Ch 6

A/N: All right, you people! I'll tell you what "some" of the story is going to be about. Remember my first story? Well, you didn't find out the plot, really, until the later chapters.

That's just my writing style for this little series. I'm planning on writing a third, and I might change the rating because of, well, language, and something that might happen! ;) No comment…

Remember that this is Suze's senior year! Anything could happen.

Here's a better summary:

Sequel to Relative Threat : After a rough passage through Shadowland, Suze and Jesse are back together, soaking up the last rays of sun before their senior year starts. Problem is things go terrible. Suze starts to wonder, now that Jesse's alive, will he still love her, or will some other girl take him away from her? Because of these speculations, Suze starts to not trust Jesse as much as she should have. Crissi's back, and is Paul really as bad as we think? Jesse becomes jealous of the new kid Matt, which Suze feels a strange lure for. Jesse might call off the engagement. Could everything that happened last summer be a lie? Things go even worse as Crissi continues threatening and stalking Suze, but she can't seem to stop anything as her relationship with Jesse spins out of control. Will they be able to live through it all together as Crissi's threats grow more and more menacing? Suze knows one thing and that is Crissi wants Suze…but what would she want about Suze? She must solve all this before it's too late.

Or is it already?

There's a hint!

Thanks for the reviews, they seriously mean a lot to me! I'll be, hopefully, updating every week or so, depending on inspiration, capish? (However you spell it!)

And if you don't know where the story's going :cough: just read, because you'll catch on. Why do you think Crissi's after Suze? Retaliation…or…more?

By the way, because I wrote this before Twilight, the sisters' names will stay the same. If you haven't noticed, in Twilight, Meg Cabot lists the names of some sisters…like one was Mercedes and I can't remember the rest. Because I started this before Twilight, I'm leaving the names the same.

One thing I knew for sure, Crissi was after my guts.

No, really. My guts.

Those were my first thoughts as I woke up to a bright morning. I opened my bleary eyes and was slightly stunned. I rubbed my hands over my face.

Where was I?

I pushed myself off of a really squishy mattress and sat up, rubbing my arms. For some reason, I wasn't wearing my pajamas. Instead, I was wearing some incredibly sexy nightgown that was pale white and gossamer. The neckline dipped precariously low and I was slightly pleased to see that my boobs weren't as small as I thought. Maybe that was because I was wearing…a corset! I felt sick. I looked down my shirt and saw that…hmm…I was wearing different underwear too. Slightly scared, I looked around.

Funny…I sure as hell don't remember coming to this place and ever putting on this incredibly sexy nightgown…

I studied the room. It was clean, with really fluffy white carpeting and Western furniture all over; the mahogany bed with four posts supporting a canopy that I was sitting beneath smelled like it was recently polished. Wood and polish…never thought the two mixed. The headboard had an intricate lasso pattern all around it and I fingered the etching. It was burned in. The dresser had a huge displayed collection of cologne/perfume (they look the same to me), and a weird, beaded necklace with a cross at the end hung directly above me on the wall. I thought it looked strangely Roman Catholic, a rosary, if that's what you call it, but I let that thought drift. Maybe this was a girl's room, because I saw a portrait of a beautiful woman across from me. It looked like…Jesse's mom. I leaned back, slightly spooked because everywhere I moved, her eyes watched me. I hated pictures like that. I mean, what was with Mona Lisa and that infernal smile or whatnot on her face? I distractedly slid my hands under the pillow and froze; I pulled out from under my pillow a huge ornate scalpel, with rubies and a gold handle. There was a thump and I looked at the window. Across the street was…my house…and a sudden motion caught my attention. My gaze fell and there, sitting on the window seat, was Spike.

Ah…so this was my elusive Jesse's room…

Or not.

For all I know, Spike just so happen might like all the de Silva's and is…Tia's personal pet or something. I studied one of the cologne/perfume labels. Yeah…I think that's a girl brand…I'm really not into the whole "Spritz yourself with artificially putrid liquid that is an unnatural color and see how smelly you turn out…" I looked at the mahogany door that led to the hallway and saw that it was locked, and bolted.

Weird.

The door next to the open window was shut, and I saw thick steam coming out from under the door. Weird… I flung off my blankets and strolled over to the door and bent down, trying to see who was under there. Was this door connected to one of the other sister's rooms? I could thank her for her hospitality and maybe convince her I'm not as slutty as her family and the rest of the world thinks. Or-

I bent even lower, and was startled to see that you could SO see my boob-popping corset underneath the nightgown. Before I could adjust it, I heard footsteps, saw some pretty big feet, and only had enough time to fall backwards on my back as the door opened outward suddenly. My nightgown flapped, as well as my hair. I looked up, startled to see that this door only let to someone's private bathroom.

In the open doorway stood a very wet, a very HOTT towel-clad Jesse DeSilva. I gulped as I stared up at him. He didn't seem to notice a girl laying on the ground, but I sure noticed his six pack and his biceps, and how, oh God, and how lovely this view was down south, and, oh man-

Suddenly, he looked down and his eyes widened.

"Susannah! What are you doing out of bed!"

I blinked from my stupor. Such extreme fineness right before my eyes…!

Oh extremely wet Adonis, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can…reach…when feeling out of…sight…for the ends of…for the ends of…of…

Oh whatever.

Were his lips still moving?

"Huh?"

"You should be resting!" I raised an eyebrow. Resting? "Querida, after such an exerting day yesterday, I thought you needed the rest."

"Well, I am lying on the ground…" in an incredibly sexy nightgown…shouldn't he notice my sex appeal! I frowned slightly and crossed my arms.

He shook his head. "I thought we discussed--- No, wait, excuse me-I forgot; you fell asleep."

I looked at him. "Did you get me this…" incredibly sexy "…nightgown?"

He looked abashed. "It's my younger sister, Carmen's, but I thought you'd look nice in it because you two are about the same size, so I figured that you might want to change clothes because you had blood all over your body." I gave him another look. "Don't worry; I had my sisters bathe you and dress you but I chose the garment and she thought you'd appreciate the 'panties' but I really don't think it was necessary but-"

I was mortified. "Your family saw me…naked?"

"Well, only three of my sisters…and mother, but Tia said for my reference, that you had a lovely-" Here he stopped and dropped his gaze to the floor.

I stood up. "Jesse…?"

"Si, querida?"

"I love everything. Especially you. Thank you." Then I stood on my tippy-toes and kissed him.

I only expected it to be a kiss. Hell, Jesse did too, from his thoughts, but I mean, come on…two teenagers in love…a locked room…

I felt him pull back a bit, startled, but I held the back of his head with my hands and held him close. His hair was still damp, warm, and thick. Then he started taking control of the kiss. He tilted my head more leisurely and gently licked my lips. My mouth automatically opened and he explored my mouth, circling my tongue with his as he looped around it, taking his time. He boosted me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he buried his mouth in the hollow of my neck. His fingers locked underneath my derriere, and I felt safe and secure as he held me in that position. (A/N: Think "Just Married") His mouth traveled across my face and I felt his towel start to slide beneath me and suddenly, he backed up and we fell backwards. We both landed on top of his bed. I sat on top of his waist, watching his chest rise and fall. My gaze traveled to his crooked smile as he stared into my eyes. I ran my fingers lightly over his chest, feeling the light fuzz, and felt his body go taut. I grinned and lazily stretched out on top of him, content and exhilarated.

"Jesse?"

His voice came out hoarse. "Yes, querida?" We knew what was coming. Suddenly, I felt something hard move underneath me, but I didn't comment.

"Do you-"

"Are you sure, querida? I don't want to dishonor you. Why do it now when we have the rest of our lives? Then again…" he breathed deeply, "it tempted me." He rolled on top of me and looked down at me. "Do you, Susannah? Do you want to-"

"Jesse, I do."

He lowered his lips to mine and we kissed. I felt his hand in my hair and I blindly groped around for his towel. I felt it and gave it a gentle tug.

It didn't come loose.

"JESSE! SUZIE! BREAKFAST IS SERVED!" the last word "served" was held out for three seconds.

We both groaned and after a long, lingering look, Jesse rolled off me. At the same time, we both murmured irritably, "Tia…"

I couldn't help but feel bitter towards Tia. I mean, here was our moment of intimacy, Jesse was about to be naked, I was about to see his…yeah, and this pint-sized six year old happens to come along, ruin it, and announce its breakfast time. As we both trudged down the stairs arm in arm, I saw Tia at the bottom, hollering for Carmen to finish straightening her already pin straight hair and afterwards, not to bother checking for split ends, Valencia to hurry up and stop having secret fantasies and the twins…well, Tia didn't even comment.

Her eyes locked on mine. Damn. "SUZIE!" She went up to me and hugged me tightly. I felt my insides melt like marshmallow. I patted her head and suddenly, the grudge was gone.

For now.

"Tia! Good morning." I smiled, and felt her French braided hair. This morning, as her usual chipper self, she was wearing a bright yellow summer dress with white polka dots and white ribbons and lace all around. Tied in her French braid were ribbons put in an elaborate way.

She beamed. "Valencia did it…when she wasn't busy daydreaming. It's beautiful, no?" she grabbed my hand, "come to the dining room! Breakfast is served! Mammy is waiting for us all! I woke up at 5:30 today!" I thought to myself that if she kept this up, she'd never make it to high school awake, "She has made a special breakfast just for you, because she HARDLY makes a banquet in the morning. Mmmm…delicious hand squeezed orange juice, pancakes…" Tia continued listing all the things her Mommy made and I felt my back ach because of her holding onto my hand at such a low level, I was practically keeling over she was so short. I was bent over and following her through the gigantic mansion that Jesse called "his house". The Dining Room was on the other side of the home, so when we got there, it was relief to have Tia let go of my hand and pull up a chair. It was so cute; she was so short looking when she was pulling the chair out from under the table. I gladly took it. Rosa, (she made me call her that) handed me some pulpy orange juice. I liked Jesse's mom. She was very beautiful and regal looking even though she had only lipstick. Naturals. I knew that her daughters would turn out just like her. Today she was wearing her pearls and had her hair tied up in a bun at the nap of her neck. Her dress was a gray suit because she still probably had to work.

Jesse sat next to me. Five minutes later, down came Carmen, lip gloss in hand, eye shadow compact opened, and all dressed up in a cute salsa dress. Her eyes scanned the room, then stopped at me. She smiled and I thought, "You wouldn't get along with Kelly…too much competition for her…" She obviously was fond of me, or the incredibly sexy nightgown, I wasn't sure.

"You like?" she swirled around for me, "I got it for $48.64, a very cheap price. It's for a Spanish festival held in three days. I was just trying on for fit. We are, after all, Spanish, not Latin American or Mexican."

…was there a difference?

As soon as the delicious food was served, Valencia came running in, her straight hair flying behind her. She was wearing old sweats and a t-shirt. Her mom looked at her and said, "Happy belated birthday!" Valencia smiled vaguely but instantly panicked.

"Mama! I have a modeling session in half an hour for Hollister! My agent just called, you remember, Marija Gomez. The modeling manager Maryann Ross faxed had faxed her, too. It's urgent. You will be able to take me, right?" In her hand, I noticed her holding some weird package. She noticed me eyeing it and she quickly hid it behind her. I shrugged to myself and continued eating, not bothering to read her mind, though I figured it was some birthday present from an admirer.

Valencia and her mother started talking in Spanish to each other, and I averted my gaze from everyone. Jesse noticed, and brushed my hand with his. I quickly looked up and saw him smile at me. I grinned back, and we both finished eating.

Suddenly, Rosa gestured towards the present. Valencia blushed, and said something about "su obsequio de hermano". (It's her brother's gift)

Carmen rolled her eyes as she pointlessly put on lip gloss and drank her orange juice. "Mama¡El es obviamente en amor con Valencia!" (He's obviously in love with Valencia!) Valencia blushed and sent a glance towards me. I smiled awkwardly and nodded. What the hell were they saying?

Carmen had a sudden look of glee on her face, and astonishment. "¡Ah mi Dios, usted lo adora¡Usted adora a hermano de Susannah David¡No lo niegue!" (Oh my God! You do like him! You like Susannah's brother David! Don't deny it!)

Mrs. DeSilva snapped back, "¡Carmen¡Cómo atrévasele dice que a su hermana¡Eso no puede ser verdad¡Discúlpese!" (Carmen! How dare you say that to your sister! That may not be true! Apologize!)

Tia piped up in quite fluent Spanish, "No no. no. ..it quizás sea verdad. ..I vio hablar de Valencia a David en privado." (No no...it might be true...I saw Valencia talking to David in private.)

Valencia turned towards her youngest sister and groaned. "¡No usted también!" (Not you too!) Valencia animatedly argued, "¡Era APENAS una conversación¡Ustedes me hacen tarde para mi modelando la sesión!" (It was JUST a conversation! You're ALL making me late for my modeling session!") Valencia grabbed a toaster strudel and stuffed her mouth with it, not caring about how all that sugar would go to her hips.

Valencia stopped yelling in Spanish. "Carmen, you're the WORST example for Tia! I'm LEAVING! Good bye, I have better things to do than waste my time arguing with false accusations! Adios, arrivederci , sayonara, hasta luega, whatever language you ignorant people speak, good day!" Valencia started for the door.

Valencia had one foot on the steps when Mrs. deSilva sighed. "Valencia, come eat something nutritional. That won't be good for your next session." Valencia looked at the vile bit of vermin/food in her hand, visibly shuddered and chucked it in the wastebin. I liked their mother; she made them all shut up. Another trait I admired. "Finish eating, Valencia, and I'll take you there later."

"You are all making false assumptions." She declared finally. Trying not to glower, she put a sunny smile on and looked at me. "Sorry about all that, I hardly ever argue," she smiled sheepishly. "They were just-" she stopped and gestured around, "-assuming things and being narrow-minded. You would understand, right? You know. I suppose brothers are like this too."

I smiled. "Yeah, I know." She smiled back and I couldn't help but think "And I know Valencia's my new pal."

Suddenly, Rosa looked at Jesse. "Jesse, did you finish your school shopping?"

Jesse shook his head. "No…I haven't even started yet."

Rosa looked at me. "Suze, do you mind taking everyone school shopping? I'm not familiar with the area yet," she smiled demurely. "I'm sure you know Carmel better than I do."

"Yeah, I know the area pretty well. I could take them."

"Good." She reached into a drawer, pulled out two sets of car keys, and tossed one to Jesse. "I'm going to be taking Valencia to her modeling session now before another argument confronts her." She paused and her eyes went from Carmen to Valencia. She tilted her head at the keys Jesse had just caught with one hand. "You're driving, but listen to your lady!" she looked at me. "Men HARDLY listen to women when it involves directions, remember that, chica. They won't even ask for directions." She winked. "Perhaps you'll be able to harness Jesse, no? Have a good day, children!"

I turned slightly crimson. Mrs. De Silva left with Valencia, making the room feel empty. Carmen called after her, "So what am I, air? Don't say goodbye to your eldest daughter!" She shook her head and looked at me. "By the way, cute nightgown; love the selection. By the way, I'm going through PMS so just like, ignore me. You know what happens."

I nodded. "Right. I'll remember that."

Mrs. deSilva came back. "On second thought, Suze, could you take all of them? I have to get to the office. I didn't realize how late it was!"

"Sure…but I'm not driving, Jesse is. We ought to ask him."

Mrs. deSilva looked at Jesse and he nodded. "Fine by me, as long as you pay for the gas."

We backed out of the driveway and Jesse craned his neck to look behind us. No cars. He put us in Drive and we drove smoothly down our street. I told him to turn left. Carmen yawned and pulled out a nail buffer and started buffing her nails. She admired the shine and continued. Valencia was staring out her window at my house, and the twins were bickering over whose bracelet was whose. Tia was currently, well…

Sitting on my lap.

Yeah, I know, shouldn't there be an empty seat or something? There was…but it was currently occupied by everyone's purses.

"Jesse! Let's go to the stables." She started to braid a clump of my hair. I tugged my hair away and leaned against the seat.

I frowned. "Stables?"

"Oh," he waved his hand impatiently, "we bought our own stables when we moved here, but that's not important."

"You have your own stables? How rich are you people!"

"Quite," Carmen said. I covered Tia's ears.

"You're being a bad role model, Carmen. These are Tia's shaping years. That's not the point at all. Money. Psh. Happiness. My parents are big horse lovers, and they adore horses. They found a huge plot of land and they bought horses and-well, you understand. It's a very nice place, very quiet, natural, like our old home-" Here Jesse smiled wryly at me as Valencia continued talking, "-and-"

"ROMANTIC! ROMANTIC! THAT'S WHAT PAPA AND MAMA SAID!" Tia jerked away from me.

"Tia, what's with you and romance? Get a life and stop bugging us old people."

"Carmen, be nice to Tia."

"I can treat anyone as I want, Valencia. I just so happened to be older than you-"

"By a mere year! You're only sixteen…I'm fifteen. Jesse and Suze are seventeen!"

"-and I'm sorry, but Valencia, at your 'young' and naïve age, you shouldn't burden yourself with love or-" here she laughed, "or fraternize with our dear beloved brother's girlfriend's brother. That's like, incest."

I whirled around. NO…not her too? Not to…Brad! "What!"

Valencia paled slightly and retort angrily, "Be quiet, Carmen, and shut up about things you don't know. It's obvious you're not to be trusted."

"I know far more than you would ever know and besides, I can keep a secret but this is just too… what's the word…"

"Complicated for your brain. You don't know ANYTHING that's going on so just SHUT UP!"

Suddenly the twins spoke up. "You both are so retarded for arguing about the stupidest things. Just shut up."

Jesse sensed danger in the backseats of the minivan. "Tia, you have to go school shopping first before we head to the stables. Aren't you excited to learn?"

Carmen scoffed at Jesse. "Maybe for creeps like you." She looked at me. "Sorry, remember, PMS? Whenever I PMS-"

"Which is about every other day…that's becoming a very lame excuse…"

Carmen glared, "Whenever I PMS, I get all pissy and then I start to argue with Valencia. Normally, Valencia is the NICEST person in the world but…"

Tia looked out the window and her whole disposition changed. She glowered, "Who gives a fuck about school?"

I gasped and looked down. "TIA! Where'd you hear that word?"

She just looked at me weirdly. "From you!"

I gaped. "Me!"

"Si! It was in the middle of last night. You were teaching me vocabulary; you were wearing all black, too, and you were really shiny. Plus you had a, what do you call it, a tattoo on her chest."

My mouth felt dry. Damn…Crissi was talking to Tia!

Jesse told her something, but I couldn't hear any of it. I couldn't help but think "Shitshitshitshitshit… Tia's conversing with Crissi! Tia can see dead people!"

I grabbed Tia by the wrist. "Don't listen to me at night, do you hear me? Don't you Ever. Ever. Listen. To. Me at Night unless-"

She smiled. "Unless you say the secret password!"

Hey…not bad of an idea.

"What's the password going to be?" I asked.

She conspiringly looked around, then whispered in my ear, "Hex. You know, Hex. What you and Jesse were going to do before breakfast. And I promise I won't think of the word when I talk to you. That way, you won't know if you can read minds!"

Paul's POV

God, I hate Carmel. I hated my "family" here…heck, he was in the hospital right now, so I was home alone. I stepped into my house and slammed shut the home. "Back from vacation. Supposedly," I said aloud to the house…if it even wanted to know. Actually, what I had been trying to do was find Crissi. No, I wasn't after her…I was trying to kill her. Why? Mainly, because she tried to kill Suze. I would NEVER let that happen. But then again, I was way over Suze, and plus, just to make her feel better, I planned on telling her she was still a virgin, face to face, not in her dreams. Hell, she must hate me. I never raped her, it was just an-

Suddenly, there was an odd, creaking noise.

Funny…couldn't be the door; it doesn't squeak, but then again…what else, or who else is behind me…?

"Hey Paul…" a low, husky voice. I whirled around and was face to face with a blonde girl with heavy eyes. She was wearing a weird red vest thing and on her nametag, it said "Jamie". Dude, talk about freakish.

"What are you doing inside my house!"

Suddenly she looked up and oh God…green eyes.

I reached down and doing the sanest thing to reveal a secret only I knew; if a soul is transferred, two of the most obvious physical traits are revealed on the transferred body; their eyes and something else. I grabbed the lapels of her vest and her shirt collar and pulled down, revealing one of the traits I knew she'd have other than eyes; a lily tattoo on her upper right breast.

"YOU!"

Crissi.

"What the hell do you want, now!"

"Yeah, its me, I had to kill someone for a body." She laughed and said, "I shouldn't have ever fucked with you but I need a simple favor…"

After she told me, I frowned. "Never!"

"Fine by me…" and five seconds later, I didn't even know it was coming…such excruciating pain…I was screaming bloody murder.

"Now will you?" she whispered seductively and evilly to my ear. I shut my eyes and ignored her perfectly full lips as they mouthed the words. God no…GODAMNIT!

"Yes."

"Good boy."

"What the hell are you trying to do to Suze, anyway?"

"You'll see…sooner or later."

She undid whatever she tied me up with and vanished, leaving me terrified in my own fucking house.

I seriously should return to Seattle.

Suze's POV

We dropped Valencia off and went to the nearest supply store. I bought all the necessary items, then went to checkout. A girl with heavy, bloodhound eyes looked blearily up at me. A glance at her nametag told me her name was Jamie. At first, she looked sad, but then she spoke.

Her voice sounded so monotone as she said, "Good afternoon might I recommend that if you use your credit card you can get a forty percent discount off the already clearance prices or would you just rather purchase you items now?" She said that all in one breath. I didn't realize that I was also holding my breath. I exhaled.

"Oh no, I don't have a credit card."

She gave me the weirdest look. "Fine I'll ring you up so just put your stuff here and I'll ring you up and here's the discount offer brochure in case you were interested and your total comes up to sixty-five seventy-two and go ahead and swipe your card whoops I forgot you didn't have a credit card just pay up." I quickly grabbed my bag. "but-" Suddenly her eyes lit up and they were…green. I backed away but she grabbed my neck.

"Hey Suzie, glad you could make it. Didn't know you were such an earnest scholar."

I gasped. "How did you know my name? And let go of me!"

She cackled. "Ooh, Suzie, you're so predictable. By the way, thanks to you, I had to kill just for this body! She's disgusting, isn't she? I hate her heavy bloodhound bitch eyes, hate her blonde hair, hate her fuzzy body, hate how she has no piercings! I wish I got to kill my requested body, but I'll need her still. So I'm stuck with this gorilla. Well, maybe not for long." I saw a weird light flow out of Jamie's mouth.

Suddenly, "Jamie" pitched forward and hit the cash register, limp with blood gushing out of her mouth. Crissi, the ghost, laughed as she prodded "Jamie's" back. "Man, she was so gullible. Thought I was some freakin' angel or something. Well, I could have let her live, but I 'accidentally' killed her and her body. Oh well! Tootles, Suzie, and be glad I won't do that to you."

I looked at her face. "What?"

She looked angry with herself. "Nevermind!" and she vanished. There was a moment when I just stared at Jamie. I didn't think she would be dead, but then I noticed that her jaw was cracked at an odd angle, her eyes were still open, open and unblinking, and her skin was such a sallow color.

I ran off away from the body. The cashier was dead.

And Crissi was still after me.

I didn't know what she wanted

But I was going to find out.

I needed answers, and the only way I'd get them is through him.

I ran up the small steps and stepped onto the front porch, my flip flops slapping the cementing. I stopped at his door and caught my breath, breathed in deeply and placed a hand on my rapidly beating heart. I leaned one elbow against his door and pressed my ear to it; a voice.

Still leaning, I banged on his door.

"PAUL! PAUL WHATEVER-YOUR-MIDDLE-NAME-IS SLATER, YOU GET THE FUCK OUT OF YOUR HOUSE THIS INSTANT! PAUL! PAUL, I'M NOT JOKING, PAUL! PAUL, GET OUT NOW, I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE, YOU CAR'S IN THE DRIVEWAY! I'M GIVING YOU FIVE SECONDS BEFORE I BREAK DOWN THIS METAL LOOKING DOOR AND PULVERIZE YOUR TIGHT LITTLE-"

The door suddenly opened and I fell straight inside, tripping over something, slipped on something sticky, and landed on my wrists. The door slammed shut right behind me and suddenly I was in complete darkness.

"You tripped over me!"

"What the hell-"

Paul Slater, in his blonde glory, knelt beside me and clamped a hand over my mouth to shush me. "Shhh…Crissi might hear us."

"How'd you know I was here about-"

"SHHHHH!" He released his grip and looked me over. "Thank God she didn't hurt us."

"What's going on? What-"

He jumped and not standing up, reached as far as he could and bolted the door, muttering something.

"Paul? What's wrong with you! Stand up!"

"Don't turn on the lights!"

I ignored him and flicked on the switch and gasped.

Paul was bleeding. All over. His face was bruised and his white shirt was all bloody and ripped in various places. Somebody stabbed him! Around his wrists were bounds still tied, but were more so cuffs. He looked forlornly up at me as he kneeled on the ground. My eyes traveled over all the damage. Nothing major, but there was a huge cut in his jeans. Blood was everywhere, and a glance under my flip flops told me that I had slipped on Paul's blood and tripped over his face.

He tried a smile, but his lower lip was split. He winced as his broken lip bleed. "It's not as bad as it looks." He pressed a finger to the cut. "See? I'm human; I bleed. I have a heart. It's a good thing." He started to laugh.

"What did Crissi do to you!"

He waved his hand aside, his eyes blazing. "No matter. What the hell is up with you? Is Crissi stalking you and…" he paused, his eyes pained, "…Jesse?"

I nodded. "I need your help. Crissi's up to something."

He also nodded. "I realized. She said something about needing a clipping I had…" his eyes widened. "Oh my freakin' God! SUZE! We have to get to my room! Pull me up!"

I ran up to him, kicked off my shoes and tried, but it was kind of hard, me being a hundred something and him like, seventy pounds more than me…

We managed to both stand upright, him using me as a crutch, and we hobbled up the stairs.

Five minutes later, we made it to the top of the stairs. "What's," I puffed, "Going." Puff. "On?" Puff.

We stopped at his bedroom door. He leaned against it. "Thanks." Paul wiped his brow. "I don't know, but I have a hunch."

Jesse's POV

"SUSANNAH!"

"Hector, where'd she go?"

"SUSANNAH!"

"HECTOR!"

"DON'T CALL ME HECTOR. It's Jesse. I'm not some Trojan prince."

"Yeesh."

I stopped yelling and raced to the cashier by the exit. If she saw Susannah…of course, if Susannah left, she would have to…

Unless…she wasn't on duty…

"Ma'am! Sir! Anyone?" I stopped at the front of the line. Odd…

Instinct told me to smell, so I did and what I smelled was a putrid odor.

Carmen stopped running and stopped beside me. "Any luck?" she asked desperately.

I shook my head. "Carmen, stand back." I started to lean over the barrier.

Carmen crossed her arms. "What's going on, Jesse?"

I shook my head. "I don't know, but I have a hunch."

Suze's POV

"Sorry, I locked my door."

I raised an eyebrow and sighed. Holding my arms up, I kicked the door down.

We both stared.

Jesse's POV

I leaned over the barrier again.

En el nombre de Dios!

"CARMEN, GET THE MANAGER!"

"Must I?"

"CARMEN, do as I say."

She stood next to me and peered over. "I don't see any---Oh my GOD!" She started to scream. Everyone in the store ran towards us. I grabbed her, and lifted her the other way, not daring to believe my eyes either.

Murder.

Crissi.

I shielded my sister with my body and whispered as soothingly as I could. "Hush! La calma, la hermana, no chilla. Jesse aquí le deberá proteger. Usted es seguro. Nadie la dolerá." (Be calm, sister, don't scream. Jesse is here to protect you. You are safe, no one will hurt you.)

"Jesse…I'm scared."

Suze's POV

I rushed back to Office Depot screaming my lungs out. "JESSE! JESSE!"

He hurried out of the building, which was now surrounded by police cars, camera people, and an ambulance.

"Susannah! Are you all right?" He ran to my side and clutched my hands. He looked into my eyes and quickly embraced me.

"Why did you go to Paul?" he whispered.

I looked up. "Jesse…Paul's hurt. Crissi hurt him, but that isn't a problem." He opened his mouth to speak but I silenced him. "I know now."

"What?"

"I know what Crissi wants."

"What, querida?"

I took a breath to calm my nerves. "She wants to take over my body."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"

"I realize now, and Paul helped me out…" Jesse's eyes narrowed but I continued, "She wants me. My body. Not my soul. She wants to swap bodies with me."

"I don't understand, Susannah-"

"She wants to live."

"Susannah…"

"She wants me dead."

"Susannah…what…?"

"She wants to kill me."

He stopped. Everything stopped.

"What?"

"You heard me. Crissi wants to kill me."