Getting Started

Jesse took me home and we went inside. The house was completely dark and there was no one in sight. I knew there were people here because there were a bunch of cars in the driveway – more than normal, actually.

Gee, I wonder what's going on. I mean, where is everybody? Playing hide n' seek? What amateurs.

Jesse and I were walking through the kitchen, when someone flicked on the lights and everyone yelled "Surprise!" Who everyone is, I do not know. But, from the voices, I could tell it was a lot of people.

I was surprised indeed. Um, actually, that's a huge understatement. I was beyond surprised, more like astonished and excited combined times a hundred.

My mom came up to Jesse and me and smiled. "Suzie, honey, congratulations! And Happy Birthday!" Then she gave me a kiss on the cheek and smiled and then whispered something in my ear, so that Jesse couldn't hear. "You got yourself a fine one." Then she walked away. When she said 'fine', it came out more like 'foine'.

I stared after her, mouth agape. Did she really just say that? I looked at Jesse and he was smiling. I think he might have overheard.

After my mom walked away, a bunch of other people came over and started to talk to us. I really wasn't getting this. How did they know? How did they know he proposed to me? Were they spying on us? I shuddered at that thought.

I guess Jesse saw or felt me shudder because he looked at me. Then, a thought came to me – one of those light bulb-above-the-head type of thoughts. Of course! He asked Andy and my mom if he could marry me! Duh! I felt so stupid at that moment. Then again, I felt stupid a lot.

Doc – I meant David, really I did! – came over to us and said his congrats and then started off into this speech about how people as young as us who get married usually end up getting divorced a few years down the road.

"David, that's not going to happen to us. We love each other. It's not some stupid teenage high school fling. What we have is the real thing."

"Um…you're right, sorry." He turned beet red and then walked away.

Jesse chuckled a little. "What are you laughing at?" I asked him.

"Just how you manage to scare and embarrass your brothers like that." He said that and then shook his head.

"Stepbrothers. When will anyone get that right? And I didn't mean to scare or embarrass him. I was just stating a fact."

"Okay, okay, no need to get worked up. Let's go get some cake."

I looked at him, shocked, again. "There's cake?"

"Yes, there's cake. What's a party without any cake?"

He had a point, I guess. But I wasn't really expecting a party at 11:30 at night. I mean, usually surprise parties are during the day. "So, this is why you wanted to get me back so early?"

"Well, yes. Are you disappointed with this, querida?"

"No, no this is fine, I just wasn't expecting it."

"That's why they're called surprise parties, Susannah." Way to make me feel stupid again, Jesse. I'll always be known to him as Stupid Suze. Well, maybe not, but it feels like it sometimes.

"Shut up. I knew that." He just chuckled a bit when I said that. Then I heard foot steps approaching behind us.

"Having our first quarrel, are we?" said a voice from behind. Hey, I know that voice.

"Hey, Paul. What's up?" I said to him. Paul had made up with us. He apologized and everything. He may have bribed us a bit, but he got our trust.

"Nothing. Just came by to congratulate you guys. And since you guys will be busy with the wedding plans and celebrating I figured I'd cancel the shifter lessons." The way he said 'celebrating' made me want to laugh. Oh, how much he didn't know. Jesse would barely even kiss me. That time a few days ago was just a mistake. I think Jesse was a little too tired to think clearly enough; actually I don't know what the explanation for his behavior was, but hell, I enjoyed every second of it. However, we definitely wouldn't be doing any celebrating anytime soon; not until after the wedding, if you catch my drift.

"Paul," I said in a warning tone. I don't think Jesse quite got what Paul meant. I think maybe he had a bit of a clue, but didn't know entirely, but, hey, I'm Stupid Suze, what do I know?

"Sorry, couldn't resist. Anyway, what're you guys planning for the honeymoon?" Paul asked. Honestly, why would I know? Jesse just proposed to me tonight. How the hell was I supposed to be planning the honeymoon in only an hour?

"I don't know. Haven't really thought about it yet."

"Oh, that's a shame." The way he said it made me think that he knew something I didn't. Whatever, I let it go; well, only because this girl came over and put her arm around Paul's waist. I'm guessing this is Paul's girlfriend?

"Oh, hey hon. I'd like to introduce you to some friends of mine. Isabel, meet Jesse and Suze. Suze and Jesse, meet Isabel."

"Hey." She said to us – Jesse and I. Then she turned to Paul and asked, "Are they one of us?"

"Yeah, Izzie, they are."

"Oh," she said turning back to us, "wow, the only other person I've met like us before was Paul. That's so awesome. Well, it's really nice to meet you."

"Same here," I said. But I was still confused about one thing. "When you say 'one of us', you mean shifters, right?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, that's cool. So, how did you guys meet?"

Paul looked at me and smiled. "I went to the beach one night because I was having trouble sleeping. I'd say it was about two or three. So, I went to the beach; there was nothing else better to do. When I arrived, I saw a body near the water. Only a few feet away was this huge guy, only he was a ghost and starting to stir. I rushed over to her and she was trying to get up and telling me she was fine. When, the guy starting limping over to us, she screamed, so I went over and popped the guy in the face, so I could buy us some time to get her in my car and drive to the hospital."

Then Isabel started talking. "Yeah, and I had no clue what was going on. It kind of freaked me out that he punched the ghost right in the face. I thought I was the only person who could actually see ghosts. I guess I was wrong. After I saw the ghost stumble back and fall, I lost consciousness. I guess Paul put me in his car and drove me to the hospital, because that's where I woke up."

"Yeah, I drove her to the hospital and then when the doctors reeled her in the room, I took the wallet I found in her back pocket and called her parents. They came over and then I figured she'd be fine without me, so I left."

"Yeah, I don't know why you did that. I really wanted you there."

He just kept going on as if she hadn't spoken. "But before I left, I slipped a piece of paper in her wallet with my number on it."

"Yeah, and of course I called. I wanted to thank him and everything. But then when I called, he asked me if I wanted to go out for some coffee or something."

"And she said yes and we started going on dates and here we are now." Paul finished, giving Isabel a kiss on the cheek.

"So, how did you guys meet?" She asked me. Wow, what a question. Not as simple as theirs, not at all.

"Um, Isabel, I'm pretty sure Paul can answer that for you. It's a very long story."

"Oh, okay. Please, call me Izzie."

"Oh, well it was really nice meeting you Izzie; I hope to talk to you guys soon. Bye Paul." Then, I grabbed Jesse's hand and we went upstairs in my room. Everyone was busy with the party and talking to everyone else, I don't really think they noticed.

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Disclaimer: The Mediator characters do not belong to me; they are owned by the lovely Meg Cabot.