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

ok, it's Saturday! no stupid school! yay... here's chapter 18, it starts off the same day as the chapter 17, but after dinner at Jesse's and Suze just got home ~Chels

Chapter 18: Welcome to the Real World (pt. II)

Jake got accepted to Georgia Tech, a fact that I was informed of the second I walked through the door... I guess he signed up early, cause he's still a senior in High School... the further away from me the better, and GA is about as far away from here as you can get.

"Hey Suze" said Brad walking in from outside. Apparently he had been at the beach.

"Hey!." I replied, "Catch any good waves?"

He smiled broadly, "Yeah and so did-"

"-Hey Brad! Come here, quick!" Interrupted a guy from outside the open door.

"Coming!" Yelled Brad, "One Sec. Suze." He said, going outside. I followed, wondering why Brad had to 'come quickly' and who the guy was outside the door.

"Oh, Hey Suze!" said a guy I didn't recognize- wait- it was...PAUL... He had a totally new look. He had on a hat and sunglasses, and his hair was longer, curly too. It was Ashton Kutcher-ish. He was wearing a black Sum41 tee-shirt with kaki cargo's, skater shoes, and he had, I noticed, pierced an eyebrow.

"Nice look." I said

He nodded, " I wanted to show my rebellious inside on the outside... Plus, have you ever listened to Punk, Ska or Emo? It's awesome!"

"Skunk? Emu? A-Eska-What?" I asked confused.

Paul laughed, "It's music... I'll have to let you listen sometime." That made me feel stupid, I let out an embarrassed 'oh'.

Brad, who had taken off running as soon as he got out the door, returned with someone, a girl someone, Kailey. "It's fine now." Brad told Paul, " I saw Kailey on my way back, so I brought her up to have a drink..."

"Suze, I think they want some time alone" said Paul, taking my arm and leading me inside. Once we were inside he turned to me, "How are you feeling?"

"Great!" I said, "Never Better." Jesse appeared beside me, a new ghostly guy tagging along. He looked surprised to see Paul standing there talking to me.

"Hello Jesse- and friend" said Paul, nodding to the ghostly tag along.

I looked at Paul questioningly, "I thought you weren't a shifter anymore."

"I'm not" he said, glaring at Jesse, "I'm still a mediator though... I now have an obligation to help the 'poor little ghosties'. "

"Right," Said Jesse, "Suze, baby, you left your underwear at my house." He said, handing me a bag while truing not to laugh. I bought some new underwear while shopping with Jesse's sisters today.

Jesse, noticing Paul's new look, couldn't contain his laughter any longer. "Nice look Slater!" He laughed, "Very dangerous!"

Paul looked murderous, "You think you're so cool Jesse? You stupid bastard! You stole my shifting abilities- and my girl. When you blew her off those nights- I was there when you weren't, but you still get her! You become alive, my girlfriend dies. You become a shifter, I lose my shifting abilities. You SUCK!" Jesse grinned coolly and said one word- that's all it took to send Paul over the edge. What did Jesse say? What else: "Jealous?" he asked, his eyebrows raised mockingly. That did it. Paul jumped on Jesse and started beating him. Jesse just laughed, took one swing and Paul was holding his nose. "You'll pay!" said Paul, "You just watch Jesse, you'll pay!" With that, Paul walked over to the front door, pausing only long enough to say the words "I still don't understand" softly, while looking directly at me.

I felt like crying as I realized what Paul had just said, he still didn't understand... then shivers went down my back as I realized what he had said before that. "This is not happening!" I said, feeling panicked. Apparently Jesse had not heard what Paul had said at all, because he asked "what is not happening?"

"That's how my vision went. Those words started it all. Don't let that happen Jesse, try to get along with Paul. For my sake, and yours, and your families. Please!" I said.

"People are so dense now-a-days. So uninvolved in life" Said Jesse, oblivious to what I had just said.

I looked at him and sarcastically said, "Welcome to the real world."

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Next time on- The Mediator:Changes - Are the 'changes' that have taken place really permanent? And who is the ghost?

hope you liked it! Please review and tell me what you think about my fic or how I can make it better. ~Chels