Thanks for all your spectacular reviews. They make me very happy :)

Here is chapter 12. Enjoy! (PS- I don't know if I stated previously that Suze was a junior or what in college, but I changed my mind. She's a senior, and graduating in May.)

Chapter 12

Suze's POV

It's been a little less than 2 weeks since Beth was killed. Sister Ikinder got a place to stay during the week, but on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, she has to come back.

It was a week before Christmas, and both Jesse and I were off from school on our breaks. It was hard, getting used to not having Beth around. Mara was out of the hospital, and Angela had showed up finally, but has been very standoffish and hardly ever came out with us. We chalked it up to being grief, so we didn't press her.

Jesse had finished the last of his exams that day, and was finally able to relax. We were on the bed, him on his stomach, and me kneeling over his legs, giving him a massage. It was ten at night, and a Friday, so Sister Ikinder was asleep on the couch. Jesse was wearing only his shorts, and I was in a pair of boxers and a tank top. We were brainstorming a guest list for the wedding.

"Mom, Andy, Dave, and Jake, of course," I said.

"You forgot Brad," Jesse reminded. I rolled my eyes.

"No I didn't," I said darkly. Suddenly, I spotted an opportunity. I moved my hands down his back, lower, and lower, until-

"Susannah!" Jesse gasped. What? I had just grabbed his ass.

"Sorry, hands slipped," I lied. I returned to the guest list. "Gina, Cee Cee, Adam, Lisa, Mara, Cate, Angela, Grandma, Paul…"

"Paul?" Jesse asked. "Is that a good idea?" He turned his head to look at me more directly, and raised his eyebrows.

"Paul is fine. Completely over that whole crush thing. Besides, he has a girlfriend. Kat, I think he said her name was. She is actually a year below me at college. She's majoring in Fashion Design and Marketing, too. I've seen her a few times—not Paul's usual. She has blue streaked hair and a nose ring. She's cute, though. Petite." We paused, and I continued rubbing his back. He appeared to be enjoying it. "Have you thought about who you want to be your best man?" I asked. He thought a bit. He had friends, of course, but having only been alive for about 5 years, he wasn't able to make the strong relationships I had, being on this earth for 22 years. Plus, he didn't have any family.

"Hunter, perhaps… or maybe Luke?" I nodded. Luke was actually Mara's boyfriend. "What about your maid of honor?"

"Gina," I said. "Cate, Mara, Lisa, and Cee Cee will be bridesmaids, I think." I finished the massage, but before I could climb off of Jesse, he rolled over, grabbed my waist, and flipped me onto my back, him on top. He started to lean in, and I was about to kiss him back when he started tickling me. I squealed, and squirmed, and tried to get out from under him, but his heavy weight surrounded me, and kept me underneath him. All awhile shrieking and squeaking, I tried to wriggle myself out from under him. Unfortunately, my shorts were stuck underneath him, and slipped down my hips more and more as I slid out from underneath him. I had gotten as far as to have his head near the bottom of my stomach, and almost falling off the bed. I held on to his head, weaving my fingers into his hair to give me some leverage. He pressed his mouth against my lower stomach, to blow a raspberry. BAM. The door flew open, and Sister Ikinder stood there, fuming.

I suddenly saw Jesse and me from a 3rd person perspective. My shorts almost off. My fingers tangled in his hair, his head down dangerously low, with his lips in a less than innocent spot, too. It was completely harmless, but suddenly I realized how compromising our position was—and how loud I had been. Jesse realized this at the same time, and quickly rolled off of me, and I immediately pulled my bottoms back up.

"Excuse me, but I am trying to sleep." She gave me the evil eye. "I will pray for the two of you. Your souls need saving." With that, she left. Jesse sighed, and ran his hand through his hair.

"I guess I should be more quiet. Next time I might wake up the neighbors, and not just the nun in the living room," I said seriously. Jesse rolled his eyes, and hit me with a pillow. "Hey!" I feigned offense. I was about to hit him back, when Jesse grabbed it.

"Susannah, no pillow fights. You don't want to wake her up for a second time, now, do you?" I shuddered, predicting her reaction. She was pissed that time, we would probably need a bomb shelter if we woke her up again.

"Fine." I crawled under the covers, and Jesse joined me. I was about to fall asleep, when I remembered something. "Jesse, you took off work for Saturday night, right? For the Christmas party?" Jesse reached over and took my hand.

"I took off. Goodnight, Querida." He kissed my cheek, and then we both fell asleep.

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The next week flew by. Between class, work, and Jesse, I was working on designing my dress, and my bridesmaid's dresses. Jesse and I decided to be married in the church, and have the reception on the beach back in Carmel. Long dresses with lace trains aren't cool for the beach, so I designed my dress more simply, and not so long—just a simple, fairly modest dress with a white A-line skirt and a beaded strapless top.

On Saturday afternoon, Jesse and I both got ready for Lisa's family's party. It was upscale—Lisa's family had money—so Jesse wore a suit, and I got a red silk halter dress.

By six, we were at the hotel ballroom, mingling with people. Lisa, of course, was there, with her boyfriend, as was Cate and Mara. I spotted Angela wandering around sullenly, until I waved her over.

"So, guys, did you decide when you're going to get married?" Lisa asked. Angela joined our group.

"We're thinking May or June," I said, and Jesse, whose arm was around my waist, squeezed me gently.

"What are we talking about?" Angela asked.

"Suze and Jesse's wedding," Mara said. "God, guys, it's just so amazing that you're getting married. You two are meant for each other." I grinned, and Jesse kissed me on the cheek, but Angela looked confused.

"You two are getting married? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I did, didn't I?" I asked, perplexed. "If not, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overlook you." She didn't say anything, just pouted. We talked about a few other details, until Luke had a question.

"Who's your maid of honor?"

"My friend Gina, from New York." I had called her to ask, and she was more than willing to do this. "Then, I want Cee Cee, Cate, Mara, and Lisa to be bridesmaids." Angela didn't say anything, but I felt her anger. "I wish I could include you," I explained, "but really, we only want a small wedding. And 4 is already a lot of bridesmaids for a small wedding." She nodded, but no one got a chance to say anything, because Mrs. Hathaway, Lisa's mother, announced that the supper was ready.

Jesse pulled his chair close to mine. He must have been in a really good mood, since he kept sneaking me quick kisses on my cheek, and squeezing my hand, and whispering in my ear. It was a lovely meal, though, of course, Jesse distracted me from really appreciating the wonderful food. After eating, there was more socializing, and dancing. Jesse stood at my side the entire night.

It was getting late, and people were beginning to leave. Angela looked like she was heading towards me, but Jesse suddenly came up behind me. He placed his hands on my hips, and pressed his cheek against mine.

"Susannah, are you ready to go? Sister Ikinder said she was at a retreat this weekend."

"Does that mean we can have that pillow fight?" I asked, and he chuckled.

"Whatever you want, Querida."

We were getting our jackets when Angela stumbled into me. She was drunk.

"Soozee… whah are yoo leavin' so soon?" She slurred. "Stay… par-tay!" I felt it would be pointless to point out that there were only about 15 people left, of the original 50 or so. All of our friends had left, it was just Jesse, Angela, and me. I sighed.

"Jesse, I can't let her drive herself home. You go home, and I'll drive her to her apartment then come home, okay?" He sighed, but nodded.

"Hurry up, Susannah." I took Angela's car keys, and walked her out to her SUV. With that, for the first time that night, Jesse and I parted ways.

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Okay! I am predicting 2 more chapters. Maybe 3. I DO have everything figured out, though. And please, REVIEW and the next chapter—the BIG chapter where everything comes out—will be posted sooner!