A/N: Once again, thanks for all the reviews. They're really appreciated.

I'm sorry for any confusion, but Jesse and Suze are NOT together.

And I'm sorry that I posted another song fic, I'll try really really really hard NOT to do another one in this story.

Anyway, This chapter moves kind of fast, and I'm working on getting the story started in the direction I want it to go. Just in case you're wondering, I was feeling my Paul fan take over today. It happens every once in a while. But Jesse fans, don't worry…I think. ; )

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Nada. Zip. But if 'they' want to lend me Jesse or Paul, I would be a happy girl…

Chapter 6

I woke up then next morning feeling like I was a balloon someone had sucked all the air out of. It was not a good feeling.

And I still had a headache.

I would have to hurt Paul for that…maybe.

I drug myself out of my room and forced myself to choke down a bowl of cereal. It tasted really bland and gross…and I like cereal. But all I could think of was Jesse.

Since the black porsh was gone, I figured Jesse was too. Speaking of HIM how could he afford a porsh? Wasn't he like, poor because of med school...

Oh, is he a doctor? I wonder if he's living with SHANNON.

Maybe SHANNON is a mediator too. AND a DOCTOR.

Maybe he and SHANNON are really happy.

Well, HE and SHANNON can shove their happiness where the sun don't shine.

Whatever. I'll deal with that later.

I started to veer off into the living room in hope of some human contact when I ran into my mom. Literally.

"Sorry," my voice was kind of muffled.

"Hey, mom? Is it okay if Paul comes to stay with us for a while? I know it's an extra guest at the wedding and everything…and maybe he can stay in a hotel if it's too much trouble…" she cut me off.

"Of course Suzie! You know, he really turned into a handsome young man," didn't I know it too. He got even more gorgeous than I ever thought possible. His eyes were still that icy blue and he had a really great body—

COUGH. I really need to snap out of it. Paul and I are FRIENDS. But hey, I can't help my hormones.

"We'd be delighted to have him!"

I gave my mom a warm smile, "thanks."

I wandered into the kitchen to find Jake and and a brunette looking over something I assumed was wedding plans. The blonde must be his fiancé. Hmm...

I took her in, I thought they made a cute couple. He was so tall, and she was so short. I put her at maybe five foot six. She had blue eyes and was kind of muscled in a lean way. I wondered breifly if she was a surfer. Knowing Jake, probably. I could just imagine it... "we met out on the waves dude, it was way awsome."

Although he is one of the only Californians I have ever heard actually use the word 'dude'. Seriously.

She smiled at me when I walked in, Jake looked up.

"So…he's really your best man?" Way to start a conversation Suze.

"Yep."

"Why?"

Jake sighed. He looked directly at me and said, "look, I know you guys had…issues, but he's a great guy. And my best friend. Can you please deal with him for just a little while?"

Issues. That was ONE way to put it.

"Yah." I looked over at his fiancé.

"You must be Suze."

I laughed, "yah, and I'd be wiling to bet you're Aria."

She flashed her pearly whites at me.

She smiled people.

Not growled. That would actually be kind of cool…

SNAP OUT OF IT SUZE.

I looked at the clock. Noon. Damn.

I excused myself and stepped out of the house toeing Keith with me.

"Where exactly are we going?"

I grinned up at him and said, "To see some old friends."

He just rolled his eyes and followed me to my mom's car. I was borrowing it until I got a chance to rent one.

Half an hour later we were parked in front of a large house in downtown Carmel. It was two stories, cut grass, fancy and there were two new (looking) cars in the driveway.

Keith whistled, "this is the place?"

"Yep. I think. Maybe. Hopefully."

He gave a snort and followed me up the path.

I knocked on the door and it swung open a second later to reveal someone I hadn't seen in a while. A long while.

It was Cee Cee. Only thinner, and more self assured looking. And older too, but not much.

"Hello?" She looked confused.

"Cee?"

A blank look briefly went over her face before she looked awed and said, "Simon?" and then flung her arms around me and let out a high pitched squeal.

"Shit Cee, what are you—" A tall dark haired guy walked into the entry hall and stopped.

"Suze? Oh, wow. Long time no see eh?"

I pulled away from Cee and said, "yah. Long time no see."

Cee ushered us in the house and into a big living room. It was done completely in shades of blues. The front hall was shades of greens. Do I sense a theme here?

"So, who's this?" she raised an eyebrow at me and flicked her gaze to Keith.

"This is my friend Keith, he's with me for Jake's wedding."

An uncomfortable silence passed through the room. The tension was so thick for a moment that you could have cut it with a knife.

"Have you been home yet?" Adam looked nervous.

"Yes. And I now about…" it was hard to choke out his name without snarling…or crying, "Jesse."

"Suze I'm so sorry…" she stopped. There was nothing to say on it.

Long story short, we caught up on everything that had been going on for the last three years. Cee and Adam were shock engaged, and I was still boyfriend less. I was invited to the wedding (whenever it may be) and everything felt…normal. For a while. Then it hit me (again) that I was no longer nineteen. And that well, life kind of sucked.

Never the less, when I left their house, I felt better. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed them. It was also six o' clock. Damn. Time flies.

We drove back to the house and unfortunately, there was a black porsh in the driveway. Damn him.

I walked inside and stormed up to my room. Only I came flying back down when I heard the doorbell ring. Before anyone could answer it I flung it open and much to the shock of, well…myself, flung my arms around the very startled person at the door. A.k.a., Paul.

"God Suze, chill would you?" He stepped in and set down his luggage.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Jesse walk in the room. My blood boiled and I did something that I will never ever live down. I took a step closer to Paul and pressed my lips to his. There was no one else in the room, just the three of us, but still.

He pulled away after a second and I looked adoringly up at him, "I missed you."

He looked behind me and rolled his eyes. Damn. He wasn't supposed to see Jesse. He looked at me and I could sense him weighing the situation. But then I saw him give in. He leaned down and kissed me lightly.

"I missed you too…honey." I could see him trying not to explode with laughter. Thank god I have such a good friend…who happens to be male…and not married…or engaged.

When I turned around the look on Jesse's face made me a very happy person. He looked like a little kid that had just been told his dog died. He turned pale under his tan and when I turned back to Paul he looked quite pleased with himself. For finally being able to fully piss off Jesse, I mean.

He grabbed his luggage and I tugged him up the stairs. He was staying in my room, but only because we were out of rooms, I was going to put him in Keith's…but if we wanted to make this whole thing work…

"Thank you," I said, as soon as the door was shut.

"Don't mention it," he winked at me, "I got to kiss the most beautiful girl on the planet," I blushed but then scowled at him. That's another thing. He's totally over me, but he's always trying to like, impress me or something. Maybe he isn't over me…

Wishful thinking Suze. Wishful thinking.

I looked into his icy blue eyes, ...so…pretty… "alright. If we're going to make this thing work, and we are, as it's the only way I won't KILL him, we have to be convincing."

He nodded.

"Will you be my 'boyfriend' for the next…well, until we leave?"

He just kind of gave me this little half smile and said, "of course darling, love of my life, sweetheart, muffin…"

"Paul?"

"Yah?"

"Shut up."

Dinner that night was an…interesting affair. Jesse still looked like his whole world had been squashed (not that I gave a shit), my mom was beaming happily at me, Doc and Jake were scowling at me, Brad and Andy didn't really have a clue. In fact, Andy was (unknowingly) rubbing it in.

"So Suze, how long have you and Paul been together?"

Think Suze, think…

"Oh, about…what is it now?" I looked at Paul sweetly, "two years?"

Jesse looked even more depressed.

"Yah, two years and…one month sweetie," Paul, I could see was trying really, really hard not to laugh. I almost snorted into my taco. I could also tell he was starting to enjoy himself.

My mom just kept beaming.

"So Paul, you're a lawyer right?"

"Yes, you could say that." Which was true. He was, but he didn't really take to many cases anymore, just owned companies that did.

"We have a great apartment by central park, it's lovely."

Jesse sunk down into his chair.

"You're living together?"

"Yah, for about…six months now."

Jesse excused himself politely and stalked out of the kitchen. I pretended to remain oblivious. Paul was almost shaking with laughter and had to excuse himself as well. It totally would have given it away if he fell off his chair laughing.

(A/N: And it happens. I did it in English class one time. Don't ask. But my teacher gave me many weird looks…)

It was silent for a moment but about thirty seconds later there was a huge crash from the living room and Paul let out a yell.

"What the hell De Silva? What's your problem?"

"I don't have a problem! Leave me alone!"

"You're the one who punched me!" They were yelling at the top of their lungs and I flew into the living room. Paul was holding his nose and swearing under his breath. Jesse was glaring at him from across the room. I could almost feel the anger coming off him.

I walked up to Jesse. By now the rest of my family had filtered into the living room.

"Jesse, outside. Now," I used the same voice I used to use when I'd give my babysitting charges time-outs. Surprisingly enough, it worked.

I stalked to the door and stepped into the night air.

He followed me out and shut the door behind him.

"What the hell did you do that for?" I glared up (way up) at Jesse. It was hard to be mean to him when I really wanted to throw myself against him and press my lips to his, but I was pissed that he had decked Paul. It was a very confusing feeling. Wanting to sock and jump someone at the same time, I mean.

If it was possible, Jesse had gotten even hotter in three years. His dark hair looked thicker, his brown eyes looked darker and he looked more muscled. But not in a muscle man type of way. It was probably his green polo shirt that clung to him in ALL the right places. I wondered if Shannon had picked it out for him.

"I…I…erm, I don't know," he avoided eye contact by looking over the top of my head.

I closed my eyes. What would a happy, in love girlfriend say?

"Oh, right."

Okay, that wasn't it, for sure.

"You and Paul…are you…." he trailed off, "happy?"

Hmm…I need to be convincing, so lets try something simple.

"Yah," but I said it kind of sulkily. Oops. PULL IT TOGETHER SIMON.

He raised an eyebrow at me.

"Really? Do I sense…what was itSlater used to say? Oh, yes, trouble in paradise?"

"No. We're happy." Oh, good one. That actually sounded convincing. I plastered a smile on my face.

Jesse took a step toward me and captured my eyes with his. He gently took one of my hands and ran a finger slowly up the inside of my arm toward my elbow. I could feel my body reacting in a very happy way, to have Jesse touch me again…it was…really good. His fingers were rough and calloused. He was so tan compared to my pale skin, and he smelled so good…I had almost forgotten how good he smelled.

Must. Not. Jump. Him…

Wait. He had his chance. I yanked my arm from his; he had a little knowing smirk on his lips.

I felt myself blush.

"Jesse, stop it. You had your chance. We lived together for six months before you cheated on me. Six. Months," I looked up into his eyes, but then looked away.

"I have to know," and I did. Have to know I mean.

"Know what Susannah?" I made the mistake of looking back into his eyes. All the laughter was gone from his gaze. He was totally serious.

"Are, are you still seeing her?"

"No, I never was."

If he had tried, he couldn't have caused me more pain with one sentence. He had thrown away everything for a girl he wasn't seeing and no longer had contact with? I felt the tears brim in my eyes. At least if it hadn't been a fling. If he hadn't thrown it all away for just one or two nights…especially when I would have so willingly come to him.

He looked alarmed.

"Susannah, I didn't mean, we weren't, I wasn't…I…." he stopped.

"Susannah, I was never seeing Shannon," he took my by the shoulders, pushed me up against the side of the house, "never. I need you to know something. I never would have hurt you," his gaze bore into mine and I felt myself start to fall into his eyes.

"Then, why?" He seemed aware of exactly the position we were in. He blushed and removed his hands from my shoulders.

"I never cheated on you."

I just shook my head at him sadly and ran back in the house. I couldn't deal with that. After all these years he was saying that he hadn't done anything? He was still denying what I had seen with my own eyes?

I shut my eyes against the onslaught of emotion. It made me feel sick. I had to …go. Somewhere…anywhere. So I wouldn't be caught crying. I hated crying. It was so weak and made me feel helpless…But I couldn't stop the tears.

I slowly walked past my family who were still gathered in the living room. I was aware of the fact that tears were running down my face now, I knew that they knew. I didn't care. Paul wasn't there, I assumed he was upstairs. I needed to talk to him. I slowly climbed up the stairs and stumbled into my room.

He looked up as I walked in and crossed the room to hold me in his arms. I leant against him and let him hold me as the tears came.

A/N: See, aren't you proud of me? I got up a chapter…that was an actual chapter. Yay for me! Anyway, I'm FINALLY starting to pull this story together a little bit. And I'll keep updating…if you keep reviewing. HINT HINT.

Ali