Ch 2 Dinnertime

Paul shoved a pill in my mouth. "Here! Eat this!"

I screamed and sat up, tipping half my eggs onto my cloth napkin and I was suddenly aware of five pairs of eyes staring at me from around the table.

"Suzie, honey, are you all right?"

I brushed my hair out of my eyes and nodded. One restless night of little sleep, bags that the miracle worker cover up couldn't hide, and troubled nightmares. They're starting again. Like at the beginning of my junior year, I kept dreaming of that foggy hallway. The last time a dream came true was where Jesse became alive. But that was something good. These dreams were, well, bad. They were getting worse…more real. Like some twisted Freddy Krueger movie, without the 80s clothes or Johnny Depp.

"It's apparent to me that Suze is suffering from insomnia, an occurrence due to lack of sleep. Since it's apparent that you dislike coffee, I'm assuming the chocolate you eat might be the cause of this. I found some Godiva chocolate by your nightstand; perhaps you shouldn't eat chocolate within three hours of sleep. Try drinking milk before you sleep. In this article I read, Feng Shui may help. Get rid of the TV in your room and make it into a comfortable sleeping area, shut the blinds, make sure your bed's comfortable as well. It is even said that sex helps you sleep, though I wouldn't advise it since you'll be at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, or, now known as infections." I looked at Doc with an exasperated sigh.

Over the summer, David's voice had deepened slightly but his voice tended to crack at odd times. He was fifteen, going into ninth. His braces were to be removed sometime this year and he grew out his hair (Sort of shaggy, but still very cute. I complimented the change and he blushed when I asked if it was for impressing a girl) a little so his once greatly exaggerated ears looked smaller. Lot of changes, except that he still had that Albert Einstein brain. To me, he looked like a real cutie in glasses. Not sure how the other ladies think about him. I advised him going to the beaches and getting a tan and six-pack while he was at it.

"Many woman your age also suffer from nightmares and-"

"David, I think that is enough, I don't want Suzie to get any wild ideas."

"No, continue. I want to know if Suze can die from this 'cause if she does, can I get her room?"

I heard Andy give Brad a satisfying whack on the head.

I started my breakfast (consisting of fluffy scrambled eggs, non-greasy bacon, soft, warm muffins, and toast) and as I reached for my orange juice, I noticed this thing in my mouth. I spat it out and studied it. It was white and looked like…a pill. I stared at it in horror. What the hell?? I was completely weirded out. First the fishnets and the blood and now a pill. What did this all mean?

"Umm, Suze? Are you eating that?" David pointed his fork at my eggs and his eyes narrowed when he noticed what I was looking at. "Suze? What is that?"

Everyone looked at what I was looking at. Thanks, Doc, thanks.

Everything would have been okay if Brad didn't add his little note.

Brad strutted over and towered over me. "HEY! It looks like those…" his voice wavered as my mother looked at him. "Yes, Brad? It's obvious you know what it is."

"It's a mint!" I hurriedly said, but Brad blurted, "It looks like those sex pills at Kelly's party!"

I looked at everyone. (Jake was at his dorm, preparing for another year at college) They all were staring intently at my face, stabbing at their eggs and chewing. My mom, especially. I was treading on some pretty explosive territory.

"What do you take me for? A whore? NO! This isn't some 'sex pill'! This is, err, Claritin! Yeah, Claritin for my allergies." I sniffed to prove my point.

"You just said it was a mint, genius."

There was three minutes of silence. Then, Doc looked at me. "Claritin has the word 'Claritin' on the pill, as well as the number of hours the dose relieves. At least, the non-drowsy kind does. This, however, does not. Besides, you don't have allergies; Mom would have told me."

Damn.

"What's the big deal? Heck, this could be aspirin! You knew I wasn't feeling well when they moved in. Why are you all making such a crisis out of this?" I flung down my napkin and strode out of the room.

"Because I saw you leave and go into a red car. SUZE, GET BACK HERE!" When it was obvious I wasn't, my mom said in her sternest voice, "be ready for dinner, young lady. If you're this rude when our guest come then you may as well not come at all."

That was the least of my problems. The biggest question was how did a stimulant pill get in my mouth?

I plopped down onto the sofa and turned on the TV.

I will not fall asleep, no matter how drowsy I feel. I flipped through channels and stopped on the news, watching the weather. Figuring out that this was boring and going to make me fall asleep, I went to the DVD cabinet and pulled out Doc's Lord of the Rings collection. The battles should keep me awake. I guess they were even more boring then I anticipated.

"Suze!" I opened my eyes and saw Paul in front of me, blocking the TV.

"How'd you get in my house?" I demanded. Paul smiled. "I can shift, remember?"

Oh.

"Well? Hurry up and tell me what you want. You've been haunting me and I've given more than plenty enough chances stay away."

Paul grinned sheepishly. "I just wanted to tell you that you're a virgin."

"What?"

"You are a virgin."

"Huh?"

Paul gave his famous eye roll and turned towards the TV, licking his finger and drawing a smiley on the screen. "What are you, deaf? I said You Are A Virgin."

"What are you talking about? You raped me, remember? Jesse really hates you because of that. I'd avoid him if I were you."

Paul shook his head. "It's Crissi's fault. She's putting images in your head. And the rape thing? Totally wasn't my fault. But I'll tell you more in school. You should wake up, your mom's coming. I'm sorry. And by the way… this has been one of the most civilized conversations we've had."

I opened my eyes and saw Frodo smiling as he went onto a ship with Galadriel and Elrond and Gandalf but no one was moving. It was on 'pause'. I was already at the end of the Return of the King. Was Paul no longer a threat? What did he mean I was a virgin? And was that a wet, smudgy smiley on the screen?

"Suze! Where are you? We have fifteen minutes until they come!"

Who pressed 'pause' on the TV?

After a few minutes, my mother stepped in front of the TV. She was wearing her best dress and pearls and even did her nails. "There you are! Hurry up! Get dressed into something nice. I had Brad and David wear tuxes. They're coming in ten minutes!"

I got up and as soon as I did, my mom whisked everything away and started dusting the TV. She was mumbling something about "only had a day to prepare this mess, who drew this? It's smearing…" when I raced up the stairs, accidentally bumping into Doc and sending him colliding into a wall.

"Sorry!"

Jesse's POV

I fixed my tie and stared into the mirror. We were supposed to eat dinner with the Ackerman's. Sounds simple enough, but easier said than done. Mama had us all donned in our Sunday best and I straightened up and adjusted my cuffs.

"JESSE!!"

I turned my head and looked at my youngest sister, Tia who was now six years old, who was standing in my doorway. She had long dark hair and dark, expressive eyes. She was wearing a frilly lavender dress with white shoes and hat. It looked to me as if one of my other sisters tried putting makeup on her but Tia hated makeup so it was all smeared. Although sometimes her interrogations were annoying, she was an angelic little girl. That is, until you got to know her and her devious mind. She could plot against me anytime she wished.

"Yes, Tia? What is it?"

"Mammy said that you would help me tie my bows," she took a deep breath; "Murcia, Mérida, Valencia, and Carmen were all busy trying to dress up. They say the brothers are all 'hot', 'sexy', and 'rooty-vicious', except for one. I don't understand; are they on fire? And why would anyone like a rabid tree beast?"

I laughed and beckoned Tia inside my room. She plunked herself onto my bed and sighed. "This is a comfortable bed. Did you ask for it like this so that your girlfriend would enjoy it and get babied?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Tia, what are you talking about?"

She looked so serious. "Mama gave me a speech. I asked her how I came to be. Instead of saying the good Lord sent a stork to drop me like she used to, she told me I was old enough. She said that one day, when I find my truest truer love, we'll have lots of fun during bedtime and then after nine months, there'll be a baby! I asked if it hurt and she nodded but said it was worth a wonderful, beautiful baby like me. I hope that happens real really real soon! She called it," she looked up, squinted her eye and furrowed her brows, trying to recall the word, "hex," she nodded with satisfaction, "hex, that's its. Have you ever done it? Mama mentioned that us DeSilvas may be lambs in the kitchen, but we are tigers in the bedroom!"

I shook my head, slightly shocked. "Let me tie your bows." She turned around and pulled up her long, dark hair. I kneeled down and started to tie a bow.

"You didn't answer my question: Have you ever hexed before?"

I smiled at her young innocent. "No, I haven't."

"But you will, right?"

"I suppose."

"When?"

"After marrying."

"If you do, can I watch and tape it and show my class for show-and-tell?"

"Umm, no."

"Why not?"

"Because it's personal."

"Are you gay?"

"WHAT?" I dropped the ribbon.

"Gay. It's where-"

"I know what it means. Who told you this?"

"Carmen. She thought you were since you never had a girlfriend but you aren't, are you? I mean, I've seen you with a girl. You two were kissing and you were touching her EVERYWHERE. She was really pretty. I like her eyes. Did you hex with her?"

"WHAT??"

"Don't lie, Jesse, I saw you. If you're embarrassed-ed, I don't blame you. I wouldn't like to know that someone was watching you from the bushes but I saw this other guy watching too. He had old man white hair and ice for eyeballs. I said hi to him but he did this to me." Tia raised her middle finger in the air and I quickly covered it. He also said f-"

"Tia, you are learning the wrong things. Forget all this until you're older." But she had mentioned a man with blonde hair and blue eyes. Paul? Was Paul watching us the other day?

"What does this mean?" She raised that finger in the air again. I put it down for her. I was trying to concentrate but Tia kept interrupting me. "Well? What does it mean?!" She used her other hand. I covered her mouth.

"Tia, shhh, don't make so much noise! Mama's going to come in and see you-"

"Jesse? Tia? What are you doing? I'm hearing so much noise-"

My mother stood in the doorway, wearing her gold hoop earrings and necklace. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Jesse? What are you doing to Tia?"

"Mammy! Jesse won't tell me what this means." She ran to our mother and clutched the hem of our mother's dress. I got to my feet.

"No, Tia, you don't want to-"

"What does this mean?"

My mother looked clueless. I breathed a sigh of relief. So mama didn't know what it meant. I only knew what it meant because of Susannah, her brothers, and some of the books her family owns. Suddenly Carmen, my sixteen year old sister, stood beside our mother. She gasped, covered her mouth, and stood appalled. Then she whispered something to mama.

I shut my eyes. "JESSE! WHAT ARE YOU TEACHING TIA?"

A high voice cut my mother's rage. "Mammy?"

"Yes, amada?" her voice became soft and friendly.

"What does 'fuck you' mean?"

We (my mother, my father, Tia, who had earned me a slap, Carmen, Valencia, Murcia and Mérida) all walked across the street to Susannah's house. As my father rang the doorbell, I looked around. Her house looked so different when I was…deceased. I now looked at things with a new light. Remembering that this was the house where I died, I shuddered slightly.

The door opened and everyone started talking at once.

"Hello and welcome! This is Brad, who is seventeen, and David, who is fifteen. Jake's coming later and my husband Andy…" I noticed David eyeing Valencia. She was smart, like him, but pretty enough to do modeling in her free time. (For the hefty paycheck of 5,000 dollars per session.)

"Hello, I'm Rosa and this is my husband Miguel. These are our children; Tia is six, going into first grade, Murcia and Mérida are twins, both twelve, turning thirteen next week and going into the seventh grade, Valencia is fifteen in three days, going into ninth grade and is a model, Carmen is sixteen and my eldest son is Jesse who is now seventeen." In reality, when it was the eighteen hundreds, I had died at age twenty but somehow, here I was seventeen, turning eighteen soon. For some reason, I had known all this information when I woke up one day and found myself with a family.

I heard Valencia giggle and I looked at her. She was looking up at David and fooling with his hair. I rolled my eyes. What is this called? Oh yes. Flirting. "You're David, right?"

"Y-yes." He stammered and adjusted his glasses. "You, you're V-Valencia, r-right?"

"Yes. That is my name."

"It, uh, it's a b-b-bea, a, beau, uh, tiful, err, beautifier, uh, beautiful, yeah! that's it, uh, beautiful name, a…as are you."

"Thank you, that's very sweet."

"Uh…thanks, you are. You, you're so pret-"

"Why is your hair so red?"

"You-you like it?"

She laughed. "No, you have funny hair."

David turned red and walked away inside the house, muttering something about his laundry.

Suddenly we were all ushered inside the house.

We walked in and I looked around, noticing all the pictures of Brad, David, Jake, and… "Where's Susannah?"

Mrs. Ackerman looked at me oddly but the look passed as she smiled warmly. I read her thoughts and they were along the lines of, 'how does he know Suze? Why does he look so familiar? Oh well, I'll ask them two later'. "Oh, she's in her room. Could you go get her, Jesse? Dinner's almost ready."

"Of course," I nodded and started up the stairs.

Suze's POV

Crap, Jesse and his family were coming in two minutes! I took a minute shower, brushed my teeth, and put on a bra and panties. I put on some lip gloss and eye shadow. Distractedly, I threw open my closet. Let's see…want to impress the family…jeans...no...Definite nono…ummm…dress…too fancy…a skirt! Yes! But not Betsey Johnson, I learned my lesson…no leather….something floral. Since I no longer had a roommate, I could a, mess up my room and leave my bras hanging on my doorknob since there wasn't a hot ghost in my room and b, I could change in my room freely. My room had become a mess quite considerably. I pulled out a lavender skirt along with a sleeveless silk blouse. Simple, yet elegant, business-like and feminine. Who knew if his family was like its nineteenth century self.

I shut the blinds and shut the door, not locking it since one, the lock was messed up, and two, they weren't here yet and no one here wanted to see me in the buff. Plus nobody ever came into my room, only my mom. I threw my skirt and jeans onto the floor and faced the window. Realizing that my bra straps would show if I didn't switch bras, I rummaged through my drawers until I found a strapless bra. I just unhooked my other bra and was about to put on my other bra when I heard the doorknob turn. I turned to see who it was and quickly turned.

"Susannah? Is everything all…?" his voice trailed off and I could figure out why. I felt my cheeks burn. Oh. Great.

"Um, Jesse? Ever hear of knocking?"

Jesse's POV

Since I didn't hear any commotion in Susannah's room, I thought she was in her bathroom. I opened the door and saw Susannah's bare back. I rendered myself speechless as I gawked at her back.

"Um, Jesse, ever hear of knocking?" she asked, and I could feel her embarrassment as she quickly hooked her bra, catching her hair. She tugged at the strands but they still caught.

"Let me help," I offered as I walked over towards her and I gently pulled out the hair. "By the way, dinner's almost ready."

She said her thanks and I turned around to leave when a little figure stood in the doorway, blocking my exit, hands on her hips. She looked at Susannah, then me. Then she took one huge gulp of air.

"Tia...don't, it's not what it-" I tried to cover her mouth but she dodged my hand and laughed wickedly.

"You are in so much trouble. MOOOOOOOOMMMMAAAA! JESSSSSEEE'S WITH A GIRL!!! THE PRETTY GIRL IS THE ONE I SAW JESSE WITH YESTERDAY. SHE'S ONLY IN HER SWIMSUIT THAT DON'T MATCH, AND THE BOTTOM PIECE IS FRILLY!"

I felt myself go red. "Tia! We didn't do anything! I just got up here; I would not have the TIME to do anything! TIA! TIA!"

Suze's POV

Okay, that was way exaggerated. We didn't do anything! Much to my chagrin. But the kid got the attention of BOTH our families. I blushed, realizing that I was still in my bra and panties. What an entrance. "Hi, I'm Susannah Simon, the girl who faked sick and went out on a little rendezvous with your bootylicious son. I've been raped and have I ever mentioned that your son has the sexiest ass??" I looked around and quickly put on a t-shirt and shorts.

No. Not a great introduction.

"Nombre de dios, Jesse, what is Tia yelling about now?"

"SUZE! WHAT IN GOD'S NAME IS GOING ON?"

"Mommy, this is the girl I saw him with yesterday. They drove somewhere in swim stuffs and back and they were kissing and making out…or is it making love? Oh well."

"Ah…so this is the mysterious visitor you saw…"

"PEOPLE! LET ME GET DRESSED PROPERLY-"

"Without the help of my brother, please."

"Carmen!"

"-AND I WILL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING."

"We'll see that you do. Jesse, son, we need to talk. NOW."

"Yes, papa."

There goes my reputation. Hi, I'm Suze. The slut.

…so not.

Dressed in my skirt and all make-upped, I sat down with David, Brad, and my mom. Jake was in the kitchen helping Andy out with the cooking. Jesse's family was across the coffee table.

"Hey, I'm Susannah Simon, pleased to meet you all." I shook hands with the de Silva's. I looked at his parents. Mr. de Silva was clean shaved and resembled Jesse, with warm brown eyes and tan skin. Only, whenever he looked at me, that warm fuzzy look in his eyes would vanish and be replaced with this, "No whores in the house" look. But, he also looked at Jesse like that so maybe it wasn't all my fault…? He smiled slightly as I shook his hand. Mrs. de Silva was beautiful. She had ebony black hair and a fair complexion, and surprisingly, no wrinkles for a woman her age, but then again, she was only how old? Same reaction with the missus, only her jaw was tenser.

"Suze, what is going on?" Mom wasn't angry, no, she was furious. Her thoughts were probably 'why didn't Suze tell me about him so I could bombard him with photographs as evidence that my daughter went out with a member of the opposite gender' but whatever.

Jesse opened his mouth but my mom cut him off. "No, Jesse, let Suze explain."

"First question: How do you know Jesse already? Is Tia right about the beach thing?"

"Well…yes. I wasn't feeling well but you made me go meet everyone. So I went outside and met up with Jesse. I knew him from… Pebble Beach and we have been secretly going out for over a year. And yes, that girl is right; I met up with him and it had been a while and I hugged him and he kissed me. Then we went to the beach. Today, you woke me up. Then I tried to get dressed but my dress had a bare back and I needed a strapless bra so…"

"Wait,-what did you just say??"

"Uh…I didn't finish. So I hooked it by myself, yeah, and then Jesse came in and Tia thought something was going on when there was really nothing."

"But I SAW her in only a swimsuit!"

"Darling, maybe that was yesterday."

Suze's POV

This was so embarrassing. It was like family crisis group counseling, except we were ALL in the same room.

"Well, what do you have to say of yourself?" Mr. de Silva asked Jesse. Jesse stared at the floor.

"He doesn't like men, we know that now." Carmen said as she studied her pink nails. One year older than her, and I felt like the younger one. Carmen wore so much makeup, she rivaled Kelly. Well, hon, just imagine in ten years…you'll be so wrinkly…

"Nothing happened." Jesse said, "Tia didn't know what she saw. And I am not gay."

"She's pretty. That's what I saw." Tia chirped and I blushed slightly.

"Jesse, I'm proud of you. You have a girlfriend!" Carmen tossed aside her emery board and hugged Jesse.

Suddenly Mr. de Silva slapped Jesse back. "I have to teach you how to…" he paused as Tia took out a Blues clues notebook and pen.

Suze's POV

Stomach stuffed, I walked down the hall. Suddenly I stopped and peered around the corner. Clothes were strewn all over and in the middle of it all was David and Valencia. This I had to watch.

Doc's POV

(A/N: I was watching the Olympics when this commercial for GE, I think, came up with this commercial; sexy supermodel and geek meet at laundry place. Bump into each other and fall in love and get the perfect kid. Hehe… Doc's love story is based on a commercial. Wow…)

I folded my clothes neatly; a trait taught by Mom mom when I was little. But it was all really in vain since the clothes ended up on the ground, I mostly did it out of habit. I put my piles into a laundry basket and shut the dryer door. Finding another sock, I dug around until I found the matching one and tossed it in. Score. I went into the hallway and, humming Fugue in G Minor by Bach, started to turn a corner when I ran into someone. I fell and the basket left my hands. Man, I just did the laundry. I landed on my back and stared at the ceiling. What lovely and intricate tiling…dad sure did do a great job on the house. Wait…is that the basket about to land on-

"OUCH!"

Realizing that I had bumped into someone, I tipped the basket off my face and neck and stared at a lump of plaid boxers that was moving. An arm shot out and grabbed at one of the many pairs on his/her head. Suddenly, he/she moaned.

Wow, the attacker sure sounded… feminine. I sat up and my jaw dropped as the many articles of clothing slid to the floor. There, amidst the clothes, sat a beautiful Aphrodite with…whoa…gray eyes and a pair of underwear on her head. She looked at me blearily. "Huh. I was attacked by underwear." It was Valencia!! "Where's David? I didn't get to apologize to David after that rude remark I made earlier." Her eyes focused.

"David!"

I felt the tips of my ears turn red and suddenly I felt that nerdiness kick in.

"Hello, Valencia." Wow, I didn't stutter.

"I didn't get to apologize to you after dinner."

"I know, you just said that."

"Oh?" She scrunched up her face. "Oh! I'm," her face saddened, "I'm sorry for being so mean. It's just that…I've never seen a redhead before."

I straightened my glasses and when I noticed how dirty they were, I took them off and started wiping them off.

"Look up." She said sharply. I did, and realized how blurry she looked. "You're eyes are a pretty color. Why do you wear glasses?"

I looked at the spot that I thought was her face. "I can't see without them."

"Don't wear them, you looked better without them."

I blushed. "Thanks. But, I don't think so."

"Wear contacts!"

"I don't have any."

"I'll get you them for your present, then, what's your vision?"

"That's not necessary."

She glared at me.

"…Fine."

Suze's POV

So Doc had a chance at romance. This was going to be fun. I trudged up the stairs and met Jesse in my bedroom, as arranged.

"How humiliating was that."

He looked up and grinned lopsidedly. "Slightly, yes, but we can mope over that later."

Jesse bent lower to kiss me when I noticed the door to my room swing open.

Jesse groaned. "Tia, inconspicuous means not noticeable. Can't you mind your business? What do they teach you in Sunday school?"

My eyes narrowed as I stared at the open door. Huh. "Jesse?"

He continued to rant and rave in a similar manner.

"Jesse?

"Yes, querida?"

"I don't see anyone…"

He looked up, startled, and walked to the now shut door, which had a note taped on it. He started to read it aloud:

"Suze, I'm watching you, be careful, you might end up like me."

We looked at each other and said, "Crissi."