(A/N): I'll shamelessly admit, this update is long overdue. It's been saved in my computer for all of, I'm thinking, two weeks? Yeah, it was complete the day after I posted the last chapter. But, here's my long explanation as to why I am now posting it. If you don't care, just go ahead and read the chapter; if you do, it because: I got so incredibly busy these last two weeks it's not even funny. Then, I wasn't sure if I liked the ending. This chapter kind of, sort of, really changed my plot and general outcome of the story. On the bright side, there is now the possibility of a sequel. YAY!

However, as I was saying, I wasn't too sure about it. And I always like having at least one chapter done before posting the next, and that chapter was just so hard to write. I had too many ideas flitting around and couldn't decide on anything. That chapter is now complete, so fret not; hopefully it won't be up in too long.

I have determined I will finish this story even if it kills me. Now, I can end my long Author's Note. Enjoy.

Suze's POV

My eyes landed on the sight before me. Sitting there, quietly and content was Jesse, lost in the book in front of him. Something about studying him sitting there vaguely comforted me; as if it wasn't out of the ordinary that a ghost would be sitting on my window seat. The whole sight was very comforting, as if I had consciously expected to see Jesse before my eyes, as if not a thing about it was awkward at all.

Serenity radiated from him; a deep pensive expression shadowed his features. He didn't even know I was standing in my room watching him.

Shutting the door silently behind me, I took uncertain steps forward. Could it be that he was just a figment of my imagination, or was he really there?

"Jesse?" my voice wavered, uncertain.

His head popped up, his eyes leaving the pages before him and looking into mine instead. A short tendril of his hair, a part of his bangs, fell sloppily in front of his eye. "Susannah," he spoke softly, brushing his hair back. "I did not realize you were home already. I-I shouldn't be here. It is not proper for a man to be in the same room as a…"

"Jesse. It's alright. I'm just a bit shocked. I wasn't expecting you would be here." My gaze averted from Jesse's face to the small pile of books that had been hidden behind his body. They were all short novels, presumably from Andy's library. "Did you read all those," I asked him in wonder.

"About half of them." He answered sheepishly. "I have always enjoyed reading. When I found all those novels in the library, I couldn't resist. You don't mind, do you?"

"Um, I guess not." My school bag was weighing heavily upon my shoulders. Closing the remaining gap between me and my bed, I dropped my belongings onto the bed. The load of textbooks and notebooks was released, and my shoulders felt much more comfortable. "What are you doing here anyway?"

Jesse turned around from me, and headed back towards the window seat. He didn't sit down, but instead looked out beyond the window. I assumed he was looking at the ocean. "I wanted to return here. One-hundred fifty years ago I would have died if it weren't for you. Just right over there," raising his hand, Jesse pointed at nothing in particular. "It's not there anymore–the barn we jumped out from–but I know exactly where it is. I still see it standing there, haunting me almost."

"If… if everything you've told me is true," approaching him and the window seat I tried to see where he had pointed to earlier, "How come I don't remember any of it? I want to believe you, Jesse, but I don't know if I should."

"Susannah. You must. Believe me, I mean. I would never lie. No to you; not to anyone. Especially something that seems so preposterous. I know it is hard to believe, and to understand. But you must."

"I'm trying."

"That will have to do for now." Jesse smiled warmly at me. His eyes however were not focused on me, rather on where he had pointed to earlier.

"Jesse? Can you tell me about your life? After what happened that night in the barn, I mean."

For a split second, he averted his gaze at me, before looking back. "I must go now, Susannah. I have kept you long enough. I will meet with you later, like we agreed."

His body faded slowly as one by one the atoms that composed his body evaporated into nothing–meaningless space that shouldn't even be occupied. I tried to hold him back, but no words were released from the confines of my mouth. My voice froze over. Perhaps I had asked something too personal of him. When my thoughts had successfully gathered, he was already gone. The only evidence he was ever here were the books piled on my window seat.

Sifting through each of the novel titles, I tried to paint a picture in my mind of what Jesse was like. So far I only knew what he'd told me about himself, which was not much. There were only five or six novels, but they were definitely not light reading material. I tried reading each novel, but I could not get beyond the first paragraph.

With no use whatsoever to each of them, I returned them back to their rightful place in Andy's study. When I got the study, I found Doc, also searching for a book.

"Hey, David," I greeted, placing the books on a gap in the shelves. "What are you up to?"

"I had a project assigned to me today. I was hoping dad had a book on what I need, but he doesn't."

"A project on what?" I asked, although truthfully I didn't quite care. A plan was formulating, and I knew Doc would be able to help me.

"Actually, I'm not quite sure myself yet."

Raising an eyebrow in wonder, I took in his appearance. Freckles, bright red hair, and his too large ears. "Well, if you don't mind, could you help me with a… project of my own?"

The kid instantly brightened, as if I'd offered him ice cream instead. "Yeah, what do you need, Suze?"

"Well… Mr. Walden assigned an essay about–" halting for a moment, I tried thinking about what time Jesse was from; realizing he'd never actually said when he died, I hoped he was from the 1800's, "–19th century California. And although he doesn't normally accept students doing their papers on Carmel, he's letting me because I come from New York and all. I found some stuff, but not much. There is this one family, though that caught my attention, the De Silva's. Think you could find some stuff about them, and their son, Hector de Silva?"

Nodding vigorously, the little guy assured me he could. "When do you need it by?"

"A couple of days; two or three, maybe four, I don't know."

"I'll get on it as soon as possible. Oh, and you might want to check the historical society as well. They have all you need to know about the past in Carmel."

Doc bounded excitedly out of the room, and I watched after him. No kid should ever get excited about helping his step-sister with a research project. Although lying to the little guy isn't the best of things, it's the only way I'll get the information I need.

–8–

The bedroom window opened with a shuddering squeal, piercing into the silence of the night. My heart raced and I almost dropped the window. Attentively I listened for any sound life. Surely my mom would've heard that scream. Anyone would have heard that. Seconds passed, and not a single sound emanated from the otherwise silent house. The wind howled lightly, blowing back my hair. Stepping through the window I was consumed by a vast dark sky illuminated by scintillating stars

With a stomach clenched in trepidation, a wildly racing heart, and shallow breathing, I proceeded to my car. I had no idea as to what to expect from this midnight rendezvous. I know Jesse needed to meet with Paul, if it meant he could move on. But a part of me wanted to keep him to myself and not have Paul meet Jesse at all–or vice versa. As if by having Paul meet Jesse, I would finally expose myself completely to the one person who has caused me the greatest pain of my life. Mediating is the one component of my life I have guarded with all my being.

By exposing my secret, I'll be giving myself to Paul. I'm setting myself up for potential disappointment, resentment, pain.

Considering the possibility that Paul didn't take me seriously earlier; that he spouted off the first idiotic idea that came to mind… who knows how much of it will be real. Deluded by his egotism and superiority maybe he believes that I am finally giving him another chance. As if it weren't enough that he'd blackmailed me into a date with him… maybe he believes that I am finally giving him another chance for there to be an 'us' again–after tonight. As if it weren't enough that he'd blackmailed me into a date with him. A date that could be set up on pretenses because there is no such thing as shifting.

I wouldn't put it past Paul to fabricate what I have requested of him–information.

The bitter night air stung, blowing slightly but still enough to pierce my skin and chill me to the bone. Wrapping my arms around me and holding my jacket tighter to me, I ignored my thoughts, my feelings, everything pent up deep within in the abyss of my soul, being. Losing myself in the brisk drive I arrived a lot sooner than anticipated. A familiar sleek BMW was pulled up along the shoulder of the road. Immediately, my earlier insecurities came swarming me. This was it. Someone was finally going to know my secret. Someone I'd considered telling many times before but never had the nerve to actually tell. Now, the game had changed. And although, I'd already told him, this would confirm everything.

–8–

Paul's POV

The night was windy. It was cold. It was dark–darker than what it should have been. The wind kept lapping against my face, biting into my face, seeping through the thin fabric of my track jacket.

Suze had said to meet at midnight. I'd been here since eleven. Anticipation had eaten me up inside. The glass walls had become to restricting and confining. I couldn't handle the eerie quietness. The usual hum of pops' IV droned on louder than usual, Mark's light snoring interrupting the serenity of the ocean waves crashing yards from the house.

Today replied over and over in my head. Broken fragments of a broken video replaying mockingly countless times, making me face the truth. Her words resonated clear as the Californian sun, reminding me of everything that would never be. She didn't have to say it; I could see it in her eyes. I don't even know why I bother anymore. Like she said, I screwed up. I was scared and I screwed up. Lost the one person that ever meant anything to me.

The crunching of gravel interrupted my thoughts. Light and unsure, they bounded closer. The rhythm of her steps told me everything I needed to know: she was unsure, hesitative. Possibly even scared. Scared of what, I don't know, but Suze always proceeds with determination and confidence.

I hadn't even taken a look at her and already my heart was racing. I wanted to hate her for what she does to me, how my senses get jammed whenever she is within proximity, how I can never form a single thought. But I could never hate her. For reasons I've never understood, the minute I laid eyes on her I was drawn in like a magnet. This compulsory drive to know her led me to her, as if it were fate. Maybe it was; of all the hotel staff babysitters, she just had to be the one in charge of Jack.

"Suze," I said slowly, welcoming her, trying so hard not to choke over my words.

"Of course, it's what we agreed to isn't it?"

"Actually, you never assured me of anything. I couldn't be too sure you would actually show up."

"I wouldn't stand you up," I answered truthfully. I took a step forward in her direction; she took one back. "So, why exactly am I here?"

Shrugging casually, she edged towards the railing along the cliff, separating her from imminent death. "Paul, do you believe in ghosts?" Mystified, my eyes landed on hers. She averted my gaze. Hadn't we already made this clear today? You'd think after all that, she would have gotten it by now; apparently she hadn't.

"It's not a matter of believing, for me." Indifferently, she stood with her back facing me, a barrier to further separate me from her, gazing out at the ocean before us.

"So what is it then, Paul?" She said tonelessly. Her detachment from the situation stung. She was so close to me physically, but right now, she was a million miles away.

"What do you want me to say? That I believe? It's so much more than that, Suze. I know they exist. They're as real as you and me. So no, I don't believe… simply because I've seen them my entire life. I've never been merited the luxury of believing; to believe would have to mean I knowingly accept ghosts are real without knowing if they truly exist." Finally she turned to face me. Through the darkness I could still make out her green eyes. "What does this have to do with anything?"

"I just needed to know." Biting her lip, Suze strode forward, still not catching my eyes. The look of uncertainty framed her face as she looked off to the side, mumbling something under her breath.

I wanted to ask her what she'd said, but the light twinkle of a ghost materializing rang out. Although it isn't particularly loud, I knew exactly what was happening. Sure enough, a light glow radiated between me and Suze as a ghost came in between us. His back was to me, but something about him seemed so very familiar.

"Susannah," he said his voice heavy with a Spanish accent. "Did he come?" Suze nodded in my direction, and the ghost turned to face me.

My eyes locked with his. Seeing into those eyes, I knew who exactly I was facing. Every memory came flooding back in, every detail, and every moment.

Because staring back at me was no other than Jesse de Silva.

(A/N): I didn't originally intend to include a perspective other than Suze's in the story. However, when I got to that point, it seemed like a good place to switch things up. I'm hoping I did a good job on Paul's POV and caught his character jus fine–and hopefully there is a clear distinction in the characterization between his POV to Suze's. I don't know if I'll do another Paul POV. Maybe, maybe not. And since I've gave a Paul his own POV, maybe I'll do one for Jesse as well somewhere along the line to make it fair.

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