The Mediator: Changes- (Based on the mediator series by Meg Cabot/Jenny Carroll)

I wonder who sill show up in this chapter!? Little green men? JK, no I don't think that I want to write a story that's THAT weird. Anyways... read and review. I hope you like it. ~Chels

Chapter 8: It's All in The Game of Love

Don't tell me how life is
Cause I don't really don't want to know
Don't tell me how this game ends
Cause we'll just see how it goes
Catch me when I fall
Or you'll need me when I'm not here at all
Miss me when I'm gone again, yeah


I'm going down in flames
I'm falling into this again

-"Going Down in Flames" by 3 Doors Down

Flashback:

"I'd like to start over." Tad said even more quietly than he usually speaks.

"That would be nice." I replied. "Even if that was Jesse back there, he obviously doesn't want me now- he probably never did," I thought to myself.

"Good." Tad said leaning over and kissing me softly, but passionately on the lips. I kissed him back and, sooner or later, after several minutes of serious tongue twisting and saliva swapping , we had to pull apart for breath and I got out of the car. Tad backed his Porsche carefully out of the driveway and , after stopping to wave goodbye, sped off down the road. Tad was a VERY good kisser, his kisses sent shivers down my back and they were soft and always feel like it's that special first kiss. Plus, he never had bad breath. I stood in the driveway, replaying that kiss over in my head, until...

Snap Back to This Chapter:

"Gosh, did he clean your mouth out well enough with his tongue?" Paul asked trying to joke, but not managing to keep the jealousy out of his voice, "So, who was that?"

"My Ex-boyfriend Tad." I answered.

"Ex?" Paul asked. He then let out a whistle, "THAT's how you kiss your EX-boyfriends?"

"We're 'starting over' I don't think we actually broke up in the first place. Things were just really- weird- for a while. They're better now and his dad's back home from the hospital- don't ask... but his uncle's still M.I.A." I said, smiling at the last part.

"What does Jesse think of him?" Asked Paul, sounding like an overprotective mother.

"The first time he saw him- us- he said that he was too 'forward', but then he helped me save him- and myself- from that huge fiery mess, so he had to be okay with him..." I answered

"What does he say about me?" Paul asked with a smile.

"Let's not go there... plus, I can't speak Spanish, so I wouldn't know- he speaks of you in Spanish and won't tell me what he's saying... it SOUNDS evil though!" I said, only half jokingly.

"Oh." Was all Paul said to my statement, before he changed the subject, " So- looks like you've got yourself a new boyfriend now, so you won't be needing me hanging around anymore."

"Sure I will." I said smiling and hugging him. He smiled back, and gave me a suspicious look "Why?"

"Who else would teach me about shifting? Who else can see the annoying invisible things that I always talk to ? Who else understands me?-" I answered, then, pointing at him said, "You!"

"So you only want me as a shifting teacher?" He asked sadly.

"That and as a friend. I wouldn't mind going to get coffee or pizza or seeing a movie once in a while with a friend! Sound good?" I asked smiling slyly at him.

He grinned back. "Sounds great!" He said back, while getting into his truck. He then drove away, still grinning. I felt sorry for Paul. I think I was getting his hopes up this past week, then I go and get together with some other guy. And Jesse? Was it just a coincidence that the new guy's name was Jesse DeSilva, or did Jesse somehow become human again- and get younger? "Let's go ask the messenger- what's his name anyways?" I thought.

I literally ran to my room. The messenger wasn't sitting in the window seat as he usually was, so I found his bottle and knocked on it. He appeared. "Hi- Sorry- I have some questions for you." I said. He sat down on the window seat. When he was situated comfortably he said, " Alright."

"Okay- wait- what's your name, first?" I asked.

"Name? You mean what I am called?" He asked. I nodded. "I am Chad, messenger of the Shifters." He announced proudly.

"Okay, Chad, first question- did I change along with everyone else?" I asked.

"Not you personally, but your attitude slightly changed and little things like that." He answered.

"How did Jesse change?" I asked.

"In many ways." Chad answered cryptically.

"Is he human- Alive Possibly?" I asked sounding hopeful.

"Maybe. I shouldn't answer that, but I shall, because I must make sure you're happy, and if I don't answer than you will be unhappy - that is how you are." Chad said, "The answer, Susannah.-The answer is that he is human, yes, and also very much alive."

"How?" I asked, realizing what this meant.

Chad sighed, "He possessed the requirements to be a shifter, and, as I said, there were only two shifters left-"

I cut him off, " So they - whoever made us shifters- changed him so that he could be alive?". Chad nodded. " Is that why he was acting so busy that night?" I asked suddenly feeling sorry for how I'd acted.

"Yes," Said Chad, " But he didn't want to tell you in case it didn't work. It's never been done before."

"Wow- what about his family?" I asked, "Where does he stay?"

"They changed his sisters and parents also, only they are not shifters." Explained Chad.

"Wow! He must be so happy! Thank you Chad! Sorry again for bothering you." I said hugging him.

"It's alright." He said, returning to his bottle.

"It's time to test my shifting skills." I thought, "- Only, I don't know where he lives- I can call him! It worked when he was a ghost, but I wonder if it will work now? It's worth a try!" I sat down on the edge of my bed and concentrated on picturing Jesse's face in my mind, then I moved down to sit on the floor in the middle of the room. " Jesse" I thought, " If you can hear me- come here!" I said this at least three times in my head before a voice from behind me broke my concentration. "If you're not going to talk I'll leave!". I turned around, "Jesse! I wanted to make sure that it was you!"

"It is, don't worry." He said, sounding like a typical teenager.

"So, you're a shifter now?" I asked smiling.

"Yep, second most powerful." he said stretching and fake yawning, " So what's up?". "Apparently they taught him how talk in today's teenage society... and dress" I thought, noticing his clothes for the first time. Damn! He is so hot! He looks like a celeb, you know how they're always so perfect looking and well built. You could see the outline of his well developed stomach muscles under his tight fitting white sleeveless undershirt. And it went so well with those slightly baggy jeans that he was wearing. I think I'm blushing, stupid me! I realized that I was staring and snapped back to reality. Jesse was grinning. He gave me a prompting look and I remembered the question that he had just asked me, "Nothin' much here- besides Father Dom hating me, along with cee Cee and Adam, Paul being my friend and almost boyfriend. My old enemy's are now my friends and Brad's being really nice to me. You?"

"I'm alive and so is my family! I haven't seen them for a hundred and fifty years!" he said happily.

"How are they adjusting to modern living?" I asked.

"Very well!" Jesse said, " My sisters would like some help with clothes and make-up though." He said.

"I think I could help them..." I said smiling. "Where are you guys living?"

This question brought an instant smile to Jesse's face, "It's AWESOME!!!" he said, "You HAVE to come see!- Well- later let's wait till they adjust a little more. Anyways- they gave us a great house and TON's of money!" He said.

"Suzie?" called my mom from the other side of my door. Jesse promptly disappeared with a "See you at school".

"Come in!" I called. my mom walked in and sat on my bed. We made some small talk about how my day went, and then she said what she came in my room to say, "We're going to go get your license, come on." She said and got up. She walked out of my room and down the stairs. I called down after her, "I'll be right down!", then went and made sure that I looked alright for the picture that I was going to have on my license- I HAD to pass, I was sure I would.