For your Love

Chapter 10

I had another nightmare that night.

I hadn't had one in so long that I'd thought they'd stopped now. Only, when I went to sleep that night I was right back in Shadowland, running through the thick fog.

I was terrified. I just wanted to get out, but when I tried to shift nothing happened. The fog just kept getting thicker and I didn't have a clue what to do.

Jesse! He'd help me!

Only, when I called him he wouldn't come. I felt tears begin to prickle at the back of my eyes as I ran. Why wasn't he coming? Why wasn't he there when I was so scared?

Suddenly I skidded to a halt.

Paul Slater was standing in front of me.

A sick smirk that turned my whole body to ice crept slowly onto his face.

Then the floor disappeared beneath me. And Paul just kept smirking as I fell.

When my eyes snapped open Jesse's face was the first thing I saw, something I found rather surprising.

"Susannah," he said, looking concerned, "are you alright?"

I sat up, trying to slow down my breathing. I was all sweaty. Trust Jesse to be here now. I must have looked sooo attractive to him.

"Jesse," I looked at him, confused. "What are you doing here?"

"You called me," He replied.

That one didn't help the confusion much.

"Um, Jesse? In case you hadn't noticed, I was asleep just then. How could I have called you?"

Jesse shook his head. "Never mind that now," he said. "You were just having a nightmare. Are you alright?"

The nightmare slowly came back to me. I shivered slightly as I remembered Paul and that corridor.

I shifted over in my bed and Jesse sat down next to me. He put his arm around me and I leaned on his chest.

"I'm ok really," I said. "I'm just a little worried about what Ellie said before."

Jesse's grip around my shoulders tightened slightly, he looked down at me and said, "You'll be fine. Slater won't harm you. I'll make sure of that."

I nodded but I wasn't quite so convinced. In fact, I was terrified. Why else would I be having nightmares again? There seemed to be only one reason for it all. And that was what Ellie had told Jesse and me earlier.

She came back a few minutes after the little talk I'd had with Jesse and she explained everything like she'd promised she would. She was a bit reluctant about telling us anything at first, but we both got her to talk eventually.

I'm still not to sure whether or not it would have been better if she hadn't said anything.

Paul. I'd known he was evil all along. Well since the Shadowland incident anyway. And I'd had no idea how right I was.

Ellie explained it all: how she knew Paul, why she seemed to hate him so much. And if I wasn't scared of Paul before then I certainly was now.

He'd killed her. He'd actually killed her.

This wasn't anything like an exorcism, or a threat, or even leaving someone stranded in Shadowland. He'd actually got a gun and shot her. And he'd gotten away with it.

And this was the guy who was practically stalking me.

Ellie's story was similar to mine. Paul had asked her out, and since she hadn't been in love with a seriously hot ghost at the time she'd said yes. He'd found out she was a shifter and taught her all she knew. Only, then she'd realised what he was really like and dumped him. Paul got seriously pissed with her and… well, you know the rest of the story.

And I had to pretend like I didn't know any of this. I couldn't let on that I knew Ellie. I had to go to school the next day and carry on with the plan. I had to go up to Paul and get those things we needed, even if it meant going to his house.

That's why Ellie hadn't wanted to tell me anything. And I've come to the decision that I wish she hadn't said a word.

Jesse said that I didn't have to worry about anything. That if anything happened he'd be there. But it wasn't making me feel any better. I didn't want Jesse anywhere near Paul; given the chance, he'd exorcise him on the spot.

I was not going to let that happen.

Which was why I was going to go through with Ellie's plan and I was not going to fail.

She had it all worked out. I hadn't believed her that time when she'd said that she had it all under control. But she did. She'd explained it all to me. I was going to give Jesse his life back and see to it that Paul didn't bother me again.

I freaked as soon as I saw him, of course.

I'd spent like the whole morning telling myself to act normally, but what good is that? When you've got a guy who's killed someone walking the halls of your school, and you could very well be his next victim, telling yourself not to freak out does nothing whatsoever to help.

I was at my locker with Cee Cee when he came over. He was wearing the same grin as always, he had the same icy blue eyes, the same dark curly hair. The same Paul Slater whose house I'd been at yesterday, whom I'd actually gone out with once. The same guy.

Yet in my eyes he was different.

This guy had killed someone just because he was pissed at her. Just because she hadn't liked the way he chose to use his shifting powers and dumped him. And I was going to have to ask Cee Cee to leave me alone with him so I could talk to him. A talk that was most likely going to end in me agreeing to go to his house!

Forgive me for being a little scared.

Ok, make that positively terrified.

"So," he said once Cee Cee had gone, "how are you feeling?"

Oh God. How could he just stand there, asking me how I am after what he'd done?

"Me?" I said nervously, "I'm great! Fabulous even."

Ugh! Could I be any more obvious?

Just CALM DOWN Suze!

"Are you sure?" He said still, smiling. "You seem a little… weird."

"I'm fine," I assured him hastily. "Now where's my stuff?"

THAT surprised him.

He got over it quickly though. "So you still want to go through with it?"

"I'll take my chances," I said. "So where are my things?"

I noticed with satisfaction that Paul's smile was weaker than before. "At my place. But I'm telling you Suze, you're wasting you're time."

"It's worth a try though," I said.

He sighed

"And it's not like I've got anything better to do."

Then Paul's grin grew wider and I could see this totally evil glint in his eye. "Ok then, just be ready for me to take you to my place after school."

I ignored the urge to run away screaming and said, "Fine."

"Fine," Paul said then walked away, leaving me to wonder what on earth I'd gotten myself into.

A/N: La di da! I've finally updated! I don't know why it's taken so long but I'll try and be quicker next time. No promises though.

Thank you all for the reviews!

Nikki007: Sorry this chapter took so long. Thanks for reviewing though.

Angel From Fairyland: Thanks! I think you sound sane enough. You like my fic after all. Tee hee! Just kidding.

KittyKatangel518: Babbling is good. Babbling equals long reviews, which are good. So yeah, if you feel a bit of a babble coming on then just go with it. Thanks for the review.

Arianna Sunrise: She did mention the book though, didn't she? Oh well, I'm glad you like it.

Marjorie: Some other guy? (Shakes head) Really! Or did you mean Paul? That's ok, I guess. Only she's back with Jesse now so it doesn't matter. Thanks for the reviews.

SwEeT-sHoRtEy: Thanks!

While you're all such lovely people do you think you could take a look at my new story Nothing To Me? If I get a few more reviews then there should be some JS fluff in it eventually. That's if I can actually think of a way to open the next chapter. Oh well. Review!