AN: I'm sick today, and I have a major sinus problem which means if I lie down my whole body will drown in all the snot it is making. I hate it so much. So I stayed home today and decided to pound my poor keyboard some more to get another chapter out for you guys, since I love you so much. I'm thinking only one more. I've decided to draw it out some more and leave you with this for now.

I'll probably write the next one, since I'm on a roll (and can't breath through my nose—although I have no idea how that affects my writing…) I hate being sick and—call me crazy, 'cause I know you will—out of school.

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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Chapter 26

Once we get Paul home, Jesse drives me home. He turns onto my street and parks a block away from my house.

"I'll walk you," is all he says to me while we get out of his car. I nod my head and he comes around to open my door for me.

We walk in silence to my house and then up to my tree right by my bedroom window. I turn and look at my Jesse. God, how I've missed those dark, brown, loving eyes. I give him a quick kiss on the cheek and begin to climb up the tree. I'm just about to get to the first branch, when big hands grab my ankles and pull me down. Fear flashes through me, but suddenly I'm in Jesse's arms.

There's a playful look in his eyes, as if he enjoyed freaking me out just then. We lock gazes, and then his lips come down on mine slowly. Our kiss is nothing too ostentatious, but it means the world to me, because it's filled with kindness, passion, and ever-lasting love.

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Once up in my room I feel a little lightheaded and crash onto my bed with a big fat grin on my face. Jesse knows how to make me feel as if I'm on a cloud and nothing but his tender hands can touch me.

I'm staring up at my ceiling, thinking about tonight, Paul's weird train of thought, Jesse's lips on mine, my heart beating faster and faster as if at any moment it might explode. It's this last thought that allows me to slip into a deep sleep and awake well rested and happy.

I get up before my alarm and take a shower, singing all the while. I don't know what it is, but I feel so good and…complete. I'm right in the middle of singing my third song—Sunday Morning, by Maroon 5—when Dopey knocks on my bathroom door yelling about wanting some peace and quiet. I shut up, not wanting him to ruin my perfect mood.

My morning is amazing…the first thing I put on looks stunning on me and I twirl happily around my room while doing the rest of my morning rituals. Finally I'm done and I bounce downstairs, my backpack slung over my shoulder. I glance out of the window and see Jesse's car in the driveway. Another gargantuan smile pops up onto my face, and Dopey comes out of the kitchen.

"What the hell are you so happy about?" He asks angrily. I just smile at him and pat him on the head.

"Life…love…it's all just so amazing!" I twirl around him stupidly and he looks at me as if I'm a crazy person.

"Suuuze? Are you on drugs?" Dopey asks me sounding a little sketched out.

"Nope," I say in sign-song and then enter the kitchen to find Jesse sitting on the barstool, Doc right next to him, and Andy cooking pancakes. I stare at the three of them for a minute. Jesse is listening to Doc explain some stuff to him about atoms and molecules. Jesse's listening intently and nodding. He's truly interested. Andy is looking at the pair of them over the stove with a smile.

I take in the moment and then Jesse's eyes slide from Doc to me and my whole body gets hot. My heart beats faster, I get chills and I am suddenly yearning for one of his mouth melting kisses. I smile tentatively at the three of them and walk into the kitchen.

"Good morning, kiddo," Andy says to me while giving me a plate filled with pancakes.

"Hey," Doc says while shoving a mouthful of pancake into his mouth as if to keep from saying any more.

I walk over to the other barstool on the other side of Jesse and sit down. He leans over, his eyes locked on mine, and says, "Good morning, Querida." His lips linger on my cheek a little longer than expected and the thought of what's to come makes me shiver a most wonderful shiver.

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Jesse and I leave twenty minutes early and head to the Mission for him to drop me off at school. When we get there we both get out and Jesse takes my hand. He leads me to the graveyard behind the school and sits me down on the bench. I smile up at him and he down at me.

"Hello," Father Dom says while appearing behind Jesse.

I jump a little bit, but give him a kind smile and say, "Good morning."

"Susannah, I-I don't know how to thank you for everything you've done for me. It-It's just overwhelming to think about what could have happened." Father breaks off, and Jesse puts a hand on his shoulder to steady him while Father takes out his hanky. I smile sadly up at him.

"Father Dom, God would have never let your soul go to hell. I'm always here to protect you," I say. "After all, it is my job after all."

Father's eyes light up and he smiles down at me. "Oh Susannah, I'm leaving. My body has lost its connection. I am finally going home."

"Oh Father Dom!" I weep while throwing my arms around him.

"Don't cry for me Susannah," Father Dom says and he chuckles a little at the irony of the statement. Then I hear his chuckling begin to fade and tears stream down my face. He's leaving. Father Dom is leaving me.

"Good bye," he says to me and adds to Jesse, "Make sure she doesn't get in too much trouble."

"Father!" I whine as I see him fading just like my father did at the winter dance. Father Dom leans over and places a kiss on my forehead. More tears come and then he's not there any more and I collapse into Jesse's arms. I have no one left except Jesse. Only Jesse knows the whole me, the real me.

Jesse knows what I'm going through and holds me while I sob quietly in his arms. He kisses the crown of my head and murmurs sweet Spanish things into my ear, which I really wish I understood. He just holds me like this for a couple minutes and then the school bell is ringing and Jesse is telling me I have to go. I cling to him; I don't want to go.

"Susannah, you must go. We cannot let the sadness of this day get the best of you." I sigh, knowing that Jesse is right. I tear myself away from Jesse and wipe my eyes and cheeks off. Jesse helps me by pulling out a hanky from his pocket.

Some things never change, I tell myself while smiling up at Jesse. After cleaning me up he leans down and captures my lips in a mind-blowing kiss.

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I waltz through my classes, riding high on a cloud, yet my soul is hurting with the sadness of the departure of Father Dominic. One minute I'll be thinking about my future with Jesse, and then the next I'm feverishly wiping my eyes.

I finally get to French and see that Paul isn't here today. I shrug and play around with the idea of calling him to make sure he's okay. But I am lost in my thoughts of Jesse in no time and am only snapped out of them when the phone rings in class.

My teacher answers in a thick French accent. She nods her head and says some stuff in an undertone. Then hangs up the phone and says, "Suze, will you go please see the headmistress?"

I nod my head and quickly make my way out of the classroom and to the main office. Once inside, Sister offers a seat to me and I take it.

"Suze, I don't know if you've heard, but Mr. Slater, won't be returning to school." Too shocked to say much of anything, I just sit there staring at her. "I know this is a big and unexpected shock, but his parents have recalled him to Seattle. They feel that it is time he's home."

I nod my head vehemently and wait for her to go on.

"I was just on the phone with Mr. Slater, and he told me to give you this." Sister hands me an envelope with my name scrawled across it in Paul's writing. I take it from her outstretched hands with my trembling ones.

"You may leave now, Ms. Simon," Sister says once I have the envelope and I flee with the letter burning the palm of my hand.

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AN: Hope you enjoyed it! Last chapter is up next.