Disclaimer: All of the original and familiar characters are property of Meg Cabot and her series The Mediator, but the plot and new faces are property of me.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 10

I don't get a chance to fall back to sleep, because Andy comes into my room to see how I'm doing.

"Is there anything you want to talk about, Suze?" Andy asks while setting down a tray filled with chicken noodle soup and some French baked bread.

"Nah," I say while sinking back into the mountain of pillows on my bed. Andy sits down on the end of my bed.

"You sure? Everything is going okay with Jesse? School is going okay? You are good?"

I know he isn't mentioning Father Dominic, and that's what he most wants to know. "It's okay, An-I mean Dad. I'm just trying to figure things out. Especially with the whole Father Dom thing."

Andy nods his head, "Well, if you ever need to talk, you can always talk to me, kiddo." He ruffles my hair, and then tells me to eat. He shoves the bowl of soup into my hands, and for a second I ponder telling him I'm not hungry, but then I get a whiff, and I basically throw it down my throat.

It's so good, and after I finish off the bowl, I ask him if there's anymore. He looks so happy when he nods his head and rushes off downstairs to re-fill my bowl. I get out of bed, suddenly feeling like everything is going to be okay, and look out my window at the foggy bay. I smile as I see some seagulls fly by, and I can just make out some harbor seals lying on the rocks. They're so cute.

I pull my hair into a ponytail, and walk downstairs, to find Andy re-heating my soup on the stove. He smiles over at me as I enter the kitchen.

"I thought I would come down and keep you company." I say while pulling out a barstool and perching on it.

Andy's face falls. "Well, actually, kiddo, I got to go run some errands in a little bit."

"Oh, okay."

"But you are welcome to come with me, if you want. It'll be boring though."

"Well, thanks," I say, "But I think I should stay here and work on some homework. It accumulates fast."

"Yeah, I remember when I was in high school. I was on the wrestling team and the football team…it was hard to keep up with all my schoolwork, but somehow I managed to pull it off. I didn't get the grades like David does. I was more like Brad, except more focused. I swear that boy could learn a few things from his younger brother. And you. I find you are a very fine person; you are passionate and kind. And definitely sharp; you put Brad in his place, I like that about you."

I try to feel flattered, but this was getting more like a heart-to-heart with every passing second. "Thanks," I manage to squeak.

"Oh shucks! Look at the time. I gotta go. Here, just keep on stirring the soup in this pot, and in about two minutes, pour it into your bowl, and make sure to turn off the burner!" Andy is out of the house a minute later with just a "See you later!" and I am standing in the kitchen having no idea what he is talking about. Burner?

After investigating, I discover that the thingy the soup is cooking on is hot (thanks to my newly slightly burned palm), and I turn it off immediately. I then put the very hot soup into my bowl and let it cool off for a minute. I decide to take it outside and sit on the deck. It's a little nippy out, but I manage to let the soup soothe me. It is the best damn soup I have ever had. Somehow, it seems to go down all the way to my heart and warm it. The soup makes me feel like everything is going to be okay. I like the feeling—the feeling of never having to worry about the past, present, or future.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jesse comes to the house at seven, but I'm not ready until seven fifteen. I come downstairs in my flow-y skirt that comes down to my knees and a ribbed tank top. I look very relaxed. I feel relaxed which is saying something.

I come down the stairs and see Jesse talking with Andy.

"And then the little kid dropped his newly bought ice cream, and he started crying," Jesse says while Andy shakes his head. "His mother refused to buy him a new one, so when all of the adults were in the other part of the museum, I bought the little boy another one. He clung to me the rest of the tour." Jesse and Andy laugh.

I walk over to them, and Andy clears his throat. "Well, I think you two should have fun. Just get her back here at midnight."

"Yes, sir," Jesse says with a smile, and then he and Andy shake hands. Andy comes in and gives me a hug. I am shocked; he has never done this before a date with Jesse.

Then he whispers in my ear, "Jesse is a keeper, kiddo." I smile while Andy pulls away and then winks at the pair of us. "See you later!" He says while walking off to the kitchen to prepare a late dinner for the rest of the family. Mom is coming home late again from the studio.

Jesse takes my hand and we walk out to his car. He opens my door for me, but before I can get in, he kisses me on the lips. I just about melt into the seat when I finally get into the car.

Jesse and I drive right over to his house, where Jesse informs me is a delicious dinner waiting. When we enter the apartment I nearly swoon. It smells so good. And I live with Andy; he is like the best cook ever. The house was always filled with smells of great cooking. But I don't think I'll ever forget the smell of Jesse's house; it smells of…love. That's the only way to describe the feeling that came over me.

Jesse takes my hand, and kisses the top of it. "You look amazing," he says while looking at my outfit.

"When do I not?" I ask flirtatiously. The corner of Jesse's mouth hooks up, and he looks damn sexy. I lean in and kiss him before he can lean away. I wrap my arms around his neck, while Jesse holds me at the waist. It is a simple kiss, but soon enough Jesse breaks it off.

"Let's eat dinner," he says while taking my hand and leading me into the kitchen of his little apartment. I look around and see a big arrangement of food. It all looks delicious. Enchiladas, Spanish rice, and quesadillas. Jesse holds out my chair for me and I sit down gracefully. Jesse finishes putting some stuff on the table, and then sits down opposite me. He waits for me to fill my plate, and then serves himself. I smile over at him the whole time.

When Jesse eats, he doesn't shove everything down his throat. He has better manors than that (he has better manors than I do!), growing up in the nineteenth century and all. You know sometimes it has its perks, and other times I just wish it had never happened, because then I might actually get some action…

We talk while we eat, but it's of no importance. Jesse tactfully avoids the whole Father Dom-is-dead-and-Paul's-maybe-demon-threatening-us-thing, and I avoid the whole why-aren't-we-making-out-right-now?-thing. I stare at Jesse, and he stares at me. Suddenly I get very hot. Uh! I need to make out!

We clean up dinner; I insist on helping him. It's like we're married already, and we live together. It is kinda nice playing 'house'. Jesse washes, while I dry. He claims that way my hands won't get dirty. I try not to remind him that I'm a mediator. It's my job to get dirty literally and hypothetically. After washing the dishes and storing the leftovers, we go into his common room and sit down on the couch, fully intending to watch a movie.

Jesse has trouble getting to the menu of the DVD, and I don't dare try to help him. It's a macho thing. But when he does get it (five minutes later) I see that it's the Notebook.

"You rented the Notebook?" I ask him while he hits play on the remote.

"Yes."

"Well, why did you do that?"

"Because I want this to be like a real date, and so I went up to the saleswoman in the video store, and asked what was a good 'girl movie', and she gave me the Notebook. It's a book you know, too." Jesse seems so proud of himself, that I don't have the heart to tell him that I would have been good with a good action packed movie…I'm not really into the whole chick flick.

But I find the movie really interesting, and Jesse seems to by enjoying himself. Well, that in until they are about to do it in an old house. Then he gets a little tense. I just sit there staring at the screen, wishing that it were Jesse and I in the big house. It is about the time when they have taken off their clothes that Jesse gets up and turns off the TV.

"Jesse!" I whine. "Why'd you do that?"

"Because! It was inappropriate!" Jesse looks really angry and exhausted. I get up and walk over to him.

"Jesse, is there something wrong?" I ask while taking his hand in mine.

"Whenever I see something like that. Two people getting intimate, I ask myself why am I not doing that with mi querida. But then I remember my morals. Sometimes I just get confused and wonder what the hell I'm doing with you." Jesse sinks down into the couch.

I sit beside him and cuddle up against his shoulder. He jerks away. "Querida! This is what I'm talking about! You can't tempt me!" He huffs, "Whenever I see you I just think about all these inappropriate things to do to you, to do with you. And you don't help when you where low-cut tops and clingy clothing! Susannah, I just want to take it slow. We have the rest of our lives to be together. Why are you in such a rush to have sex?"

I just look at him. He is so worked up. "I don't know, Jesse. I guess I thought it would bring us closer."

"But querida, we are close now."

"You're right," I say in a small voice. "What can I do to not make you get all confused?"

"Well, you can't wear certain clothes, and we must draw a line somewhere when kissing."

"BUT WE NEVER KISS!" Suddenly I'm enraged. I can't take anymore. "Jesse, I'm going home! Good night."

I walk out of the door, and begin running back towards my house. All I have to say is thank God I wore flats. I am only a block away from Jesse's apartment, when I hear my name being shouted.

"Susannah! Susannah! Let's talk!" Jesse yells. He is running behind me, and he's gaining on me.

"NO!" I yell back, my breath already ragged. And here I thought I was in good shape. Jesse chases me for another block, and then grabs me by the arm. I loose my balance, and I trip and fall into the grass beside the sidewalk. Oh great! Now grass stains on my skirt! Jesse falls on top of me.

"Querida," Jesse says softly into my hair. I huff, and try to sit up so I can begin running away again. Jesse holds me down, and all of a sudden, in our rush of adrenaline, Jesse kisses me—hard on the mouth, with tongue.

The kissing is nice, but it does nothing for my out-of-breath-ness. I just wrap my arms around Jesse while he kisses me some more. I can feel that his kisses are filled with anger and confusion, but I'm enjoying it nonetheless. Then in one swift movement, Jesse is off of me and is pacing and cursing in Spanish.

"Jesse?" I say delicately.

He doesn't respond—just keeps on pacing and cursing. I get up, brush off my skirt, and walk away.