Chapter 3:

When I got out of the taxi it started raining. And my wonderfully shiny and perfect hair went flat. I wasn't at all looking forward to going in there and explaining that I "accidentally bumped my head on a pole."

JUST TELL THE TRUTH! Said that annoying little voice in my head again.

Yeah. Like that would go well:

"Hey mom, some jerk tried to screw me yesterday, so I kicked him in the nuts, crashed into a pole and blacked out."

And how the hell was I supposed to explain to her that some hot Latino ghost just happened to help me on my way? Who by the way, lives in my BEDROOM!

Perhaps I could sneak in, and live there like normal-maybe no once will notice…

I breathed out and quietly opened the front door-which turned out to be not as inconspicuous as I hoped since the slower I opened the door, the louder the creaking became.

"Suze, is that you?" came a voice from the kitchen. In my last-moment-desperation attempts to hide my 'graze' I grabbed the nearest hat on the coat rack and yanked it over my wet head.

I saw the stairs. They were just a few steps away. Could I make it?

I had to try. I lunged forward and tripped on the mat, grappling for the handrail; I steadied myself and stumbled on. Three steps, two steps, one…

"Susannah!" My mom came into the foyer carrying a tea towel and a fry pan.

"There you are!" she said advancing on me. "Why didn't you tell me you were here, I thought you missed your flight, and I was gonna call you, but I couldn't get to your cell." She stopped and gave me a suffocating hug. "How did everything go? How was Gina? Did you have fun?"

"It was fine mom-actually I'm a bit tired, do you think I could just go to bed early today?"

"Of course you can sweetheart!" She smiled and bustled away.

The fact was I wasn't the least bit tired. I dragged myself up to my room and closed the door-thank god that was over. It was only 6:30. I threw my bag on the floor and flung myself face down on my bed, groaning into the pillow.

It was pouring with rain and there was a cold draught coming in. It was only a moment before I sensed Jesse's presence; he came in quietly through my open window before closing it and sitting on my bed.

"Is everything alright Querida?" he asked softly.

I nodded into my pillow.

"Have you ever been for a walk in the rain?" he said suddenly, smiling. I looked at him. This was very…rash for Jesse.

"No." I answered bluntly, shaking my head.

"Come-on then," he said holding his hand out. "It is quite incredible-all your troubles will wash away. I hesitated for a moment, but with his hand outstretched and a mysterious smile on his face, I couldn't resist.

"Jesse…" I said puzzled. "Is everything alright with you?"

"Why wouldn't it be Susannah?"

I couldn't stop a mystified smile from creeping onto my face. I grabbed my jacket and we started climbing down the trellis out my window.

The rain wasn't cold. The droplets were actually quite warm. We walked right down to the beach, where massive waves were cascading up and down the shore. Thunder boomed and rumbled from above and faint lighting forks were visible out at sea. I felt so vulnerable, in the middle of a storm-yet safe…because I was with Jesse I guess. He was right-this really did feel good!

"Can you actually feel the rain drops?" I asked him.

"Of course I can," he replied. "Ghosts can feel a lot of things…anger, fear, sadness, love…" he trailed off. There was an awkward silence and we continued wandering across the sand. So much for my hair. It was SOAKING, plastered flat to my scalp-I probably looked a sight.

Jesse stopped all of a sudden, looking grim. He swiftly gripped my elbow and began to lead me forward.

"Don't look now, but there's someone following us."

"Wha-" I immediately turned my head and glanced behind me. Why would anyone be stupid enough to go for a walk in a storm like this? Well…um…apart from Jesse and me... There was a figure hooded in black (wow, how original) walking briskly towards us. He…or she was clearly following our trail of footprints left in the sand. I gasped.

"Jesse who is that?"

"I do not know Susannah," he replied. "But I don't like the look of them. Quick, in here." He pulled me into a grass bush leading to a path away from the beach. "Get ready to run, as soon as we are out of his sight." We stumbled out of the grass and made our way up the narrow gravel path.

"Now Susannah!" Jesse started dragging me (gently) down the track. I know we weren't far from my house, but it was hard to see where I actually was let alone which direction I was being hauled in. Surely Jesse knew where we were going-he knew this place like the back of his hand-well, he has been living here for the past century or so. Besides, I trusted him.

"Querida, I think we are lost."

"Well at least we're out of that psychopath's way," I said optimistically. "I don't think he'll even think to find us here-"

"I am sorry Querida," Jesse said quietly, his gaze downcast. "I didn't mean to ruin this for you-I just thought…"

"Come on Jesse," I said gently. "It's not that bad." And it wasn't really to be honest. Getting lost in a storm after being chased by some weirdo with Jesse was something I only dreamed about.

"Look," I said, "Why don't you fly up and see where we are-see if you can find the house from here and then-"

"I'm not going anywhere without you Querida," he said sternly. "Not with that man on our trail."

"Hey, I can protect myself!" I said defensively.

"I will not leave you here alone!" he said stubbornly.

"Take me with you then," I said shortly. I know it was risky, what would Father Dominic say if he heard that there had been sightings of a floating girl in the rain? But hey, it was my only choice, right?

Jesse seemed to have read my mind.

"Father Dominic would not approve if-"

"Come on Jesse, it's our only option, no one will notice us in this storm anyway."

He wrapped his arm around my waist and picked me up effortlessly.

"Hold on," he said.

Flying soaking wet through the sky at night with rain pouring down wouldn't seem to be the most wonderful of experiences but I have to say, I felt like Mary-Jane in Spiderman, except of course that I was instead being carried by a ghost whom I…am totally in love with. There, I admitted it.

You are sad. The voice in my head said unnecessarily. Too right.

How can I fall in love with someone who doesn't even exist!

"We are here Susannah," Jesse said, putting me down outside our house on the lawn. His hand was still around my waist.

"Thank-you," I said earnestly, looking up into his dark, dark brown eyes. He stared back, silently.

My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would give me away if he were to hear it. He pulled away abruptly, his voice shaking slightly. "Goodnight Querida," and he dematerialized.

I stood there for a while, the rain pouring down my nose, over my eyelashes and cheeks, before climbing back up the trellis outside my room.

I fell onto the window seat, soaked right through and dripping water everywhere.

"Alright," said my mother furiously. "Where the hell have you been?"

A/N: See, I told you this one would be longer:) I was a bit unsure about the Jesse/Suze flying part...can Jesse fly? Oh well, sry about that guys. ANYway, hopefullyChapter 4 will be out very soon! PLZ REVIEW so I'll know if you liked it and if this story is worthy enough to be continued!

Luv

HoneyMushrooms