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AGAIN
Chapter Six: The Datebuster
Jesse
Susannah looked beautiful.
Ever since that morning in her apartment I had started to see her in a new light. Well, actually, it was a light so old it looked new. When she looked up at me and smiled I felt the same thing I had so many years ago when I first saw her – a cute girl with an attitude she wasn't afraid to use – I think I feel in love right on the spot. That morning I feel in love all over again.
So, when Jerry asked me to go with him and his family to this charity thing his family organized each year, the first thing that came to my mind was to ask Susannah to go with me. I gave her the "friends, just friends" speech, of course – she was still married after all. And she agreed to come with me to the formal diner at the Daniels manor in San Francisco.
And, like I said, she looked beautiful.
We were having a good time. I even danced with her – something that I wasn't too fond to do but I did it anyway, just to have her in my arms – and then, of course, Slater ruined it.
"Suze!" He said, approaching us in the balcony, where most of the people invited were gathering to see the fireworks that were the ending of the evening. "Didn't think I would see you here."
"What are you doing here, Paul?" Susannah asked, her shoulders tensing just at the mere sight of him.
"Well, my firm happens to be a great contributor to Mrs. Daniel's charities. It's natural that I was invited. Now, what I'm really wondering is what are you, Rico, doing with my wife?"
"Paul, Sod it with the wife thing already, will you? As for next week I won't be your wife anymore." Susannah said.
"But as for this week, you're still my wife, Suze." Paul said, in a low voice that tried to be menacing. "That lawyer of yours played all the dirty cards to get you that divorce but, believe me honey; you haven't heard the last of me."
"Whatever." She said, rolling her lovely emerald eyes. Then she grabbed my arm. "Jesse, I think is time for us to go, is a long drive back home."
And so, back home we went.
I didn't mind the long drive, as long as she was by my side. She fell asleep half the way there so instead taking her to her house I took her to mine and carried her inside and set her in my bed. Susannah is one heavy sleeper, she didn't even stir. I wrapped her up with a blanket and for a long while I just sat there with her, looking at her like I used to do… so many years ago.
Suze
Dates.
Dates is something I'm not used to.
In the strict sense of the world I've only have two dates in my whole life, Tad and Paul… and both dates were- one way or another – busted by Jesse. So, you see, dating is not something I have a whole lot of experience with. So, saying I was nervous about having a date with Mike was a big understatement.
Just as I was finishing getting dress, the door rang, it was six-thirty, so I knew it wasn't Michael –he had said he'll pick me up at seven – so it had to be…
"Jesse!" I said, cheerfully, letting him in. "Thanks for doing this, really."
"Well, I do owe you for the whole Night in San Francisco thing." He said pleasantly, he was wearing jeans and a green t-shirt that looked marvelous with his olive skin. He looked so good, good enough the make me forget for a moment that I was getting ready for my big date. But it was not my fault. Jesse always looks good. It's all about hotness. Jesse was born to be a hottie and so a hottie he is, no matter what he's wearing.
"But really, thanks for doing this." I said, somehow losing the trail of the conversation, so I looked at Fido, he and Ruffus were playing with some doggie-balls. "Usually I would just leave Fido at home, but the girl from the 406 is having a party and Fido gets really upset with all the noise if he is alone."
"Is quite alright, Ruffus was bugging me to come anyway." Jesse said. I was laughing, but I stopped when I saw Jesse frown. "Were exactly Miss Webb and you are going?"
"I'm going to the Thai restaurant down town, the one next to the French one."
"I know the one."
"Yeah, I'm going there. Only that not with Cee Cee."
"With who then?" He asked, "With whom are you going out dressed like that."
I looked down at my dress; it was a gray slip dress that I really liked, even when it had been Paul's gift for our anniversary last year. "What's wrong with my dress?"
"There is nothing wrong with it." Jesse assured me in an annoyed tone.
"Oh, good," I said, looking around for my locket. "I'm going out with Mike; remember that I told you he was going to ask me out once the divorce were final?"
The frown that crossed his face told me that he, indeed, remembered. "Are you sure that's wise? Going out with Mr. Hertz?"
I shrugged. "He has been a good friend in the last months." I said, and then added. "Oh, no…" I had found my locket, and the chain was all tangled, it would take me forever to get untie the knots. "I really wanted to wear this."
"What's the problem?" Jesse asked from the couch where he had seated and was flipping channels. I passed him my locket, it was silver and heart shaped, corny, I know but my dad had given it to me for my fifth birthday. "Is all tangled. And it's my lucky charm." Jesse, typical male, had gone about untangling the chain. I believe there is something in their psyche that makes them want to fix things. "I always wear it when I feel like I need a little extra courage, you know?"
"I don't think I have seen you wear it before." Jesse said after a thoughtful moment.
"I never really had a reason to wear it. After we met and that thing with the crazy, psycho Heather, I knew I was safe around you. You would never let anything harm me so I never wore it. Not even when I went to creepy shadowland to get you. Though I was wearing it when I meet you, I thought that moving across the country was unnerving enough like to merit wearing my locket."
The doorbell rang again. "I guess I'll just wear something else." I said standing up. "Can you get the door?"
Jesse grumbled something but went to open the door. When I returned to the living room, Jesse and Mike were eying each other icily. "Okay," I said, grabbing my purse and kneeling down to pet Ruffus and Fido. "You got my cell phone in case of any emergency," I said to Jesse, who just nodded, standing there with his arms crossed in front of his chest. I walked over him and kissed his cheek. "See you later."
"Have fun, querida." Jesse said as I ushered Mike outside. Jesse now calls me querida now and then… why I don't know. Anyway, Jesse's tone was clear indicative he did not want me to have fun, in fact, he sounded kind of jealous.
JdS1850: Hey, Jer. What's up?
DocLove: Nothing, man, why?
JdS1850: Well, is Saturday night and you're at home. Shouldn't you be with Samantha?
DocLove: That was the plan, but she had an emergency.
JdS1850: Is she alright?
DocLove: Sure. Her emergency was that she found out orange is going to be out from the summer season, so she needs to buy a new wardrobe. Did you know Green is the new Pink?
JdS1850:
JdS1850: You need to STOP reading Sam's magazines.
DocLove: Can't help it, she always takes too much getting ready; I get bored waiting for her. But I love her anyway.
DocLove: So, what are you doing?
JdS1850: Nothing.
JdS1850: I'm pet-sitting. Susannah is out. And since I was waiting for the mail from the organ donors association, I logged in Susannah's computer to check.
DocLove: Gee. Jesse, I'm saying this as your friend. YOU NEED TO GET OUT MORE!!!!!!!
JdS1850: I have a very satisfactory life, thank you.
DocLove: C'mon, I bet you haven't gotten laid since Sherry dumped you.
JdS1850: Jeremy…. I for one do not talk about such things.
DocLove:
DocLove: I'll take that as a yes…
JdS1850: Jeremy.
DocLove: Don't get your panties twisted. I'll change the subject. So, you said Suze was out?
JdS1850: Yeah, her lawyer asked her out.
JdS1850: Is that even alright? I mean, the guy was her divorce lawyer and now he just takes the first opportunity he gets to ask Susannah out when she is clearly in a very vulnerable stage of her life.
DocLove: Uh huh
JdS1850: Besides, he took her to a Thai restaurant! Who does that?
DocLove: Well, Susannah's lawyer, obviously.
DocLove: Don't glare. I know you're glaring at the screen.
JdS1850: I wasn't
DocLove: Well, what are you going to do about it?
JdS1850: Do? About what?
DocLove: Susannah and The Evil Lawyer.
DocLove: I mean, is obvious that you want them to part company with each other.
JdS1850: Whatever you meant by that.
JdS1850: You know what, I'm getting hungry.
JdS1850: I think I'll try out that Thai place downtown, you know, the one next to the French one.
DocLove: But Jesse?
DocLove: You don't even like Thai food.
JdS1850 has logged off.
Suze
I was having a good time, I think.
Food was good, though I must admit that thing with the shrimps tasted a little funny. But Mike was being all nice. But somehow, all I could think of is that I was missing "Troy" on the Special Marathon of Brad Pitt movies. Few men can pull off a letter mini skirt like Brad did. And also, Eric Bana was kind of smoking too.
Mike was telling me this story about a legal dissertation, and I was very busy trying to pay attention when I loud bark made me snap out of my daydreams about Eric Bana playing Hector. I looked up and sure enough there was Fido, standing over where people pick up their take out, and next to him was Ruffus. Oh, and who was with them might I ask?
Jesse.
"Would you excuse me for a moment?" I said while standing up and going over to Jesse, who seemed busy picking up food.
"Are you sure that shrimp is fresh?" He was asking.
"Jesse." I said as a greeting.
"Oh, hi Susannah," he said, I could tell he was up to something. "You know, you were talking about Thai food and I just had to try it. I didn't know you were coming here of course… I hope I'm not disrupting your diner or anything."
I grabbed Jesse by the arm and dragged him outside. "You know good and well what are you doing. I told you I was coming here and here you had to come."
"Excuse me, Susannah, but I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."
"Don't play dumb. You're doing it! You're in your Date-buster mode. This is the Tad incident all over!"
"Hey! It has nothing to do with that. Tad was no good. But if you want to go about it right now, so is this Michael-guy. He's no good for you."
"And you know this because suddenly you're a big expert on 'What's best for Suze'?" He was about to answer but I cut him. "You know what, just go home, I'll see you there, and we are going to have a good talk about this."
"Fine, I'll see you at home. But, just for the record, I do expect you to keep your tongue to yourself."
I must admit that right then I called Jesse something that I'm very ashamed to repeat, so I won't.
Jesse
Okay, that was definitely not one of my best ideas.
But a guy has to do what a guy has to do.
I went back to Susannah's apartment and sat there watching TV, waiting for Susannah to come back. I expected her to be very angry but…
"Not now, Jesse." Was the first thing she said when she closed the door. "I feel awful."
"Are you alright?" She was pale though a little bit greenish.
"Do I look alright?" She snapped and I didn't tell her that she looked good no matter what she wore. "I think I'm going to be sick."
And as if one cue she went to the bathroom and threw up. "I so knew that shrimp-y thingy tasted funny." She said while I pressed a soaked a towel with cold water and pressed it to her forehead.
I checked her pulse and color quickly. "I think the worst is over. You threw up already, so I don't think you'll get sicker." I said, elapsing to my doctor tone. "Though I would advice to lay off greasy food and that kind of stuff, let your stomach rest for a while."
"Okay." She said, slowly getting up. She asked me to leave her for a moment so she could change into her pajamas. Once she was tucked in I decided it was time to go home, not that I wanted. Besides the fact that I was worried for her as a doctor and a friend, I also wanted to be next to her all the time.
"I'll leave you to rest." I said reluctantly.
"No. Jesse, please don't go." Susannah was clearly feeling sick if she was asking me to stay. "I feel sick and I don't wanna be alone."
"You'll be fine in the morning." I assured her.
"Stay, please. At least till I fall asleep."
I dragged an armchair next to her bed and stat there. "I'll stay here if that's what you want."
Susannah smiled weakly – she was still pale but I knew she would be alright – and took my hand in hers, pulling it under her blankets. "Thank you, Jesse. You're a date-buster, but I do like having you around."
"Sleep, querida."
Suze
When I woke up the morning after my date fiasco I didn't see Jesse around, and the armchair had been moved back to its place and Ruffus had curled up on it. Fido was lying by the foot of my bed and I still felt sick.
I was thinking that maybe Jesse had already gone home when I heard footsteps coming closer and into my bedroom.
"Good, you're awake. I didn't want to have to wake you up." Jesse said; he was carrying a tray. "How do you feel?"
"So so." I answered sitting up on the bed. As I did so I noticed my TV had been collocated in a table in front of my bed. "My stomach feels funny."
"I expected it would." Jesse said, carefully placing the tray in front of me. "Here, eat this. And drink all your tea, trust me, té de manzanilla is the best for stomach ache. My mother used to give it to me when I was a boy."
I looked down at my breakfast; there was a cup of tea, some fruit and two slices of toasted bread –cut in triangles – with strawberry jam. Jesse had cut the crust off the bread, just like I liked it. That was the sweetest thing anyone had done for me in ages. And Jesse had done it.
And I had a funny wish at that moment. I wished Jesse never left. I wished he would always be there with me to take care of me when I got sick, to bandage my feet when I made unwise decisions about footwear or when I needed someone to cut the crust off my bread.
"What is it, querida? You don't like strawberry jam?" Jesse asked.
He was sitting kind of in front of me to on the side of the bed, so I leaned forward and kissed him, just a baby kiss on the lips. As far as kisses went, I didn't even count. "I love strawberry." I said. Not my brightest answer but it worked.
"I got a call from the hospital." Jesse said as he picked up my empty tray. "I have to go for a while, but I'll be back." He added sitting next to me again, and tucking some of my hair behind my ear, only then did I wonder how my hair must have looked like. "I already fed Fido and Ruffus, and walked them. I moved your TV here so you wouldn't get bored. Now, I want you to stay in bed and rest. Okay?"
I nodded, "Yes."
Jesse kissed my forehead then and his hand touched my cheek. His touch was very, very gentle but it made something inside of me stir, something that I thought was long dead and buried. "I won't be long. Call me if you need anything."
I was too astonished and distracted –thanks to the fluttering of my heart – that all I did was nod again as Jesse walked out of my room. I reached for the remote control Jesse had left by my bed side and I noticed my heart locket was next to it. All the knots on the chain gone. I smiled. "Sure you don't need anything?" Jesse yelled from the door.
"I'm fine," I yelled back but had a second thought. "Could you stop by the Blockbuster and rent Troy?"
You Got Mail
To: Sam (fashiongirl )
From: Jerry (DocLove )
Re: Jessekins in love
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi, sweetie!
I know you told me not to bother you while you shopped but I thought you might like to know that our little baby Jessekins is in love!
I'm just letting you know because you said that Jesse was the biggest commitment-phobe you had ever meet and I told you that he only had to find the right girl.
Well, guess what?
HE FOUND HER.
And I think you owe me 50 bucks and all kinds of sexual favors.
Have fun shopping!
And don't forget to stop by Victoria's Secret.
Love you,
Jer.
To: Jerry (DocLove )
From: Sam (fashiongirl )
Re: Jessekins in love
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'll believe it when I see it.
Love you, honey.
Sam.
End of Chapter Six
Notes:
This was a long one!!!
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