A.N - Sorry about the delay. I was pushed for ideas but I think I like the way this turned out. Even if Jesse does sound a bit 21st Century-ish. I tried to change it, just couldn't think of anything.

Anyway, how cool would it be if everyone who alerts this fic reviewed?

Lol, yeah. Or not, whatever - up to you.

Chapter 7

I was right. The movie was long, boring and definitely painful. Especially for that guy who sawed off his own foot. Um, ouch.

I also had to put up with Paul feeling the need to kiss me every five minutes, which I returned out of propriety's sake. It was Jesse in my mind though.

Paul dropped me off after I declined his offer of going up to his bedroom - again - after the film had finished. I had never been so relieved to leave a person's presence before.

"So," Paul said as we pulled up my drive. "See you on Monday then?"

As much as I looked forward to the thought of a weekend away from Pail, I couldn't help but feel a little put out?

Didn't he like me anymore?

It was only Friday, after all, and, according to Paul, we weren't going to be seeing each other until Monday. That was three whole days away. Including Monday itself, that is.

I knew I was a bad girlfriend but I didn't think I was that bad.

"Why?" I asked with a pout, determined to get to the bottom of this whole thing.

Paul only laughed at my efforts.

"Suze," he chuckled. "You know that school starts again on Monday. I've got to spend this weekend sorting out transfer stuff."

Oh, yeah. That.

I nodded, showing him I remembered, then distractedly kissed him as I climbed out of the car.

"See you on Monday then." I confirmed Paul's earlier question, a little hesitantly.

Despite his argument, I didn't think it took an entire weekend to get a few papers in order.

With a smile that usually caused my heart to flutter - at least up until yesterday - Paul sped out of my driveway leaving me to walk up to my front door alone.

At least now I could sleep in good conscience that I definitely wasn't going to cheat on Jesse soon.

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Jesse didn't turn up in my bedroom until late Saturday night, despite how many times I had called him in the past day.

When he finally did show his face, I buried my head under the covers, determined not to look at him, let alone talk. I was fully intending on making him suffer for making me wait almost two whole days until I could see him again. Looking at his dark brown eyes would just weaken my resolve.

Hell, just thinking about them did.

"Susannah," came his voice from the other side of the barrier I had put between us. "Come out."

I felt him tugging on the covers. I just clutched them harder. No way was I giving in.

"Querida."

Though, it was getting increasingly harder to resist his pleas.

Nevertheless, I was not giving in. Two days I had had to go without him. Which was entirely his fault - considering I couldn't suddenly appear in his bedroom. Unless I wanted Paul to find out about us. Plus, it's Paul's bedroom, not Jesse's.

But then he pulled the duvet off of me without warning, making me acknowledge his presence.

"Jesse!" I exclaimed in an angry whisper, conscious of the fact that there were people sleeping down the hall.

The ghost in question was trying to keep from laughing.

"What?!" I questioned. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," He laughed. Loudly. Unlike me, Jesse didn't have to worry about being heard. "It's just, I wasn't expecting that type of welcome."

"So you found it funny?"

The ghost's reasoning was kind of … strange, to say the least.

Jesse just shrugged it off and sat next to me on the bed effectively ending the conversation.

"I missed you, querida." He whispered leaning towards me.

I'm probably stupid for doing what I did. No other girl in my position would ever do it. Especially not with Jesse.

I evaded his kiss.

"Actually, Jesse," I said shyly, looking away from him. "I was wondering if we could just, I don't know, talk?"

He raised his scarred eyebrow.

"About what?"

I took a deep breath before looking back into his eyes.

"Your life. Before you died."

To say Jesse was shocked would be an understatement. A very big one.

"Please, Jesse?" I looked at him pleadingly, resisting the urge to forget my request and instead kiss his very nice looking lips.

After a minute of silence Jesse finally sighed and shook his head.

"Alright," He muttered. "Ask away."

My smile almost hurt me it was so big.

"So," I cuddled into his embrace breathing in his Jesse-scent. I don't care if he is a ghost - he still smelt amazing. Very manly. "What was life like back when you were alive?"

"It was the 19th Century, querida." He smiled. "I died in 1850. I spent my days working on my father's ranch and I lived with my mother, father and five sisters."

"Wow," I interrupted. "Five sisters? I can hardly manage living with three brothers!"

Jesse kissed the top of my head, affectionately, and then went on to tell me about the horses he'd ridden growing up, as well as stories about his sisters and the balls he'd attended.

"How did you die?" I asked quietly. Most ghosts didn't like talking about their death but I had to ask him. His life seemed so full, so perfect. I couldn't believe he had stuck around for 150 years after his death. Something must have happened.

When he heard the question, Jesse froze in his actions of running his fingers through my hair.

"Farm accident," He replied in a monotonous voice. "That was what the reports said."

I sat up and looked at him then. His face showed no emotion, like he'd closed himself off when talking about the event. I ran a finger over his cheek and couldn't help but feel like he was hiding something.

I took a deep breath before hesitantly asking, "So, what really happened?"

"What makes you think it was anything else?" His gaze was averted away from mine.

"The way you wont look at me," I brought his eyes back to look in mine. "The way you closed yourself off from talking about it. The tone of your voice."

He smiled at me tightly.

"You're very intelligent, Susannah." He murmured into my cheek. "Has anyone ever told you that?"

Smiling at his attempt to change the conversation, again, I kissed him lightly.

"So," I asked again after pulling away. "What really happened?"

"That's a story for another time."

"Jesse!"

He detached himself from me and stood up to disappear. I reached out a hand to grab his wrist just as his form had started to shimmer away.

He looked at me expectantly.

"Yes, querida?"

"When will I next see you?"

His smile grew bigger. He was up to something. I knew it.

"Monday."

Then he disappeared.

Just when I thought he was getting the hang of the 'goodbye' thing as well.