Getting Started

It was 5:30 and I was slipping on my dress and my sandals. I had blow-dried and straightened my hair, so it looked pretty good, if I do say so myself. It put in these adorable light pink earrings and put on a nice necklace. I was pretty much set.

I sat down on my bed reading a magazine to pass the time. I was looking at the quizzes they had in it: "Should you have sex?" and "How to tell if he REALLY loves you." And "What position is best for you?" Yeah, teen mags can be so forward and immature even though they are talking about mature things, but whatever, you know what I mean; at least I hope you do.

Finally, I heard the door bell ring. I looked over at my alarm clock and it read 5:58. Oh, he was 2 minutes early. That's okay; better early than late. Then, my mom called up the stairs to me. I grabbed my wristlet (a matching light yellow coach one). I looked in the mirror one more time and then went down the stairs. I was walking pretty slow, because I didn't want to trip and fall; knowing my luck I would.

Jesse was talking to Andy about something, but when he saw me coming down the stairs, his face lit up.

My mom saw me too and she said, "Oh, Suzie, you look so beautiful. Do you mind if I just take a picture of you two? Then, I'll let you go."

I rolled my eyes and said, "Fine, mom."

My mom left the room and then appeared again moments later. She took a few photos and then she and Andy said goodbye and have fun, you know, the usual.

When we got to his car – a 2001 red mustang convertible (A/N: that's the kind of car my dad has and I love it, in fact he's giving it to me when I can drive) - he kissed me once and then we got in the car. He was getting the hang of the driving thing. To tell you the truth, he drove much better than me.

It took about twenty minutes to get to our destination. It was a very fancy Italian restaurant called Graciano's. We went in and sat down (well after having the reservation person show us our seats). There was soft music playing and candles lit on the table and everything. I was so absorbed with taking in the surroundings that when Jesse took my hand in his, I jumped a bit. He just chuckled and then kissed my hand.

"Happy Birthday, querida."

I smiled. "Thanks, Jesse. But you really didn't have to spend this much money on me. I mean, this must have cost a fortune." I looked at him and when he smiled, I melted.

"Querida, this isn't nearly enough of what you deserve." Then he kissed my hand again. "I love you, querida, and you should always know that."

"Of course I know that. I love you, too."

He smiled again and at that moment, the waitress came. Jesse ordered some kind of pasta dish and I figured what the hell, I'd get the same.

After we finished eating the dinner - and by the way, it was delicious - Jesse paid the bill and we went back in his car.

"Thanks, Jesse, this was the best birthday ever." I leaned over to kiss him and he kissed me back and then soon enough there was a little tongue action too. But just as soon as it had started, Jess pulled away and ended it.

"It's not everyday the woman I love becomes an adult. And guess what, it's about to get a lot better." I was about to ask him what exactly he meant by that, but he started up the car and drove off.

A little while later, we arrived at the beach. The sun was just about to set and the sky looked so pretty. Jesse turned off the ignition and then opened his door. By the time I had unbuckled my seat belt, Jesse was already on the other side of the car, opening my door. I smiled up at him and he helped me out of the car.

When I was on my feet, Jesse picked me up and started carrying me toward the sand – you know, like how the grooms carry the brides after the wedding.

There was a blanket already set up on the sand and Jesse carefully set me down on it. Then, he sat down next to me. After we both took our shoes off – and in his case, his socks too – Jesse put his arm around my waist and pulled me toward him. I looked up into his eyes and they looked really, genuinely happy. Gee, I wonder what he was so happy about. There was something he wasn't telling me…..

"Querida, do you know how much I enjoy this?"

"What? Being with me or watching the sunset?"

"Both," he said and then looked into my eyes. I grinned. I couldn't help it. After all the years of worrying I'd never find anybody, I finally did have someone to love and comfort me.

"Yeah, me too. This may be the last time for a while that we'll be able to do something like this."

"Why is that, querida?"

"Well, you're in med school and I am going away to college in the fall. I mean, we'll see each other on the weekends, but, you know, I'll miss you and everything and—" he silenced me by putting his finger to my lips.

"Querida, we have all the time in the world." Then, he got up off of the blanket and kneeled in front of me.

He leaned real close and kissed me passionately, but tenderly just the same. As he did that, I felt all my worries wash away.

Then he pulled apart and knelt again but this time on one knee. I wasn't fully registering what he was about to do. I guess I had a little bit of an idea, but I was still in a haze from the previous kiss.

Then, he took my hands in his and said, "Querida, I love you more than you will ever know. I can't imagine ever being parted from you. So…." He trailed off as he pulled something out of his coat pocket. I looked at the little velvet box and gasped. Oh, my God, was he doing what I thought he was doing? "….will you be mine forever?" Oh, God, he was!

I looked from the little velvet box – which was now open, revealing a beautiful white gold diamond ring (not too gaudy and not too skimpy; it was perfect) – to his face. Oh, my God, he was asking me to marry him! "Of course I will Jesse!" I screamed, maybe a little too loud, but he seemed to like this answer, if him lunging himself at me and giving me another mind-blowing kiss was any indication.

After we pulled apart from the kiss, he slid the gleaming ring onto my finger. This was the best day of my life – so far. After that, we just sat there together in silence for awhile, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence, not by a long shot; no, I was perfectly comfy sitting there in Jesse's arms.

Then Jesse had to go and break this very comfy silence.

"Querida, it's getting late, I should get you home."

"Can't we just stay a little longer? I haven't felt this safe in a long time." It was really true. The last time I ever felt that I was remotely safe was the morning my dad died – well, before I found out he died. Now that I had Jesse, I felt like nothing could ever hurt me again.

"Alright, querida. A few more moments. However, I must get you home before your parents worry." I rolled my eyes. My mom wouldn't care if I was out late with Jesse. She had waited too long for her daughter to be doing this – not IT, but staying out late with a guy. And if my mom didn't worry, Andy wouldn't worry. But, I just went along with it.

"Shh…" I said and we just sat there for another ten minutes, until Jesse moved so he could get up.


Disclaimer: Jesse and Suze and all the rest of the Mediator characters belong to Meg Cabot.