:Chapter 28:
I groaned as the sound of my cell phone ringing woke me up. This had better be good, I had been in the middle of a really interesting dream. But as I tried to remember the dream, it slipped away. Only one word resounded in my head; querida. But, why? I had never heard that word before. And I noticed my lips were tingling, as if I had just kissed someone or someone had just kissed me. I couldn't tell, but whoever it was, was one hell of a kisser. My lips had never tingled like this before, and the sensation was something I knew I'd be craving to feel again. Great, I thought, just what I needed, some mystery lips making me tingle like never before; as if I wasn't sad enough before.
I reached over to my nightstand and grabbed my phone. Who would have the audacity to call this early? I looked at the caller ID and sighed. Of course, who else but CeeCee.
"This better be good, I was sleeping like most normal people are doing at this hour" I answered.
"Jesse it's after eight, get your butt up and greet the world with a smile" she replied.
"Is there a reason you're calling me so early?" I asked yawning.
"Oh, right. Well I wanted to see if you wanted to go to the beach today. My friend Suze from New York is flying in and I wanted to take her out, introduce her to new people, show her around her new stomping grounds" she said excitedly.
"Adam can't give you guys a ride?" I questioned.
CeeCee was silent for a moment before saying "You know what never mind. Don't hang out with us. I was just trying to be a good friend and include you, but no you just had to be Mr. Grumpy-pants."
"Ah, he can't meet up with you guys until later, and your friend is here already" I guessed.
"Jesse, that's so…I can't believe…ugh, yeah. But she's not here yet. Her flight arrives in thirty minutes and I already told her mom I could pick her up" she replied.
"CeeCee" I huffed, "I don't even know if I can. I might have to watch my sisters again today."
"Marta can watch them and you know it. Please Jesse, I'm begging you. Besides Suze is single, and REALLY hot" she pleaded.
"Can I trust your hotness judgement?" I asked, slightly intrigued about this mystery girl.
"Of course! Besides Suze is practically dripping hottness, plus she's hot in that real girl kind of way, not like a stick" she answered. "And if you pick us up and hang out with us today I might be inclined to play matchmaker" she added smugly.
"I don't need you to play matchmaker for me. But I'll help you out, out of the kindness of my heart."
CeeCee in reply actually squeed and then sang out "I'm so playing matchmaker, you need a chick and you and Suze would be SO cute together."
"CeeCee, really, no" I said, kind of meaning it.
"Oh please, I can almost here you singing 'Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match" she sang.
"Hardly. What time do you want me at your house?" I asked.
"Umm…right now would be nice" she said cheerfully.
"Wait when does her plane land?" I questioned.
"In thirty minutes if its not delayed" she answered, "Can you be at my house in twenty minutes?"
"Crap" I mumbled looking over myself, "Yeah, I'll be there."
"Jesse you're a lifesaver" she sighed happily, "and one of the good flavors too."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll see you in a little bit" I said before hanging up and running into my bathroom for a quick shower.
Exactly twenty minutes later I was just leaving my house, racing out the door, and yelling back at Marta to watch everyone while I was gone and that if mom called to tell her I was out with CeeCee and Adam.
Just as I turned off of my street my cell phone rang. CeeCee. Again.
"I'm on my way" I answered, "hold thine horsies."
"Oh, okay, just checking" she replied.
"I'll be there in 2.3 seconds" I said rounding the corner of CeeCee's street.
"Hey I see you" she laughed waving, and then hung up.
I stopped right in front of her and she hopped in, a big smile on her face. "I'm so excited for you to meet Suze" she gushed, "you're gonna love her."
"If you say so" I sighed, thinking about how much I needed caffeine.
"Did you have a date last night?" CeeCee asked, eyeing me.
I gave her a perplexed look and replied "No, why?"
"I don't know, you look different, like…something big happened. You sure you didn't have a date? How about kiss? Did you kiss someone?" she questioned still watching me with intrigue.
"CeeCee, I haven't had a date for months, which you already knew, and the last person to kiss me was Mapi, so no, nothing big happened" I answered, feeling even more depressed about the state of my love life.
"If you say so, but I still think something happened. Wait. I know! You had another dream" she exclaimed.
"Urgh, I knew I shouldn't have told you about those" I mumbled. I'd only even told her about them in the first place thinking that maybe her experience with her weird Aunt Pru could help me better understand these dreams.
"I'm right, through, huh?" she replied.
"Yes, I had another one. And it was the exact same as the others, when I try to remember them, my mind goes blank. Only this time it felt even more real."
"More real how so?" she asked, obviously intrigued.
"When I woke up, my lips were tingling, like I'd just been kissed" I said.
"Good kiss?" she questioned.
"Sadly, it felt better than any kiss I've ever actually had."
"Maybe it's a sign. Like you're gonna have the best kiss of your life today, or meet the best kisser you'll ever kiss today" she suggested optimistically.
"Or it could mean I'm a crazy person who wakes up with tingling lips" I offered.
"Or that" she laughed, obviously noting my wanting to change the topic.
"So how do you even know this girl?" I asked, getting onto the highway.
"We met at Peninsula Pizza a few months ago" she explained, "she was giving one of the employees some attitude about the service and I liked her spunk, so we started talking and it turns out the employee was her step-brother, and she was just messing around with him. That's how I knew we'd hit it off. She's got attitude, she annoys people she doesn't like, and she sticks up for what she believes in."
"You got all that from her annoying her brother and talking to her in a pizza parlor?" I asked skeptically.
"Step-brother. And, well, no. We hung out after that, but then she had to go back and finish getting all her stuff packed. And now she's coming back to stay permanently. So yay!" she answered all giddily.
"So she's from New York, huh? Why is she moving over here?" I questioned, smiling at CeeCee's childish excitement.
Rarely did something truly excite her this much, so I knew this Suze girl had to be, at the very least an entertaining person who, apparently brought out the inner child in CeeCee, which was a nice change. Not that CeeCee isn't fun, she just tends to concentrate on achieving her goals, and not scheduling fun in her list of to-dos. She has loosened up, however, due to the fact that my other best friend Adam, who just so happens to be her boyfriend too, is about as mature as a five year-old.
"Yeah, from Brooklyn, her mom is moving them out here to be with her new step-dad and step-brothers. Her mom married Handy Andy" CeeCee giggled.
"The guy from TV?" I asked, "really?"
"Yep, our own Andy Ackerman, handyman extraordinaire" she said.
"Isn't his kid Brad in our class?" I questioned.
"Yeah, that's her new step-brother. She's got three in all" she told me as we exited the highway.
"So is she gonna go to the mission with us, or how old is she?" I asked, getting more and more interested in this girl.
"Yeah, she'll be in our class, she's our age."
Just then I pulled into the closet parking space, and got out, trailing after CeeCee who was practically skipping towards the airport entrance. If CeeCee was actually skipping around, something had to be up, either this girl is CeeCee's other, more fun-loving half, or this is the first sign that the world as we know it is about to end.
Once inside CeeCee whipped out a folded piece of paper from her purse and unfolded it. In huge, bold, swirly letters it said Suze Simon, with three exclamation marks after it, and a smiley face. There were also stickers stuck on, shining dully in the fluorescent lighting of the airport lobby. Uh-oh, she's been doing art, maybe the end really is nearing.
She looked around anxiously for a few seconds before letting out a sigh of relief and saying "Jesse, I really gotta use the bathroom, can you just stand here with the sign. She shouldn't be out yet, but if she sees you with the sign at least then you can explain that I'll be right out."
I grumbled but took the sign from her, and told her to hurry up. She scurried off towards the bathrooms and I looked around the airport. A large group of people were walking out from security and I realized that a flight must have just landed. I scanned the crowd, but then remembered that CeeCee had never told me what this Suze girl looked like. Just that she was hot, in a real way. So instead I scanned the crowd for teenage girls. One girl who looked about my age appeared, but I quickly ruled her out. CeeCee would never befriend a valley girl wannabe or a Kelly Prescott twin, which this girl was a definite mixture of. Next I spotted a young girl with bright red hair, only she was walking funny and when the crowd parted in front of her I noticed she was shackled and being led by a police officer. Definitely not her. I continued looking around but I didn't see anymore girls that looked to be my age.
As the stragglers of the flight were making their way out I saw the most gorgeous woman I had ever laid eyes on. She sauntered out, giving her beautiful chestnut hair a little flip. As she came closer towards me, I took in every inch of her. She looked to be around my age, and she had creamy white skin that practically glowed and looked so soft and smooth. She had on a denim mini skirt, which showed off her amazing legs, and a light blue wife beater with Mickey Mouse on the front, which was kind of low cut, so it accentuated her chest. I had to shut my mouth, because my jaw had dropped when I first saw her. Behind her she lugged a huge black suitcase, but she didn't show how much work it must be to carry that thing after you. Her gaze met mine for an instant and she gave me a shy smile before her eyes latched onto the sign I was still holding. Her eyes entranced me as she walked cautiously towards me. They were a vibrant, emerald green, and sparkled with intelligence and strength.
She searched my face as she drew nearer, I think trying to place me. Still she came closer, and I started panicking. Quickly I looked around and behind me, trying to see what lucky person was meeting this divine woman. But no one else was waiting around, everyone was running around, scrambling through the airport. I turned back to her and gulped, wondering why this beautiful girl could possibly be staring at me. She stopped right in front of me, eyeing me carefully.
She opened her mouth to say something but before she could get out even one word CeeCee ran over and practically tackled the poor girl. "Oh my goodness, I've missed you so much!" CeeCee said tightly hugging the girl.
I noticed her smile and was hypnotized. This perfect girl was CeeCee's friend? Maybe I would have to have CeeCee act as matchmaker. Somehow I could picture myself with her. Her and me, hanging out, having fun, dating even. Maybe getting to kiss her pouty lips. They looked so soft, and I craved to place my lips on her's… Wow, I need to stop fantasizing, NOW.
The girl hugged CeeCee just as tight and cheered back, "Me too! I think I actually squeed when the captain said we were preparing to land." They both laughed and released each other, walking closer to me. I swallowed hard, and felt so awkward next to the perfection of this girl.
"Suze, this my friend Jesse de Silva, Jesse this is Suze Simon" CeeCee stated making introductions.
"Hi" she said flashing me a glorious smile. "Umm…hi" I replied giving her a nervous smile and mentally chastising myself for making a fool out of myself.
"Alright Suze I hope you slept on the plane cause I've got a busy day planned for us" CeeCee informed Suze, putting her arm around her shoulders and leading her towards the exit. "All day we're laying around the beach, and then later we're grabbing a bite to eat, followed by an all night movie fest and copious amounts of sugar" she added.
"Hmm…that sounds, perfect" Suze laughed in response.
"Here, let me take that for you" I said taking Suze's luggage and tugging it along after me.
"You really don't have to" she protested, "I had it, really."
"You've been dragging this thing with you since you got off the plane, please, let me" I replied.
She sent me another smile, but this one was kind of shy and flirty, and said "Thanks Jesse." I nearly tripped over myself when I heard her say my name. The way she said it made me want to hear it over and over again, but from her and only her lips.
"No problem" I managed to mumble as we exited the airport and started towards the parking lot. As we reached my car CeeCee's cell phone rang and she rummaged through her purse for it. She quickly said something to Suze and answered her phone with a slight smile. Adam.
Suze looked to me with another shy smile and stepped closer towards me. I gulped as she strutted over, a question forming on her lips. "So, how long have you known CeeCee?" she asked, leaning against my car. I had to remind myself to keep from drooling, and shook my head to keep my mind from wandering into dangerous thoughts.
"Since we were kids" I answered, "we met on the first day of preschool. She asked me why I was brown, I asked her why she was white and after that we just sort of stuck together."
Suze laughed and I noticed how her eyes light up when she laughs, dazzling me even more.
"So is Suze short for Susan or is that your real name?" I questioned opening the trunk of my car and placing Suze's luggage inside.
"Hardly" she sighed, "it's short for Susannah. You know like the song, 'O Susannah don't you cry for me."
I laughed and replied, "Catchy tune, must be nice to have a song to sing every time you meet someone."
"Oh but it is" she giggled back. After she'd stopped laughing she asked, "So how did Cee manage to get you to chauffeur us around today? I mean guy like you must have a girlfriend or two you could be taking out."
I stared at her for a moment, my mouth agape. She thinks I have a girlfriend, or two? "Oh, no, I don't have…I mean…any…and…CeeCee asked, so I said okay" I mumbled.
Susannah stared at me for a moment, her lips parted and a word began but CeeCee trudged back over and heaved an annoyed sigh. Susannah turned to look at CeeCee and asked her what was wrong. CeeCee stared off for a minute before registering what Susannah had said and squeaked out that Adam was too tired to meet up with us now so he'd join us later to eat or something.
Adam had gone to his sister's wedding in Los Angeles and had just gotten back this morning, I had somehow known he would tell CeeCee something along the lines of jetlag as an excuse to sneak off with another of his girlfriends. But that was Adam for you. He may be immature, but he did have a way with women.
"Cee don't worry about it, I'm sure he's exhausted and just wants to nap. Like he said, he'll meet up with us later" she reassured her, stringing her arm around her shoulders. CeeCee nodded her head and together they climbed into the backseat. I went around to the driver's side and got in, started the car, and drove us back onto the highway. "CeeCee, where to?" I asked as we neared the exits to downtown.
"To the beach" she cheered. I looked back at Susannah through the rearview mirror and saw her giggling at something CeeCee had said. Nombre de Dios, this girl is beautiful. And then my mind drifted back to my dream. That word, querida, rang out in my head. But, why?
&&&
When we got to the beach CeeCee and Susannah went to find us a spot and then to change into their bathing suits. I just grabbed a pair of swimming trunks, of which I always keep a pair of in my trunk, and changed in the car. After I had on my swim shorts I went to the store near the beach and bought three sodas.
When I reached the blanket CeeCee had laid out to reserve our spot, I noticed that a lot of other people from our school had had the same idea of how to spend today. I let out a groan as people were waving over to me, yelling my name, and saying hi. Some guys nodded in my direction as they passed by me and then I noticed that they stopped suddenly, their mouths hanging open. I turned to see what they were gawking at and saw Susannah walking over.
My jaw dropped. She was sauntering over in a white, string bikini, her emerald gaze transfixed on me. I forced my mouth shut and stared in awe as she walked over to the blanket and plopped herself down onto it beside me. "Hey" she smiled.
"Hi" I mumbled in response as one of the guys who had nodded in my direction came to stand in front of us. "Hey Jesse, who's your friend?" Jim, my biology lab partner from last year asked, staring down at Susannah with a gleam in his gray eyes.
"Oh, this is-"
"Suze, Suze Simon" she said with a smile, "I'm Jesse's friend from New York." I looked at her oddly, wondering why she had said that, but went along with it anyway.
"Yeah?" he asked, "So what are you doing all the way over here in NoCal?"
"Well I came to visit Jesse, but I once I got here I knew I just couldn't survive without him, so I moved out here" she lied, her hand finding mine and clutching it loosely, all the while her smile never fading.
The second her hand touched mine I froze, and when she held it I started feeling all tingly. No one had ever made my skin feel like that.
Jim's eyes dropped and he hurriedly mumbled something about having to meet his friends, but that it was nice meeting her and he'd see me in school on Monday.
Once he was out of earshot Susannah turned to face me and said "Thanks for going along with that. I saw him staring at me when I was coming over here and something about his look just gave me the heebie jeebies. I had a feeling if I played the whole 'I just moved here for this guy' thing he'd go away, especially once I knew he knows you."
"Oh, don't worry about it, anyone else gives you the heebie jeebies, you know where to find me" I replied with a smile, noticing she was still holding my hand.
She laughed and said 'thanks' before whipping out a bottle of sunscreen and offering a deal of 'if you do me, I'll do you.' I swallowed, hard, but agreed and rubbed the sunscreen onto her smooth skin. Her skin is so soft.
As I rubbed it onto her back she let out a barely audible sigh. After I'd done her shoulders and back she turned to face me and asked if I wouldn't mind putting some on her face. How could I say no? So gently I applied some sunscreen onto her face, and then handed her the bottle, figuring she could do her legs, chest, and stomach. I really don't think I'd trust myself to just rub the sunscreen on her.
She quickly rubbed some onto herself, covering the rest of her exposed skin, and then poured some into her hands, looking at me with nervous eyes. Carefully she rubbed sunscreen onto my shoulders and arms, then my back and face. I was expecting her to hand me back the bottle so I could put some on my legs and chest, but Susannah poured some more into her hands and gently rubbed the lotion onto my chest and stomach. A chill went down my spine and I accidentally let out a slight moan from her touch, but she either didn't notice or pretended not to for my benefit.
After we were all covered in sunscreen I noticed CeeCee still hadn't returned. "Where's CeeCee?" I asked.
"She said she was just gonna call Adam and then meet us back here. I don't know what's taking her so long."
"You've been to this beach before, right? I mean CeeCee must have brought you" I said after a few moments.
"Actually no, it was freezing when I was here last time. It even rained the day I left" she replied.
"Come on, get up" I told her standing up, and offering her my hand. She stared at my hand for a moment before grabbing hold of it and getting up herself.
"Why am I standing?" she asked, not releasing my hand. Again my skin started tingling, and the already present butterflies in my stomach fluttered around even more.
"Because you've never been swimming on this coast, so I am taking you for your first official West Coast swim" I said pulling on her arm. She didn't move, just kept her feet firmly planted on the ground.
"Jesse, really, that's sweet, but no thanks" she declined, tugging me back to the blanket.
"Susannah" I sighed, "I am taking you swimming, by choice or force."
"Suze" she corrected me almost automatically, and then let go of my hand and folded her arms across her chest.
"Susannah" I repeated, "don't make me drag you to the shore." I couldn't help but smile slightly at her childishness as she stuck her tongue out at me and shook her head.
"Why don't you want to go swimming?" I questioned, "You can swim, right?"
"Of course I can swim" she shot back, "it's just…my hair."
"What about your hair?" I questioned feeling very confused.
"If I get it wet it'll frizz and it'll smell like the sand and ocean water" she said sheepishly.
"Well, yeah, but normally we go back to my house and shower. I've got a whole bunch of bathrooms because some of my sisters refused to share bathrooms, so my dad had to add on like three full bathrooms."
"Umm…yeah, I'm still not going in" she replied. I let out a disappointed sigh, but then swung Susannah over my shoulder and carried her fireman style to the shoreline.
The entire way there Susannah yelled at me to stop and put her down, slapping my back and kicking her legs. Once I felt wet sand under my toes I moved Susannah so that I was carrying her in my arms, and offered "If you stop resisting, I won't get your hair wet."
She stopped kicking and yelling, and looked me square in the eye, "Promise?"
I wadded out into the water, until it was up to my waist and sighed "No" before dropping Susannah into the water.
She reemerged, with playful anger in her eyes and promptly tackled me. We both went under and came up at the same time, laughing as we caught our breaths. "I'm so getting you back for that" she smiled, her eyes full of mischief.
"Really?" I asked, flashing her a smile.
"Yep, and when you least expect it" she said, trudging back towards the beach. I stared after her, watching her sway her hips, until she turned back and asked "Jesse, you coming?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah" I mumbled, catching up to her.
"So do have a boyfriend back home, or something?" Once the words were out of my mouth I couldn't believe I'd actually asked her that. It really wasn't any of my business. But I just had to know if this gorgeous creature had been snatched up already.
"Fake or real?" she laughed.
I laughed too, "either."
"Nope, just you" she said with a smile.
&&&
"Jeez, I leave for a little bit and you two are already best friends" CeeCee said as she sat down on the blanket across from Susannah and I. Susannah was trying to show me how to play slide, but I was failing miserably. She just laughed at my hopelessness, but continued anyway.
I don't know what it was about her, but I felt as if I'd known her all my life. She laughed at my jokes and made me laugh with her own. Something about her struck me, something I couldn't quite put my finger on, but I wanted to know more about this girl. I wanted her too; I wanted her to be mine.
"A little bit?" both Susannah and I echoed. "Cee, you were gone for like three hours. Where'd you go?" Susannah asked, correcting my hands again.
"I was not gone for three hours, it's only…oh my gosh! I was gone for three hours" she said with a gasp, as she stared down at her watch.
"Where were you? We were starting to get a little worried" I asked, finally getting past five, but then messing up six. I put down my head in shame, and Susannah laughed. She patted my shoulder and added an "Don't worry, you'll get it, you just need some more practice." My skin tingled where she had touched me, and I loved how her fingers lingered on my skin for a few more moments.
"Oh yeah, you guys looked so worried" CeeCee teased. "Anyway, Adam is on his way over here, so he should be here in a few minutes, you guys mind if I go wait for him by the parking lot? I know how uncomfortable Jesse gets when we kiss and stuff."
Susannah looked over at me with an eyebrow raised. "I don't get uncomfortable when you kiss, it's when you start making out in front of me that I get uncomfortable" I corrected her. She blushed furiously and sent me a mean look before getting up and walking up the hill to the parking lot.
"Ewh, if it were up to me PDA would be limited to holding hands, hugging, and brief kisses" Susannah said. I nodded in agreement, and told her about how Adam and CeeCee get in these weird hands-all-over-each-other moods. "At least now I won't feel awkward all by myself. Sometimes they just start groping each other at lunch and stuff, its really gross."
"Ugh, I know the feeling, my best friend Gina, back in New York and her boyfriend would practically start humping in front of me. It was so uncomfortable" she explained with a shudder. I smiled over at her, and noticed how her eyes sparkled in the dimming sunlight, illuminating all her features.
I glanced over my shoulder at the sun, dipping lower in the sky by the minute, and saw a glowing figure off in the distance. One day, couldn't I just have one day without a ghost intruding. I stood up quickly and began to mumble something about being right back, but Susannah had done the same thing, and was eyeing me suspiciously.
"Funny how the sunlight can make people look like their glowing, huh?" she asked me, still eyeing me.
I looked at her, completely stunned. Could she see the ghost too? "Umm, yeah, like that guy over there" I said, nodding in the general direction of the ghost. He looked to be maybe a few years older than myself, and he was wearing swimming trunks.
"Jesse, walk with me" Susannah said, holding out her hand. I quickly reached out and held her hand as she led me towards the ghost. Once we were out of earshot of the other people at the beach Susannah stopped and turned to face me. She stood only a few inches away from me, looking up into my eyes with excitement. "Jesse, can you see him?" she asked me eagerly.
My eyes must have widened in shock because Susannah started laughing nervously and prattling on about how she'd gotten me.
"No, no, Susannah, I see him. But, if you can that means… you're a mediator" I explained excitedly.
"I know" she replied, "You're one too?"
"Yeah" I answered, "I thought maybe me and Father Dominic were the only two."
"I can't believe you're a mediator" she exclaimed with a brilliant smile that lit up her whole face. And the next thing I knew she threw her arms around me and held onto me. I wrapped my arms around her and noticed how perfectly she fit in my arms. It was almost as if we had been made to fit together like this.
We pulled apart after a few moments and gazed into each other's eyes, smiling brightly. Without a word, we grabbed hold of each other's hands and walked over to the ghost, smiles still plastered on our faces.
As we neared the ghost I noticed that he wasn't wearing swimming trunks, but shorts. They were black denim and a chain hung from his waist to his pocket. Besides that he wore a white wife beater and a pair of vans.
When we stood in front of him, he looked at us for a moment before his eyes bulged out. "You can see me!" he asked in shocked. Susannah and I looked at each other, knowing how annoying that question can become after you've heard it about a million times.
"Yes, we can. I'm Suze and this is Jesse. We're mediators, and we're here to help you move on to wherever it is you're supposed to after you die. What's your name?" Susannah asked with a friendly smile. I don't know if it was for his benefit or not, but I kept my eye on this guy. I noticed how he was eyeing her, and I didn't like it one bit.
"I'm Danny" he replied, "Danny Alderidge."
"Okay, Danny, how did you die?" I questioned, trying to finish up with this ghost ASAP. What? Is it a crime to want to spend time with an extremely beautiful girl who you happen to think is the girl of your dreams, literally?
"Well, me and a couple of my bros went to this sick party up in the valley. But this dude kept hassling us, saying that him and his crew could out skate us in their sleep. Well, we couldn't put up with that so we agreed to race. But he had it all fixed. Wiped out half my bros and when I told the rest to go back and help everyone else, he friggin' pushed me down some hill. Next thing I know I'm effin' glowing and staring down at myself all tangled up in some bushes, my neck all twisted and shit."
"So, you're mad at the guy that killed you?" Susannah asked with intrigue.
"Hell yeah, I'm pissed at him. But I just want to tell my mom where my body is. She's all freaking out cause she thinks I got kidnapped or something. My girlfriend too. She won't stop crying, and she's been practically attached to my mom. And she knows my mom don't like her much, but there she is, bawling her eyes out, and waiting to hear news about me" he explained.
"Well, give us your mom's address and where your body is, and we promise to tell your mom and your girlfriend" I said, glad knowing that this guy had a girlfriend whom he apparently cared for very much.
"Seriously bro?" he asked, his eyes lighting up.
"Yeah, that's what we're here for" Susannah replied, giving my hand a slight squeeze.
&&&
"Where were you guys?" CeeCee asked, noticing Susannah and I walking back towards the blanket.
We had been discussing our favorite movies of all time,-mine being a tie between Boondock Saints, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and every Mel Brooks film ever made. Susannah's picks were Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the Mel Brooks movies, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Princess Bride, and just about every Will Ferrell movie. (This is what led me to believe that I have indeed met the girl of my dreams)- when CeeCee's voice had caught our attention.
After we'd gotten all of Danny's info we went over to his mom's house. We told her we'd been at the party, but decided to leave early. We explained to her that we had been walking back to my house and saw two skaters fly by. Susannah added that we hadn't thought anything of it, but that less than a minute later one skater went by us again. And that the other skater never passed by us. Susannah said we'd heard about how her son was missing and thought that she might want to know that we might have seen him. Mrs. Alderidge asked us if we would be able to identify the skaters if we saw them again, but we said that it was too dark to see their features, only what the skaters were wearing. Danny's mother and girlfriend thanked us for telling them and quickly called the police to inform them. On the drive home the radio DJ announced that the body of Danny Alderidge had been found, giving Susannah and I a big feeling of accomplishment.
On the way back to the beach, we had agreed to partner up on ghosts that were being difficult, or that we just needed an extra hand with. Susannah had actually suggested it, saying that if the ghosts here were anything like the ones back in Brooklyn she knew we could both use the assistance. I had eagerly agreed, just thinking that this would guarantee me time with her.
"Oh, we just went for a drive" I lied, sending Susannah a sly smile. She gave me my own smile and then said to CeeCee, in almost the exact voice, "Answer me, these question three."
"Ugh, not you too Suze. I swear when he first saw that movie in like the eighth grade that's all he talked about for weeks and weeks. I got so fed up with hearing about I finally just went and saw it, but I was only mildly entertained" CeeCee whined, shaking her head in my direction.
"Awh, I didn't even get to ask you the questions" Susannah sighed, pouting her lips. This girl is officially going to be the death of me. She wasn't even pouting at me, yet I wanted nothing more than to appease her and make her smile.
"Maybe some other time" CeeCee replied.
"Where's Adam?" I asked noticing his absence.
"Bathroom" CeeCee answered.
"Ooo, I finally get to meet the mysterious Adam, eh?" Susannah asked CeeCee.
"Yeah" CeeCee said smiling wistfully.
"This should be interesting" I mumbled, knowing that sooner, more likely than later Adam would hit on Susannah, turning on his charm and probably sweeping her off her feet. Great, now I'm screwed.
"Well hello there" Adam practically whistled, leering at Susannah.
"Hi" she chimed, while I daydreamed about beating the crap out of Adam for even thinking of adding Susannah to his long list of girlfriends. I could hear Susannah talking to Adam and CeeCee, laughing at something, but it seemed far off as I continued to mentally bash Adam.
"Jesse, you okay?" Susannah whispered to me.
"Yeah, I'm just great" I mumbled back solemnly.
"Can you guys excuse us for a sec? I gotta talk to Jesse" Susannah said, grabbing my arm and steering me towards the outer part of the beach, where there were huge rocks, and people rarely ventured unless they were going to make out and didn't want to be seen.
"Okay, what's going on?" Susannah asked when we out of earshot from everyone on the beach.
"Nothing" I sighed, not wanting to sound possessive of something that wasn't even mine.
"Not nothing" Susannah chirped, "Jesse, I know we haven't known each that long but I feel really connected to you, and when Adam showed up I could feel you tense up like you weren't too happy to see him. Now I'll ask you again, what's going on?"
I sighed and then relented, ranting "Susannah, Adam has a collection of girlfriends bigger than a navy fleet, and when he showed up, I just knew he was gonna try to add you to that collection. I don't know what it is about him, but he manages to charm his way into the heart of just about every girl he meets. And I just knew that if Adam charmed you too, than I'd never have a shot."
Susannah stared at me for a moment before replying, with a shy smile "Jesse, CeeCee is one of my best friends, I'd never mess with her boyfriend. Besides that I don't find Adam attractive at all. And to add to that, he's your best friend, so messing with him would not only really hurt Cee, but you too. So, since we've established that I'm not going for the Adam charm, I'll let you in a little secret. Your chances with me are looking pretty damn good."
I smiled as I felt my cheeks warm, but now that I was feeling empowered and figured I might as well do something before I lost my nerve. "So, would it be too forward of me to ask you out right now?"
Susannah in return simply smiled and leaned in real close to me. "Yes."
I lowered my head feeling stupid for even asking.
"No! No, Jesse, I meant that yes I'd love to go out with you" she reassured me, laying a hand on my chest. My skin started tingling again, and without even thinking I pulled Susannah as close to me as possible and lightly placed my lips on her's.
After a few glorious seconds my mind kicked into high gear and I realized what I was doing. Quickly I pulled away from Susannah and started apologizing about being such a jerk, and telling her how sorry I was for being so aggressive. But my lips were tingling even more than they had been this morning. Maybe CeeCee was right, maybe today I did meet the best kisser I was ever gonna kiss.
She looked dazed for a minute before placing a finger on my lips and sighing all contently, "Jesse, you never have to apologize for that. That was…amazing."
I stared at her in disbelief and then replied, "Really? I mean it really was, but-"
"Jesse" she said interrupting me, "you're ruining the moment, just shut up and kiss me again."
Well, if she insisted.