A/N There you guys go, a nice quick update for you guys! I guarantee this will upset quite a few of you! I'm sorry for the pain I cause, it just had to be put in for future chapters. I dedicate this chapter to Maz, an avid reader (though catch up quick, babes!), and a very special friend, who's been there. Luv u! (as a friend lmao!)xxxxxxx

Chapter 20

"Would ya please turn off that hair dryer? Please?"

I switched it off and turned around to find Lizzie sitting up in bed, frowning.

"Oh good," I said. "You're up."

"God," snorted Lizzie. "Would ya give me, like, a few more hours of sleep? I have a game to cheer for this afternoon."

"Oh boo hoo," I mimicked. "It must be so tiring, putting on ten layers of foundation and waving a flimsy pom pom about."

"Oh shut up," snapped Lizzie, and she got out of bed, shivering. I wasnt surprised, you couldnt even call the pyjamas she was wearing underwear. She flounced off to the bathroom, shaking her multi-toned mane.

I sighed, and sank down onto my bed, twisting a loose damp curl around my finger absent-mindedly. I reached under my pillow for the poultice of yellow flowers and placed one on my oaky wrist. The relief was almost instant, so soothing. I guess Jesse was right. He always seemed to be.

"Good morning, querida."

I spun around, shaking gum leaves off my hand. I didnt want him to know he was right, after all.

Jesse chuckled, and bent down to pluck a yellow flower from the carpet. He handed it to me.

"It for your wrist, querida."

"I know," I said automatically.

"Really," asked Jesse, amused. "I dont suppose I've imagined you as a medical resource."

"I dont know much," I replied. "Just that, somehow."

"A daydream, perhaps?" asked Jesse, stepping fowards and tucking a loose curl behind my ear.

"I guess," I whispered, my eyes locked on his dark, intellegent ones. "Thankyou for the flowers, Jesse. I dont think anybody has ever been so nice to me."

I dont really know what came over me. Whether I was still slightly wasted, or what, I didnt know. All I knew was that this guy, this random, old-fashioned, dead guy, was the person being moderately nice to me. And nice was really good.

So I leaned in and...

OK, I kissed him.

And it took my breath away, the moment our lips met. It felt like everything bad, every piece of hell in my life had gone away, and everything was OK.

Until he broke away.

"Susannah," he said, his eyes still closed. Then he put a hand on each of my shoulders and pushed me gently backwards.

"Susannah, I'm sorry. I just don't -"

"Feel the same way."

I couldnt believe it. I'd made the biggest fool out of myself, and now, I couldnt even be friends with this amazing guy.

That I loved?

No way...

"Susannah?"

OK, maybe.

"I'm fine. just go away."

"I wont, Susannah. Not until I know you're OK."

"OK? You want to know if I'm OK? The one person who was nice to me now manages to make me feel as if I'm the stupidest person on earth, Jesse! Whats the point of calling me freaking querida, if you dont fell anything - anything- for me? If its not me, who does light your fire, huh?"

Jesse looked pained. "I'm not sure what you mean by that, but..."

He turned his head towards Lizzie, who had just emerged from the en suite, hair dripping.

"Lizzie?" I whispered. "No way."

"I'm sorry," replied Jesse.

"Don't be," I hissed. "You can have her, the little spiteful barbie doll."

And I, ashamed to admit it, stamped my feet and fled from the room, Lizzie confusedly watching, Jesse's looking away in embarrassment. And, aw jeez, I was crying.

Fine, it was true. I really did love Jesse.