Getting Started

TODAY IS MY EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY! I am officially an adult today and Jesse is taking me out to dinner, but it's a surprise, so he says. He always does that to me. Gives me surprises, I mean. Whatever.

I bought some new clothes today with my mom. She said she was glad to buy them for my date tonight. And also because it was my birthday. The dress I got for tonight is silk and is light yellow with a light pink trim. It was a halter dress with a V-neck and went down to my knees. I thought it was gorgeous. And guess what? It was only $27.99! Yup, I am a bargain hunter.

The only thing I could think about all day was my date with Jesse tonight. I wonder where we were going. It's not like I can assume anything, because every time he takes me out, we go somewhere new.

It is 1:00 and Jesse is picking me up at 6:00. Five more hours until I see Jesse. Oh well, guess I'll go to the beach or something.

I quickly put on my new bikini that I got with my mom this morning. It was light blue and green and was a string bikini. I really don't need to worry about impressing any guys because I do have Jesse, but I really liked it. Mom said it was a little revealing but after I kept bugging her she let me get it.

After I securely tied my bikini, I threw on a white sarong and a light green camisole. Then I slipped a pair of Roxy flip flops on my feet and grabbed my DKNY beach towel.

I walked downstairs and saw the newspaper there. I looked at the headlines. "Little Girl Killed During Bank Robbery" and "Young Man Murdered By Big Sur." Yup, just the things I wanted to see in the morning. I had a feeling these victims were the ghosts I saw with Jesse the other night. I read both the articles and found out that Madison Henley, 5, was shot when she was at the bank with her mother. Two African American men came in and one 'accidentally' shot the little girl. Brent Hoffman, 23, was brutally murdered by what authorities believed was his ex-girlfriend.

I looked at the bottom of the articles to see where the contact information was. I soon found the numbers and called their relatives. I told Madison's mother that the book was under her bed and when she asked me how I knew this, I told her that I was the older sister of one of her daughter's friends.

Then I called Brent's family and told them there was stock in Microsoft from Brent and I hung up before they could ask any questions.

Finally, the deed is done; now I can go enjoy the beach. I picked up the phone to call Adam….

"Hello?"

"Hey Adam, you and Cee want to go to the beach?"

"Oh, hey Suze. Happy Birthday! Yeah, sure. She's over right now, so I'll be there in five. Bye."

"Bye." I hung up and then went outside to wait. Man, it was hot out here! Oh, well the beach should soothe me a bit.

HONK! Oh there's Adam. He's here.

"Hey, Suze!" that was Cee Cee. She looked pretty excited to see me.

I walked over to the car as Cee was opening the door for me. "Birthday girl gets shotgun."

"Thanks Cee," I said and hopped in after she went in the back.

"Wow. Suze you look hot today." Yeah, that was Adam. He still likes do to that to me even though he knows good and well that I have a boyfriend and he has Cee. But I know that he's always joking around.

"Thanks Adam, so do you."

"Always have to look my best for my woman." He said and grinned at Cee Cee in the back seat. She playfully punched his arm and said, "I'm not your woman."

"Sure you—"

"Adam, just drive." I said that. Yeah, it's cute in the beginning but it can get kind of annoying after a while.

"Fine Suze."

And we drove for about ten minutes in silence until we got to the beach.

"Come on Suze. The water's not that cold." Adam yelled to me from the ocean. I was lying on my towel trying to tan a bit. Adam and Cee were in the water doing whatever.

"No, just leave me be for a little while more, please." I pleaded. I wasn't really up for getting wet at the moment. He let it go, and then went back to fooling around with Cee Cee. I rolled my eyes at them. I wanted Jesse to be here with me, but he had to go school. The mission had two weeks off for Easter break. Jesse was in med school and he had to go in today, so I couldn't see him till later. Oh well.

I got up five minutes later to go use the restroom. I put my clothes back on and walked over to the ladies room. I went in and did my business, and then I reapplied my makeup.

I walked out and over to the food stand to get a Diet Coke. After I paid, I turned around to go back to my towel, but I heard someone talking to me.

"Hey, Suze."

I looked to my right and there was Paul. "God, Paul, what do you want?"

"I am here to give you your present. When I went over your house before, you weren't there. Your mom said you went down to the beach, so I drove here."

I rolled my eyes at him, "You went through that hassle just to give me a present?"

"Yes." Then he took a velvet box out of a pocket in his swimsuit. I looked at the box, then at his face, then at the box again.

Then Paul bent down on one knee and said, "Suze, will you still be my friend?"

OMG. I actually thought he was going to propose for a minute there. Don't make it sound like I wanted him to, because I didn't. Besides, I have Jesse.

I looked at Paul and said, "Of course Paul, now will you get up, you're attracting unwanted attention."

He chuckled a little and then came over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Hey, at least it wasn't on the lips. I smiled a bit, it was kind of funny, I guess.

"Suze, you should have seen your face, it was so funny!" I punched him in the arm playfully and then gave him a hug. He seemed shocked by this, but then returned the hug. I pulled away and then said, "Can I have my present now?"

"Oh, sure, here." He gave me the box and I opened it. In there sat one of the most beautiful necklaces I have ever seen. It was tear-drop shaped and had a pretty emerald in it. It was white gold. I gasped, I couldn't help it, it was really pretty!

"Oh, Paul, it's beautiful!"

He grinned and then looked at me. "Just like you. Now, do you think you can ever forgive me for being such an asshole?"

I smiled at him and then said, "Yeah, as long as you don't try and get in my pants again."

"No, I've gotten over you, we are just friends now. Besides, I've found someone I really like."

"Oh, do I get to meet the lucky girl?"

"Yes, you will tomorrow during shifter lessons."

"Oh, okay."

"Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Yes, see ya tomorrow."

"Alright. Bye. Oh, and Happy Birthday!" with that said, he left and then I went back to my towel.

Cee Cee and Adam were already up there. When they saw me, Cee said, "God, what took you so long?"

"Toilet, drink, and a visit from a friend."

"Oookay."

"Yeah. Look what Paul gave me."

I opened the velvet box and let them look at it. I heard Cee gasp and Adam say 'whoa'. Then I shut it and put it in my beach bag for safe-keeping.

"Wow. Suze, its beautiful…..hey, is he trying to bribe you to forgive him?"

"Something like that."

Then Adam glanced down at his watch and said, "Jeez, Suze it's almost 3, don't you need to get ready for your date?"

"Shit! Yeah, bring me home!" I didn't mean for it to come out like that, but if I was going to look good for Jesse tonight, I was going to need at least three hours and that's all I had.

So, Adam dropped me off at my house and I ran inside and up to my room. I went into the bathroom, stripped down and hopped into the shower.

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Disclaimer: All the Mediator characters belong to the wonderful Meg Cabot.