Someone to Die For

Suzie didn't speak to anyone for four days. All she did was think: Where is Tommy now? Is he okay? Is he married? Is he happy? Does he think about Lucy and I at all? Does Lucy know where he is?
She couldn't eat whatsoever, her tongue was heavy, and her throat crinkled like water on cardboard, and sleep was her only savior from the terrors of day. What made it all worse were the constant questions of others: "Where'd you get those scratches, Suzie?" and "Suzie, are you okay? What's the matter?"

She wished she had never told Sirius about Tommy, he wasn't supposed to exist anymore.

Suzie woke up on a sunny Sunday and decided she'd be sociable again. If anyone wanted to ask her questions, she'd answer them and she wouldn't lie. She'd write to Simon, explaining that there was something she needed to tell him. There was only a month left before graduation. Before she moved in with Simon and virtually sealed her fate.

A letter arrived that morning at breakfast. It was a foreign scrawl.

Suzie,

This is Danni, here, writing this. I thought you should know about the band and stuff. They've decided the move on, without Gates. Can you imagine? Jungle with Gates! Well, they're searching for a new bassist now.

By the way, I'm pregnant! That solves the constant mood swings, huh. Bobby hopes it's a girl. Personally, I hope it's a boy. Kind of a roll reversal, right?

Oh, Simon misses you a lot and he's going to dictate a message to me for you. Ready? Okay:

Simon Costello's message to his girlfriend, Suzie Donnelly: I miss you. I love you. I've found a book I know you'll love. It's crazy about Danni and Bobby, huh? Just to clarify: I want one kid. That's it. Two is too much, three and above is absurd. End of message.

He's a bit of prat, isn't he? Write soon and don't be shy!

Danni-girl

"Oh my God!" exclaimed Suzie, jumping up. Danni and Bobby were having a baby!

"What?" Sirius lifted his head from reading the newspaper. "Red has spoken!" he hugged her.

"Who the hell is Red?" she asked, utterly confused.

"You are, Suzie." Replied Remus, flashing her a smile. She returned to favor. "Thanks." The Marauders had just emitted their first female member.

Simon and Suzie walked, hand in hand down the rotten streets of London later in the evening. With his free hand, Simon blew out the smoke from his cigarette, holding it firmly to his lips. The paparazzi attacked once again. Suzie was on her way to her first ever interview with a muggle magazine called: The Sunny Mirror.

It went like this:

Reporter: How long have you and Simon Costello been dating?

Donnelly: I dunno. How long has it been, Simon?

Costello: Why does the time count?

Reporter (laughing): I don't know. Why does time count?

Donnelly: I don't know.

Reporter: How old are you, Miss. Donnelly?

Donnelly: Seventeen. And for you information, the age difference means a little less then shit.

Reporter: How do you feel about being the sole inspiration for Weeping Willows?

Donnelly: I guess, a little ashamed, lucky, pleased, tired, and wary.

Reporter: Is it true that guitarist, Bobby Rodgers' wife, Danni Fairchild is pregnant?

Donnelly: Yes. I'm really, really happy for them both. Hopefully Bobby won't drop it on its head…

Reporter: Do you and Mr. Costello plan on having any children?

Donnelly (shaking head and laughing hard): Not now! I'm seventeen! Try one and at twenty-five.

Reporter: What about you, Mr. Costello?

Costello: If that's what my Suzie wants, than I'm game. Then again, that'd make me about twenty-eight. Never mind, I'm game.

Reporter: Any married plans?

Donnelly (shrugging): Eventually.

Costello: Most definitely.

Reporter: Miss. Donnelly, is it true that you have a sister?

Donnelly: Yes. I have a sister and a half-sister. Lucy and Natalie. My mother remarried.

Reporter: When will you be getting out of school?

Donnelly: Next month.

Reporter: Do you have any plans for after school?

Donnelly: Traveling Asia and maybe getting an internship for a newspaper somewhere.

Reporter: Whom will you be traveling with?

Donnelly: My friends and Simon if he gets over his fear of loosing his luggage.

"You were brilliant my girl!" Simon congratulated her once they existed the box-hole that was the Sunny Mirror's headquarters.

"Thanks." Suzie laid her head on his shoulder happily.

"I miss Gates," he said out of the blue.

"Have you found a replacement yet?"

"Yah,"

"What's his name?"

"Freddie Churchill. He's a better player than Gates, but he doesn't have the soul, or the spunk." Simon shook his head sadly.

"We should go check up on Gates."

"Yes. You're right!" and his kissed her on the cheek. They caught a cab and traveled to 18 Sudbury Avenue.

The house was colored cherry red with black shingles. The yard was in the need of a good mow and toys littered the grass area. A toy car, headless Barbie Dolls, G.I. Joes, etc.

There was a large, open window that showed Gates lifting a curly-haired infant out of her high chair, kissing her rosy cheek lovingly. A young woman with a kind, unlined face and bright red hair was cleaning up the kitchen, singing softly.

They rang the doorbell. A pajama-clad boy with Gates' messy hair and big blue eyes answered. He was holding a plastic airplane in one hand and a red and blue quilt in the other. "Mommy! Daddy!" he called.

The woman came at the door and her face melted. "You two must be Suzie and Simon. Come on in. I'm Diana."

The inside of the house was quaint and homely. It smelled of cleaning supplies and chocolate chip cookies. Gates was watching the evening news, the infant girl bouncing on his knee.

Suzie and Simon were puzzled. What kind of secret life was Gates leading? "Gavin, Simon and Suzie are here." Diana gently touched Gates' shoulder and gathered up the girl.

"I see you have met my wife, Diana. That there is my son, Ian and my daughter, Rose." He pointed to each person: the humming woman, the sleepy boy, and the gabbing infant.

"What? Why?" Simon couldn't find the words.

"I quit the band because I couldn't live your way anymore. I wanted a suburban lifestyle with my children and my wife. I'm young and I know I will come to regret leaving the adventure so soon, but these are my kids. I've made a life commitment to them and to Diana." He was weary and tired and depressed.

"Gates, why didn't you tell us about them?" Suzie struggled for the words.

Gates' eyes dimmed. "I was ashamed. I was supposed to be out partying, drinking, and with you all, not tucking Ian into bed or helping Diana with Rose. Can you both forgive me?"

"Of course, Gates!" Suzie hugged him as a friend and smiled.

"Yah buddy," the two guys shook hands and clapped each other's backs.

Two hours later, Simon and Suzie dragged themselves back to Simon's flat. They were watching "Nasfuratu," together on Simon's blue couch.

"Suzie,"

"Yah?"

"Will you marry me?" he didn't look away from the screen. Suzie choked down a shrill scream. "Why the hell not?"

"So that'd be a yes?"

"No, that'd be a marriage proposal accepted."