A/N Another update from me! To make up for my really slow updates. I'm sorry. But I hope this makes up for it!

Dedicated to my bestest pally, Maz. Get well soon and Happy Birthday!

You other guys ( you know who you are!) you are my bestest pallys too, but let Maz have this one OK:D

Chapter 8

I was suddenly aware of the bright sunlight burning my eyelids. My eyes snapped open, and I sat up to avoid the light. Underwear, T-shirts and other various items of clothing were still strung across the patterned bed sheets, left from me and Lily's ... disagreement last night. I rubbed my eyes, frowning, and sighed.

"Lily?" I called out into the silence.

No other sound was made, and nobody materialized. I was alone, finally. But now I didn't appreciate it. Now I just wanted to be anything else.

Ghosts don't come when they're called, generally. I guess I was just hoping Lily would. I pulled back the bedclothes, and pulled on the jeans that were lying on the floor from where I'd quickly undressed and thrown myself into bed last night. Add a fresh T-shirt, and I was on my way to breakfast.

"Toast," I said simply to the waiter, as I watched Suze enter the lobby with tousled hair. She blushed at the sight of me, then hid behind her curls, and clutched at Marco's hand, who of course ignored me. I doubt he's ever head my name.

"Well, well, well," said a voice in my ear. Lily? It sounded too low...

I turned around to see Paul, in all his evil glory smirking at me, his bronze hands in the pockets of his pants.

"Bit slow on the uptake," I said, with raised eyebrows. "I got here nearly a fortnight ago."

"Well," said Paul seriously. "I didn't jus hop on a plane and scare Suze to death, you know. I used tactics. I assume you've met Suze's best friend - Cee Cee."

From behind him came a slight, freckled blonde, with a big, white grin. She held out a brightly painted hand. "Hey, Jess," she said. "I'm sorry about you and Suze. But Oz is pretty neat, huh?"

"Yep," I replied, shaking her milky white hand sincerely. "So what are yiu here for? The sandy beaches? Coz you know, Carmel has plenty."

Cee Cee looked at me with a 'duh' expression. "I'm here to bring Suze home," she said. "Paul decided I was his best bet."

"Nice work," I said to Paul. "But she's not gonna budge. This scuba-instructor or whatever has got her hooked."

Paul grinned. "We'll see," he whispered, and he pulled Cee Cee away by the arm.

"Where are you when I need you, Lil?" I hissed under my breath.

x

If he thought he was going to bring Suze home, he was mistaken. Because I was her fiance. And fiance trumps best friend everytime, ask anybody. Right?

I sipped my orange juice calmly, then walked back to my room in silence, making sure I passed Susannah's table really...slowly... so she could see that I was doing fine without her. All - by - myself.

"Lil?" I whispered, as the door to our - my - room opened slowly. "Lil, don't materialize-"

But there was no sign of any matter - dismaterializing or otherwise - at all in the room. Just the mess from my suitcase. In want of something better to do, I decided it was time for a spring clean.

After everything was tidy once again, I tried calling out for a second time. "Lil?" I yelled. "Come back to me. I need you."

"If you needed me so much, you wouldn't have ran to Susannah, would you?" came a cold voice behind me. I turned around sharply to see Lily standing in the doorway of the bathroom with a face like thunder.

"Lily, she's the reason I came to Cairns," I tried to explain. "I love her, Lil. You know I do."

She sighed. "I guess that I just thought maybe you'd changed your mind," she said, and she began to dematerialize again.

"Wait!" I cried, and she solidified.

"What?" she snapped.

"I'm sorry," I added lamely. She clicked her tongue disgustedly.

"You do not deserve this at all," she said. "But I feel I should show you an example. Susannah and your friend Paul are together in her room."

"What?" I said, and began to get off my bed.

"You see?" asked Lily. "She comes first." I paused. She sighed. "Go," she said. "Save your Juliet, Romeo. Good luck."

I kissed her cheek, then grabbed my coat. "I am sorry," I said, as I opened the door. "She's just... Susannah, you know?"

"I know," she said, and then she disappeared.

I closed the door behind me, then raced down the hall towards Suze's suite. Dodging various obstacles - cleaning services, room service, etc... it was hard work. But I finally got to her room, heart racing. I took a deep breath before knocking, not knowing what to expect.

I found the door unlocked, so I pushed it open, squinting my eyes to be on the safe side. And what I found was Paul, and Susannah. And their lips were entwined. I don't know whether or not I had been expecting it. But I was disgusted.

"Jesse!" cried Susannah, dropping Paul at once and scurrying towards me. "Wait!"

"No, Susannah." I closed the door on her at once, and exhaled long, and slow. And that was it. Just like that, I had no more feeling left in me for her. No somersaults for my heart anymore.

But Lily...

Was a ghost. And we weren't exactly on speaking terms right now. She was beautiful, but in a different way. Susannah was bold and bright and colourful, and then Lily was a contrast, with porcelain skin and chestnut curls.

Was I falling for Lily?

Because that was ridiculous.