Ch 7

A/N: OMG! I just checked my email and I saw…4 reviews!

Omgomgomgomg. Thank you! tears! I LOVE YOU ALL! Cookie points for you all. Thanks for reviewing! That really means a lot to me.

I had witnessed a murder right in front of my nose and I knew the killer. Only, the reporters and my mom sure didn't know who it was. She asked me. My mom, I mean. Her being a reporter and all. Heck, she's interviewed Arafat before. So she asked me over the phone. They were in the car, on the drive back to Carmel. I couldn't tell her anything. I mean, I'd like to, but what could I say? To her and the eighty-seven reporters and police officers that bombarded me with questions, I mean, they wanted answers. Answers I couldn't give. So I just told them to back off. In nicer terms, of course. Despite my best efforts at remaining anonymous, I was going to be on the news.

I felt so dazed. Everything was happening so fast! We finally knew what Crissi wanted. Crissi wanted me, my body. She wanted to swap bodies.

And kill me in the process. But hey; only one soul allowed. And that was going to be me. I was going to be the one keeping my bod. And no way was some sick, freak going to get it.

See, those were my thoughts, but it didn't help that Jesse was pacing around his room mumbling incoherently to himself. I tried to tune him out, really, I did, but it was so hard, especially when he would deliberately stop and just stare at my face in anguish, and seconds later continue that irritating pacing and start muttering in Spanish.

Really. He had to stop that. The Spanish, I mean. And the pacing, too, if he can.

I was about to tell him to stop moving around so much and stop with the language when he abruptly swung around and stared at me with this uncharacteristic wild look in his eyes.

"No…" More Spanish. " Mi querida! No mi amor! No…No…No!"

The last no was a yell that shook me out of my stupor. I mean, I had been in a comatose state ever since Jesse took me to his house and we both locked ourselves up in Jesse's room. I jumped and looked up, stunned to see that…that- expression on his face. "You cannot be hunted! This isn't right. You cannot leave me. Not like this, with that…fiend out there."

He grabbed my arm and started to stroke it, the light dusting of hair on my arms tingling. I stared at his face, trying to concentrate on what he was saying and not do anything crazy. You know, like in Cabin Fever, when that one girl was like, "Yeah, and if you were on a plane and knew you were gonna die, you just wanna screw everyone." Do something crazy. And that later led to…events. Well, I wasn't going to do that. No sir. I have my priorities. Besides; I wasn't going to die. At least, I'd try not to.

"Not now¿Por qué usted¡no... no... por favor, no¡Dios¿Por qué? Mi querida! Please don't leave me, not when we have so much to live for." (Why you? no... no... please, no! God! Why? )

I guess he was taking it harder than I was. I mean, I was trying to think of a plan to save my skin and all…but Jesse obviously thought I was a toddler or something; not able to take care of myself.

Using his left hand, he held up my face and rubbed a slightly rough thumb across my cheeks, his fingers supporting my face. I had shut my eyes and savored the feel of him holding me (this really was becoming a rare occasion) when his fingers ran across my relaxed lips, sending jolts down my sickeningly sensitive spine. The hairs at the base of my neck tingled with anticipation but nothing else happened, except he uttered a few more Spanish words. I didn't get it. I never would. With his free hand, he reached for my own and he grasped it tightly. My eyes sprang open and I stared at his face. Tears were coursing down his cheeks, glistening in the bright afternoon lighting. He was looking down. My eyes traveled down to our entwined hands and we both clearly saw our promise rings. I had completely forgotten about them. Wearing my own was like instinct…I just never treasured it. I couldn't help it.

I felt a tear prick at the corners of my eyes. I tried blinking it away, but it probably looked like I had a tic or something.

Jesse instantly panicked and I remember this one thing CeeCee told me: Men are like mascara; they'll run at the first sign of emotion. I had protested that if you bought waterproof, you could prevent tears, but CeeCee had countered that although the waterproof kinds would be "waterproof", they still would smeared.

But Jesse was always different. He wasn't like any other guy I knew, because, well, I loved him. And he loved me. Instead of leaving, or running for the Kleenex, he smiled cheekily and lowered his mouth towards mine. I got a whiff of that distinct clean smell of his and I ran my hands through his thick hair as our lips touched. With every breath, he sent jolts through my body.

"Promise me you won't do anything foolhardy, querida."

In the middle of kissing him, I replied, "Like exorcising Crissi? No worries, Jesse, we'll get Father Dom involved; he'll know what to do and how to save me." Right? I've never had a ghost try to kill me before. It just wasn't in my mediating handbook. (Note the pun) I mean, sure, they would break my bones, threaten me, chuck founding father heads at me, crush me under breezeways, throw me off roofs, and try to pulverize me, but no ghost actually on the face of this earth was sent down from limbo for the sole purpose of killing me.

He murmured against my lips, "Why have a priest protect you when you have me?

"I promise I'll save you."

And you know what? Deep down, I knew he would. Despite anything, he would.

Hours later, I plopped down on Jesse's living room leather love seat, turned on the TV and flipped through channels, hoping to catch a good show at seven.

MTV…Discovery Channel…Animal Planet…

Suddenly, I stopped when I saw the picture on the screen.

"-think school shopping is nothing may be surprised; At Office Depot earlier today, at approximately one thirty-seven, Pacific Time, a seventeen year old senior attending Carmel High School died today. Jamie Lafeyre was working at her afternoon shift today when she strangely died. There were no gun, knife wounds, or anything else that would have marred or fatally harm her and cause the death, nor any sign of overdoses, stroke, heart attack, or aneurism that would cause such an instant death. But the autopsy proved heavy damage on her skull as her cranium was cracked open, the impact shattering the frontal bone and parietal bone, also crushing her mandible. "I can't believe this has happened. Jamie would never have been so careless as to suddenly fall. It's just not like her," The camera went to her mother. Then back to the anchorman. "Now, on to our live reporter with the latest."Here, the camera went live to a reporter stationed at the Office Depot, near register twelve. My Mom. Guess she was home. Maybe the station called her to do this report. "Thanks, Harvey. As we interviewed the police, they said that a young woman was reported to be at the scene. Susannah," here, my Mom gave a wry smile, "Simon was allegedly said to have witnessed the murder, as shown on the store cameras positioned near the registers, positioned specifically to see shoplifters." There was suddenly the black and white store camera view, and you could clearly see me being grabbed on the neck by Jamie, or, Crissi. You couldn't hear what we were saying, but suddenly, out of Jamie's mouth came Crissi (Or a weird orb as normal people would see), and Jamie pitched forward and conked her forehead on the open cash register. The orb was hovering over me. "She, however, claims she has the 'right to remain silent, you freakin' stalkers.' But as you saw, on the camera, there was something strange coming out of Ms. Lefeyre's mouth after she assaulted Simon. Further questioning will be delayed, however, until next week Wednesday. As you can see behind me, this is where the fatal 'accident' occurred. Was this a murder? Or simply just an accident?" Mom looked strangely happy; I guess it isn't often people suddenly drop down dead. Great, mom, great. "Researchers have no idea why this healthy seventeen year old died, but they claim that they'll get to the bottom of this soon. Back to you, Harvey." Suddenly, Harvey came back on. "Thanks for that. And showing here, is the witness."

Suddenly, on screen, there was me, Jesse, and his whole motley crew. Microphones were shoved at our retreating backs as we ran to the parking lot, the camera shaking slightly. Then it focused on my cute cami top. I didn't know it looked like that from the back…maybe I should have ironed it.

"Miss Simon! What did you see?"

A tight lipped me was rushing away from the camera. All these reporters were following us.

"Susannah!"

"SUSANNAH!"

"Miss Simon!"

"Suze!"

"HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW MY NAME? LEAVE ME ALONE!" the on-camera Suze screamed. I raised my, err, finger, and ran off to the de Silva van. Why is it, that on MTV shows and all that crap, they blur out the license plate? Well, I guess they forgot because you could clearly see "JA1 47W9 California" on it.

"…thanks for tuning in to Action Seven News. Now on to sports with Morris Bentley-"

Disgusted, I shut off the TV. Jesse was leaning against the doorframe watching me with interest. He nudged his head towards the blank screen.

"See why I can live without television?"

I just glared at him. "You could have at least personalized your license plate."

He shrugged. "It isn't mine. It's my mother's."

Then he sat down next to me, wrapping his arm around my waist.

"So…liking your minutes of fame?" he teased.

"Not as much as I'm liking this," I replied and started kissing him. Jesse's hands were cupping my face and I leaned against the sofa, wrapping my legs around his waist.

What's the point of a loveseat when you can just sit on Jesse's lap? I thought as Jesse's hand slid into my hair.

I started to finger his shirt buttons.

He started to pull my shirt up.

Then he gave it a tug.

Then along came Tia.

The next morning, I gathered my pens and pencils, spirals and such, jogged across the street, avoided Tia, grabbed Jesse's arm and we rushed to the garage. It was too early for school to be starting, but we had to get something straight with Father D. We needed to tell him, if he didn't see the news. He would be able to see Crissi and know what was going on, no problem.

I sat down next to Jesse in a completely different car than the one he drove when we went to the beach. He was driving a Corvette that time.

Today, it was a Lamborghini. A freakin' black Lamborghini.With spinners.

Seriously, if he's that rich, he should be living on Seventeen Mile Drive.

Well, good for me; it matched my outfit. The car, I mean, not the street.

And this license plate, I was pleased to see, was personalized. 2HOT4U. Harhar…

I buckled my seatbelt. Jesse looked over at me and smiled. "Nervous about school?"

"Hardly," I responded airily. How could I be when I was in a sleek sports car with tinted windows, the love of my life chauffeuring, had spent three hours working on my hair, putting my hair up in a tortoise shell clip and curling the strands I left out, had my feet strapped firmly in four inch black Charles Jourdan open toe heels, was clad in a cute black halter top, wearing my special Miu Miu skirt that Gina got for me back in Brooklyn, and to top it off, a black Gucci purse and my Chanel shades.

Oh, and my personally decorated TI-84 graphing calculator.

Hell yeah, I was ready to kick butt. Preferably, Sister Ernestine's huge one, but hey – anyone's would do. How could I be nervous when I looked this good?

Just kidding.

"Are you nervous?" I asked. Jesse looked over at me and stopped backing out of the driveway. He put us in park. I watched the stick thing (see? I don't know anything about a car) with envy.

Jesse drove like a natural. I swear. I didn't even have a license. How did Jesse get one? I already asked him twice, but he didn't bother responding.

Fine. Be that way.

I had a feeling it had something to do with how the "church has ways".

He looked me in the eye. "Susannah, I have not been to school in, qué, a century and a half, but I love learning… Meeting new people and fitting in is my biggest concern right now…showing signs of my previous life wouldn't bode well, now would it?"

I fiddled with the radio, stopping on a song I liked. "Yeah, well, in this car, you do." When he raised the eyebrow with the scar subtly, I added, "Fit in, I mean."

"Susannah, are you trying to make me feel better? And what is a car-"

I was thinking of what I was going to say. "Not quite…"

I studied what Jesse was wearing; yeah. He'd fit in. Quite nicely. Decked out in PacSun and Billabong, he was the picture perfect Knight in Faded Abercrombie. That scar in his eyebrow gave him that striking look, and beneath his shirt, you could so tell he had a defined pack. That crisp looking hair, which is as crisp as it looks, and his olive complexion gives him that perfect tan…in a way. I mean, he's tan year round. His longer-than-my eyelashes…big, dark soulful doors to his soul…and those biceps? Yeah, a work of art. I'm sure Michaelangelo wouldn't mind Jesse posing sans apparel for him…heck, I'd want him posing naked for me. I was sure any straight girl would love to sink her claws into Jesse's lovely-

"The mission is which way?"

I pointed to the red dome in the distance. He muttered an 'ah, I can't believe this…thing runs on gas. Whatever happened to coal and trains?' and drove smoothly down our street. My eyes went back to staring at Jesse's body. I felt so special. I mean, Knight in Faded Abercrombie driving his noble steed-err, car, and whisking me away to his…okay, maybe not palace, but school. The school. I could so see myself at the prom with Jesse.

I think I must have blanked out, because suddenly, the music was off. The key was still in ignition, however, with Jesse's hand clutching it as though to pull it out.

"Aren't you going to get out? We're here."

I blinked into focus. Jesse was staring at me with an expression one could only hope was love. It was more like staring at a new species of clown, but hey; beggars can't be choosers.

I stared at Jesse as he pulled his key out of the ignition and the keys jingled as he held them, shaking them in an even rhythm. He was obviously nervous. He kept glancing out the window and nervously checked his rearview mirror. Just once. But once was all he needed. I thought he'd do more than fine, actually so I reached for his left hand (the one with the promise ring on it) and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Susannah, I'm not nervous. I'm just worried about opening the doors."

"Why?" I asked and looked around, and quickly realized that maybe we should have come earlier. Our arrival in the Lamborghini had attracted a lot of people.

We were going to hit them in the face if we opened the doors…them being wings. The doors, not the students. So that was why he was nervous? He was looking out for the other peoples' welfare!

There was a whole flock of students surrounding our car, touching it, even. Most of the onlookers were ogling the car, but the minority group was trying to see who was in it.

Fat chance. I laughed silently. It's called tinted windows.

"Welcome to Hell," Not Hell, Michigan, but as in hell, the school.

Jesse looked around.

"Why are they so close to the street?" he asked, ignoring the hell pun. He looked confused. I couldn't blame him. I sighed.

"They love your car." I mean, come on, it's a Lamborghini. It's like, imported from Italian. I mean, everyone around here drives Porsches, and corvettes, and mustangs and Mercedes, and your basic rich-ville material, but a sports car like a Lamborghini…

Now that was rare.

His eyebrows furrowed. "My what? Cart? As in, mule cart?"

Honestly. Half the time he didn't even understand me. What did he call it, then? "Your. Vehicle. Automobile. Lamborghini." How else could I describe it? "The thing we're sitting in."

Comprehension dawned. "Ah…but what is so interesting about a…" he swallowed ,"car?"

I sighed again. Really, he wouldn't ever understand. "Just unlock the door, please."

So he did. But I forgot which way his doors opened. For a second. There was an unlocking noise on the driver's side, then Jesse's door swung upward, almost hitting the people nearest them. Jesse muttered an apology and he walked around the car. With the click of his clicker, his door shut.

I was alone in his car. I waited for him to open the door.

"JESSE! What are you doing, leaving me?" I heaved against my door. Nada. "Open!" How the hell did you unlock these doors? Suddenly, there was a click and my door opened, revealing an amused looking Jesse extending his hand towards mine. My jaw dropped. How gentlemanly! I smiled (Oooh, I regret the cheesy look on my face) and reached for his hand. He pulled me out and we walked arm in arm out.

"First Bryce, then Tad, now this sexy guy! Who is he? He's so yummy looking! I want him."

I noticed Jesse turned pink slightly, (obviously he's heard his sister use the word 'sexy' before) but we just walked away from his car. He wrapped his arm around my waist, and with his free hand, held the clicker and we heard a satisfying 'click' as his car went under lockdown.

"Whoa, awesome ride, dude!" someone exclaimed. Jesse just ignored everyone. Everyone but me, that is.

"Suze. Suze! SUZE…hello, earth to Simon. Gosh, as soon as you show up with Prince Charming, you decide to ignore the little people?" I turned and saw CeeCee and Adam running towards us.

"Oh! Hey!" I hugged CeeCee and then introduced Jesse to them both. Jesse went and talked to Adam while I talked to CeeCee. "How did your visit with Aunt Pru go?"

CeeCee visibly shuddered. "It was terrible. The parents were out of town, so they sent me to my nearest relative. I mean, come on, I'm a senior. Is that not awesomely mature an age or what? But whatever, they don't care. They just shipped me to my freak aunt. I had to spend a month listening to my daily horoscope, how I was going to die in a week, how Venus was in some weird position and Uranus was full of crap. Really. Like I need all that. I'd rather eat the school corn dogs than spend another moment with her." CeeCee rolled her eyes. Here, Adam sniggered, coming back with Jesse.

"Yeah, and how your boy relationships were going down the loo."

CeeCee glared at him over her glasses. "Maybe with certain people…but anyway, I'm not here to argue with Adam. Did you see this?" Adam scoffed and claimed that he and Jesse were going to go see if his car was intact.

CeeCee showed me a newspaper article. I looked at the face. He was familiar but…

"You don't know him?" CeeCee shoved the article under my nose. "Don't tell me you didn't even read your schedule, let alone your letter!"

Uh...correction; I don't READ letters. Only the ones Gina write. But CeeCee didn't need to know that.

"Everything was in the letter!" The letter in the mail described new things, rules, guidelines, supply lists, and new students that have enrolled a month earlier. They all write an article about themselves. Jesse, unfortunately, and myself when I was new, didn't enrolled until recently.

I shook my head. "I've been busy." Understatement of the year. Try "I've been stalked by a ghost who's after my body and wants me dead and wants to take over my body." Talk about invasion of the body snatchers.

"He's a world famous surfer! And he's attending our school." Typical of CeeCee to read everything.

"Sorry, but I have better things to do than that. I'm assuming you want to interview him, you know, ask him what the difference between the West Coast and Australia is and if the risks of shark bites is -"

"Read." CeeCee hissed.

So I did.

Welcome me, Matthew Copan, to Junipero Serra Catholic Academy. Call me Matt. It makes my life easier. One syllable, you know? I'm a world famous award winning surfer born here, in Carmel, but then mom and I moved to Australia in fifth grade. I enrolled-

I didn't bother reading the rest; I froze, staring at the picture. I knew him! He was the guy at the beach the day Jesse came back! Of course, I couldn't say that, but still. I met up with him and he flirted and we talked. Then his weird Addams' Family friend Billy asked for him. I remembered that he wasn't the brightest bulb in the bunch, him not even knowing that Scarlet O' Hara was the one who said "Tomorrow is another day" but I didn't remember any Australian accent.

"And what," I asked, "is so important about Matthew Copan any-"

Someone interrupted, "And what is so important about Matthew Copan anyway?"

CeeCee and I both whirled around and my breath caught. He wasn't anything as hott as Jesse, but those turquoise eyes seriously just took your breath away.

He grinned. Wow. Such white teeth. Must have cost a fortune. "Hey! I remember you! It's Suze, right?"

I nodded. His grin grew even wider. "Wow. How could I ever forget your eyes. Or that face. Or that body in a swimsuit?"

I knew that he was flirting, but I mean, it still felt so great to be complimented like that. Maybe he was like Adam, always a flirt but…

You know. Jesse.

"Suze, you know him and you didn't tell me?" CeeCee sounded indignant. I shrugged helplessly.

"Hey, do you mind if we do something together? Later, I guess. You aren't taken, are you?" Matt eyed me expectantly.

"Uh…yeah I am, but it doesn't have to be a date."I felt kind of guilty...but hey; one date. Harmless.

Matt shrugged. "Sure, as long as I'm with you." Ha. He sure knew how to sweet talk. "What's your real name anyway?"

I opened my mouth, but someone said, "Susannah." I turned around and saw Jesse and Adam walking towards us.

"Well well well…fresh faces…new meat…" Adam studied Matt, then CeeCee's blush. "Making acquaintances, are we? Well. My turn. Hi. I'm Adam." He wrapped his arm around CeeCee's slender shoulders. "I'm a taken straight white male who loves CeeCee, fantasies involving an elopement with acertain green eyed gal, beaches, sunsets, and coffee. I also like…"

Jesse slowly steered me away from Adam, CeeCee, and Matt as Adam went on with an "I also hate…" list, which if I heard correctly, had an utmost curious name, Bradley Ackerman, on it and almost half the student population.

Before Jesse could speak, it was time for us all to stand in our separate lines, according to gender, and listen to the announcements. But according to Jesse's scowl, he saw everything that he didn't want to see.

As Jesse and I walked to our first our class, which, surprisingly, we both had, as well as second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh period, we were stopped by

Kelly Prescott and Debbie Mancuso. Kelly, the most popular, prettiest girl in the whole valley. I felt myself cringe slightly at the thought of Jesse meeting Kelly. Would he start to forget about me?

Kelly was in a white skirt and pink top with, sadly, awesome strappy Sergio Rossi shoes. I was slightly glad that I left my own pair in my closet. Debbie was…well, I wished I could sic Sister Ernestine on her. With that miniskirt, you'd think that she was suspended, or, the very least, humiliated in front of the whole senior class. Like me involving my Betsey Johnson skirt.

"Hey Suze!" Kelly gushed. "Wow, you've got yourself a bitchin' boyfriend." They were talking about Jesse as if he weren't there.

"What's your name?" Debbie asked, eyeing Jesse's…err, lower region. I clenched my fist. We did NOT need a confrontation over Jesse. She could have Dopey. For free.

"Jesse." He smiled that smile that made me melt. And that voice, not as soft as Tad's, but pretty darn sexy, "Pleased to meet you." He shook Kelly and Debbie's hands formally.

Kelly obviously liked what she saw, and all thoughts of Paul and sugar plums danced out of her head. "Wow! A real business type of guy. I'm obviously going to get class president this year…again…would you like to be my running mate?"

Jesse looked confused. "What?" His was looked confused until his eyebrows went way up when she said the word "Mate". Obviously that didn't bode too well with him.

Debbie giggled, her eyebrows arching dangerously and my thoughts were "Botox." She flicked back her honey blonde curls.

"Jesse, you're just so adorable! We just love your accent!" Kelly continued gushing and she held his face in her hand, which was pretty hard. Because Jesse was standing really stiff, straight up, and he's like, six four or something.

Debbie wanted to be smart for a minute. "I KNOW! It's like, so French! I mean, you have that Alps look! Sooo gorgeous!I love yodelers."

Jesse raised an eyebrow. Kelly, not being the dumb blonde, noticed and poked Debbie with her nail.

"Ouch! Whaddaya do that for?"

Before they could start bickering in front of us, I said, "Debbie; Jesse's taken. Okay? Taken. Yeah. By who? By me." Then I walked to Jesse's side. He slipped an arm around me again and we walked past them.

"French?" Jesse asked incredulously as we were out of earshot. He laughed.

And so did I.

Before we got to our first hour door, Jesse said, "Susannah, I will always love you. You don't need to look so pained every time I'm near the opposite gender. I didn't really want to meet them. I mean, French? That is so insulting."

Mr. Walden made him stand up and tell a little about himself.

I felt so bad for Jesse.

And it didn't help my nerves when all of the lady population was staring at him as though he were a nice bit of steak.

Not helping. I buried my face in my palms, then tried to admire my manicure but I mean, the guy you went to limbo for was standing at the front of a hormonal class of teenagers. Yet he was oblivious to his natural charm.

"-and as you probably already know, Miss Susannah Simon is my girlfriend and I love her with every fiber of my being so if you aren't doing her a kindness, you have me to answer to."

"If you aren't doing her a kindness?"

Everyone turned in their seats to stare at me. I started blushing. Really. Our teacher didn't need to hear that. I looked at our lumberjack of a teacher, but he just looked amused. I looked at Jesse, and he just stared straight back at me with this look of adoration on his face.

Oh damn, how much I love him, I'm not even embarrassed anymore.

I could tell Jesse got the ladies' approval. But the guys…I waited with baited breath for their approval.

Turns out that he fit right in. There were catcalls, yells of me being a "babe" and such and one jock, forgot his name, another one of Dopey's friend, shouted, "Hey, party at my place. Ten o'clock. You're VIP. Talk to me later, bro!"

"Settle down, settle down…"

No one did. He ended up chucking a piece of chalk at CeeCee, who was questioning him aloud in class about if his virtues were innocent, but then again, Mr. Walden wouldn't be mad at Jesse; remembering my first day, I recall him doing the same thing and he favors me, to be frank, except he didn't have a look of "I like him/her already" pasted across his face on my first day. Besides. Jesse kept on apologizing. That was bound to be some cookie points.

Jesse obviously didn't think he'd fit in. Turns out he became the most popular guy in school in a matter of one hour.

Even with the nuns.

Second hour. Our calculus teacher (how I got into calculus was beyond me) Sister Ruth did not know the meaning of "droning." She was lecturing about finding domains on functions, polynomials, and tangents made me not really give a damn. Even when I already didn't. (A/N: Newsflash: I don't take calculus yet, sorry, I don't know what I'm talking about)

However, Jesse was listening with riveted concentration. I threw my cheapest Bic pen at his desk and he didn't even flinch. For being new to the whole "learning in the twenty-first century", Jesse was an avid learner. Besides, by the way he was taking notes and all, it looked like he actually understood everything that came out of Sister Ruth's mouth. Actually, I think he did. Sister Ruth was walking around the classroom and picked up his spiral with a pleased look on her face.

"Why, Mr. de Silva obviously is an eager learner."

Jesse nodded. "What were you saying before that? I didn't quite catch it, pardon me. You were discussing how this one function …?"

She gave him a wide smile. Oh God…teacher's, err, Nun's pet…

"The chain rule is used for computing the derivative of a function of two variables composed with a curve. Good show, Mr. de Silva! I like you already." She winked at him and I tried to hide a shudder. Everyone was in too much of a stupor to notice, though.

I wrote a quick note to Jesse, who was still scribbling away. He didn't bother reading it, only shoved it up his sleeve, and read it only when Sister Ruth had stopped talking to get a drink from her used Gatorade bottle.

Jesse wrote a quick reply and dropped it on the floor, stomped on it, and kicked it directly under my heels. I blinked.

He was a born note passer.

Bending down, I picked it up.

Susannah, querida, do you not mind? I'm trying to learn right now. This is so interesting! I cannot believe that I, back when I was alive, never learned this. I cannot wait until after class, however, because this silence is contagious! Why is everyone asleep? They should be writing notes down! Well, not "notes" as you fondly call it, but actual, knowledgeable notes. Concerning advanced calculus. This will come in handy, I am assuming. Oh! Our dear Sister is about to continue. I must listen. Sorry, but we have the rest of our lives together.

Love, Jesse.

PS: for every note we write, I shall teach you some Spanish. I suppose it would be unnerving, living in a house full of people speaking a completely different language, no?

Today's phrase: te amo, mi amor

Definition: I love you, my love

There was a heart after Jesse's name. Quite a nice heart, actually, not the demented ones guys scribble on Valentine cards. This was a beautiful heart, written specially in a red pen. Next to the heart, however was a little picture of me thinking hard. It was a really good picture that made me really beautiful looking with my green eyes penned in green pen, and under it was written: how you always look to me. Make-up or not, I will always love you. I felt my throat tighten and I tried to swallow, but I couldn't. Jesse, who was obviously waiting for a reply, a thank you of some sort or something, looked behind himself to the right and saw me…

Crying.

Not huge, fat tears, but my eyes were watering, that was for sure.

I needed a Kleenex after this class. His eyes widened and he mouthed, "What's wrong?"

I opened my mouth, but…

"Miss Simon!"

I jolted in my chair. "What!" I wiped my eyes hastily.

"What is in your hand?" she barked. I looked down and saw the tears splattered on the pen. Luckily, it was ball point, so the words weren't ruined, but, man…me crying in class over a picture my wonderful boyfriend drew…I didn't even know he could draw.

Suddenly, the letter, not note, was snatched out of my hands.

"Oh! Please don't read it aloud, Sister!" I pleaded. Damn her…

"Susannah, querida-" Damndamndamndamn her! I don't care how virginal and holy and pure she is, I just want to- "do you not mind?" By this point, everyone had their heads up and was listening to the note, finally figuring out that Sister Ruth was not reading from her own lecture notes, but a student's note. Jesse stood up.

"Sister, it is my fault. Please, don't read it aloud, I was just trying to-"

She eyed him. I turned beet red. God! This was all my fault! On the first day of school, too! "Mr. de Silva, sit down."

He did, but didn't take his eyes off of Sister. I was flushing so badly, I was sure that I was going to stay that color. Sunburned looking.

"Now. I will not continue this waste of time, but I assure you all; read chapters one to three because we'll be having a little…ah, test soon. Good day!"

And class was dismissed. As Jesse and I walked out, I snatched the note off of Sister's desk and stuffed it in my pencil pouch.

I plopped down on the bench next to Jesse. Thank God all the hours were shortened today, because of it being the first day of school. It wasn't actually lunch lunch, but it was a short break, so the new students would know what life would be like everyday.

"Well? Are you enjoying yourself?" I asked him. Jesse was leaning against the table, elbows supporting him. He didn't answer, just asked me, "Susannah…why are the girls over there staring at me?" He seemed quite unnerved, to be honest.

I looked to where his gaze was. "Oh, don't mind them. They're probably just admiring your body."

Jesse was confused. You know…confused is a good look for him. I mean, well, everything looks good on him. I mean, with his lower lip jutted out slightly, and his head cocked to one side, it was just too hott to resist.

"Huh." He said and leaned closer to me, his breath warm on my face. "Well, no one will mind if I-"

"SUZE!" Jesse and I both looked up. Paul. He was on crutches, with a slight limp. Kelly and Debbie and crew were trailing after him, holding his stuff. He didn't even notice.

"Suze." He sounded breathless. "We need to talk."

I snuggled against Jesse. "Okay. Shoot. And don't tell me; this is about Crissi."

He nodded. "You know how she has all the articles my Gramps wrote? She can just read through them, or just ask Gramps. I hope she chooses the former, however, because any sign of paranormal activity is gonna make Gramps' brain go haywire. I mean-"

Suddenly, he noticed his followers were intently listening in. Debbie didn't even bother to hide her obvious interest. "So who's Crissi?"

Paul gave me a pointed look, his ice blue eyes piercing my own green ones. "We'll talk later. I got to-"

"SLATER! Du-ude!"

Matt sauntered towards our poor bench. Jesse groaned. I couldn't blame Jesse; all he wanted was some quiet time with me.

And, if I'm lucky today, snog me.

Maybe I should see Aunt Pru about my horoscope…see if my sadistic star I was born under is in a good mood.

"Hey, buddy, are you able to go surfing today or what?"

Paul grimaced. "Does it look like I can?" He gestured towards the crutches and raised an eyebrow. His thoughts? "Just get the hell away from me." Only, he didn't say the word hell if you know what I mean.

Matt gave his leg a look. "Don't look terrible…the wetsuit should protect it. I mean, it isn't cut, right? Whatever. Today, the waves are gonna be awesome! Better make it there before low tide, huh." Matt suddenly noticed Kelly, Debbie, and me. He directed his smiled at me.

"Suze! Hey babe!" Debbie looked disappointed and crossed her arms angrily.

Matt's gaze went to Jesse. "Hey," he tilted his chin, "do I know you?"

Jesse smiled. "I'm not sure, but my name is Jesse. Jesse de Silva." Susannah's boyfriend…he thought. I tapped into his mind. He looked at me weirdly and suddenly, I couldn't. Read his mind, at least.

"I see…" Matt's eyes wandered to the arm that was across my shoulders. I felt slightly embarrassed and shrugged Jesse off. He got the message and shifted a little. I sat a little farther away.

"Hi." I smiled, flashing the ol' pearly whites. "How do you like California?"

"I like what I see." He winked at me. "Believe me, the scenery is gorgeous."

I blushed slightly, pleased at this remark. Paul rolled his eyes, and muttered, "Stop hitting on her". Jesse's jaw suddenly went stiff.

Jesse looked at Paul. "Paul. Shouldn't we be talking…?" He widened his eyes and Paul got the message.

"Oh! Right." Surreptitiously, he said, "Yeah, sorry Matt, we got to go talk about Student Council…you know, next meeting, whether we should hire someone to polish our founder's head a little more with axle grease or something, you know…"

Totally sarcastic. But in Matt's happy world, he didn't really get the definition of sarcasm.

"Yeah! Okay, dudes, take care. Peace." Then he sauntered off, with Kelly and Co. trailing after him, thrusting their cell phones at his face demanding for his number. Which he gladly obliged, of course.

Wow. What an easy way to get rid of them all.

"So?" I turned to Paul, leaning closer to Jesse now that Matt was gone. Jesse didn't move. "Back on topic. How can I tell if it's Crissi, then?"

Jesse shifted around and after a pause, put his arm around my waist. Paul either needed a hearing aid or just was distracted because he didn't answer. He was just staring at my midriff where Jesse's arm was. If I didn't know better, I would have thought he was checking out my cleavage. But I do. I live in California now.

"Paul?"

He blinked. "Oh. I told you, there are at least two things on a ghost's past body that will reflect on the body they take over. Say, you're a ghost. You have green eyes and, I dunno, Angelina Jolie lips. The body you take over will lose those two traits, and your significant ones will show."

"So…if Jesse was a ghost…and he took over someone's body…you'd see his scar and…" Paul cut me off hurriedly.

"Exactly. That's a way to identify them." Paul was actually trying teaching me something.

"Okay, so how can I tell if it's Crissi? Would you have any ideas?"

"Well, for one thing, Crissi has green eyes. Also, she has a tattoo of a lily, the flower of death, right below her collarbone on the right."

I thought hard. "That would be where…?"

Paul flushed. "It would be right above her breast." Somehow, this tidbit of information unnerved me.

"Wait…how would you know?"

"Let's just say I'm not a saint, all right?" he snapped. Suddenly, his face looked drained. "Believe me, I know, and I'm regretting it."

No one said anything. A look at Jesse told me he was thinking hard and Paul was…well…

Still ogling at the arm around me.

"So…we're a team of ghostbusting mediators?" I nudged my head towards Jesse, then back at Paul. I stared into his intense blue eyes.

He didn't say anything. Then, "Yeah, I guess we are."

"Querida. I have an idea."

Paul and I jumped. Well, I did. He was on crutches. Paul's eyes were just startled and if it weren't for the bench, he would have hit the ground, maybe even cracking his mandible like that Jamie girl. I caught his crutches before they hit the ground and laid them on the table behind us. I mean, it was a picnic bench, with two boards on either side of the table, connected by a shaped metal pole thing. Paul landed on his hands, scowling when his he sat down; I saw three nasty splinters.

"What we should do, is just monitor you…not let you out of our sight or anything and-"

I nodded. "Right. So, basically, I have my own body guards."

Jesse furrowed his eyebrows. "Body guards? What are those? Oh, never mind. But also-"

I opened my mouth but then, everyone on the school paper started flocking towards me, notebooks and pen in hand.

"Suze! You were on the news! You actually saw a murder?" They just suddenly mention it now? When I'm finding out Jesse's brilliant plan?

I knew what I looked like; a deer under headlights. Only…as David said, they only do that because they are transfixed by the bright light.

Said in simpler terms by me, of course.

"What happened? Who was it? Was it that one senior Jamie Lefeyre?"

I blinked. Jamie what? "Listen, I don't want to talk about it." Suddenly, comprehension dawned on me; I had witnessed a murder. I guess the possible threat of me being the murdered kind of struck a nerve so I didn't register the other girl's death. And she just died like that.

"What happened?"

"Listen! I don't. Want. To talk about it!" I gritted my teeth. "Watch the news, why don't you!"

I saw CeeCee and realized that she was itching to ask me. I shook my head, meaning to say, "I'll tell you later. Maybe."

"No! Just watch TV, people! God! You are all freakin-"

"Leave us." Someone said quietly.

Everyone hushed as Jesse stood up. Compared with this crowd, Jesse was the most imposing. Towering over everyone, he quietly said, "can't you see she's in enough distress? Leave her alone."

And you know what?

They did.

"Hey, are you getting a ride with Jesse?" the epitome of Stupid asked me. It was after school, and Jesse and I had things to discuss with Father Dominic.

Only…currently, Jesse was discussing Geometry with…Sister Ruth. I've come to hate her almost as much as I hate Sister Ernestine. Almost. Not quite. But I guess over the year, I will. Then again…she hasn't criticized me about my wardrobe. Nor any of my skirts.

Yet.

"Yeah. I am. Why?" I was sitting on the bench Jesse and I were sitting on earlier, waiting for him.

Jesse, I mean. Not the idiot talking to me. I casually flicked dirt off my heel onto his Nikes and pretended that I didn't know him. I watched his thick, wrestler neck in amazement. Was he on steroids? Jesse's neck was way more appealing…not all red and sunburned and sweaty looking…at least he was a natural. Jesse. Not the Epitome of Stupid. How long can one take to talk about...math?

"Well, I wanted to check out his ride. You know, it's a Lamborghini. With spinners. I don't know how much horsepower, or the engine, but I mean, it's sweet. You would know. You were in it." I looked over one mountainous shoulder. Was Jesse finished talking to Sister Ruth or what? Maybe…-no-, Debbie didn't catch up with him. Because I knew where Debbie was.

I rolled my eyes. "You go do that, Dope-err, Brad."

He eyed me cautiously and incredulously said, "Dope! Are you calling me a crackhead?"

I shrugged. "Not exactly crack …thinking along the lines of 'steroids'." I watched his face with feigned nonchalance. His face turned red. I didn't care if he was on steroids...not really. I love making fun of Dopey. It was a way to entertain myself when I was desperately bored.

"Don't you have to be with someone?"

"What? No. Wrestling doesn't start until-"

I waved my hand irritably. "No no, you idiot. Debbie. Don't you have to be with some-"

"I heard you the first time," he snapped. "But why the hell would I want to be with her? I freakin' hate her."

"Well…she is right behind you…"

I think Brad officially hates me. But that's okay. Because I know Jesse loves me.

See what love can do for you?

We walked arm in arm, away from the couple arguing five yards behind us. Jesse, in his other arm was (not some other girl) a huge pile of Algebra, Trig, Geometry, and Advanced Calculus books. Seriously. He's a pimp for books. I was surprised that he could carry so much weight with an arm. That had to be at least fifty pounds.

I have to share his arms with books. Is that degrading or is it just me?

"So…" Jesse asked me casually. Too casually. "what did you do?"

"I was thinking about you and your obsession with learning. You obviously know Everything we've been discussing for the past years! I mean, come on, you're really smart. I can't even believe I'm in love with a smart guy."

"Flattering, Susannah, but I need the extra practice."

"But you don't need it! It's a waste of time!"

"Susannah…" his voice was hat you could only call tolerable. "I feel as if I've been missing what I could have learned before. It's my duty to know now, so starting today, I'll cover this book," he nudged the algebra book, "by today, finish it, and start on geometry. So." His arm shifted and went from my shoulders to my waist. "What did you do to Brad's intimate relationship?"

"Number one, it wasn't intimate, it was more so what you nineteenth century people call an affair. Besides, he'll be glad I did it. Eventually. He'll get over it."

"Other than that. What did you do?"

"Oh. I think I basically made Brad's life a living hell. Either that, or he's going to bang her later."

Jesse frowned. "Bang her? What is that supposed to mean, querida?"

I smiled innocently. "Nothing …really…I don't know if you'd understand."

"I'm not a complete idiot."

"You are if you're in love."

"Which I am, but try me," he teased and we both stopped walking. He bent down and kissed my promise ring, then we both continued walking to Father Dom's office.

"So? What does it mean?"

I didn't tell him. I mean, what could I say?

After knocking on the heavy wooden door, white haired Father Dom beckoned us in, then locked it. We got straight to the point, without talking how Jesse's life was, or how we liked the school year so far. I mean, come on, the first day of school. What do we know after a summer of brainwash and sun?

I sank lower in the comfortable leather chair.

"-yes, I did watch the news yesterday. I saw this…girl, Crissi, you say? And she is after you?" I had pulled out a PSP and started playing some sort of weird action game.

Jesse nodded. He was the only one talking because I got so tired of repeating things. I would counter him if he said something wrong. We had been in there for about two hours, and yet Father Dom didn't say anything resourceful yet. "She knows how to transfer bodies, because of Paul's grandfather. She is after Susannah's body."

"Oh my." Father Dom, behind his glasses, his baby blue eyes were wide in shock. "Surely not? You can't possibly-"

"Yes, it is. Did you not see the camera shot of Office Depot? You saw her come out of Miss Lefeyre's body. Do not deny it, Father. You know we can't avoid Crissi forever."

"Yes, yes, I understand. But good gracious! Susannah!"

"Yeah, I know." I spoke. "Crissi's after me. Big whoop. Can't we just exorcise her and get it over with?" Surprisingly, I was quite calm this whole time, not breaking into hysterics at all. I was doing pretty darn good.

"Well," Father Dominic said finally, "with a good dose of medication, we can keep you unconscious with-"

"WHAT!" Jesse and I both yelled. I dropped the poor kid's PSP, heard it clatter onto the floor,and stood up, my joints aching. I should watch that kickboxing tape again. I need it. Where did it go?

"You can't just drug me senseless," I protested. "I'd rather be exorcised myself. I mean, you can dream when you're drugged, right?"

How did that one thing go?

I see you when I dreaming,

That's why I wake up screaming.

No way was Father Dom going to drug me. I mean, he threatened to put lice in Bryce's hair! He never got to, but what a disaster it would be if he did! That gorgeous hair infested with lice...I shuddered.

I can't believe a priest would even think it.

"Well then," he huffed, "what do you propose?"

"Absolutely not. I forbid it!"

Jesse and I both cast bemused looks. "Listen, Father Dom, I had been rooming with him for, how long? Never, ever, has he taken advantage of me. Nor mention the fact that he was ever sexually active." Even though I had wished it. Father Dom ignored the sexually active part.

"Yes, but, he's alive now!"

"Why do I feel as if you two are pointedly ignoring me?"

Father Dom gave Jesse the twice over. "We NEED to talk." I picked up the PSP. Damn. I think I did break it.

That was how we led to the conclusion that I should always be by Jesse's side.

Translation: I was going to be sleeping with Jesse.

Okay, not having sex with Jesse, but just sharing a bed. Sleeping in the same bed, whatever.

And we'd have all this Roman Catholic prayer sung around where we sleep so A) Crissi, an evil spirit of Satan, can't come near us and B) God bless Jesse and my souls if we are to do anything…indecent.

Sure, Father Dom protested, but what else could we/he do? I mean, if we tried to exorcise Crissi, what would happen? She knows what one is…she isn't going to fall for the "New Life" thing like Heather Chambers did. So we still needed a master plan on how to get rid of Crissi. Later, we figured that if we see her, I was to give her as much bodily harm as my petite frame can. And, secretly I thought, I'd do another one of my infamous Brazilian Exorcisms.

No easy task. Especially with some chick who looks exactly like me and weighs the same, probably.

I'll have to think of something better. I didn't know if I was the prey or the predator. Probably leaning toward the Prey side. Which isn't fine. But then, sleeping with Jesse? Hubba hubba. More than happy. (Even if we're going to be fully clothed and basically, just sharing a sleeping space, but no matter. Somehow, it still was romantic. One way or another)

Father Dom ushered us out as Sister Ernestine came in, demanding that there should be a new rule banning all miniskirts.

Maybe she did catch Debbie.

A/n: Please review!

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