Hahaha, I'm FINALLY updating! Aren't you proud of me? I know I am. Proud of me, I mean. Well, read and enjoy, everyone, then remember to be kind and review . . .

Disclaimer: I own none of the Mediator characters, Meg Cabot does. Pretty much everything you read here belongs to her.

tokengirl - Yes, he'll be alive again. In one way or another.

Strawberry-Shortcake01 - HI, LINDS!

seabiscuit0810 - Yes and yes. I hope you feel better with your allergies and all. I wouldn't know how it feels, being lucky to not have that problem.

Alexalily - Apparently, yes. He can.

((Dedicated to Mrs. Nikki Slater for being the first to review the chapter))

Chapter 5

"Suze, could I talk to you for a minute?" Paul asked me after he performed the resurrection thingy - or whatever the hell it was.

I looked up from the cat's mangled body. "Uh, yeah, sure," I said.

He smiled and I walked with him outside.

"I didn't want to say this around Rico," he said, when we got outside, "but, Suze, the incantation should work, but . . . sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes . . . well, sometimes there are side-effects."

I looked at him skeptically. "Side-effects?" I echoed. "What kind of side effects?"

"See, Suze," he said, "its never really been performed on an animal before, so something . . . strange could happen."

"Like what?" I asked.

"I don't know. Like I said, its never been performed on an animal, so there's no telling what could happen," he said. "Just . . . don't tell de Silva." Then he mumbled under his breath, "He'll probably kill me."

God, I can't believe he did this. I mean, performed it on a dead cat, when it hadn't been done before?

Well, I mean, at least he helped in some way. Let's just hope these side effects that he was talking about don't happen, or are minor.

"Fine, I won't tell him," I said.

"Good," he said, "Now you can get Rico away and we can finally have the place to ourselves . . ." Then he proceeded to put his arms around my waist and dip me low, like we were dancing or something.

After he brought me back up, I said, "I seriously hope you meant dancing. Otherwise, you are out of your mind."

He laughed and said, "Then maybe I am out of my mind."

"Ugh," I said, disgusted. "Paul, I thought you were over me?"

He shrugged. "Old feelings die hard, I guess," he said.

"You know what I don't get?" I asked, meaning it to be more of a rhetorical question. "Paul, there are so many other prettier women out there. Why do you want me?"

He looked me straight in the eye, sending chills down my spine. His face was totally and completely expressionless. "Because, Suze, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. There is no other girl out there like you. That," he said, "is why I want - no, need - you, Suze." With that said, he ripped his eyes away from mine and walked back inside, like he hadn't said anything at all.

But what scared me the most was that I couldn't help but feel that maybe he was telling the truth.

Why, oh WHY, can't I have a normal life?

- § -

"I am not leaving him here with you," I heard Jesse say. He was seething. Wonderful.

"De Silva, I'm not going to do anything to your stupid cat. If I really wanted to sabotage your love, would I have performed this in the first place?" Paul replied.

Jesse sputtered and sat back in his chair with his arms across his chest.

We were in Paul's cellar. The cat was lying on the table in the middle of the room. Paul had said that the cat had to stay here, because he knew what to do and moving the carcass could ruin the whole performance. Of course, Jesse hated this idea.

Men. Always have to have it their way.

I was on the couch in the cellar (who else do you know has couches in their cellar?), dozing off. Hearing them bicker really was boring enough to fall asleep.

I really must have dozed off, because I heard a faint voice call my name. "Susannah," it said, "come on, we're leaving."

"One more minute," I said, rolling over. Only, I wasn't on my queen size bed at home, so when I rolled over, I fell on the floor.

Well, that woke me up.

I looked around, startled. "Ungh," I mumbled.

"Susannah, I need to take you home. I'm not letting you drive home like this; I'll take you to get your car tomorrow," Jesse said.

I looked at him, groggily. "Whatever," I said, my voice all raspy. Jesse helped me stand and we walked out of Paul's house together. I vaguely remember Paul saying, "See ya later, Suze."

- § -

Jesse called my cell phone at five o'clock in the morning. He came and picked me up to get my car. And by the time I got home it was time to get ready for school. So, really, I was operating on three hours of sleep. Luckily my mom didn't grill me too badly for coming home at two in the morning and not calling beforehand to let her know. As long as I was with Jesse, my mom didn't really care all that much. I think she actually may have a crush on him . . .

School was a drag as usual.

At lunch, thought, I talked to Paul. He had told me during home room to meet him out in the graveyard. Kinda creepy to the average person, but - well . . . you should know by now that I'm not normal or average.

Anywho, after I scoffed down my Andy-made sandwich, I headed out toward the graveyard. I saw Paul out in the distance, walking between headstones and reading them. There was actually a freshly dug grave near where he was - I guess there would be a burial the next day or something.

"Hey, Suze," Paul said as I walked up to him. "I see you didn't blow me off." Then he smirked. "Actually, now that I think about it, that might not be a bad idea."

I glared at him. "Paul, just cut to the chase."

He rolled his eyes. "Right. Well," he said, "the resurrection should be done when school lets out. So I guess you should stop by after school with Rico."

"Oh," I replied. Then I remembered that Jesse had the afternoon shift today. "Paul, Jesse will be working then. Can't we stop by later?"

"Well, actually, I was planning on going out tonight. So, no. Can't you just pick the damn cat up? I'm sure you have a key to de Silva's place, anyway, so you could just drop the cat off on your way home."

I sighed, exasperated. "Fine, fine," I said. "I'll stop by at three, okay?"

He smiled. "No, four. I have to pick something up after school," he said. Then we heard the kids filing out of the courtyard. "We should get back to class."

"Right," I said, and started walking back.

"Oh, and Suze," he said. I looked back. "Don't be late."

I rolled my eyes and headed off to class.

Hmph. He made me miss the rest of lunch.

- § -

I enjoyed (ha) the rest of the school day. I was actually called down to Father D's office after lunch so we could go over the latest ghost issue. But that's about it.

When I got up to my room after school, I noticed Sarah's skirt hanging on my computer chair. I had put it there this morning, hoping to get a start on fixing it. Well, I have about an hour before I have to go to Paul's . . . maybe I can go to the fabric store to pick up some fabric for the skirt.

See, I'm planning on making a patched skirt. Keep the (fake) suede and all, but cut it up, then get leopard print and other shades of suede and patch it. I'm pretty sure she'll like it. Okay, I hope she likes it.

So I went to the fabric store in the next town, since they had none in Carmel.

By the time I got back home, it was 3:45, so I headed over to Paul's quickly telling my mom I was going to library, then to drop something off at Jesse's. Well, at least some of that statement was true.

I drove to Paul's house. I went up his front steps and rang the door bell.

Paul answered it. "Hey, you actually decided to stop by," he said, smirking.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Paul. Thought I would stand you up, eh?"

He laughed. "Hmm . . . you never know. Women are mysterious." He ushered me in and led me to the kitchen. "You want anything?"

I shook my head. "I just came for the cat, Slater."

"Fine, fine. Go down to the basement. I'll meet you there in a few minutes. The cat should be awaking in a little bit." He went to the fridge to grab something, so I figured that was my cue to go to the cellar.

I walked down the hallway, vaguely rememebering how to get to the cellar.

WHY didn't I ask Paul for directions?

I just kept walking until I found stairs that led down. The staircase had a light switch (or at least I hope that's what it was) at the top of it. I flicked it on, hoping that they were the lights to the cellar. I walked slowly down the stairs, making sure I didn't slip or anything.

Paul's house is kinda creepy if you ask me.

When I got to the bottom, there was a door, so I opened it.

YES, I found the cellar. I went in and looked around. Last time I had been in here, I was half asleep, so I wasn't really aware of my surroundings. But now I was.

And it stank of wine and liquor. I guess that's where ol' Grandpa Slaski keeps his booze. Heh.

There was also a book shelf down there with a bunch of books (who would've though?) on it. When I looked closer, I saw that they were shifting books. Wow.

Paul never told me about this stuff.

Then I accidentally hit something or whatever and a door opened up. Could it be . . . a secret passageway.

Just as I was about to enter, my curiosity killing me, I heard footsteps behind me.

Oh, no, Paul's caught me. Quick, HIDE!

But when I whirled around, I noticed that it wasn't Paul. Instead, it was someone who I didn't know - well, that's what I thought at the time.

It was a man. A young man at that. He was very tall, very hot, and looked very tired.

Then he spoke. "Who are you?"

Did I mention he was also very of the nude?

Heh, like the cliffy?

drools Gah, sexy naked man . . .

Heehee.

Okay, so, review, my lovies, and you shall get more (eventually) . . .

- § -

Lurve,

Nicole