I tried to slouch down in the old chair I was sitting in. Let me tell you now though: it hurt way more than was necessary. What do they think people are made of? Bricks? I don't even think it's possible to sit that straight in a chair. I mean come on. It was starting to hurt my butt too, so I decided it would be better if I stood.
"Having trouble there?" Paul smirked from across the room. I shot him an evil glance before going in search of a cushion. I started fumbling in the desk drawers, bumping my head in the process. I heard Paul laughing across the room.
"Shut up." I said, rubbing my throbbing head. Where the hell had Jesse gone anyway?
I finally found a cushion and plonked it on top of the chair. I swear it hurt even worse than before.
"Who makes this stuff?" I asked in annoyance as I threw it onto the huge canopy bed. I gave up on sitting and instead leant against a wall in a huff.
"I believe you did." Paul answered me, looking clearly amused, "18th century girls take sewing lessons remember." I stared at him in horror.
"I so did not make that cushion." I told him with raised eyebrows.
"Just like you never stuffed it with the wrong material and pretended it was right?" he asked. I looked at him suspiciously.
"Just how much of my 'old' life did you plan out?" I asked using my fingers as quotation marks on the air.
He just smirked. This of course meant: everything. Just my luck to have my mortal enemy calling the shots on my alternate life.
Just then however Jesse appeared in front of me. I clamped a hand over my heart, breathing hard.
"Jesus, Jesse!" I screeched in shock. He gave me an amused smile before turning towards Paul.
"How do we get her out of here?" he asked in a dangerous voice. I could see there was no danger of them ever becoming best mates after all. He looked ready to tear the guys head off.
"Now why would we want to do that?" Paul asked lazily. His eyes were challenging. And Jesse went for him. Well he would have if I hadn't grabbed him. Men are such losers sometimes.
"Look, is anyone going to explain what's going on here?" I asked feeling rather pissed; but at the same time really tired. I'd had enough.
Jesse looked at me sadly then nodded. He turned to Paul more calmly than before.
"You have had your fun. Now it is time for this to stop. How do we get through the portal?"
Paul shuffled uncomfortably and looked up at him guiltily.
"When I did this, I never expected her to come back. I don't know how to go back to the present."
"What do you mean? You would have just left her here?" Jesse asked as shocked as I felt.
"Well yeah. That was the plan." He glanced up at me apologetically.
"Oh thanks a bunch Paul. So much for your 'undying love'" I couldn't believe him. What a complete jerk!
"You must be able to find a way to get out of here." Jesse said through gritted teeth. I just looked away. How could he have done something like this?
"Look, I'm sorry Suze. I truly am. But when I sent you here I was pissed out of my mind. I wasn't thinking straight. All I knew was that I wanted to get back at you. I know I was an idiot……"
"You can say that again." I muttered darkly.
"…but you have to believe me when I say I never wanted all this to happen."
"You are such a hypocrite. How can you not want this to happen and want it to happen all at the same time?" I asked angrily. I could rip this guys head off as well. Jesse would have to fight me for first hit.
"You will go back to the Shadowland and ask the gatekeeper." Jesse said quietly. Both Paul and I looked at him in confusion.
"And what exactly will that accomplish?" Paul asked him sourly. Jesse turned to me looking very unhappy.
"I wouldn't ask it of you normally. I know how you feel about the spiritual plain. But right now we have no other option. I think the gatekeeper could help you."
I nodded slowly, not at all happy with his theory. I did not want to go back there again. The Shadowland I mean. But I guess not everyone always gets what they want.
"I'll try it tonight." I whispered.
So tonight it was. Make or break. I wish I'd thought it through before.