Okay, sorry if you all got 2 author alert notices. I uploaded the wrong version of the chapter. But this is right :-) And as for the trivia question...
YAY! DancinSweetheart got it RIGHT!
The answer is…… drum roll…..
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO!
During World War II, a small lab near the football field was the place of the first controlled atomic reaction, the first step towards the atomic bomb.
The whole Geiger counter thing was in reference to the rumor that there is still radiation hanging around. Geiger counters measure radiation.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your history lesson. Now, on to chapter nine.
Chapter Nine
Jesse and I arrived at the hospital maternity ward within the next 45 minutes. I was still in my nightgown, over a pair of jeans, but Jesse pulled a pair of pants and a shirt over the shorts he was wearing.
My mom saw is, and waved us over. "Looks like we might have another December 3rd baby in the family," my mom greeted. I gave her a hug. "Happy Birthday!"
"Thanks, Mom, but there is only about an hour left of today. It could very well be December 4th."
David and Brad came around the corner, with Cokes in their hands. Brad grunted in greeting, and collapsed in the chair. David waved. I guess Mom rounded up all of us kids.
"Jake is in there with Lola. Andy went to call her parents, since she didn't get a chance. She went into labor so quickly!" I sat down on one of the chairs, and Jesse sat down next to me. Andy came back, and went to talk to my mom. Jesse wrapped his arm around my shoulder and took my hand in his. He leaned in and whispered in my ear.
"Do you think we should wait to tell your mother and stepfather?" He asked. I began to nod, thinking that it was best that we wait. I didn't want to steal Jake and Lola's thunder, after all. However, this desire was in vain, as suddenly my mother shrieked and swooped down upon us like a raptor.
"Susie! Jesse! Is there anything you need to tell me?" She asked forcefully, but in an excited way. She eyed my hand, which was wrapped around Jesse's, and the diamond that was glittering on a very important finger.
"Um… we're getting married?" I said nervously. She ripped me from Jesse's arms and squeezed me so tightly, that I couldn't breathe.
"Oh, Susie, I'm so happy for you!" She finally relinquished me, only to do the same to Jesse.
She only let us alone when Jake came out, with the biggest grin I'd ever seen on his face. "They're girls!" He proclaimed happily. That, at least, took the spotlight away from Jesse and I for a little while. There were only 3 people allowed in the room at the time, so Andy and Mom went in first—and Jake, of course. While waiting our turn, Jesse and I sat back down, and I curled up against him, bending my legs over his. I could tell he was still a little mad at my mom for interrupting us. I guess that now that we were officially engaged, he wasn't so afraid of crossing such borders.
"Well, I guess that went well," he joked, kissing me on the cheek. "At least she was happy. I was a little nervous that they would disapprove." I scoffed.
"Jesse, my mom almost loves you more than I do. And that's saying something." He gave me a half smile, and kissed me again, this time on the lips. Even though it was very light and innocent, Brad immediately felt the need to erupt with disgust.
"Ew, guys, stop. I don't want to see that." Jesse bit back a sigh. While he was always very polite, I knew he disliked Brad. A lot. I rolled my eyes at Jesse, and let my head rest on his shoulder. His hand was loosely around my waist, and I was very comfortable like that.
About ten minutes later, my mom and Andy came out, and said that Lola wanted to see me. Lola was a year older than me, and we're fairly close. She was a surfer too, and that's how she and Jake met.
Jesse came in with me. She was on the bed, with two tiny red, wrinkly babies wrapped in pink blankets. They appeared to be asleep. Lola's black dreadlocks were damp, and her tan skin was slightly pale. Lola was very pretty, in an unusual sort of way. Her mother was Hispanic and Indian, her father half African-American, half Irish. Jake put his finger to his lips, and shushed us.
"Her name is Jessahca," she whispered, "And her name is Elena."
"They're beautiful," Jesse said. Lola smiled.
"I hear we're not the only ones to have big news today," Jake said. Ever since he met Lola, he's grown up a lot more. I no longer suspect that he does drugs (though actually, I found out, he did. Typical surfer-stoner.), and he really seems to care about Lola.
I blushed, and smiled slightly. "Mom tell you?"
"She could barely contain herself. Grandkids and a future son-in-law on the same day? I'm surprised she hasn't fainted from excitement."
"Congratulations," Lola said. We talked for a few more minutes, until Jesse tugged on my arm and leaned in slightly.
"Susannah, should we let your brothers in now?" I nodded.
"Well, guys, we're going to get home… Brad and David still need to visit!"
"Thanks for coming, guys. It means a lot to us," Lola said. I gave her an awkward hug around Jess and Elena.
"Congratulations," Jesse said with a smile. He took my hand, and led me out.
My mom and Andy were still hanging out in the hallway, talking to a small nun. This was odd. As we approached, she looked vaguely familiar. I went to go say goodbye, but my mom grabbed my arm and took me and Jesse aside.
"Susannah, this is Lola's Aunt Ikinder. Her building had a fire a few weeks ago—perhaps she lived in your building?—and hasn't had anywhere really to go since. Do you think she can stay with you? Just for a week or so. She really doesn't have anywhere else to go."
I looked over at Sister Ikinder, and realized that she did live in my building. I didn't know her well, she was never very nice to me whenever Jesse came over. She would give me dirty looks if she saw me walk him out. "Uh, Mom, let's remember that I'm actually a house guest at the present time?" My mom suddenly put on a face of apology.
"That's right, I'm sorry. I completely forgot!"
"It's fine, Mrs. Ackerman. She's welcome at my place," Jesse offered kindly. I looked at him, and he looked back at me. I tried to send him a message: Do you really want to be living with a nun, considering what we were just doing a few hours earlier? I don't know about him, but I do want to have sex. Well, actually, I do know about him. Judging by the way he responded to me, he wanted to have sex just as much as I did.
"Oh, Jesse, really? Thank you so much!" My mom gushed. She waved Sister Ikinder over. "This nice man said he will let you stay with him!"
She sized him up. "Lovely." She looked at him further, with a scrutinizing eye. "Do I know you? You look familiar." She didn't stop to let him answer. "You have a couch, correct? My back isn't good, and can't be sleeping on the floor." Jesse looked slightly taken aback.
"Yes, I have a couch…" He began, but seemed unsure as to where to go from there.
"Good. I would like to visit my niece, then we can leave." She marched into the hospital room.
"Jesse, are you sure you want this?" I asked him. He sighed.
"She is a nun at my church. I felt obligated. Not to mention, she's almost family to you now."
"Jesse, she's the lady who always told you that she'd pray for your lost and sinful soul whenever she saw you leaving my apartment."
"I know, Querida. But it's only for a week."
"But, Jesse… are you sure you will want someone there to… interrupt us?" I leaned in to him and kissed him lightly along his neck. He sighed again, in a slightly different way than he had before, though. He placed his hands on my face and pulled me away.
"It's only for a week," he said, and kissed me softly on the lips. I rolled my eyes, but gave in.
An hour later, Jesse was showing the apartment to Sister Ikinder. He pulled out the sofa bed, showed her where the bathroom was, and all that jazz. She hadn't acknowledged me all night, but when I said, "Jesse, I'm going to bed. I have class tomorrow morning, so don't worry about it if I'm not there when you wake up." I was a bit peeved with him—Sister Ikinder was totally cramping the mood between us—but I leaned in and kissed him. On the cheek, but whatever.
I started towards his bedroom, and she called after me.
"Wait. Who are you?" I sighed.
"I'm Jesse's fiancé." As irked as I was with him, I love that word. "I live here." She wrinkled her nose.
"You live with him and are not yet married?"
"Engaged, Sister." I wiggled my fingers in the air, showing her my ring. "Besides, I was on my own before someone torched my apartment building and killed my friend." What? I was in a bad mood. It was my birthday—well, it was yesterday. It is after midnight—and Jesse and I couldn't continue what we were doing before we were so rudely interrupted by my mother and Lola going into labor. She looked puzzled.
"Was your building on James Street?" I nodded, exasperated.
"You lived two floors up from me. I was the one you always gave Bibles." Her look of confusion disappeared.
"Yes. I remember you." She wrinkled her nose. "You are engaged to this fine boy?" Why, the nerve of her! I opened my mouth, but Jesse grabbed my arm.
"Susannah. Relax. I will talk to her." I scowled, turned on my heel, stomped into the bedroom and slammed the door. I heard him sigh, then keep talking to Sister Ikinder. "Don't worry about her. I'll talk to her." Angrier than ever, I huffily climbed into bed and threw the covers over my head.
………………………………………………………
The next day, my classmate, Sarah, and I were working on a project at the library. I had feigned sleep last night, and didn't respond to Jesse's gentle "Susannah" he had tried to prod me with. I don't know what was the matter with me, but I was just in a bad mood last night (a/n: boy, do I know what she's talking about. I always just get pissed off for no reason and end up not speaking to my friends, and they're completely clueless as to why.) and was upset that Jesse was totally siding with Sister Ikie. I mean, who was the fiancé, and who was the virtual stranger who insulted said fiancé?
"So, did you find it yet?" I asked. We were breezing through encyclopedias, looking for information on social anxiety disorder, for psych class.
"No… it's not in this book either. How about…" she suddenly trailed off, looking over my shoulder. "Day-um. Who's that?" She quickly ran her fingers through her hair, checked her face on the mirror on the wall, and quickly re-adjusted her shirt to be more, er, well, you know. "I am totally asking him out." I figured it was just that new transfer. I already heard Cate talking about him earlier. But when I heard a familiar voice, I realized I was wrong.
"Susannah…" Jesse said softly and carefully. He knew I was mad. Good. Sarah looked jealous that he was talking to me. I started to smirk, but stopped. I was mad. Right. Can't look like I'm enjoying myself at all.
"Hello, Jesse," I said, with an edge of curtness in my voice. He sighed.
"Susannah, I know you're mad…" he trailed off, and I didn't say anything.
"Sorry, but… who are you?" Sarah butted in. Not a lot of tact, that one.
"I'm Susannah's…fiancé." He paused and looked at me before saying the word, as if he wanted to make sure it was still true. I softened at his sad tone. That, and Sarah's sudden shade of purple. Some girls may get jealous when other people hit on their boyfriend, but I found it amusing. "Susannah, I'm sorry about last night. I shouldn't have been so accommodating of Sister Ikinder. I know she was rude to you, and I didn't do anything." Okay. My cold exterior melted like butter left out on a hot day. I reached over and took his hand.
"I know. I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have been so rude to her." Sarah finally took note that this was a Big Moment Between Us, and awkwardly made her exit.
"Uh, I'll be back…" she said, and stood up and disappeared among the shelves. Jesse sat down in the chair next to me, and pulled it over closer.
"I love you. I'm sorry," he whispered in my ear, then kissed it lightly. I kissed him again on the lips, which he returned until someone from a nearby table cleared their throat loudly. Jesse pulled away, and tucked my hair behind my ear. "When you're done here, come back to the apartment… Sister Ikinder left for the day, she said she'll be back around 8 tonight." I nodded, kissed him once more, quickly, and he stood up and left.
………………………………………………………………….
Okay. Not a whole lot happened here, as far as the whole murder-thing, but this was the first real fight Suze and Jesse had. And considering it wasn't that huge, that just goes to show how their relationship is. Anyway. More will happen next chapter.
PS- Sarah (DancinSweetheart), hope you liked your cameo ;-) I know you like Paul, but, well, whatever. Jesse is pretty hot too. If you're lucky, maybe Paul will walk in on another one of yours and Suze's study sessions. Cough.
Okay, guys, now, long reviews! There might be something in there for you…