Thanks for the reviews I've been getting. They've been really nice. GothicGranny: Thanks for the C.C I appreciate it. I was supposed to be studying for my exams when I wrote it, like now, so I was rushing to get it typed up. I'll and make sure everything makes sense now. So here's chapter eight. Hope it's ok. I'll update soon.

C xxx

Chapter 8:

It was Jesse. He was sat three rows in front of me in the previously unoccupied seat next to the window. His face was reddening, and his eyebrows were drawing closer together with each passing second. I followed his gaze to try and work out what had brought him to the mission in the first place. It wasn't time to go home for a good few hours so it wasn't anything to do with that, and I couldn't see anything that Ryan could have done to further offend him, but as I followed, the picture became clearer. Much clearer. Jesse's eyes were focused on none other that Paul Slater. Paul was sat on the opposite side of the room next to Debbie Mancuso and John Ladelavich. I thought Paul's attention had been completely focused on what Ryan had been saying but apparently not. I watched Paul for a few minutes, and every now and then, he'd turn around and wink at me. "Sheesh," I thought to myself.  I mean even though Paul Slater nearly got me and my would-be boyfriend exorcised a few months back, he is actually one good looking guy, but his appeal had started to wear off. Any girl in this room would give anything to be with him, but for some reason, he's never returned the favour. His attention has always been on me, even though he knows I don't feel that way for him. Kelly Prescott I knew would give her right arm if it meant she could go out with Paul. I turned my attention back to Jesse. He was staring at me now. His eyes were still filled with anger, but there was also an element of sadness there. It must have looked like I was staring into space because nobody else, with the exception of Ryan and Paul, could actually see Jesse. Mr Farrows was keen to point this fact out to me.

"Miss Simon!" he cried at me in a voice that I could tell he thought sounded full of authority, "Did you know that it's extremely rude not to listen. Mr Cooper here is talking and the least you could do is appear to be paying attention, even if you are in fact not." I apologised to Mr F and Ryan, but Ryan was quick to say that I didn't need to apologise, (he knew what was distracting my attention away from him.)

"No Mr Cooper, it is not alright for Susannah not to apologise. Miss Simon, I would like a word with you after class."

"Here we go again." I thought.

 Paul, who hadn't really been listening to what Mr Farrows had been saying, turned his head to glance out the window at the beautiful waves, which he could see rolling in from the ocean. However, this had proven to be very difficult for him, seeing the ghost of a dead cowboy had blocked his view. (This is the only way I could describe it, even though Jesse was always quick to remind me that he was not a cowboy). Paul's tanned skin drained to almost white in a split second. He just sat there motionless. Staring at him. Mr Farrows had been speaking, but when he noticed Paul's expression, he paused.

"Mr Slater, would you and Miss Simon be kind enough to explain what you can see? Hmm? Does anybody else have a problem?" Paul continued staring. I thought maybe he'd been turned to stone until he began to speak.

"Mr Farrows…. I…. erm…. I think I'm gonna be…" and with that Paul shot up from his chair, stumbled over a few tables, and ran straight out the door without looking back. Everyone thought Paul had run out because he was going to be sick, but I knew the real reason. That wasn't the face of somebody who was about to be sick. It was a face full of fear.

"Miss Simon," Mr Farrows said, a wave of confusion flowing through his voice, "seeing as you and Mr Slater share a common interest in that space over there, you obviously have a lot more knowledge than the rest of us. Go check on Paul and then return here at once and explain yourself. I mean it Susannah." I got up from my chair, acknowledged Mr Farrows and left the room, not before noticing that Jesse had disappeared too.

"Where can they be? Where can they be?" This phrase played over and over again in my head as I searched high and low for any sign of Paul or Jesse. It wasn't for another ten minutes that I eventually stumbled across their path. And as I feared, Jesse had found Paul. Paul was crouched over with his hands being held firmly behind his back. Jesse was towering over him and screaming blue murder.

"What are you doing here Slater? Why have you come back? Do you not think you've caused enough pain, is that it? So now you thought you'd come back for more?" Jesse was really angry. I was amazed he hadn't rendered Paul unconscious.

"JESSE! What are you doing?" I screamed. Jesse turned around to face me but he didn't even loosen the hold he had around Paul's wrist.

"Finishing what he started," he retaliated. I didn't know what else to do so I launched myself at Jesse. (Yes I know I know. Very feminine Suze) Jesse wasn't expecting this so it came as a pretty big shock to him. He let go of Paul and toppled to the floor, taking me with him. Jesse just looked back at me.

"Susannah, what are you doing?" I didn't answer him, as I didn't know what I was doing myself. It all happened so fast. One minute he was standing there with his fist high in the air, waiting to crash down into Paul's skull any second, and the next minute, he was lying in the cold dirt behind the Junipero Sera monument. The bell rang a minute later and neither of us had moved an inch. I was just lying there, unable to move, falling further into Jesse's gaze, which he held so tightly upon me.

"Suze," I head a voice cry, "Suze, where are you?" It was Ryan. He'd come to find me. After finally pulling myself away from Jesse, I crawled out from behind the monument. Ryan came to my aid and pulled me out of the bushes, which I'd stumbled back into. "Suze, what's going on? I saw Jesse in Chem. just now, and then I saw Paul." I gathered my thought for a while and then it hit me. PAUL. I'd completely forgotten about Paul. I grabbed my hands from Ryan's and ran out onto the quad. Paul was huddled over in a corner. There was moaning and groaning like I'd never heard before. He had a few cuts and bruises but I don't think Jesse had done any permanent damage. I scurried back over to where I'd left Ryan.

"I can't explain now, but please do me a favour." Ryan's eyes were darting about in all directions trying to see what was going on.

"Of course, anything," he said sounding a bit confused by the whole fiasco.

"I can't tell you what's gone on but I need you to take Paul to see the nurse. He's in the quad, and he's suffered some bruising. I need you to cover for me. Mr Farrows will be out looking for me so I need you to tell him that I was feeling unwell and I've gone home." I pleaded.

"I have to say this is all a bit weird Suze, but just as long as you're alright then I'm not going to pry. I'll take care of things here. Just get outta here before Mr Farrows catches you." Ryan ordered.

I flung my arms around his neck and whispered "thank you." I ran back to where Jesse had been lying but there was no longer any sign of him. As long as Ryan was taking care of Paul, I was going to take care of Jesse. And I knew exactly where he was going to be.