A/N Hey guys, sorry for the delay! As always, I dont own the bold italics, this time taken from Book 6 of the series. Dedicated to those faithful reviewers, and Dreamcloud818, whose stories rock my socks!

Chapter 24

"Yo Suze!"

I slapped hands with some friend of Brad's as I walked in, hand in hand with Paul. I was glad Jake had another pizza delivery shift.

"Susie!" shrieked Kelly, and she toitered up to me in her Jimmy Choos. "You came!"

She wrapped a finger around mine and dragged me into the crowd.

"Later!" I called to Paul.

"Have you heard the latest?" asked Kelly, handing me a Cola. "Brad Ackerman, you know, Jake's bro, and Debbie Mancuso. My hot tub. Right now."

I nearly choked on my soda. Brad and Debbie? Oh yeah, he reeeeallly dislikes her.

"So how far have you gone with Jake?" asked Kel. "I heard what college guys like to do."

"Uh..." I said. Because the truth was, at first I couldnt remember. "Well, you know, we've made out loads - "

Kelly snorted, her mascaraed lashes fluttering. "Yes, we've all made out with someone. Like, in kindergarten. Havent you guys Done It?"

"Uh," I said again. "I guess not-"

"Have you guys lost your flame? Of passion, I mean. Are you like, boring together now?"

"Yes," I replied, hoping she'd leave me alone and move on. Instead, she jumped around excitedly.

"Omigod! I can like, so help you rekindle your love! Now-"

"Kel, its cool-"

"-you take your hand and put it-"

"Kelly!"

"Sorry. Going to mingle."

"Please!"

I was left, finally, in peace. Just me and my soda. Until I felt a hand on my waist and Paul's breath tickle my ear.

"Hey," he said, as he kissed me down my neck. "Wanna go somewhere... quieter?"

"Isnt the whole point of going to a party, to party?" I asked, putting down my soda.

"I hear the hot tub's occupied," continued Paul, as if he hadnt heard me. "But there's always Kelly's room."

I pushed him away playfully. "No. No way am I getting friendly with you amongst pink frills."

Paul laughed and draggeed me upstairs. My hand became sweaty in his. I mean, he was my unoffical boyfriend. Jake had brought me to California, let me stay in his house, and how did I repay him? By cheating on him. Twice.

But I was helpless when it came to Paul. He pushed me into the bathroom, and locked the door. He held me against the wall, nuzzling my neck. He whispered in my ear, "See Susie, I told you I could give you what you wanted."

"No, Paul," I replied softly. "You told me you'd protect me."

"I'm hiding you from Jake up here, arent I?"

"Paul," I whispered back. "Right now, I'm scared. I need protecting from everything."

"Like the bastard living in your house?" asked Paul.

"Brad?" I asked. Paul shot me an amused look, but replied, "No, the dead guy."

"Oh, Jesse."

That was just it. Jesse. The, I hate to admit it, love of my life. But I could never be that to him.

a) he's dead, therefore he has no life.

b) he's in love with my boyfriend's backstabbing, evil, stepsister.

Minor setback.

"Yeah, thats the one."

"What about him?" I asked, gripping Paul's hands that were trying to snake their way up my top.

"Well, I'm a mediator. You're a mediator."

"What a coincedence!" I cried jokingly, edging backwards, fumbling for the door knob.

"No." Paul stopped me short, seizing my hands. "I can show you things no-one else knows about."

"I think you've shown me enough-"

"No, mediator stuff. I can explain soul-transference, shifting-"

"Paul," I said. "No."

"If the 1924 translation is to be believed," I read aloud, glad my voice wasnt shaking the way I knew my fingers always shook when Paul touched me- "the shifter's abilities didnt merely include communication between their world and our own, but the ability to travel at will throughout the fourth dimension, as well."

I don't know if it was my exhaustion, or the fact that the career aptitude test had got me thinking about my future.. my future and Jesse's. Suddenly, I was just very tired of Paul and his games. And I decided to call him on the latest one.

"The fourth dimension," I reminded him. "Time travel?"

He just grinned, however. "Oh good, you figured it out. Took you long enough."

"You really think shifters are capable of time travel?" I asked.

"I dont think so," Paul said. "I know so."

My future and Jesse's? We didnt have a future. He was dead, and we werent going anywhere. I was stuck in a love square, with nowhere to turn. My confused smile went to a scowl of misery, which Paul noticed when he quit kissing my neck. He groaned.

"What is up?" he asked, leaning backwards nonchalantly.

"Can shifters time travel?" I asked, the words feeling numb on my lips. Paul put a hand on his hip.

"Give the girl a prize," he snapped. My fingers found the doorknob behind me. "But... do you wanna know more? Like what I said earlier? Like shift-"

"Fine," I hissed, giving in. Click.

Yes, I was free!

"Wednesday, my house."

"Goodbye, Paul," I said. I pulled the door foward, slipped outside and slammed it shut.

Now - how do I get out of this?