This fic is dedicated to my fellow De Silva Wives and my Squirrel Sistas!

THEN CAME YOU

Chapter ONE: Me against the world

Suze

"Please, Cee, calm down." I groaned for the umpteenth time as I drove to the Junipero Serra Mission Academy. CeeCee Webb, my best friend, kept babbling on an on about how cool out last semester of High School was going to be.

"But, Suze, think about it!" Cee said. "Our last semester!"

"Just six months till I'm out of here."

"Are you really going back to New York when school lets out?"

"If Columbia, RISD or NYU take me, I'm out of here." I said as I parked.

"Do you really hate it here so much?" Cee asked… most people would have never noticed but I knew her well and even though she had the reputation of being ice cold, I knew that everything she felt, she felt strongly… and so, that day, I knew I had hear a catch in her voice. She didn't want me to live.

I lowered my black glasses and turned to her.

Cee had been my best friend ever since I first moved here four years ago at the beginning of High School. We had been through think and thin together, I had come to rely on our unwavering friendship – forged in the war zone of freshman year – as the one thing I could rely on like a sure bet. Cee was the one person I was going to miss –along with Father Dominic – once I put the whole country between me and my family.

When mom married Andy Ackerman and moved us – herself, me and my little sister Hailey – clear across the country, I had been one angry child but father D – and Cee - had stuck to me, helping me to keep my grades up and gave me one hell of a recommendation for my college applications.

"I don't hate it, Cee." I answered finally. "It's just not home."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

It didn't take long for the news to reach me. It was nearly impossible for something to remain secret here though I had once succeeded in such task… not that I was ever going to talk about it…

Anyway…

Besides, Kelly Prescott – the former Mrs. Slater – wanted me to know, she wanted me to do something about it, no doubt and since my contempt for Paul was no secret she thought that letting me know was the best way to solve the matter. So I ended up finding out as soon as I left homeroom: Paul Slater was after my sister.

"Paul," I called and he stopped.

"Suze, long time no see."

"Shut up you asshole." I said low and fast. "I'll just tell you this once: Stay away from my sister."

"Or you'll do what?" He asked, taunting. I showed him what. I punched him in the eye; he was going to get a black eye, I so knew it because his eye was swelling pretty fast. Ten Points for moi.

"Pretty and eloquent as always," Paul said once he recovered from my punch, acting as if I hadn't hurt him though I knew I had. "Suzie, Suzie, Suzie... even if you could make ME stay away from Hailey you aren't going to make her stay away from me. And there is nothing you can do about that."

"We'll see about that." I said though I knew he was right, Hailey was as stubborn as a mule. And she wanted Paul. I turned to leave but Paul caught my arm.

"Sure you don't want to reconsider..." he said letting his voice trail off, he knew I knew what he meant. "I'm sure there are a few things you could do to convince me to leave Hailey alone. Just say the word and I'm all yours. I'll dump your sister faster than what you can say 'First date'"

"Not in your life." I snarled and pulled my arm.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Paul

"That Chick is pretty tough, isn't she?" Michael Meducci, my little minion said while I pressed an ice pack to my eye.

"Shit, don't say." I answered sarcastically.

"What are you going to do about her?"

As in on cue I saw the new transferred student, a guy named Jesse de Silva, I think. Rumor had it he had gotten into even more trouble than Suze. Suddenly the little engines of my brain started to work and something made click. "I got and idea." I said.

Really, I was surprised I hadn't thought of it before. That De Silva guy was just Suze's type... maybe if I could convince him to help me... he would keep Suze busy and distracted and I could have my fun.

I'm such a genius!

"Hey, you, De Silva!" I called; I knew his name because he was on my homeroom.

He stopped and turned to eye me with distrust, he was clearly annoyed. "What do you want?" He asked, not nicely by any standards.

"Chill my friend; it's just the first day of school." I said with my most charming smile.

"I'm not your friend and you can save your evil-lawyer smile for someone who will buy it." He answered, leaning back against the wall. "What do you want?"

"Okay, let's do the presentation first. I'm Paul Slater."

"Jesse de Silva." He answered curtly and not so subtly looking at his watch.

"I have business proposition for you."

"What kind of proposition?"

"How would you feel about helping me with a little skirts trouble? See, I'm dating a girl and I need someone to… distract her older sister. I, of course, I'm prepared to offer you good compensation.

De Silva laughed. "I don't know what kind of people you frequent but I'm not a man whore. You can keep your business proposition."

"Really, we are talking about five hundred dollars."

"I don't need it." De Silva continued flatly.

"Would you take a look at the goods first, at least? I assure you; she's rather easy on the eye… and has one hell of a right hook." I pointed at swelling eye.

He looked unconvinced for a moment but then said. "Whoever hit you is worth of my time. Since at least now we share an interest." His tone was bored but at least I had gotten him to get a look at Suze.

"Fine, look for e at lunch hour and I show her to you."

De Silva grunted something and began to walk again.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Jesse

So far the Junipero Serra Mission Academy wasn't all that better than Carmel Valley High. Sure it was a little bit cleaner and sure, the principal Father Dominic was way nicer than my old principal… at least he hadn't inquired if I had weed just upon seeing me. But on the other side, everyone else was ANNOYING.

Like that Slater guy who interrupted me this morning. And all the preppy girls running around, tossing their hair and acting like it was such and honor for them to allow you to be near them.

So, by lunch, I had decided that though it wasn't bad, the Mission Academy wasn't all that good either. So I was, like, okay... school will continue to be just school as in "School is school, it comes before life."

Still, since I half said I would, I looked for Slater.

"Hey, Rico." He called when he saw me.

"Call me that again and I'll make it so that both your eyes look black." I said.

"Alright," he grunted. "Look over there," he pointed at two girls; one was a blond albino girl, pretty but not my type. The other one, whoever… now we were talking. She had chestnut hair and bright emerald eyes, she was laughing at something the albino girl had said and her smile lit up all her face and made her green eyes shine.

"Isn't it pretty?" Slater asked.

I grunted and shrugged like I didn't' care. "She's okay, I guess."

"Well, why don't you think of it?" Slater said. "My offer stands."

"Whatever," I answered and went to seat pulling out the lunch my mother had packed.

Yeah, I know, I know. Big, bad Jesse De Silva eating the lunch his mom packed. But what can I say, she likes to cook for us kids, just because I'm eighteen now, that doesn't mean I can just tell mom to sod off… even if sometimes I want to.

To my surprise, the girl Slater intended for me to 'seduce' sat down at the same time than me. I looked up and the albino girl said. "You don't mind, right?"

"Be my guest." I answered; grinning wolfishly as I bit into the apple mom had packed.

"Thanks." The dark-haired girl said.

"So, you're the new guy, aren't you?" the albino girl asked.

"Jesse De Silva." I said extending my hand for her, because, no matter what else I might seem to you, I was taught to be polite with the ladies at all times.

"Pleasure, I'm CeeCee Webb."

I nodded and smiled, and when CeeCee let of my hand I offered it to the other girl, she took it reluctantly. "Suze Simon."

"Soose?" I asked and I couldn't' help to laugh.

"Susannah, as in 'Oh, Susannah, Don't You Cry for Me.'" She answered in a monotone.

"Susannah." I repeated, testing the name. "I like it." I said standing up.

"Glad I have you approval." She grunted.

I ignored it. "Have a nice meal, ladies."

Well, well, well… maybe this school has a point on its favor.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

End of chapter ONE

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Notes:

I hope you guys like it!

And before you mention it, yes, it does follow more or less the narration arch of Ten Things I Hate about You.