The Mediator : Showtime
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(A/N: Okay! Just as I promised! A longer chappie! XD
My longest one yet. YAY!
FWAHAHAHAHA! FOUR CHAPTERS IN A DAY! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Thanks my reviewers! I had to wait three days for five reviews the shame! I suck so much… so that I could update. Oh well.
Mrs. Nikki Slater: thanks!
MandieC: lolz… I know. I was giggling while I was writing it. No kidding.
Little Tinkerbell Girl: thanks! I hope this might satisfy people interest.
Jeese's Querida: I know. I can't wait to write more!
Mysteriously Mystical: writer's block? Dang. Don't you hate it when that happens? Ugh.
Thanks again for all the people who reviewed and read my story!
Have fun! But don't forget to review!)
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Chapter 8
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Suze's POV
I had just peeked around the door when he looked up and smiled, as if genuinely happy to see me.
"Hello, Susa – " he started before cutting short. I saw his eyes widen as he noticed what I was wearing. He looked at me with his mouth open a little, as if in disbelief.
"Hey," I said shyly. And before I could make a fool of myself even more, I bolted to my closet and grabbed a tank top and shorts.
"I just grabbed the wrong clothes so I just thought I should grab something and then go change because I wouldn't want my stepbrothers to see me in this thing," I said, trying to explain myself, and my voice going up about an octave. I power walked back to the bathroom.
"Okay, see you in like, a few minutes," I managed to squeak put before I closed the door.
I sighed, and leant against the door. Could I have made any more of a fool of myself? So much for trying to impress him.
And then I remembered that he had looked at me just a little too long. The whole time I had been outside, actually. A small secretive small crept across my face.
Excellent.
I quickly changed into the clothes I had grabbed before fixing my hair and taking a big breath. I opened the door and walked back out into my bedroom.
Jesse hadn't moved from his seat on my bay window. He had continued to read, but I noticed that his book was upside down and that his cheeks were flushed.
I walked over to him.
"What's that you're reading?" I asked while I bent down to look at the spine.
He started, as if just noticing that I was there.
"It's called 'Scientific Adv–…'" and his voice trailed off. I looked up at him again, confused at his silence.
"'Scientific Advances in the Past Century,'" he managed to choke out. I didn't know why he was all uncomfortable.
"Well, isn't it kind of hard reading about the scientific advances in the past century when the words are upside down?" I asked, teasingly.
"Oh, um, I – " he stuttered.
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Jesse's POV
I gulped. Susannah's position, crouching down to look at the spine of my book, was very unfortunate for me. She didn't seem to notice it, but her position caused her top to become very revealing… especially of the chest area. When I look down at her, it is very hard to concentrate on her face.
DO NOT THINK SUCH IMPURE THOUGHTS, HECTOR DE SILVA!
When she had gone back into the bathroom to change, I had taken a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to banish the image of Susannah in that small dress out of my head.
If it was actually considered a dress.
What people are thinking of these days…
But the image kept forming behind my eyelids. I opened my eyes and tried to concentrate on my book, but I could not think of anything other than Susannah.
So when Susannah noticed that I was reading upside down, I hoped that she did not realize that I was thinking about her when I made that mistake.
So I was relieved when she stood up and moved away from me, towards a large black bag that she had not touched yet.
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Suze's POV
I grinned before I stood up and went to the last bag that I haven't finished unpacking yet. I took out my black laptop and plugged it into the wall outlet to charge it.
Jesse looked at it curiously. "Susannah, what – "
"It's a laptop," I cut him off. "It's a computer, but it isn't as large as desktops. They're easier to transport around."
Jesse stood up and came over to look at it, his eyes bright.
"What does it do?" he asked, eagerly.
"Well," I said, smiling at his childish eagerness. "It can do lots of stuff. I can research more information on the internet, I can play games, I can type up homework, I can do calculations, and I can save information. The list is endless," I replied while turning it on so that I could give Jesse a demonstration.
I grinned when it finished loading. "I can even listen to music."
Jesse looked at my questioningly. I grinned wider and opened my iTunes application. I pressed play and Will Smith's song, 'Switch', started playing.
I frowned a bit before I changed it to one of my more favorite songs, 'Swing, Swing' by All-American Rejects. I mean, I didn't totally dislike 'Switch', but it got boring after awhile.
"Susannah, why are you listening to funeral music?" Jesse asked, confused, as the first half a minute of 'Swing, Swing' started playing.
"It isn't, Jesse. Wait and listen," I replied. Then I heard the electric guitar come in, and then the drums a little while later. Now it sounded more upbeat.
"See?" I said, grinning at Jesse. He looked unimpressed.
"I'll find someone new… Swing, swing, swing, from the tangles of, my heart is crushed by a former love," I sang. "Can you help me find a way to carry on again?"
Jesse laughed quietly. "You sing very well, querida."
"Thanks," I said, turning away before he could see me blush.
The Black Eyed Peas' new song, 'Don't Phunk With My Heart', came on. Jesse listened to it a bit while I plugged in my mouse, speakers, and webcam.
Jesse suddenly had a confused but very hot expression on his face. Did I ever mention that he looked really hot when he was confused?
"Why are they singing to a baby?" he asked. "Can babies fall in love nowadays?"
"What?" I asked, even more confused than him. Then I heard the lyrics.
"Oh! Do you mean this bit?" I asked him before proceeding to sing along with the song.
"I wonder if I take you home, would you still be in love, baby?" I broke off from singing. "Do you mean that 'baby'?" I asked, smiling a bit. I mean, the guy had been stuck in this room with no outside communications. He probably did not understand half the words I said.
"Yes," he confirmed, looking a little embarrassed. I guess he noticed me trying to fight my urge to laugh.
"Well," I started, when I had swallowed my urge. "Nowadays, the word baby, or babe, is used to refer to like…" I searched for a close enough word that could be considered a synonym.
"Your girlfriend or your boyfriend," I continued. "Or someone you're interested in. It's kind of like a nickname and means the same as sweetheart, or honey. But in a more modern and sexy way," I said, turning away before I realized what I said. I don't think guys back in the 1850s talked about anything with the word 'sex' in it with members of the opposite sex. Unless they were married, I mean.
It turns out that Jesse heard that last bit over the music because he blushed a bit.
"Oh," was all he said before he returned to the bay window, his curiosity for the laptop seeming to have evaporated. He didn't pick up his book though. Instead, he looked out the window, and seemed like that he was listening to my music.
When I was satisfied that my computer was plugged in properly and my iPod was charging, I turned around and hunted for my Cosmo. When I found it, I flopped onto my bed and proceeded to read it while singing along to 'Hollaback Girl' by Gwen Stefani. At least, until I noticed Jesse watching me.
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Jesse's POV
I listened to Susannah's music and continued to stare out the window. But when a particular song with strong language came on, I sat up and listened as Susannah sang along as well.
"A few times I've been around that track, so it's not just gonna happen like that, 'cause I ain't no Hollaback girl! I ain't no Hollaback girl!" She sang, seeming to enjoy singing rough language. And then I heard a very confusing part.
I glanced at her. After awhile, she noticed my gaze was fastened on her.
"What is it?" she asked. Her expression grew worried. "Did I just grow a zit?" she asked frantically.
"Grow something? No, no, Susannah. You did not grow anything," I replied.
Her expression changed into one of embarrassment and disbelief. "That does not sound right…" she remarked, blushing.
It was only then that I realized what I had said.
"I mean – I wasn't implying – Susannah, I'm sorry," I started stuttering before Susannah laughed and brushed it off. But she continued looking at me inquiringly.
"So what did you want to say?" she asked.
"I was just wondering," I started, "Why did the writer of this song make the singer sing 'This…'" I stopped, fearing of being impolite. But Susannah understood.
"You mean 'This shit is bananas'?" she inquired, a smile playing on her face.
"Yes," I flushed. I was not used to such language coming from a young lady. Her grin widened.
"This singer, Gwen Stefani, seems to like singing songs with weird lyrics. I don't know why 'this shit is bananas.'"
"Oh," I said, as if in understanding. But I didn't understand. My only thought was that I had to get used to Susannah's frequent swearing.
I watched as she settled back and another song started. I noticed her gaze softened. "This is the one last chance to make you understand," she sang softly. "I'd do anything, just to hold you in my arms, to try to make you laugh, 'cause somehow I can't put you in the past," she continued, looking at the ceiling. "I'd do anything, just to fall asleep with you. Will you remember me? 'Cause I know I won't forget you…"
She closed her eyes and after awhile she had fallen asleep. I stood up and went over to the 'laptop'. I did not know how to stop the music, so I pushed the top part down so that it was closed. Luckily, the music stopped. I clapped my hands as I had seen Susannah do to turn off her bedroom's lights.
I then walked over to her bedside. In the pale moonlight, her features were softened, and her hair had a ghostly sheen to it, almost like mine. She seemed so at peace, so different than when she was awake.
I pulled the blankets over her and put the 'magazine', I think it's called, that Susannah had been reading on her bedside table. She shifted and frowned before settling again and returning back to her state of rest.
I watched her for a moment more. I knew I should not be in her room. It was night, and a man should never be in a lady's room. But I could not seem to tear my eyes away from her.
I finally decided to leave. But just before I dematerialized, I softly whispered, "Goodnight, Susannah."
I opened my eyes and I was on the roof. Actually, the porch roof that was right outside the bay windows of our room. I sat down and leant back to stare at the moon.
Many nights I have lain here, looking up at the moon, mulling over my thoughts. So many unanswered questions swam through my head. My mind caught one particular question this night.
Why was I so entranced with Susannah? A woman I barely know, one that I have just met? Is it only because she was the first woman I have talked to in over a century and a half?
I closed my eyes, trying to figure this out. If this was true, I did not want to lead her astray. I would defile her purity, and nothing would be worse than that. But no answer, nothing came to my mind.
Just wait awhile, I heard a voice in my head whisper. Wait, and you will discover the reason. The reason why she entrances you so.
But I do not want to wait! I thought. But that voice had disappeared.
So I thought of Susannah's singing instead. So strong, like her. For some reason, her voice seemed to soften when she had sang that particular song… The upbeat one. The one that was, I think, called "I'd Do Anything."
Maybe because it was a song of love.The voice had come back. I frowned. It didn't really seem like a love song. I guess modern day songs of love do not have to be like the slow ones of my time.
No. I cannot continue doing this. I cannot think of her like this. I shall treat her as I treat my sisters, nothing more. Because I can't. That would be worse than sinning.
I continued to stare at the moon. And then I felt an urge to sing.
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Suze's POV
I had dozed off and I woke up a little while later to find that I had been tucked in and that my Cosmo had been placed by my bed. I smiled, thinking it was my mother. It has been so long since she last tucked me in, ever since I decided I was too old to be tucked in my mom.
I closed my eyes again. But before I could slip off into the land of dreams, I thought I heard a deep voice singing.
"Oh, Susannah, don't you cry for me," it sang. "I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee."
But it must have been a dream.
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(A/N: This chapter is just full of mo liu stuff. Sorry lah! Lolz.
It sounds familiar, huh?
FWAHAHAHAHAHA! Jesse was a bit ham sup today! MUAHAHAHAHA!
Sorry ppl who don't know Canto jazz. Lolz.
SORRY KAREN AND CRISTAL AND JAMIE AND CAROL AND KIMMY AND.. AND.. I dunno. Whoever else who reads this and is pissed because it ain't like my normal performance. XD
Please R&R! Make me happy?
Same deal again. Five reviews in 2 days, I will update. .
Hugs and kisses xoxo,
hypeRactiVe toKeNgiRL
PS: I just reread it, and it seems like… a chapter that was long and very unimportant to the plot. Eh heh. It is but. Sorry for boring you guys out. When I read the book, I wondered why Jesse never asked about any of the 21st century stuff. So a little of it is here. .
PPS: I just noticed something. I'm so unoriginal. I cannot think of characters. Sure, I can rethink a plot and redo a whole story, but I cannot make up new characters without them sounding like someone else's. Dammit. WAAAAH!)