Okay, so I skived. I took the last half an hour of lunch off and instead went to Paul's house. I just had to find Jesse. Explain to him, get down on my knees and beg him to take me back. You know, that kind of stuff.
Truth was, I was terrified. I didn't know which was worse : Jesse not forgiving me, or him being gone forever like Paul said.
So it was with a heavy heart and a lump in my throat that I walked up the Slater driveway.
I didn't knock, I just let myself in. I should be okay. Jack should be at school and Paul's Grandpa will be holed up in his room with his attendant.
"Who's there?"
The voice of Paul's Grandpa's Attendant only made me jump a little bit.
"Um," I called back. "It's me. Suze."
I was just hoping that Paul hadn't told his family that we'd broken up. Otherwise this would be a lot harder to explain. Me being here during school time, I mean.
"Oh, hey Suze." I was greeted. "What are you doing here?"
Due to the kindness of his voice, I could only assume that the Slater household were still under the impression that Paul and I were still an item.
"I just came to pick up Paul's books." I lied through my teeth expertly. "He's busy at school, I offered to get them."
"Oh, well," the attendant looked confused. "That's kind of you. I think. You know where they are?"
Not a clue.
"Yep." I smiled fakely.
"Well, go ahead then."
Smiling again, I walked out of the kitchen and tried to find my way back to Paul's bedroom, my heart pounding loudly in my chest all the way.
Eventually I found Paul's room and let myself inside, closing the door behind me.
"Jesse?" I whispered. Not that I was afraid that someone would hear me - a house like this probably had sound proof walls, or something. I was scared.
"Jesse?" I asked a bit louder, my voice bordering on hysterics. "Are you here?"
I'd never had to call for him this much before. He was normally there as soon as I thought of him.
"Jesse?!"
"Is he the Spanish ghost that stays here?"
Jumping and clutching my hand to my chest, I looked at Paul's younger brother Jack. I hadn't even heard the door open behind me.
"Jack!" I exclaimed. "What are you doing home from school?"
"I didn't feel very well," he explained. "Paul let me stay home."
I rolled my eyes - of course Paul would let him stay home. Paul wasn't exactly the most responsible person ever.
"Is Jesse the Spanish ghost?" He repeated.
I sighed before answering.
"Yes," I admitted. "He is. Do you know where he is?"
"Paul exorcised him."
My heart skipped a beat. It was true? Jesse hated me so much that he actually asked Paul to help him move on? My face paled as I sat down on Paul's bed. Jesse didn't love me anymore. It was becoming glaringly obvious.
"Are you okay, Suze?" Jack asked. "You look like I did last night."
Offering a weak smile, I shook my head.
"I'm alright," I lied.
"I'm sorry about you ghost-friend Suze." Jack said. "If it helps, I don't think he wanted to go."
My head jerked upwards on hearing that.
"What do you mean, Jack?"
His nose scrunched up as he answered.
"The Spanish man and Paul had this huge fight," he told me. "When it went silent I asked Paul what had happened and he just told me that the Spanish man - Jesse - had done something bad and had to go."
Jesse didn't want to go?
My eyes narrowed as I realised what happened. I was going to kill Paul Slater.
----
I made my way back to school after making sure Jack was tucked up in bed - like a sick school boy should be. I thought I had genuinely gotten away with it. Susannah Simon had skipped school, without being caught.
Until Sister Ernestine - who else? - caught me pulling into the car park in Brad's car.
"Mr Ackerman reported his car missing at lunch time." She said after I climbed out of the car. "I should have known you'd taken it."
"Andy?" I asked confused.
"Bradley," she corrected.
Trust Brad to be the reason for my getting detention that afternoon. I probably would have gotten away with it too. I think.
The rest of the day passed without my seeing Paul - good for him. I probably would have killed him with the way I was feeling right about now.
Then it was time for my detention - which I went to on time and silently. I figured I'd done enough rule breaking for today.
Paul was sitting lazily in the room, eyebrow arched when I walked through the door.
"What you in for?" I glared at him.
Paul only shrugged.
"Word got round that you skived - and got caught - so I got myself detention."
"My hero," I stated sarcastically, sitting down in the furthest seat away from him that was possible.
He followed me. I don't think he realised that my move was a desperate one to get away from him.
"First on my to do list to get you back." he told me. "Spend some alone time together."
"You're not going to get me back." I hissed. "I hate you. Especially after what you did to Jesse."
Paul didn't look at all surprised that I knew the truth behind what really happened.
"You skived school to go to my house?" He asked. "I knew I shouldn't have let Jack stay home."
I remained stubbornly silent.
"Listen to me, Suze." Paul leaned in closer to my ear. "Jesse is gone. Forever. As in never coming back. Sooner or later, you'll come back to me."
He walked away from me as the nun in charge of detention today walked into the room.
Well, that's where Paul was wrong. I was never going to go back to him. And I was going to find a way to get Jesse back.