Disclaimer: Meg Cabot owns everything from The Mediator not me.
For Your Love
Chapter 4
Before I could get over the difference in my room I heard footsteps outside.
"Ah," I heard an unfamiliar voice say, "This is your room Mr de Silva. I hope you enjoy your stay."
Crap! It was Jesse. He was about to come in and I wasn't even supposed to be here. I looked around in panic for somewhere to hide but all I saw was small wardrobe in the corner of the room and I did not want to hide in there. It would be way cramped. And who knew how long I would be in there?
Jesse's voice, thanking the man who had been speaking just before, snapped me out of my thoughts. The wardrobe would have to do. I just managed to scramble into it and shut the door behind me when I heard the door to the room open and Jesse step inside.
It was dark and uncomfortable in the wardrobe. There was a thin beam of light leaking in from the room between the crack in the doors but it only served to give me a clear view of my knees, everything else was black. I didn't want to think of any spider's webs- or, God forbid, actual spiders- that might be lurking up in the shadowy corners of the wardrobe.
I shuddered as a thought occurred to me. How was I supposed to get out of this mess? Seriously? And how long was I going to have to wait until I could get out of this stupid, cramped wardrobe?
I didn't have to wonder for much longer though because the wardrobe door suddenly opened and I saw Jesse (without the spectral glow!!!) staring down at me looking all hot and stuff. I seriously felt like I hadn't seen him in ages. Which I guess was pretty dumb and all seeing as he had been in my room only yesterday but whatever, here he was in the flesh, and I mean that literally, heartbeat and all. And this time I didn't have to worry about him breaking my heart or anything.
Except Jesse didn't seem too chuffed to see me. Not that I was surprised or anything. I mean, there I was, sitting in a wardrobe in the room he was staying in, wearing clothes from a completely different time period. I must have looked totally barmy! I'm sure you will agree that he had a perfectly good reason to look downright confused.
"Senorita," he said, "Why are you sitting in this wardrobe?"
Ok, how, exactly are you supposed to answer a question like that?
Remember when I said that I had the weirdest conversations? Well I'm petty sure that this just proves it.
"Um," I said, "You know, that's a good question. I was, um, just... checking it out for you."
Seriously. That's what I said. Jesse just looked completely baffled. And why not? I had just told him I was checking out his wardrobe for him. Did he even know what 'checking it out' meant? I seriously doubted it. I mean if he hadn't picked it up after living with me for all those months then I really couldn't see him being too clued in on modern lingo when he was still in eighteen fifty.
"Yeah..." I said getting up, "So, you know, if you ever need some where to hide or anything then you probably shouldn't use that wardrobe. It didn't really do a very good job."
You know that babbling problem I have? Well I think it must have developed into just talking utter nonsense or something, because that's what it sounded like. Was it even me speaking? Because apart from the seeing dead people thing I've always believed that I am reasonably sane.
I decided to shut up and get out of there before I could humiliate myself any more. Only before I could make it to the door Jesse grabbed my arm and went, "Wait."
I turned around, utterly shocked that he hadn't run away screaming or anything yet. Well actually I wasn't too shocked that he wasn't screaming (now that would have been scary) but I thought he would have at least started to back out of the room by now. "Yes?" I said.
"Who were you hiding from?" Jesse asked.
I was relieved that he hadn't believed me- I mean, I'd have been worried about his mental health too if he had bought it and everything- but annoyed that he had to go and ask me another question to which my answer would probably end up being completely ridiculous.
"No one," I told him. Which I guess was a bit better than last time it was still ridiculous, of course, because why would I be hiding from no one? But whatever.
"I find that hard to believe," Jesse said.
"I know," I said, "But it's a long story so you probably don't want to hear it. I'll just go."
I walked out of the room wondering what on earth I could do now. I'd have to wait until Jesse was asleep before I could get his blood (ew that just sounds wrong. Why me? Why couldn't it just be some other poor schmuck?) I mean, I could hardly just run up to him and stab him could I. Imagine what would happen then when I moved into my bedroom. Jesse would be like, oh look there's that psycho who tried to kill me back in eighteen fifty. And I'd be all, what are you doing in my bedroom? Get out, and then he'd be like, ok then. And I'd be all smug because I'd just got rid of a ghost by telling him to get lost but the horrible truth would be that I'd just watched my one true love dematerialise out of my life.
I'm telling you, this time travel business is dangerous.
After a few seconds I realised that Jesse was talking to me. I turned around and saw that he had followed me into the corridor. Perhaps I should be worried about his mental health. After all, I'm pretty sure that if somebody who acted like I had just done I'd be pleased that they were leaving. Not that I was bothered by him following me. No, I was flattered that he didn't mind spending time with some crazy girl who was hiding in the wardrobe in his hotel room. I'm pretty sure that this just proves that we're meant to be.
I decided to let him know that I wasn't really crazy, you know, just in case, so I said, "Just so you know, I'm perfectly aware that everything I've just told you is complete rubbish and, believe it or not, I'm not as utterly bonkers as you might have originally thought."
I wasn't entirely sure if he'd understood a word of what I'd said to him but he gave me this funny smile and said, "I see."
He paused for a few seconds then went, "May I ask your name?"
Aw, so polite. That's my Jesse!
"Susannah Simon," I told him smiling brightly then asked just to be polite, "And you?"
"Jesse de Silva," he replied as we started walking out of the house. I don't know where we were going exactly, I guess I was just walking and Jesse was following.
"Do you live around here?" Jesse asked after a while.
"No," I said, "I'm, er... travelling."
"So, are you staying here then?"
"No, I'm, um, not actually staying anywhere."
Jesse started looking confused again. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I, um, you see..." Think, Suze, think, "Somebody stole my money so I can't afford a room," I said finally.
"Oh," Jesse said, looking concerned, "they did not harm you did they?"
"Nah. I'm fine," I told him, pleased that he was so concerned; it was sweet. "The wimps just snatched it off me and ran off. Sensible of them though, if they'd stuck around then I'd have taught them not to mess with me."
Jesse looked like he wasn't sure whether to be shocked or amused at my attitude. I'd forgotten that women didn't really act like this in the nineteenth century
"What exactly would you do to them then?" He asked.
"I don't know really," I said and Jesse shook his head.
"You certainly are unusual, Miss Simon," he told me with a grin.
I didn't take offence or anything at this. It was the truth after all, so I just said, "Call me Susannah."
Jesse smiled, "Then you may call me Jesse."
"Cool," I replied, smiling at how funny my modern slang sounded after Jesse's formality.
"Well, Susannah," He said, still smiling, "We cannot have you staying on the streets. I will give you the money to get a room here tonight."
I stared at him. I mean, I know Jesse's nice and all but I was a complete stranger who acted like a loony and here he was giving money to me and actually wanting to spend time with me, when, a year or so ago, back in Brooklyn, I was lucky if a guy even spoke to me civilly. "Oh, would you?" I said, "That is so sweet! Thank you."
"You are very welcome," Jesse told me.
We walked in silence for a while which just confused me more. Sure, he didn't seem to have anyone else to hang out with but I doubt his first impression of me was that great. So why not give me the money then send me packing and find someone sane to talk to? Not that I wanted him to. As if. No, it was just weird is all.
When I asked him this he just laughed and said, "Why would I do that? I like you Susannah, you are a very interesting person."
I was chuffed. Seriously. I didn't know I was interesting. I mean, yeah, my life was hardly boring. I was, after all, in the eighteen fifties, people! And then there's the whole seeing dead people thing. It's hard to forget about that. But me- as in my personality- interesting? That was something I hadn't been too sure about.
"Thanks," I said, beaming and Jesse laughed.
"You're welcome."
We carried on walking for a bit then Jesse said "So, Susannah, where are you from? Or am I not going to be able to get a straight answer off you?"
I thought this was kind of ironic seeing as Jesse's usually the one who won't say anything about himself and I always complained about it but now I'm the one who's doing it. It wasn't like I could tell him the truth though was it? I had to think up a lie. And a convincing one this time.
"I live about a day from here," I told him. "I'm visiting someone."
"Who are you travelling with?" Jesse asked.
"No one," I replied foolishly.
Jesse was horrified; "You travelled all this way on your own?"
"Yes," I said a bit defensively. Trust him to bring that up. We were getting along great then he has to go all sexist on me. I reminded myself that he was born in the nineteenth century and he didn't know any better then said, "I can take care of myself, you know."
"Oh yes, like you did with the people who stole your money?" he asked sarcastically.
This was so typical, we'd only just met (from Jesse's point of view anyway) and already we were arguing about me not being able to take care of my self. And on top of that, we were arguing about a lie! I seriously need to think up some better lies for next time I need one.
"I'm still in one piece aren't I?" I asked him, deeply offended.
"I know," Jesse said seriously. "But you are lucky you were not hurt. It is not safe for women to travel alone."
I seriously hated it when Jesse got like this. "It's those dresses we're supposed to wear," I told him, trying not to sound too annoyed. "How is anybody supposed to defend themselves with those things on? I'm telling you, petticoats are a health and safety hazard. They should all be burned!"
Jesse couldn't stay angry with me after that he just laughed and said, "You really are unlike anybody I have ever met."
I wasn't too sure how to take that. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I asked, confused.
Jesse smiled at me, "I think it is a good thing."
I grinned and unable to think of anything better to say I went, "Cool!"
This felt great, he hardly knew me and he was already starting to like me.
I was so chuffed that I didn't even realise that him liking me already might not me such a good thing after all.
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A/N: Thanks for the suggestions they were good and I might use them if I can get them to fit but what I really needed ideas for was after Suze got back from the past because I've already planned what's going to happen up until there.
Anyway, thank you all for the reviews they were all wonderful and I hope I'll get the same type of feedback for this chapter too.
