The Mediator : Showtime

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(A/N: I DON'T FEEL LIKE WRITING A LONG AUTHOR'S NOTE thank you.)

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This chapter is dedicated to Candice Tan. Thank you for being my first friend in the beginning of the year Candy! But most likely, you won't read this. (Karen, if you're reading this, tell Candy to read this story.) I'll miss your benign disposition (omg. I sound like the Giver). I'll miss you!

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Chapter 13

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Suze's POV

I stared at Derek in shock.

He grinned back at me.

"Happy to see me?" he asked.

"Uh," I said, unintelligently. "Derek, how the hell did you get here?"

"I've lived in Carmel all my life, Suze. There isn't a place I won't know how to get to. Not to mention Brad was one of my good friends."

"Wait. So that means you're stalking me?" I exclaimed.

I guess it's pretty flattering to be stalked by a hot guy, but I can't stand stalkers at all.

Let's just say I've had a bit of an experience in that field before.

Which is why I was starting to freak.

"No! Of course not," he said, looking offended. But his cheeks were suspiciously flushed.

"Right," I said, glancing at Jesse and back at Derek.

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Jesse's POV

I looked at the newcomer, surprised. Who is he, and what was he doing here?

I glanced at Susannah. She seemed just as surprised.

Oh, wait. She's a mediator, is she not? Ghosts probably come to find her all the time.

But I was in for another surprise.

"Happy to see me?" he asked her, grinning insolently. My heart fired up with something I could not name when I saw him grin at her in that way.

"Derek, how the hell did you get here?" Susannah asked.

So. She knew him. The unknown feeling started to grow. I caught myself glaring at this Derek behind Susannah's back.

What in the world am I doing?

"I've lived in Carmel all my life, Suze. There isn't a place I won't know how to get to. Not to mention Brad was one of my good friends," he replied.

Susannah glanced at me. Then, her gaze snapped back to Derek.

"Wait. So that means you're stalking me?" she asked in apparent disbelief.

At this, I felt that feeling in me grow even larger if possible as Derek denied stalking mi querida. I just felt like I had to protect Susannah at all costs from this Derek fellow. I was about to take a step forward in front of Susannah when she raised a restraining hand in front of me. She glanced at me warningly.

"By the way, nice top, Suze," he said, staring at her chest area. Furious, my muscled tensed. This… boy has no manners at all! One should not look at women in that way!

Susannah, not noticing my apparent… discomfort, said quickly, "Jesse, this is Derek. Derek, Jesse. I met him this morning at school," she explained to me as Derek twisted around to look at me in mild shock. He looked at my outfit appraisingly.

He turned around again and asked Susannah, "What is that… cowboy doing here?"

Anger surged in me. I stood up and stepped towards him.

"I am not a cowboy," I said angrily. Susannah's dresser mirror started shaking.

"My father and his father before him worked hard to make sure our ranch was successful, unlike the thieving cowboy bastardos!" I continued, about to push him away from me.

Susannah's eyes widened in alarm and she hurried over to my side.

"Stop it," she hissed.

I looked down at her and I stopped. Derek continued to look at us in a peculiar way.

"Why is he here, Suze?" he asked again, as if I was just a third party. I fumed silently.

"Um," I heard Susannah say. "Jesse's kind of a special case. He has stayed here in this room for a long time, so he's kind of attached to it."

"Ah," he replied, as if in understanding.

"What do you want, Derek?" she asked. He grinned.

"You."

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Suze's POV

I flushed. I cannot believe he said that in front of Jesse! It's bad enough I even care what Jesse thinks, but he didn't have to go and say that! I kept my gaze averted from where Jesse stood behind me.

"Me?" I asked in disbelief. He chortled.

"Just joking." I rolled my eyes.

"No, really. What are you doing here?" I asked again.

"Just wanted to drop by and say hi."

"Well, you have said your greetings. Now go," I heard Jesse say. I turned to look at him in surprise. That's when I saw that his jaw muscled were tight and he was fighting to keep his anger in check.

"Woah. Down, boy," Derek said, making shooing motions. "No need to be overprotective."

"He is not protecting me," I retorted, flushing yet again, turning away from Jesse and facing Derek. "Can you leave, Derek? I need to go out in like…" I started and looked at my watch.

"Holy shat!" I cried, grabbing my handbag. "Adam and Cee Cee are downstairs!"

"Adam and Cee Cee? The freaks?" Derek asked. I narrowed my eyes.

"They are not freaks," I said through clenched teeth. "They happen to be very good friends of mine." I paused for a second there.

Since when they become my friends? I blinked and continued.

"If you say something like that about them again, I'll make sure you won't ever sit on your freaking fat ass ever again!" I threatened.

Not that Derek had a fat ass. It wasn't fat-less either. Is that a word? Whatever, but it seemed to be really s–

EWW! SUZE! NO! BAD GIRL!

Hey! I'm a hormonal teenager. I have every right to check out every cute guy's butt I happen to see. Like Jesse's. I've got to say it looks better than Derek's, since they are standing relatively close so I can compare. I wonder what it would be like to s–

AHHHHHHHHH! SUZE! YOU ARE LATE! STOP THINKING ABOUT GUYS' ASSES! NOT TO MENTION BOTH ARE GHOSTS! I shook myself, keeping my eyes averted from both their asses as a slight flush crept up my cheeks.

"Alright, alright, they're not freaks," Derek said, backing away from me. "No need to get worked up about it."

I growled in exasperation and rushed downstairs. "See you, Jesse! And Derek, you better not be in my room when I get back!" I called.

"Or else what?" I heard him yell.

"I'm going to send you to hell," I screamed back, rushing out the door to where Adam and Cee Cee were waiting.

"Who were you yelling at?" Cee Cee asked as I jumped into the front passenger side seat.

"Oh, just Brad," I replied, covering for my sudden outburst.

"Figures," Adam commented before backing out of the driveway and driving off.

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We pulled up at the parking lot of the Coffee Clutch at around four. Cee Cee and I went to get seats while Adam parked.

Adam wouldn't stop flirting with me the whole way. I just told him (as gently as I could of course) that I liked him as a friend, and nothing more, with Cee Cee backing me up all the way.

I didn't like the crestfallen look Adam had on his face, but I had to tell him. I guess I don't really want to get into a relationship so soon after moving here…

But during the whole car ride, when Cee Cee thought Adam and I weren't looking, she would stare at the back of his head with an expression that was nothing short of infatuation.

The only thought that I was thinking the whole way was, Aww. How sweet.

Adam dropped us off at the entrance before driving to the back to park.

Cee Cee and I ordered two milkshakes as Adam walked in. He himself ordered a chocolate banana split. And then he told us that he would pay for everything.

Cee Cee looked as shocked as I did. Who knew Adam McTavish could be so generous?

Oh wait. I wouldn't know. I just got here.

So we just chatted about random things during the time we were there. People watching, and had a bitch fest. (Adam joined in, yes.) It was so fun that when we were about to leave, Adam suggested we all went to the beach to watch the sunset.

We sat on a towel that Adam kept in his trunk for awhile. And then I discovered I was feeling something new.

I felt like I belonged. I, Suze, the mediator freak, belonged here.

And when I found out what that feeling was, I felt happier than I had for a long time.

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Jesse's POV

I know I shouldn't have done it.

I know it's sinful to spy on another, but I was only doing it to keep her safe.

At least, that was what I convinced myself of doing.

When she left, Derek promptly dematerialized, saying that nothing interesting to do at Susannah's house. I also think he dematerialized because he believed that Susannah would actually fight with him if he did stay.

I shook my head before dematerializing to the Coffee Clutch. I overheard Susannah's friend say that was where over the phone.

No, I do not eavesdrop. But when you are a ghost, your senses become much clearer and much more powerful. So, even though I was a bit of a distance away, I could hear their conversation perfectly.

I watched as Susannah, a young man, and a young lady laughed and talked together. Susannah seemed to be happier than before. The smile on her face seemed so… genuinely happy.

Her happiness seemed to make me happy. I have never felt this way before.

I followed as they made their way to the beach. I watched as they sat in comfortable silence as the sun set below the horizon.

It was then when I overheard – again – Susannah's friend ask, "So, Suze. Did you meet any cute guys ever since moving here?"

Cute? What does that mean? I thought it was used to describe adorable young children. Why would she call young men cute?

I saw Susannah blanch.

I cocked my eyebrow in question. Why did she just do that?

"No. Not really," she said quickly. "There were some cute guys at school though. You know. The jocks and stuff. But they're really dense."

I started. The jocks? I recognized the word only faintly. The athletes of her school? The ones whom all the girls seem to be infatuated with?

Is that the definition of cute? Things have really been changing around here…

"Anyone hot then?" Her friend persisted.

Hot? Hot? Why? Would anyone be associated to the weather? They must be very important people in society then.

Why have I never heard of them before?

"Hot? Huh? No. Of course not, Cee Cee! Except I saw a picture of Derek. You know him?" Susannah said quickly.

She thinks Derek is hot? He should take off his coat then.

"Oh yeah," Cee Cee said. "That is one hot dude. I wouldn't mind dating him if he wasn't always surrounded by Kelly and all those other 'hot' girls." She shook her head. "Too bad that he had to die so early."

My eyebrow cocked again. So that means Derek is much better looking than the athletes in her school?

"Yeah, yeah, I guess," Susannah replied. I could see she was uncomfortable with this subject.

I wonder what she'd think of me… Would I be considered cute or hot?

I shook my head at my folly. What makes you think she'd actually rate you as cute or hot? She probably thinks you are neither.

Maybe not, the little voice argued. Maybe she does like you, a little bit…

Horrified with myself, I turned away slightly. Impure thoughts thought by a sinner.

I am disgusting.

But I do have to say, people these days have a very unique way of classifying beauty.

"What about you, Adam? Any cute or hot girls around?" Susannah asked in an attempt to take the attention away from her.

"Yep. Well, there are the popular bimbos at school…" I heard him say.

So those girls who seem to wear more paints than was good for them and very short, inappropriate skirts are considered cute and hot?

Prostitutes in the making.

"But I know someone who is extra hot," he continued, winking at Susannah. She smiled, amused.

"Adam! You know what I'm talking about!"

"What? I can't say that you're hot? 'Cause you really are beautiful. And sexy." He growled playfully.

My eyes furrowed as I hear him say that. But now I had a hazy definition of hot. People who are beautiful and sexy.

At least, that's all that I picked up from this brief conversation.

"Only because you can't open your eyes and see the real beauty," Susannah replied, her voice oddly deep in a trance, her eyes hazy. Her eyes cleared and looked away.

What does she mean? I wondered. I was not the only one mulling over her statement. Adam himself looked quite confused.

I saw Cee Cee give Susannah a perplexed look as well. When they all stood up to leave, Cee Cee pulled Susannah behind a pile of rocks close to where I was hiding.

"What was that about?" she asked, glancing at Adam to make sure he didn't follow. Susannah smiled knowingly.

"Cee Cee. Don't pretend."

"Pretend? Pretend what?"

"I know you like Adam. I saw you gazing at him during the whole ride over here."

I started, surprised again that Susannah would be so observant.

"It's that obvious?" Cee Cee asked, blushing and looking at the ground.

"Yeah."

"Why, Suze? Why?" she seemed nearly on the point of breaking down.

"Why what, Cee?"

"Then why doesn't he notice me?" Cee Cee wailed quietly.

"Guys. They're stupid. Believe me. The more in too deep you are, the less chance they know you like them."

How would Susannah know how it felt like? Did she... meet someone she likes now?

For some reason, when I thought of that, it made me feel like a stone had just materialized in my stomach.

I stayed there while Susannah and her friend walked back to the car. They said their goodbyes, and I overheard that Susannah would walk home because it was only a ten minute walk back. They waved, and Susannah set off down the road. I materialized behind her to keep her company.

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Suze's POV

I waved at Cee Cee and Adam as they sped off down the road. I turned and gazed one more time at the beautiful sunset before setting off down the beach. I took off my platforms and held them in one hand as I scrunched my toes in the sand. I grinned. My visits in NYC to the beach were few and far between, so, consequently, I loved the feeling of sand between my toes.

I brought out my iPod and stuck the earphones in my ears before hitting the play button. The first lines of Meant To Live by Switchfoot rang through my ears. I know that it's really old, but I really liked the song.

I felt a tap on my shoulder. I whirled around before he or she could move and did a karate back kick.

"Susannah!"

I stopped. Jesse was standing there, shocked and surprised. He had had to jump away from me to avoid being kicked.

Dammit.

"Oh," I said blushing. "Sorry." I turned around and continued down the beach, trying to hide my embarrassment.

"Susannah! What was that for?" I spun around.

"Oh. Nothing. Just nothing," I managed to squeak out.

"There is no nothing. Tell me." I hesitated. Should I trust him?

"I just thought you were some weird stalker or one of those ghosts," I mumbled, picking up my pace. He kept up easily.

"What?" he asked, clearly not able to hear me.

"I just thought you were one of those ghosts," I said louder. He stopped in his tracks.

"What ghosts?" he asked, confused.

God. Did I ever mention confusion looks dead hot on him?

Oh, wait. He is dead.

"The ones that like to beat the shit out of people." He winced.

"Please, Susannah. Don't talk in such a way."

"Why not? This is the twenty-first century, Jesse. Everyone, even girls, speak like this." He fell quiet as we continued to walk down the beach.

Luckily for me, we were wandering on a stretch of secluded beach, so no one would see me talking, apparently, to myself.

I glanced at Jesse and noticed that his gaze was on me. I caught that gaze and fell into a pool of darkness so deep I thought I could never get out. My breath caught my throat as we continued to stare at each other like that.

Then he turned away. I was slammed back into reality as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"I'll be in the room when you get back," he said quickly, still not looking at me. He dematerialized, leaving me alone.

What was that about?

I hiked the last minute up the hill before arriving at my house. Wiping the sand off my feet on the grass, I walked upstairs and washed my feet. Jesse was sitting on my window seat staring at the ocean when I got back, but he did not acknowledge me, and neither did I acknowledge him.

What the heck is wrong with me?

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(A/N: Okay. That sucked more than usual. Dang.

Sprinkle of fluff and viola – a nice chappie!

Please review! Thanks!

Hugs and kisses xoxo,

hypeRactiVe toKeNgiRL)