A/N: I've had this chapter ready since last night, but my internet connection is finicky and I haven't been able to post it. Actually, I planned to update twice today. The next chapter is almost done, but I won't post it till I get at least three reviews. Oh, and I ended up not even needing the book for this chapter!!
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Mentions: I replied personally to everyone who signed in.
Querida101: I'm glad you liked it. Thanks so much for the review. And happy holidays to you too!
Scrooged: Chapter 3: The Tooth Fairy
"Um…I think you've got the wrong girl," I stuttered. I mean, come on, the Tooth Fairy? What kind of spirit is that?
She blinked, then pulled out a small, ripped piece of paper. She studied it for a second before saying, "Susannah Simon?"
"Erm…yes."
"Then I'm in the right place."
The "spirit" standing in front of me was wearing a long pink dress. She looked a little like a princess except that the tiara on her curly brown locks was made of what appeared to be teeth-gross!- and a necklace that most definitely had a tooth hanging on it.
She looked very young, much younger than I would have expected. She must have been eight years old.
"Can I help you?" I asked. When she was silent, I decided perhaps she was just another ghost in need of mediating. "Do we have to do this now?" I'm not exactly in the mood." She nodded. I sighed. Normally I would kick her ghostly butt, but I was still a little startled, unsure if there was a spirit near by, waiting to see what I would do. Maybe it was a test and if I passed, he'd leave me alone.
"Okay," I began. "How did you die?"
"I'm not dead, Suze."
"Yes. Yes, you are. What's your name?"
"I'm the Tooth Fairy," she replied with certainty.
I sighed. I couldn't deal with this right now. Or ever really. I looked again at the "Tooth Fairy."
"What's the last thing you remember?"
"The last thing I remember before what? I'm not dead!"
"Fine. You're not dead." I could tell by the look on her face that she knew I didn't believe her. "So what are you doing here, in my bedroom?"
"I," she announced proudly, "am the Ghost of Christmas Past."
I stared at her in horror. "No you're not."
"Yes, I am!"
"No."
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"NOO!! I mean yes!"
"Ha! I got you!"
She pouted. "But I am the Ghost of Christmas Past!"
"Okay," I reasoned. "If you're the Ghost of Christmas Past, why are you dressed as a Tooth Fairy?"
She sighed, like the answer to this question was so obvious. "I'm both."
Sure you are. And I'm Santa Clause.
She stared at me.
"No, you're not. You're Suze."
Did I say that aloud?
"No."
Wait, she's reading my mind? Yeah, right. I thought really hard of a banana peel. "What am I thinking now?"
"Banana peel," she said with ease.
"Ahh!!" I screamed aloud.
"Suze-"
"Ahh!! Get out of my head!" Too illustrate this, I started hitting the side of my head, trying to get her out. "Ahh!"
"Suze," she said. "I'm not in your head."
I was now running around in circles, still patting one side of my head with the other tilted towards the ground, as if trying to get water out of my ears. Only this time it was a ghost.
"Ahhh-" She grabbed my shoulders, effectively stopping me in my tracks. "Let go!" I yelled childishly, trying to pry her hands off.
But it was no use. Ghosts were strong. Even eight-year-old-Tooth-Fairy ghosts.
I closed my eyes in frustration and too two deep, calming breaths. I opened my eyes and gasped.
I was no longer in my bedroom. No, I was standing in the mission's large Ball Room.
I gasped. It was the Winter Formal, the year I had brought Jesse forward in time by accident. He was alive and I suddenly remembered how good it felt to lean against his strong chest and listen to his heart beat.
The "Tooth Fairy" pointed to a couple sitting on a bench in the corner of the room. As I moved closer, I could see Jesse sitting net to me, Past me.
"I love you, Querida," I saw him whisper against my ear.
Past Me turned slowly and kissed him. "I love you, too, Cadaver Breath."
Jesse laughed. I missed the sound of his laughter.
I looked up to see Kelly Prescott glaring at Past Me and Jesse. Jealous much, Kelly?
I shook my head and looked back to Past Me and Jesse. We looked so happy and in love.
"I'm glad you came back to me," Past Me said to Jesse.
He smiled. "Me too. And now that I have you, I will never let you go."
A tear came to my eye and I quickly brushed it away, not that anyone could see me anyway.
"I love you, Jesse, more than anything in the world and I will never leave you," Past Me whispered back.
"We were young," I explained to the spirit. "It meant nothing." I didn't believe the words coming out of my mouth, but they were out before I could stop them and I couldn't take them back.
"Sure, Suze," she replied, but I could tell she didn't believe me either.
"Please, Spirit," I begged. "I've had enough. Take me away."
She offered me her hand and I took it. I closed my eyes and when I opened them again, I saw a familiar scene. We were still at the Mission, only a year later. This was the year Jesse and I had broken up. I didn't want to see it, but it appeared I had no choice in the matter.
There I was, coming out of the bathroom with Cee Cee. We were giggling hysterically.
But it was not to this scene that the spirit pointed. She pointed instead to the mistletoe, under which a very hot penguin-I mean Jesse-was waiting.
He looked nervously at his watch, waiting for something.
Or rather, someone.
Me.
Or Kelly?
Past Suze and Cee Cee were working their way through the crowd toward Jesse when Kelly appeared.
She took one look at Jesse, alone under the mistletoe, and made her move.
"Hi, Jesse," she said seductively.
"Oh, hi, Kelly," Jesse replied politely, not interested.
As Kelly scooted closer to Jesse, I felt a seething rage filling me. And, worse, jealousy.
I was jealous of Kelly Prescott. This was worse than being a secretary.
Way worse.
Jesse, to his credit, seemed uncomfortable with Kelly's proximity and tried to casually back away from her, but he wasn't quick enough to escape Kelly. She leaned in closer, closing the distance between them. She kissed him.
That's when Past Suze walked up, having said her goodbyes to Cee Cee. She took one look at them, Jesse and Kelly, and ran. Jesse pushed Kelly away gently but quickly and yelled after me. When I didn't turn around, he ran after me.
I didn't need to see the rest. I knew what happened after that. The scene had replayed itself in my dreams nearly every night for two years.
I looked back at the "Tooth Fairy" and she grabbed my hand.
We shifted, and this time when I opened my eyes, we were back in my bedroom, at my apartment.
"He didn't kiss her," I said, stunned, to no one in particular. I couldn't believe it.
"No," she agreed. "He didn't."
"I should have listened to him." She nodded. "Who are you?" I asked.
"I've already told you."
"You're not the Tooth Fairy."
She shrugged. "Whatever you say, Simon." With that, she shimmered and disappeared, leaving me alone with my regret.
R&R! I need feedback or I won't know how to improve the story. Remember, just three reviews and you get an update!