Disclaimer: Yeah, I'm Meg Cabot, and this is so mine. Really you ask? Sorry to disappoint you. I wish I was Meg Cabot!
A/N- This is post Haunted, so Jesse is still a ghost. I know, I know, he should be alive but for the purposes of my story, this is better.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I love all of you to pieces, and you know it.
On to the story.
SUZE POV
I tried to have fun the next couple of days, but I couldn't. I was constantly expecting the court summons. It would start out in local court, then go slowly up. It would go all the way to the supreme court, I knew, because neither of us would be able to just let the verdict be.
We were both just stubborn like that.
My leg still bothered me, but what bothered me even more was the pained look on Jesse's face. He was worried about me.
I was the kind of girl who always tried to take care of herself. I hated having to lean on anyone else. I hate feeling like a burden to anyone.
It was cold, mid-December, nearing our winter break. Jesse and I were curled up on the couch by the fire. He was reading a book, and I was staring into the flames as if they could somehow give me the answers that I was searching for so desperately.
My kitten walked across the stone hearth, pressing her nose against the metal screen and then jumping back when her she was burned.
"Poor kitty," I said quietly, "she got her little nose burned." I said sympathetically. The little white ball of fuzz looked up at me and mewed. Jesse chuckled before patting the couch for the kitten. She jumped onto the couch, right into his lap.
I leaned against his shoulder, wondering if this was the last calm night we'd spend together.
That was the night that I got the summons.
PAUL POV
I had dressed up nicely for the court, my suit was without a single wrinkle. Even though it was only local, I had to make a good first impression.
Suze looked impeccable too, not that that was anything new. Her black hair was in a french twist (even though I'm pretty sure the only French she actually knew was the stuff they didn't teach you at school), and her makeup was natural and light. She was wearing a pink skirt and a baby blue blouse with shell buttons, and black high heels. Of course everything was topped off by a tasteful string of pearls.
The trial was short, with just us and a few friends testifying. The verdict was of course in my favor, but I knew that Suze would appeal.
Even though I hoped she wouldn't.
Because the truth was I really loved her. She was everything I wasn't: honest, good, virtuous, studious, generous, and caring. She may have put up a tough front, but I could see through it. Maybe I wanted her because I secretly wanted to be like her.
But I couldn't. And I knew that I should let her and Jesse, yes I called him by his name, go. But I was selfish and I couldn't let her go.
I think that we both new that I would win in the end. She had no case, only a deep-seated desperation that hurt me. Maybe she just wanted to look like she had at least put up some sort of fight.
SUZE POV
I had meant to avoid Paul as much as possible during the hearing, and I had been successful. But somehow, in a cruel twist of something between fate and irony, I met him in the park a few blocks away from the court house. I had ran there after the hearing, upset at the unfavorable out come.
I knew that the war was far from over, but I had lost a battle. And I had wanted to get somewhere where I knew I wouldn't be bothered. The park had seemed ideal.
I sat on the swings for a while, my high heels thrown into the snow. I wondered if the case would start to pick up coverage soon. It was bound to. It was going up another level, and I was to return to court the next week.
I planned to spend the time between that time and my return to court being happy. And I had always loved parks.
But somehow I Paul had found me there.
"Suze." he greeted, sitting down on the swing next to me.
"Slater." I said cooly.
"Please, if you call that out in a couple months, people will think your talking to yourself." he taunted.
"Don't play with me Slater." I warned.
"I'm not Suze. You're the one playing games." he retorted, pumping his legs so that his swing rose off the ground.
"What are you talking about?" I asked exasperatedly.
"We both know how it's going to end." he said.
"What?" I asked in surprise.
"It's a foregone conclusion." he said cryptically.
I looked at him curiously. He looked professional, but tired. There were hints of dark circles under his eyes. Was he losing sleep over me?
"Just give in Suze." he begged.
I looked at him, before jumping off the swing and going over to where my high heels were.
"I can't." I said, picking them up, the running off.
A/N: I know you're all thinking, "Wow! She actually updated! It's a miracle!" but these things do happen occasionally. I'm not exactly a scholar on legal proceedings, so any information would be greatly appreciated. And I apologize for butchering anything.
Much love!