Note: All characters are owned by Meg Cabot.

So, yeah, here's the chapter 9. Enjoy!

I saved him just in time. And I must say, when I landed on top of him, the guy was pretty buff. Seriously, he must have washboard abs…since he spends most of his time surfing with my stepbrothers. But, probably not as nice as Jesse's though. Damn, Suze, you haven't even seen him in person yet you're drooling over him! And he's a ghost for Pete's sake. There's no future for the two of you, I said to myself. Somehow, a little voice inside my head said, yes, there IS a future for the both of you if you wait long enough.

"Susannah, Bryce, are you two all right?" Father Dominic said, hurrying towards us.

"Yeah, we're fine," I replied, standing up. "You okay man?" I asked Bryce.

"Suze is that you?" Psh. Of course it's me, you idiot.

"Yeah, c'mon, stand up." I replied and helped him stand up. Jeeza Louisa, he's heavy!

"Thank, god Suze, you saved my life!" Bryce said.

"You're welcome"

"Are you sure you two are okay?" Father Dominic asked.

Then, Monsignor Constantine hurried over to Father Dominic and said, "Dominic, will you look at that? See I told you about those birds. Andrew Ackerman has warned us about this. One of the staff could've gotten hurt!" he continued on. "And, oh my, what if it were the Bishop! The bishop, Dominic? He's coming next month! I'm having those birds' nests removed this instant! I can not have this happening all over again."

Poor Father Dom.

"Yes, Constantine, you can remove them, I am very sorry about what happened. And yes, if this happened to the Bishop, oh my, we'll get that fixed in no time."

After hearing this, the monsignor just left and walked to Sister Ernestine, trying to get the little kids to their class.

"Bryce, I think you should go to the nurse's office…Susannah, you are looking rather pale, come with me." He said to me and Bryce. I guess we're going to have ANOTHER talk about Jesse…by the way, where is he? And how come he hasn't answered my letter yet?

"Uh, yeah sure, Father Dom…" I said. "You all right, Bryce?"

"Yeah, thanks for saving my life," he continued. "man, if you weren't here, I would've been dead and in pieces like that," pointing at the pieces of wood on the ground. "-right

now."

"No problem, so I guess I'll see you later." And off I went to Father Dominic's office.

-

Jesse sat on the window seat thinking of what to write to Susannah, surely he couldn't tell Susannah what 'querida' meant because it is not appropriate to call her that since Susannah might not feel the same way and it might destroy the good friendship they have. Finally, he decided on what to write.

Dear Susannah,

I can not tell you what 'querida' means but I assure you it's not anything bad. I can tell you more about myself though. Well, I do have 3 younger sisters. The oldest of them all is Marta, she is 18 years old, then there is Mercedes, she is your age and the youngest is Josefina, she is 12 years old. My father's and mother's names are Jose Luis De Silva and Catrina Angel De Silva.

And now, I have a question for you…have anyone ever told you anything that might have sound a bit odd yet it was just the right thing you've always wanted to hear?

Goodbye querida.

Yours Truly,

Jesse De Silva

After he was done with the letter, he folded it neatly and placed it on top of Susannah's bed. He did not know what to think, he loves the woman, but there's no way they could be together. Yes there is! The voice in his head said defensively. Does Susannah feel the same way…? He thought maybe not, since they have not seen nor spoken in person. Yet, the voice in his head added. Quickly trying to erase his thoughts of her, he dematerialized and went to the Mission Academy, only this time, he was careful of not showing or making anyone feel his presence. He materialized near Father Dominic's office and saw Susannah walking with a guy, must be Susanna's stepbrother's friend, down the hallway. Right then, jealousy was taking over him because the guy offered to carry Susannah's coat…but it was not right to feel this way, so he put himself together and went to talk to Father Dominic.

-

"Susannah that is all I have to say, you may get going now." Father Dominic ushered me out of his office.

"Sure thing, Father D, bye now," I said.

Our talk was completely pointless and was a waste of 15 minutes of my time. All he ever wanted to tell me was that they, mediators, must be kept a secret, I didn't even know there was more than one. Also, he said that I should not be forming any sort of conversation with, sigh, Jesse, because we might become too attached and he might move on sooner or later. But how can we form some kind of attachment when I can't even see him? Sure, I can feel his presence now and then. And yeah, the guy IS hot, but that's not possible since we haven't even talked in person. Yet. Somehow, I doubt that.

When I got out of Father Dominic's office, I saw Bryce coming out of the nurse's office, and headed towards him.

"Hey, something happened to you?" I asked.

"No, nothing big, I was juts wiping off those pieces of wood of my shirt and I got one of them stuck in my thumb, see?" he held out his thumb and it was wrapped with cloth. Now it looked like a bee stung him there.

"Did you get in trouble or something? Seeing that you just came out of the principal's office." He asked.

"Oh no, I'm not in trouble, Father Dominic just wanted me to sign some paperwork and stuff." I said. "You're alright though right?"

"Yeah, hey you want me to hold that for you?" He pointed at my trench coat, courtesy of designer clothing, got it on sale for $350. I've been carrying it around all day because for some reason, my locker just wouldn't open. "Might as well show you your next class too," he said then grinned.

"If it's no trouble, I guess so." I handed him my coat.

We walked towards my next class in silence. When we got to the door, I broke the silence.

"Well, this is my stop," I said, taking my coat from him.

He held one of my sleeves and said, "Hey, what about that date?"

"Uh, I can't go out today…"

"What about tomorrow?" he asked.

"I can't also," LOOK, I can't go out on school nights okay? I wanted to add.

"Is Saturday good for you?" Now he really sounded kind of desperate.

"Pick me up at seven?" I asked.

"Sure thing," he grinned at me.

"Thanks, Bryce." I said. "See you Saturday or sooner."

It was really hard to see because of the sun and the shadows that were forming in the breezeway, but I think he winked at me. "Bye, Suze," he said.

-

"Jesuchristo, Jesse! You startled me!" Father Dominic said to me.

"Lo siento, padre," I said.

"It's okay Jesse, what do you need?"

"Well, have you talked to Susannah yet?" I asked.

"Yes, indeed I have…"

"What did you tell her?"

"I just told her that mediators like me, shall be kept as a secret. And that I forbid her to finding more ways to communicate with you."

I was surprised by this. Although, I am still trying to get over the fact that Susannah has taken interest in another boy. Nombre di Dios! I even heard her agree to go out with the man. "Now Jesse," he continued. "I hope that you don't try to urge her to speak to you, I know that you two are meant to be together but, it's not going to work out, Jesse." There's something about his voice that tells me that he's hiding something from me.

"Si, padre…" I'll try, I added mentally.

"Now if that is all, I've got a lot of work to do," Father Dominic said. "So, goodbye Jesse."

I nodded and said, "Adios, padre."

Was that long enough? Oh yeah. LOL.

I decided to skip Ninth Key and Reunion, even though no one answered me from the last chapter. Its okay, I just really want to finish this. And oh yeah, the Jesse/Suze fluff is not coming anytime soon since there's still more to go, but I promise you there will be. Paul's going to arrive soon. Ha-ha.

Anyways, thanks for the awesome reviews, guys!