AN: Hey sorry about the last chapter guys, I know it was kind of confusing, but about the whole Paul asking to meet in Shadowland when he can't…well Paul, being the moron that is he, hasn't figured it out yet that he can't go there, because he's in Jesse's body. But only your soul can appear in Shadowland, but you body is like the "vehicle" to get you there, and you have to be in the right "vehicle" and since Paul is in Jesse's body, and Jesse isn't a shifter, then he can't shift into Shadowland. I know it's a little weird and confusing, but that's how it has to be for this story to work.
Sorry about the above. If I have lost you, tell me and I'll try to sort it out for you a little bit better.
Here's the next way overdue chapter. Sorry it took so long you guys!
Disclaimer: All of the familiar characters are property of Meg Cabot, but I own all the new ones and the plot.
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Jesse in Paul's body had to leave a little while after Paul in Jesse's body had called me. But at about eleven thirty, I heard the little knock on my window and jumped up all ready to go.
I smile at him while I cross over my room and approach the bay window. Then I hear the door squeak open. SHIT! Jesse in Paul's body ducks out of sight and I spin around. It is Doc.
"Suze?" Doc asks me. "What's Paul doing here this late at night? What about Jesse?"
Instead of blowing up at him, I quickly give him the run down. "PaulswitchedhisandJesse'spersonalities,andnowwehavetogoandmeethim,becausetonightisthenightwhereeverythinggoesbacktothewayitwas."
Doc just nods his head as if he understands, but I know that he doesn't since I talked extra fast, wanting to get outta here so I could be with Jesse some more and then go kick Paul's ass. "Oh, well I was just wondering, because usually it's Jesse who knocks on your window, and then I looked out and saw Paul and I was concerned."
"Thanks for your concern David, but I'm okay." I stop and then add with a look over my shoulder towards the window, "It's really Jesse."
"Oh, okay. Well don't stay out too late." Doc smiles at me and then leaves as quietly as he came in.
I quickly and silently bound over to the window and throw it open, startling Jesse, who is clinging on for dear life. "I'm sorry," I say and bend down to offer him my hand, but he just does it himself and is soon sitting on the seat by my window, while I kneel on it.
"Did he see me?" Jesse asks quietly.
"Yeah, but he only came in because he thought you were actually Paul. But I told him the minimal information, so he knows that you are really Jesse. He was just concerned."
"Well that's nice of him," Jesse says and then places his hand on mine and brings it up to his mouth. "And how are you tonight?" He asks softly.
"Fine," I say while blushing as his lips graze my palm. I shiver from the connection, but it's a good shiver.
"Are you cold, querida?" Jesse asks while letting go of my hand and beginning to take off his coat.
"No, Jesse, I'm fine. Let's just go."
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We arrive at the dark Mission ten till midnight and I turn to Jesse in Paul's body.
"Querida, are you sure you want to go in there alone?"
"Yes," I sigh exasperated of the subject. "Jesse, I'm going in there alone. Paul has to know that we're alone. I need some information from him. You can follow me in after a minute or two."
Jesse takes my hand and kisses the top of it and then releases me. But before I can go, he says, "You know I don't like this, right?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Be safe, Susannah." I throw a smile back over my shoulder and then get out and quietly shut the door.
While walking up to the Mission I get a little chilly and clutch my thin sweater around me. I finally slip in and walk down the abandoned dark halls. I don't find it so creepy, but then I hear a sound behind me. I freeze and then I feel hands on my lips to keep me from screaming.
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His hands burn my flesh where he is touching me and I begin to squirm.
He began to make a tutting sound. "What did I tell you Susannah?" Seirios asks me.
I squirm harder and then Seirios, as if feeling sorry for me, releases me and I stumble away from him.
"Don't. Ever. Touch. Me. Again." I spit. Seirios tutts again.
"Susannah, Susannah, Susannah."
"What?" I ask my eyebrows furrowed in anger.
"Tonight is the night. Tonight everything will be final."
"What?" I ask again starting to feel some fear sink into my body.
Then he smiles and I feel the heat begin to ignite my skin. Clenching my eyes together, I chant, I won't give him the satisfaction. I won't. I won't.
Suddenly I open my eyes and the pain is going. Seirios stumbles back and doubles over. I smile in spite of myself. He lifts his head up and I can see his eyes twitching while he stares over at me. I put a hand on my hip and stare back.
After a moment, I say, "Leave me the hell alone."
Seirios' nose flares and then he spits, "You will find your just punishment." Then, poof, and he's gone. I release my breath, which I didn't know I had been holding.
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"Suze?" I hear Paul's voice ask in a hard voice, and I can just feel that it's Wannabe Jesse, not my Jesse.
I turn around and pretend I'm lost. "It's so hard to find my way in the dark. Why aren't the flood lights on?"
JW shrugs his shoulders and I look past him for a moment. I thought I had seen Jesse in Paul's body hiding behind the corner; I tear my gaze away quickly and look back at JW.
"Suze. I'm—I'm sorry about the other night."
"Yeah, well you should be," I say snippily.
JW sighs softy. He's really playing it up, isn't he? I ask myself and shake my head mentally. "I know, but sometimes its hard not to be jealous of you and Slater's relationship, because you seem to have forgiven him and I haven't." You gotta give him credit for trying.
NO!
"Jesse," I say slowly and Paul in Jesse's body looks at me expectantly. "Can we go into the Mission, I'm kinda cold."
"Of course," he says and then wraps his arm around my shoulders and I try not to shudder at the embrace, but rather remember that Jesse, the real Jesse was watching over me. After all he was my protector, isn't he?
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Once we were inside the Mission I took a seat in one of the back front pews, so that real Jesse could slip in behind us and hide.
"Suze, can we make up?"
"What?"
"Well tonight is going to be big, and I just want to know you love me."
"Jesse," I say slowly again to make sure I don't accidentally call him Paul, because he sounds nothing like Jesse. "I don't know if I love you anymore."
"What?" JW asks me in a hoarse whisper. "What?" He repeats.
"Well, I did love you. I loved you so much, but something has shifted in me, and I just don't know anymore." It was midnight; I felt my phone vibrating its alarm in my pocket. Something should happen soon.
"WHAT?" JW asks while standing up, anger residing in his eyes. I know I should be afraid, but I'm just too used to Paul's anger that I don't even flinch. I know he's powerful, but nothing is more powerful than love. And I love Jesse.
"You heard me!" I say while he stomps up towards the alter. I hear a rustle behind me and immediately feel the burning sensation return. Seirios has my hands tied behind my back in now time and a hand over my mouth.
I try to mumble something, but nothing gets out. My wrists begin to feel charred and I gasp at the unexpected pain. "That's right," Seirios whispers in my ear and I shiver at his breath on the tip of my ear. "Give into the pain, Susannah."
My eyes begin to water at the sudden intensifying of pain and I bite back a scream when I feel my back begin to burn. I turn my gaze to JW whose walking back towards me, an evil grin twisted onto his face. More tears sprout into my eyes, not because of the pain, but because of what he's making Jesse's face look like. He's marring Jesse's kind, sweet, and innocent face.
"You know Susie, you could stop all this pain any time you wanted." I shake my head fiercely, but I'm quaking inside. What if Paul didn't mess up? What if I'm stuck with him as my Jesse and yet always yearning for my real Jesse? Why would he do this to me if he supposedly loved me so much? What if he kills Jesse in Paul's body and I never see my Jesse again? More tears pop into my eyelids and some of them stream down my face. I close my eyes.
"Just say the words, Suze. Say them. Tell me you love me, and only me. Just say them." I shake my head again, my eyes still closed.
"Well you know what? You better say them, or Rico here gets to find himself into another grave." I wrench my eyes open and look at Jesse Wannabe, but it's not Jesse any more. Paul's back to his normal self and he's concentrating on someone else. I turn my head and scream.
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AN: CLIFFY! I'm evil I know! hehe