with him! One dance. It doesn't mean a thing with you and Jesse!'
Sing, Black Eyed Peas, "Where is the sanity?" (A/N: You know who they are, right?)
'Kelly, I still don't get –'
'Just do it,' she spat, so intensely, I thought the mirror was going to shatter just to emphasize her point or something. And it was nothing like the Nike ads, either. It was more like Satan saying to Eve when she felt guilty about taking the Forbidden fruit.
I rolled my eyes. 'Yeah, whatever. Don't pull a muscle or whatever.'
She relaxed. 'Well, I'm glad we got that sorted. Have a nice night,' she said, and let me out of the bathroom.
~*~
'Would you like to dance?'
He was asking me again, on Kelly's deadly orders.
I shrugged, and kind of reddened a little.
'Look,' I said delicately, 'I don't even know your name.'
He grinned. 'It's Tad,' he said in that impossibly soft voice.
He – Tad – led me out to where everyone was dancing. It was a slow song. He placed one hand on the small of my back, and the other on my shoulder. I rested mine around his neck. Now, me, being a far better dancer than say, a month ago, I swayed expertly to the music. Though, seeing it was only slow dancing, you can't give me too much credit.
His breath fluttered on my cheek. And, you know, it was kind of cold in that swimsuit. So it was really very nice, with his warm hands touching me gently like that. In a total non-adulterous way though. No, me good girl. Me Jesse's girl.
I gulped. I felt guilty at how much I was enjoying this. Breath smoothly entered my lungs, and departed them with identical ease. If only . . . if only this was Jesse. I wondered what he was doing now.
Probably getting a lecture from Cora about how much of a slut I was? I'm willing to bet . . . I sighed in a downcast way.
The song ended as calmly as it had begun. His hands slid off me, and he stepped back. 'Thank you,' was all he said. He returned to his friends.
I stared after him.
All of a sudden, though, my thought's were broken by the shrill scream of one of the party-goers.
'Help! Help, someone! I think she's DEAD!'
My luck, huh?
**************************************************************************** ************
Oooh, spooky . . .
Long reviews? Love 'em. Love YOU! REVIEW NOW!!! Or else . . . muahahaha!
Regards,
MystAngel.
~*~
Saz: I will NOT kill Susannah off just so you can have Jesse. Jesse is MINE! **Auto Disclaimer: Jesse belongs to Meggin Patricia Cabot, and not Lolly.** Hypothetically speaking!!
Sheba, Queen of: I don't speak Spanish fluently. Email me, and I'll tell you the secrets of my success, lol . . .
Rissa: I LOVE YOU! Er . . . that was weird . . .
ReaderCHica: I emailed you in response to your questions. That this is a sequel, and that's why it's different. Read that, and then you will get it.
purtymanagirl58: uh, Meg? Nah, I wrote an email to her, and she replied. Which was way cool. I just asked her some stuff about the mediator, and she answered. As in, "Dear Lauren, blah, blah fanfiction, blah, blah, princess diaries, blah, blah sneak peak of Twilight, blah, blah good luck with being an author." It was pretty cool. But nothing major. Still chuffed though . . .
happydrummergal: Yeeeeeeeees, Madeline. Jesse dooooooooes have a penis. Fact of life. That's very nice. Er, very . . . *backs away.* Nah, joking. Heh.
~*~
Okay . . .
**************************************************************************** ************
Suze's POV
'I'm keeping you, forever. You're not going to know what hit you. Pain night after night, just like I felt. I'm going to torture you, Susie. Make you scream, yeah, that's right. You'll beg for freedom. I'll never let you leave. Never. You're mine. I'll never get bored of inflicting pain. I'll never get bored of you, Susie . . . '
Blue eyes . . . Blue eyes!
I felt strong hands grab my lower back and thrust me into him. Hands snaked around my wrists, squeezing, constricting. Like pythons. I fought, but I could not do anything. Not a thing . . .
'Just you wait, Susie . . .
You'll fall for me soon.
I'll be there to catch you.
And I'll hold you prisoner,
Forever . . .'
Angular features lurked before mine. Those strong, intruding lips that seemed to drain me of hope, and those blue eyes that inspired a terror that crushed my heart, and made me freeze over, leaving me cold.
Chilled . . .
Dead.
'Let me go,' I wanted to scream, but nothing came out. Not a sound, not a breath. I couldn't even muster up the strength to struggle anymore. I was limp in his dominant, criminal embrace.
'Kiss me, Suze.'
No.
Never.
'Kiss me . . .'
Hypnotized, my lips drew nearer to his. I couldn't say a word, move a muscle.
And that sucking sensation returned. Like he was bleeding me dry of everything I have ever felt. Everyone I have ever loved.
And I was powerless against this dark magic.
And I was falling . . . Falling into him.
His world.
I could see everything as he saw it. From blue eyes.
Blue eyes, blue eyes!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~*~
'NO!'
I jerked upward, sweating heavily, and panting under my covers. I clutched my chest.
'Shit,' I gasped, and looked over at my clock radio. 3.59am.
It was just a dream.
No, a nightmare. Calm down, Suze. It wasn't real. It was a nightmare. I wiped my forehead, and went to open the window. I rush of cool sea breeze dried my face pleasantly. I sighed, as my breathing settled into a more regular rhythm.
Why?
Why did I let him haunt me like this? When he wasn't even here? How could he have such a powerful hold on me, even from a distance?
I still felt drained . . . And there, then, I collapsed on the window seat, crying.
~*~
'Suze?'
I turned around in my desk. Kelly Prescott was sitting behind me, chewing boredly on a pencil. Her blond locks draped around her angelic, snooty face, and her blue eyes considered mine vaguely. We were both in World Civ. doing a test. Mr Walden had gone out of the room.
'Yeah, Kell?'
'Well, I was just reminding you about my party to –' She stopped. 'Suze, you look, well, really bad. No offense or anything.'
Yeah, no offense, or anything, Suze.
I shrugged. 'Er, didn't sleep much,' I said carelessly. Too carelessly.
She raised her eyebrows. 'Yeah, whatever Simon. You're still messed up about getting beaten up by that mystery dude, right?'
I didn't say anything.
Because it was true . . . Mind, Kelly's best friend had played a cameo role in my injuries. Paul couldn't get ALL the glory for making me scream.
'Because, well, my dad, he's like, I lawyer, and he can so sue the guy. Or something,' she said, still chewing on the pencil.
Yeah, if only this guy couldn't just . . . disappear from jail or anything.
'Kelly, you're gonna get lead poisoning,' I pointed out.
She blinked, and stopped chewing her pencil. 'So, are you coming to my party? Because I can SO hook you up with a guy –'
'I'm with Jesse,' I replied sharply.
She smiled sneakily. 'Yeah, but he's in Spain, Suze.'
'No, he'd still be on the plane.'
'That's not what I meant. You can't expect a guy like Jesse to go to Spain, in a land of all these hot chicks, and stay faithful, right? I mean, come on, Suze. That's way naïve of you. And I'm sure the Spanish ladies can't keep their paws off of him, either. I mean, discussing Jesse De Silva here?' she said, with a somewhat lustful sigh there. 'You're just lucky you saw him first . . . I so would have bagged him.'
I turned back around. Could she be right? Would Jesse just forget about me like that? Go off and screw around with some señorita?
No, Kelly's just winding you up, Suze. Ignore her.
But –
'So come to the party, Suze. I mean, you so need to get out more as it is. And there's gonna be booze there, too! Dad is totally letting me, just as long as, you know, I'm careful with people driving home and stuff. Oh, come on, Simon. You said you'd come ages ago –'
'Okay, Kelly!' I hissed at her. 'I'm there.'
Really, that thing about her saying I needed to get out more had bugged me. Me? Not getting out? I get out a lot. I go to the beach, and, to the Coffee Clutch, and . . .
. . . break into people's homes to deal with feral ghosts . . .
Oh, yes. That counts SO much when my social life is concerned. Really.
So yeah. A party couldn't hurt, right?
'Pool party,' she shot at me. 'I have a pool.'
'Yeah, I kind of gathered that. Unless we were planning to be swimming in puddles.'
'Swimming?'
I turned around again. 'Er, thus the point of a pool? I mean –'
'Suze, Kelly! This is a test. Shut up and get on with it,' Mr Walden scolded as he marched back in. Mr Walden is generally an okay guy, but just don't get on his bad side.
'I'd expect better from the President and Vice of our sophomore class,' he went on, annoyed.
Okay, okay, cool it already.
I wished Jesse were here . . .
~*~
Pool party my ARSE!
I couldn't believe it! There I was, in a SWIMSUIT, with forty or so people flocking around me, in CASUAL! I stared in horror as people paraded around in SWEATERS. Slacks! Dresses!
But noooooooo swimsuits.
Kelly, I'm gonna KILL YOU!
How am I, Susannah Simon, ex-New Yorker, supposed to know that no swimming goes on a pool parties? That they are called pool parties simply so girls can stare at the pool, wishing they'd brought their bikinis to show off their fabulous bodies to all the guys? And for the guys, strictly for peeing in as dares?
I was outraged, I really was. I mean, REALLY.
I sighed, and walked over to get a handful of chips. This was so going to suck, I knew it. No one would ask me to dance, and even if they did, I'd have to turn them down. I'm committed you see.
To Jesse.
Who's in . . . Spain.
That was when a very flushed Debbie Mancuso, minion of Kelly, came rushing up to me, in a totally skanky tank top that was WAY too small for her. It was black, with a red lace fringe along the neck and red lace-up sides. And the pants matched.
Yeah, believe it. It was all I could to keep myself from laughing.
'Have you seen Brad?' she asked breathlessly.
'Dopey?,' I replied. 'Nah, he's grounded. He's at home.'
Yeah, for calling Adam a fag the other day. Ha ha to him, I say.
Debbie looked crestfallen. 'Really?' she asked sadly.
'I'm afraid it's true, Deb.' Then I added, 'well, not so afraid. But yeah.'
'Okay,' she said, pouting, and drifted through the crowd.
I smirked to myself. Stupid Dopey . . . Should start calling Debbie, er, Dopina, or something.
Dopey and Dopina, on dope!
Yeah, totally.
I sat for the next half an hour, dead bored. I mean, hey, I might not be the sexiest looking one here, but surely someone would ask me to dance, so I could reject them? Surely!
But no. You're not that pretty, Suze. Don't flatter yourself.
I stared sadly into my empty cup of punch. I was lucky I'd managed to get some alcohol free, before some of the jocks had spiked it. Kelly had gone off her brain at one of them. It was really funny to watch, but besides that, nothing much had happened. Then . . .
'Did you hear? Debbie and Brad are at it!'
I froze. Brad Ackerman? Hell no . . .
Scott Turner and his friend Eddie Harrison rounded on me. 'Hey Suze,' they leered. Eddie guffawed, and elbowed Scott. 'Wanna dance?' Eddie asked.
I scoffed cynically. 'No thank you.'
'Aw, come on,' he goaded, 'Bet you're shit.'
'Well,' I sniffed, 'You're not going to find out. I haven't sunk as low as dancing with losers, yet.'
Scott did this big "oooh!" thing, and hammered Eddie on the back, who gave me a dirty look.
'Man, you way uptight,' he whined, and walked away. Scott then foolishly tried his luck. He nodded at me, looking me up and down, with this sick, alive expression on his face. I felt like puking.
'Mmm, you look good tonight, girl. . . What do ya say, Simon?' he grinned coolly, semi-punching me on the arm.
'I say no,' I said shortly, and stood up and walked away.
But Mr Scotty Turner isn't the brightest candle on the birthday cake, is he now? He followed me through the crowd, then – I am so serious – groped my butt.
My eyes went wide in shock.
'Okay, that's it.' I seized him by the shirt, and pitched him head first into the pool.
He fell in with an almighty splash, yelling in surprise. It could have happened in slow motion, with his legs kicking and flailing in mid air.
Everyone stared for a moment, in stunned silence, and then burst into wild applause. 'You GO, Simon!'
'Woot! Turner got DUNKED!'
I beamed.
Scott resurfaced, looking livid. His gelled hair was plastered to his forehead, and his lip was quivering. He splashed about, trying not to sink in his heavy clothes. Beads of water flew everywhere.
Whoa . . . The dude sure was pissed off . . .
'You BITCH!' he gurgled, 'This jacket's bloody Armani!'
'Well, you shouldn't have worn it too a pool party, then,' I said lightly, crossing my arms smugly. I tossed my hair. 'Don't touch my ass, Scott.'
His mates were falling about laughing. It was way funny. I chuckled at him, and walked away, shaking my head knowingly. Well, at least someone thought my ass was worth touching. That was something. Even if the someone in question was a nobody.
'Suze!'
I turned around, and there, CeeCee and Adam were running towards me. Well, CeeCee not as enthusiastic as Adam, but yeah, whatever. She'd been acting way weird ever since that thing with Paul. And I hadn't even talked to her about it . . . I just couldn't bring it up myself even. What would I say? CeeCee is the defender of science everywhere.
'You just dumped Turner in a pool. Are you a goddess?' Adam wanted to know, and shuffled to his knees. 'I bow before you, oh boldest one . . . with strong arm muscles.'
'Get up,' I smiled, and gave him a hug. CeeCee smiled softly. 'Hey Suze,' she greeted shortly.
'Hi,' I replied. 'Avoid Kelly, you two. She was on a warpath when I told her I'd invited the two of you.'
'Of course,' Adam said sourly, 'We ain't cool.'
'You are way cool,' I frowned, 'Just, in an uncool way.'
CeeCee looked around. 'Wow, there's a lot of people from RLS here, aye?'
'Huh?'
'Robert Louis Stevensen,' she said, 'Duh? Our rival school?'
'Oh,' I said, 'them.'
It was true. Just in this courtyard of forty kids, majority was from RLS. And in the house, well, there were heaps in there, too. But I didn't exactly want to go and check all the rooms for a survey or anything, if you catch my drift . . .
Yeah, I had a feeling that the SERIOUS couples were kind of in there.
'Get a room,' CeeCee snapped to a duo intensely pashing it off. They turned and gave her a who-the-hell-are-you? look, and then continued.
'Suze, what's this I hear about Brad and Debbie?' CeeCee asked. Again I froze.
'What exactly have you heard?' I grimaced. Frankly, I didn't want to hear it.
'That they're all hot and heavy in Kelly's pool shed,' Adam answered for her.
One word for you: Ew.
That, was the understatement of the millennium.
YUCK! GROSS! WRONG! THE DOPES! EWWWWW!
'No,' I said, 'Dopey's at home. He's grounded. I know he is. For calling you a fag, Adam.'
Adam sneered. 'Damn straight . . . that he's grounded,' he said hurriedly, 'not that I'm a fag, obviously.
CeeCee shrugged. 'Check for yourself, Simon.'
I gave her a look.
'What? You don't believe it? Go see then.'
Fair enough. Trying to keep all my dinner as far down in my stomach as possibly, I walked over to the pool shed, through all the bushes, and peaked through the window.
Thank God. Both of them were still fully clothed. Hang on – erase that, due to the fact that Dopey had just ripped off his shirt. But yeah, they were only, I can safely say, kissing.
And Dopey was GROUNDED!
But, since when did I really want to go and see the Dopes make out? Now, struggling not to tarnish the window with vomit, I backed away, plainly disgusted. I kept backing away, right until I fell butt-first into the bushes, where I rescued myself from drowning completely in shrubbery by grabbing onto these spiky plants. I pulled myself up by them, and stumbled back into civilization.
'Well? Horizontal action?' Adam gulped, holding his stomach at the ready.
'Yeah, but not what you think. Strictly tongue hockey,' I reported, scratching my hands.
I pulled them over to a quieter area – CeeCee and Adam, not my hands, well, okay, them too obviously – where there were only a few shady RLS guys, but no one else, and was about to sit down, when someone tapped me gently on the shoulder.
I spun around, alarmed.
It was one of the RSL guys. He was, like, taller than me, and was totally wearing this silk tee and pants, and even this little chain around his neck. I blinked. Er, was he serious with the outfit? It was a bit New Jersey, right?
'Hi,' he said in the softest voice that I've ever heard – well, on a guy, Adrianna's was softer.
Again, I blinked. 'Er, hi . . .' I said slowly.
'Do you want to dance?' he asked.
I stared at him. 'No, I'm right,' I said awkwardly. I felt bad about turning him down. I mean, he didn't seem like a pig like Eddie or Scott, but still. I'm Jesse's girl.
Even if my Rico is in Spain.
I was horrified with myself.
Suze! Don't call him that! He . . . he called him that!
'Oh . . . ' he said, disappointed. 'Well, okay.' He turned and walked coolly – but not cockily – back over to his friends. They talked in quiet voices, and kept looking at me.
'Suze? Why'd you do that for?' CeeCee wanted to know.
'I . . . I can't dance,' I lied.
'Whatever, Simon. Is it because of Jesse? I mean, seriously, Suze, the guy's in Spain. He's not going to know.'
I snapped.
'Why does everyone want me to cheat on my boyfriend?!' I exploded, 'Do you have a problem with Jesse, CeeCee? Is that it?'
CeeCee stared at me. 'You're the one with the problem, Suze.' She sounded . . . hurt.
I jammed my eyes shut, and walked away.
'Wait!'
For God's sake . . .
'What do you want, Kelly?' I asked, miffed.
Kelly stood there in her lycra mini and her skimpy leopard skinned tank top, looking murderous. She snatched my by the elbow and hauled me into her house, into the bathroom.
'Okay,' she said irately, 'Why?'
'Er, being specific has been known to help in this situation, you –'
'Reject him!' she yelled squeakily.
'Who the –'
'That hot guy who asked you to dance!' she raged on. In high-pitched tones, might I add. Seriously, who needs the Comedy Channel when you can watch Kelly Prescott's eyes bulge like that?
'Him?' I laughed unsmilingly, 'Nah, I didn't feel like dancing.'
Her eyes went from popping to slits of bile. 'Look, Simon. I've had an eye on this guy. And no New York bimbo is going to stand in my way. You go out there and dance with him.'
I stared.
'Er, Kell? Logic much? Let's recap: You like a guy, he asks other girl to dance. Girl refuses. You blow up at girl, because you like guy. You tell girl to dance with guy, because you like guy? Shouldn't you be asking guy to dance? Are we getting the shittiness of your strategy here?'
'I just . . . I just want him to have a good time!' she stressed, clenching her perfectly manicured hands. 'Just dance with him! One dance. It doesn't mean a thing with you and Jesse!'
Sing, Black Eyed Peas, "Where is the sanity?" (A/N: You know who they are, right?)
'Kelly, I still don't get –'
'Just do it,' she spat, so intensely, I thought the mirror was going to shatter just to emphasize her point or something. And it was nothing like the Nike ads, either. It was more like Satan saying to Eve when she felt guilty about taking the Forbidden fruit.
I rolled my eyes. 'Yeah, whatever. Don't pull a muscle or whatever.'
She relaxed. 'Well, I'm glad we got that sorted. Have a nice night,' she said, and let me out of the bathroom.
~*~
'Would you like to dance?'
He was asking me again, on Kelly's deadly orders.
I shrugged, and kind of reddened a little.
'Look,' I said delicately, 'I don't even know your name.'
He grinned. 'It's Tad,' he said in that impossibly soft voice.
He – Tad – led me out to where everyone was dancing. It was a slow song. He placed one hand on the small of my back, and the other on my shoulder. I rested mine around his neck. Now, me, being a far better dancer than say, a month ago, I swayed expertly to the music. Though, seeing it was only slow dancing, you can't give me too much credit.
His breath fluttered on my cheek. And, you know, it was kind of cold in that swimsuit. So it was really very nice, with his warm hands touching me gently like that. In a total non-adulterous way though. No, me good girl. Me Jesse's girl.
I gulped. I felt guilty at how much I was enjoying this. Breath smoothly entered my lungs, and departed them with identical ease. If only . . . if only this was Jesse. I wondered what he was doing now.
Probably getting a lecture from Cora about how much of a slut I was? I'm willing to bet . . . I sighed in a downcast way.
The song ended as calmly as it had begun. His hands slid off me, and he stepped back. 'Thank you,' was all he said. He returned to his friends.
I stared after him.
All of a sudden, though, my thought's were broken by the shrill scream of one of the party-goers.
'Help! Help, someone! I think she's DEAD!'
My luck, huh?
**************************************************************************** ************
Oooh, spooky . . .
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