Chapter Two

"Sooo, how did the dinner go?" Cee Cee asked, slamming her locker shut.

"Um, okay." I managed to squeak out. Last night was just too mortifying for words.

"How'd your parents and Jesse get along?" She asked, not ready to let me off the hook that easily.

"Uh, Cee, it was a NIGHTMARE, okay? They asked him what his INTENTIONS are!"

"Eek," Cee Cee said, making a sour face.

She had no idea.

"You still haven't told me how...it, you know happened."

I knew exactly what the "It" she was refering to was. I knew she was going to ask me that. I know I cant keep dodging the question, but honestly, I don't want to remember anything about that horrible night in the lodge, the fire...let alone discuss it with anyone.

"What's there to tell?" I asked. "He was dead before and now he's...not. That's all there is to it" I couldn't help but smile at that realization. But Cee Cee wouldn't have any of it.

"He was dead before, but now he's not," She echoed.

"Yep. I just really don't like talking about it. I'm not even so sure what happened myself. It's complicated."

"Whatever, Simon," Cee Cee said, in a very agitated voice. She checked to make sure she had all her textbooks, then walked down the hall in a fed up kind of way. I can't blame her, really. There's so much I've been keeping from her for so long.

"Wait, wait, wait!" I called after her, running to catch up. Which is no picnic in four-inch heels, by the way.

"I forgot to ask," I panted. "How's it going with Adam?"

A little glimmer flashed in her violet eyes at the mention of his name,

"I knew it," I said.

And for the first time, I listened to Cee Cee giddily ramble on about something "as frivolous as a boy" I never thought I'd see the day when Cee Cee Webb went completely jelloid over a guy. Man, she REALLY had it bad for him! I mean, I've always known she had a thing for our other best friend, Adam, but I've never seen her so gaga looking over him before!

I so know how she feels. Everything changes when you find That Guy that makes your knees weak. I never thought I'd get this way over a guy. I'd always prided myself on being an independent woman. But then again, I'd never met a guy like Jesse before.

So on the way to homeroom, we squealed and we swooned over our "dream boys" like complete morons. That is, until Paul showed up.

"Suze," he said, approaching me with a twisted grin on his handsome face.

"Hey, Paul," I said a little uncomfortably. Things between us have been weirder than ever, since the night of the fire.

"Hello, Paul," Cee Cee said in a cold-as-ice tone. I had told her everything that had happened to me. You know, him leaving me for the dead, trying to off my boyfriend, sexually harassing me (and making me want to sexually harass him right back siccing his Hell's Angels on me when I tried to escape. After hearing the story, let's just say that Cee Cee didn't exactly feel so warm and fuzzy about Paul Slater anymore.

"Suze," Paul said, "I hope to see you at shifter lessons tonight. I'm thinking around five. I have some buisness to attend to after school."

Ah, Kelly Buisness, I assumed. Wait–Shifter lessons? Why would I go to shifter lessons anymore? JESSE'S ALIVE!

"Uh, Paul, are you not aware of the fact that Jesse is alive, as in not a ghost. Therefore my presence at our lessons is no longer required."

"We had a deal," Paul said in the same cool voice, with the same twisted grin.

"If I'm not mistaken," I said, a little shakily, "the deal was that I'd attend weekly shifter lessons if in return, you agreed not to excorcize Jesse. He isn't dead anymore, Paul. You cant hurt him!"

I really had thought Paul had turned over a new leaf, or whatever. Or at least given up on me. But Jesse's alive now! Where exactly did he think forcing me to spend time with him would get him? Certainly not where he wanted to be. Which was in my pants.

But most importantly, why the hell did he think I still had to come?

"Just because Jesse is no longer a ghost," Paul said, "doesn't mean I can't send him to the Great Beyond."

No.Oh, no.

"That would be mur–"

"Think about it, Suze, I think you'll make the right decision." he said, cutting me off, and strode away to return to his spot in front of Kelly's locker, so they could tongue-wrestle some more.

A wave of dread washed over me. I could not believe I actually trusted him. How could I be stupid enough to let my guard down for for one second?

'Paul is going to kill Jesse,' was all I was capable of thinking. Paul is going to kill Jesse.

Ignoring my body's sudden urge to collapse right there on the hard stone floor, I ran to Father Dominic's office.

"Father Dominic!" I shouted, "I need to talk to you! Something terrible is going to happen!"

I put my hand on his desk to steady myself and caught my breath.

I normally don't get this hysterical. It's just finally–finally–when Jesse and I can be together and nothing can go wrong, THIS happens. And I just don't think I can take much more.

"Susannah, calm down," Father D said, straightening his collar–which was strangely undone– and pushing his glasses up with his pointer. "Tell me what the problem is. Is it Jesse? Has something happened between the two of you? Or has a ghost–"

"No, Father Dom! It's P-paul..he said...I think...HE'S GOING TO KILL JESSE!"

To say Father Dominic looked taken aback by this statement would be a huge understatement.

"What? Could you please repeat that?"

"Paul told me I have to go to shifter lessons and I said no because Jesse's alive and he can't excorcize him now and he said that just because Jesse's alive doesn't mean he couldn't hut him!" I blubbered.

"Susannah, you must be mistaken. Even one as immoral as Mr.Slater appears to be would not take another's life. I thought you said things between Paul and you were 'cool'?"

"Yeah, I THOUGHT SO!" I shrieked.

"Susannah, please stop screaming," Father Dom said, sounding a little exasperated. "Paul is not going to kill Jesse. I will speak to him later about this to clear everything up You are being paranoid about this. Jesse is fine. He can take care of himself.

"But Father D! he–"

"No buts. It's time for you to get to class," he said. "First period is nearly over. You have nothing to worry about, now be on your way."

I could not believe this! Was he DEAF?

"Father Dom! Did you just hear one word I said?!"

"Yes, Susannah, and I believe you are overreacting, I do not think you are accustomed to the idea that every day there does not have to be some sort of disaster."

I sighed. "I guess you're right. Hey, wait a sec," I said, noticing how flustered Father Dominic looked. "How come you're so red and breathing so hard? Have you and Sister Ernestine finally given in to your raw passion for eachother?"

Father D looked appalled. "Heavens no, Susannah! Of course not. Now run along."

I guess he was right. Father Dom, I mean. Paul may excorcize ghosts, or travel back in time to keep them from having died in the first place, even when they don't want him to, but he wouldn't KILL someone. Someone ALIVE.

But if his ODing "Grandpa Gork" meant anything, signs pointed to otherwise.

No. He wouldn't kill Jesse. We had a truce. He's got Kelly now. He's over me, he just wants to freak me out. That's just the way Paul is.