So sorry that the last update was so short. In response you get this one, which is longer. I'm soooo glad that you all like this story so far. I'm having a lot of fun writting it. And I'm sure there's many more surprises in the furture for you all. Remember to review please.
Also if you're bored one night check my out on under the pen name Cylika Black. The two stories on there are After OUR Lives (a short story) and The Rocker Girl for lack of better title (a novel).
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They belong to Meg Cabot.
Jesse's POV
Father Dominic was right when he said that this Jessica person is a lot like Susannah was when she first got here. Her clothing was even more atrocious than some of Susannah's. She had holes in her jeans! She was delivered to the school in a white van with four bulky people dressed in all black. They said something to her and she nodded then left them in a huff. I followed her to Father Dominic's office. He was out but Sister Ernestine helped her fill out the left over forms and showed her locker and her first class. Once in her first class she rudely interrupted the teacher before he could say her full name, correcting him about her first name. I saw Susannah looking very interested in the conversation in the back with her friends Adam and Cee Cee. I could not tell if she had seen me or not as of yet. Then the teacher told Jessica to take a seat ignoring her demeanor. She headed to the open seat in back, the one next to Susannah's friend Adam. It was then that I knew Susannah hadn't seen me because after she smiled her approval at Cee Cee she looked over at Jessica and her eyes narrowed. Once Jessica sat her eyes did not lower and I knew she was staring at me and not in a pleasant way.
Once during the school day Jessica punched a boy for teasing her country accent and another part during their lunch when Jessica went wondering I presume to explore. I followed her as Father Dominic asked me to and it wasn't long before she ran into Susannah. I have to admit that Jessica did look a little lost so I wasn't surprise when Susannah came over to her and asked if she needed help finding something despite my proximity.
"Oh," Jessica said sounding a little amazed. "No, thank you. Just you know, exploring. New school and all."
Susannah nodded in understanding. "Yeah," she smirked in a mean way that I didn't understand. "You're smarter than me, though. I did it at night when I was new." I knew that Susannah was trying to brake the tension between the two girls, but from my place it didn't seem to be working. Susannah stuck out her hand, "I'm Susannah Simon everyone except Father Dominic calls me Suze, though."
Before the girls could shake hands I heard a voice ring out that made my whole body tense. Susannah didn't look all that pleased either to my pleasure. "Suze, how are you?" Paul asked stalking over to them.
"Fine, Paul. And how was your break?" Susannah asked.
Paul waved his hand in a dismissive way. "You know how the family is. Nothing interested. Glad to be away from them." Jessica's eyes narrowed at his words, but she said nothing. Paul turned her gaze to Jessica and got a primitive look in his eyes. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your new friend, Suze?" he asked
Susannah looked sick. "This is Jessica. I mean Jess," Susannah corrected.
Paul smiled at Jessica. "Please to met you, Jess," he said offering his hand to her. She took it timidly. Still she said nothing. Paul's smile widened. "Shy one, aren't you?"
Jessica removed her hand from his. "Hardly," she said sarcastically. "I mean people are always so excited to move and come to a new school." Paul laughed. Jessica rolled her eyes. Susannah looked from one to the other multiple times a devious look on her face. Before the exchange could continue Father Dominic's voice rang out.
"Susannah, Paul, Jessica! Fabulous I need to see all three of you in my office." Puzzled expressions crossed Susannah's, Paul's and my faces. Susannah and Paul began walking. Jessica however stood where she was. Father Dominic sensing this turned around. "Come on Jessica," he said. She looked at him warily then followed the other three and I followed her.
Once inside Father Dominic's office the three were completely quiet as the father began looking through his draws. Susannah and Paul looked completely comfortable in his office which was not surprising considering how many times they are there for some mediator issue or another. Jessica looked like she was about to get in big trouble.
"What's up Father Dom?" Paul asked.
"You're fiddling with your cigarettes again," Susannah added.
"We need to discuss something about your newest visitor, Susannah." Both Paul and Susannah looked alarmed and quickly glanced at Jessica. Jessica was drawing on her jeans looking totally bored. "But first, Jessica," Father Dominic continued. Jessica looked up. "I need to ask you a favor." She raised her eyebrows. Father Dominic handed her a picture. Jessica didn't even glance at it.
"So," she said in a very pissed off voice, "this how it's gonna be?"
"Jessica…"
"Jess. It's Jess. God not even my mo…" abruptly she stopped. "Jess," she said venomously. "We went over this last time we met. And I'm sure it was in my file."
The father sighed. "Sorry… Jess," he said still hesitant about using her nickname. He paused then went back to the earlier discussion. "Anyway, it's just this once. If you could help me just this once, please, Jess."
"Yeah, well what if I don't want to? What if I want to leave that behind me?" she demanded. I ventured a look at Paul and Susannah. Both looked seriously interested in the conversation
"Jess, we both know that's not true. You wouldn't be here if you wanted that."
Then Jessica did something totally startling. She started laughing. It wasn't a happy laugh either. It was a more evil laugh. "Bull," was all she said then crumbled up the picture and stuffed it in her pocket. She jutted out her chin. "Anything else, Padre?" she asked. Father Dominic shook his head in defeat. Jessica stood up and left with out another word.
"That," Susannah said after the door was closed, "was interesting."
"Father Dom," Paul said, "if I may say so whatever that was, it did not go very well."
"Thank you both for pointing that out," he answered. As if suddenly sensing that I was still there Father Dominic looked up. "Jesse, aren't you suppose to be somewhere?"
I sighed. "It's boring though. I can't talk to her," I stated in boredom.
The father breathed heavy. "Jesse, we've been over this. Please do it as a favor to me. She needs someone to watch over her."
"I don't know why after the way she hit that boy this afternoon when she heard him making fun of her country accent. I think she can hit harder than Susannah."
"Who?" Susannah asked suddenly curious. Then she slumped back in her chair. "Oh," she said. "Her. Of course. That's why he's been following her all day. Did you know that that brat is in everyone of my classes?"
"Susannah," Father Dominic said tiredly, "please refrain from calling anyone a brat."
"Well, she is. I mean look at the way she treated you."
The father sighed yet again. "That was personal matter. She had every way to react the way she did. If you knew her past you would understand, but you will under no circumstances ask her. She will probably just end up punching you," he said with reluctance. Then he turned to me. "Jesse please just go. I will fill you in on the conversation later." I gave him a sour look, glanced at Susannah who was steadily ignoring my eyes, then left.
It wasn't easy to find Jessica. She hadn't made any friends yet so she wasn't with the other kids. Instead I found her at the cemetery of all places. She was walking aimlessly through rows of head stones. When she came to mine, as if she knew who I was, she stopped and looked at it. She smiled at what was written on the head stone. Susannah had picked it out when I was in the Shadow world. "Wonder what mine will say," Jessica said to herself out loud. "Freak Dreamer most likely. Or Child Finder. Lightning Girl. Or maybe Jessica touched by the finger of God." Jessica then snorted. "Gotta wonder which finger."
