A/N:
Okay, I'm updating. I finally got my lazy brain in order and wrote another chapter.
Go me.
Erm, not much to say about this chapter, other than there's some of Jesse's POV. So, go me.
Right.
Okay, on with the story.
Jesse's POV
I wanted to leave, because of my near mistake.
I had almost admitted that it made me jealous to hear of Susannah kissing another man.
That it wasn't bad she was kissing someone…just that that someone was not me. (Especially since it was Slater.)
So I was in a most embarrassing situation.
And before, when I'd started to say, for some reason, "Yes, but it was a mistake to stop."
I had meant to say it in Spanish, only that had not worked out so well.
"Someone who wasn't who?"
She said this in a perfectly calm voice, but it did sound a bit strangled.
"No one. It just shouldn't have been Slater. And it's not proper."
"Liar."
I lifted an eyebrow. She was pointing her finger at my face and no longer looked calm.
"Excuse me?"
"You. Lie," she separated the words, to emphasize her point.
I muttered Spanish under my breath.
"Who?" Her green eyes flashed, and I couldn't tell if she was angry or not.
"Mi." I said it quietly and was turning red. I couldn't lie to a lady, but I didn't have to talk loudly.
"English please."
Or in English.
"You'll never know. I said it once Querida, I'm not saying it again."
Suze's POV
The fact that Jesse has started to adjust to the 21st century?
Yah, it sucks.
Because he pulls stuff like this.
I know he knows that I know what he was really going to say.
Why can't he just say it?
Men.
They can't commit to anything.
Even the dead ones.
And what do they have to loose?
Not much, that's what.
So I was pretty pissed with Mr. De Silva, but the fact that he called me querida did make me a little less angry.
But just a little.
And the fact that he won't answer me makes me want to believe one of two things.
that he was going to insult me or
that he was actually going to admit to liking (or maybe even loving) me.
Not, that I'm dependent on it or anything. I am a free woman. (As free as any minor can be, anyway.)
I just really, really hope he does.
Love me, I mean.
Is that too much to ask?
And he's dead, so it's not like he's got a whole lot of options. Father D (please God no), Paul (ditto) and myself.
Being the only female, that kind of narrows it down a lot.
Unless he bats for the other team, and I just never noticed.
I sincerely hope that is not the case.
"Say it," I practically had my finger up his nostril by this point, and was leaning toward him.
I couldn't help but add, "You know you want too."
Jesse's POV
She had no idea how hard she hit with that line.
She couldn't have fathomed how badly I wanted to tell her I loved her, and then kiss her. Again, and again, and again….
No De Silva.
She's off limits.
She breathes.
And you will respect her because…
Why, exactly was that again?
I momentarily, as I had on numerous previous occasions, forgotten why exactly I couldn't just kiss her.
Every time she smiled, or her enchanting green eyes would glance my way, or when she sat near me, or, well, almost anytime.
I was, how would they say it? Oh, yes, "whipped."
So when she had that finger in front of my face, wiggling it back and forth, I gave in.
"Me."
Suze's POV
I really didn't think he'd do it.
God knows I wouldn't have.
But he did.
I really didn't know what to do.
That's why Jesse got mad when I kissed Paul? Because he was jealous? Because he liked (possibly even loved) me?
I opened my mouth to speak, say something, anything, really, but all that came out was an odd noise.
It was a happy noise, however.
Jesse looked at me strangely and I continued to smile at him.
"Let's practice more of my Shakespeare, shall we?"
Which by now, should have been taken as code for, "let's make out, shall we?"
Only Jesse, sadly, had not figured that out yet.
"Alright Susannah," a smirk played at the corner of his lips, and I started to wonder if he really did know what that was code for.
He picked up the book, began to thumb through it until he found a part that seemed to suit him.
"O speak again bright angel, for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head,
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes
of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air."
Quite frankly, I had very little idea what that all meant. I think I have mentioned before, that Shakespeare is not exactly my thing. The bright angel part sounded good to me, but why speak again, when I hadn't spoken yet?
Was I missing something, here?
I took the book and began to read from where he'd left off, at least this time I had the translations…
"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name.
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
I could see where she was coming from, only it was a little different for Jesse and I. What, he pledges his love for me, and I croak for him?
No offence, but I think not. Honestly, there's got to be a better way. Plus, I don't think he'd let me die for him.
Does that mean he loves me?
Or does he just not want a suicide on his hands?
Hmm…
Jesse took back the book.
"Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?"
He was starting to look at me oddly again, like he wanted to know if I meant what I was saying. Only, I really didn't know what I (Shakespeare, really) was saying.
"'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? It is nor hand nor foot
Nor arm nor face nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O be some other name."
Okay, I kind of understood this. And it was true. Jesse was dead. So what? It's no biggie for me, I mean, I can see the dead. No problem there, right?
I continued to read the passage.
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet."
Jesse doesn't smell like anything. Unfortunately. Death does that to you.
"So Romeo would, were he not Romeo called,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself."
I wouldn't mind if Jesse traded death for me…that'd be just fine. In case any higher powers want to intervene, or something.
He took the book back, and I watched him read the passage. He really did like this. It was kind of creepy. But whatever floats your boat, eh?
"I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized:
Henceforth I never will be Romeo."
Tell him I love him?
I do…but Jesse first.
I'm more of a follower on that kind of thing.
He flipped through a few pages in the book, apparently he was sick of that scene.
"And I'll still stay, to have thee forget,
Forgetting any other home but this."
That sounds sweet….sort of.
Goody, translations beith mineith.
Hey, I can do Shakespeare…
"'Tis almost morning. I would have thee gone;
And yet no farther than a wonton's bird,
That lets it hop a little from her hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gives,
And with a silk thread plucks it back again,
So loving-jealous of his liberty."
Er…Right.
I got that.
"I would I were thy bird."
So far, I have picked up that Jesse wants to be a bird…but that can't be right.
"Sweet," I started, "so would I.
Yet I should kill thee," hard, seeing as he's already dead, "with much cherishing.
Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say good night till it be morrow."
Why was I saying good bye? I wanted him to hang around for a while…
Jesse gently took the book from my hands and set it on the bedspread beside me.
He leaned closer to me, brushed a lock of hair from my face. I stared into the deep chocolate pools of his eyes and felt myself falling…again.
His lips gently touched mine in a…well, loving, kiss, and he pulled back.
I stared up at him.
"Te amo, querida."
And he was gone.
What the hell did 'Te amo' mean?
A/N:
Did you like it? Did you love it? Did you hate it? Do you want to light me on fire ( I really hope not)?
Well, even if your opinion went with none of the above, review anyway.
It makes me happy.
And that makes me write faster...(hint hint)