:Chapter 4:
"Okay, close your eyes" Gus instructed me as we drove along the Pacific Coast Highway.
"No, I'm okay" I replied nervously.
He laughed and then said "Come on, I swear I won't try anything."
I laughed nervously, because I wanted him to try something. Well, you would too!
Come on…Gustavo Ochoa, quarterback of the football team, one of the hottest guys in the entire school, not to mention the sweetest and most polite guy you could ever meet. Well, at least from this century.
"Suze, can you please close your eyes" he purred.
"Well, when you put it that way" I said and closed my eyes. I could feel Gus' eyes watching me, and just knowing that made me smile happily.
After about another ten minutes of driving Gus parked the car and whispered in my ear "I'll be right back, don't open your eyes."
"Wait, you're leaving me alone…I…I don't even know where we are" I whined in a very squeaky voice.
"I'll be right back, I just have to check on something."
"Gus, I don't like this-"
"Two minutes tops, I promise" he assured me, and gave my cheek a light peck.
Well that calmed me down. It worked just as well as when CeeCee slaps me too. Good, now I can just have Gus kiss me. It felt a whole lot better than being slapped. Plus, my cheek was tingling where he'd just kissed me. I could definitely get used to that tingling feeling. Although, that one time that Jesse kissed me, I remember more than tingling…No, bad Suze! Jesse is…perfect, charming, suave…no! Jesse is bad, Jesse ignores you. Gus likes you. Gus is planning a surprise for you at this very moment.
God, if someone could hear my thoughts they'd probably cart me off to Belle View.
"Suze, come on…it's all set" Gus cheered, opening my door and grabbing my hand. He helped me out of the car and again reminded me to keep my eyes closed. After a few more steps I could feel sand sliding into my shoes. It felt really weird, but I concentrated on the feel of Gus hand holding mine. It felt nice. He has soft hands, not like Jesse's calloused hands. No, Gus' hands were smooth and soft, not like a girl's hands, but…nice.
After about five minutes of walking, he stopped, and merrily said "Okay, open your eyes."
"Ohmygawd! Gus, you didn't have to-"
"Suze, it was nothing. Besides I really wanted to…impress you" he mumbled, blushing slightly.
There sitting on the sand before us was a candle lit picnic. He had set up pillows for us to sit on, and there was food-which smelled really yummy-and a bottle of what looked like champagne.
"Gus is that…?"
"It's sparkling cider, don't worry I wouldn't try and get you drunk, or drug you" he teased.
"Oh, okay" I murmured, suddenly feeling stupid for even thinking that he would do something so underhanded. Something so…anti-Gus.
"Come on" he chimed pulling my hand and leading me over to one of the fluffy pillows. Gus, always the gentleman, helped me onto the cushion, and then sat down across from me.
"Cider?" he asked, in a snooty waiter tone.
I giggled and handed him my glass. "Why, thank you kind sir."
"Ow, please never call me sir" he jokingly sighed.
I smiled over at him, his handsome features glowing in the candle light. I'm sorry, but I seriously have to be the luckiest girl on the planet. I mean honestly…Gustavo Ochoa! Le sigh.
"I don't see why he doesn't want you to refer to him as 'sir" came a very stern voice from behind Gus.
"Awh, crap" I sighed heavily, yet low enough so that Gus didn't hear it.
"Sir' is a very respectable title. He should be honored that you even glanced in his direction, let alone agreed to meet this boy out here like this" Jesse stated.
I shot him the dirtiest look I could summon, which seemed to get my message across since Jesse looked at me, his mouth agape.
"Have I done something wrong querida?"
Oh, now he calls me that. Yeah, now when I'm supposed to be on a romantic date with Gus. Just great. Jesse really does have perfect timing.
"Suze, you okay?" Gus questioned looking over at me with concern filling his spectacular eyes.
"Uhh…sorry, my stomach is feeling kind of funny" I lied, sending Jesse another hateful glare.
"Do you want me to take you home?" he asked in a serious tone.
"No!…no, you went through all this trouble, and it's probably nothing." I'm so going to hell for lying all the time.
"If you're not feeling well, I'm taking you home. We can do this another time. It's no problem. Besides, some of this food probably won't be too much help with your stomach; I had my mom show me how to make some of your favorite Mexican dishes" he replied, smiling shyly.
"You did?" I asked, my eyes welling at how sweet he was.
"His mom probably cooked all this for him and even packed it up too" Jesse scoffed.
"Well, yeah…but we can do this next week, okay? If you're feeling better, that is."
"Absolutely! I'm sorry…everything is so perfect, and you planned it all out…and…" I trailed off looking down. Gus crawled over to my side and lifted my chin gently.
"Then next week" he said smiling at me. I smiled back and suddenly noticed how close our lips were; close enough so that if we tilted out heads, only a little, we could kiss. Apparently Gus noticed this and hesitantly moved his head. I met him half way, and our lips touched.
I swear when we kissed…it was…it was…nothing. And not just nothing, no a BIG FAT NOTHING. Not even a little tingling; nada. He started to pull back, but I wanted something to happen. I knew he was a good kisser, all the girls he ever dated have said so. So, why couldn't I feel anything. I mean, it was really bad. Like…I feel more when Max, our dog slobbers on me. So, being the hormonal, and stubborn girl that I am, I grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him back towards me. Okay…wait for it…something's happening…HOLY SHIT!
Okay, forget about that first kiss, the position must have been bad or something, because WOW!
Like, tingling all over my body, shivers down my spine, curling my toes, good.
Throughout all of this, I guess I kind of forgot about how Jesse was here too, but you'd be distracted too. But, boy did he remind me of his presence when he pulled Gus away from me and literally tossed him aside.
"WHAT THE HELL?" I yelled at Jesse who was breathing heavily and looked kind of pissed. Okay that was a huge understatement; Jesse looked like he could tear someone limb from limb, with his bare hands.
He turned towards me, sent me a hurt look, and then de-materialized.
"Suze! Are you okay?" Gus cried, staggering over to me.
"Yeah, I'm fine…how 'bout you?" I asked looking him over.
"I'm used to being tackled" he half joked, half wheezed.
"Are you sure? You sound…wheezy" I exclaimed.
"If that's what it takes to kiss you…it was worth it" he replied, beaming. I beamed back and wrapped my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He slid his arms around me and held me protectively, stroking my hair every now and then.
We stayed like that, holding onto each other, for a little while longer. But then Gus remembered I said my stomach hurt, so he insisted on taking me home immediately. He helped me into the car, and then went to pack everything up, because he said he'd set up for me, and he was going to remove it for me. Macho-man anyone?
So as I sat in the car and watched Gus stroll back down to the beach, secretly staring at his cute behind; Jesse happened to pop in. In the back seat, to be exact.
"Urgh, what do you want now? Gus isn't here at the moment, so you can't really throw him" I snapped.
"Susannah, what I did before was for your own protection. That boy…his intentions are dishonorable" he said very matter-of-factly.
"Jesse, that's for me to decide, not you. Gus has been a perfect gentleman all night, unlike some other people" I huffed, coldly.
"Don't be angry with me, por favor. I can take anything but you being upset with me querida."
"Oh, really? Well you sure do piss me off enough to really make me wonder about that" I hissed.
"If I have ever upset you, I can assure you it was unintentionally" he explained.
Suddenly I noticed Gus' figure approaching so I hurriedly yelped; "Okay, okay you win; I forgive you. Now go, I'll see you when I get back home."
"I think I prefer to monitor the rest of your outing; to make sure he is respectable" Jesse calmly said, sitting back. I stared at him in utter disbelief. How could he do this? HOW? Was I that bad in a past life? Really? Can't I just repent, or something?
"Suze?" Gus asked climbing into the SUV, and noticing that I was staring at nothing.
"Yeah" I replied, looking at him with what I hoped were excited, happy eyes. He noticed my happy look, and dropped the concern.
The car ride home was comfortably quiet, except for when Jesse would clear his throat, as if to remind me of his presence. When we finally pulled up to my house, I feigned a sad sigh and sent Jesse a look that said 'leave, or I'll make you suffer'. He got the message, and after mumbling something in Spanish de-materialized.
"Gus, I had a really great time, and I'm sorry about-"
"Suze you don't have to apologize for not feeling well. Don't worry about it. Next week, same time?" he asked with a glorious smile.
"Definitely" I gushed, leaning over the center console. Gus met me half way, and there went the AMAZING feeling inside me again. I really think I could live off that feeling alone. I swear.
After we broke apart, and said our good-byes, I merrily hopped out of the SUV, with Gus' assistance, of course. Lord forbid I open a door for myself! Jeez…chivalrous men.
As I strutted up the path, inside the house, and then up stairs I got a dreading feeling in the pit of my stomach. Jesse, isn't going to be pleasant. Yep, he isn't.
The second I opened my door Jesse bombarded me with questions and rants about how stupid I was to go out with such a disrespectful boy.
"Jesse, cut it out already! I'll date who I want when I want, okay! Besides why do you even care, huh!" I shouted after about twenty minutes of being reprimanded.
"Because…because I love you!"