Title: Shadowland: Jake/Sleepy's POV

Rating: Probably K+

Disclaimer: I do not own these stories. The talented Meg Cabot does, of course.

Summary: This is the Mediator, book one: Shadowland. But, it's in Jake/Sleepy's POV. It's about his feelings in the book, and his feelings for Suze. Just what exactly is going on? And why is his step-sister so frequently on his mind?

Lunch today was less eventful than yesterday, that's for sure.

For one, there were no rafters falling, at least not yet. Second, Bryce was in the hospital, meaning I was sitting alone. Not that it was too much of a difference, considering we didn't talk too much anyway. We both enjoyed the sun and the breeze, and we had an unspoken agreement that we didn't need to say much. But still, it was even quieter than usual.

I casually looked around and spotted Suze talking to her two new friends, I wasn't sure of their names. I guess it was some guy and the albino girl, at least that's what Brad tells me.

Why he thinks I want to know, I'm not sure. But he made sure to tell me. He also thought that I should know that her new guy friend (whatever his name was) seemed infatuated with Suze.

Yeah. I know the feeling. It's a very weird feeling.

He smirked when he told me, and I wondered what was up. I hoped he hadn't noticed that I've been acting weird around Suze. I definitely haven't said anything.

I didn't need Brad suspecting anything. He would never let me live it down.

Anyway, I looked over to see Suze say something to that guy and I saw his eyes practically pop out of his head as he started choking.

I wonder what she had said. I thought about it and shrugged it off. I didn't need to know anyway. I needed to keep my mind off of Suze. I turned back to the sun, leaned back on the monkey bars, and closed my eyes behind my sunglasses. I tried to think about something else, anything else. Surfing seemed like a good topic. The feel of the water splashing against your face as you rode a big wave. That was the life.

I hated not being able to surf much anymore. Thanks to my job and school, I was very limited on time. Maybe I should try to make some free time this weekend. I wonder if Suze has ever been surfing. Maybe I should offer to take her.

Scratch that thought. I'm supposed to be thinking of something other than Suze.

Just as I was about to doze off, I heard the object of my affections….ahem…..I meant the object of my thoughts calling out my name.

"Slee….Jake!" I heard her wonderful voice say.

I really need some serious help.

She nudged me with the toe of her boot, and I squinted up at her from behind my sunglasses. Even though she was wearing her wrinkled top from yesterday (which I noticed she had thrown a light jacket over), she still looked amazing.

I groaned internally. Sometimes I hated myself.

"Hey, Jake, Don't wait for me after school. I found my own ride," she said, glancing over at where she had been sitting.

Ah, so that's what she had said to that guy. She was asking for a ride.

I wonder why she didn't want to ride with me. Did she sense that something was up? Was she catching onto me?

I really hoped that she wasn't noticing how interested I was in her. It was bad enough feeling like this, but having her know what I was thinking and feeling would be unbearable.

Or did she really like this guy? Did she just want some alone time with him? What was so special about him? I'd have to find out more about him later to see if he was good enough.

While I was thinking this, I noticed that Suze was still looking at me expectedly. I grunted in agreement and closed my eyes.

What was I supposed to say?

I didn't really feel like talking. I didn't want my voice to show the frustration and confusion that I was feeling. Plus, what was I going to say? "No, you can't ride with anyone else. I want you in the car with me so I can keep an eye on you. And watch you way too closely, because I'm a creep."

Obviously, I couldn't say that. I didn't really have any other choice but to agree.

After she left, I tried to go back to thinking about something else. Like my Camaro. I was thinking red would be a nice color. Or maybe black. I hadn't decided yet.

I knew that I needed good stereo, since I liked to keep the music loud. Maybe I'd even throw in some nice rims.

I wonder what Suze would think when I got my Camaro. Would she want to ride with me then?

I continued to imagine what it would be like, riding along in my Camaro (with T-tops, of course) with Suze. The wind blowing her vanilla-scented dark brown hair behind her.

I stopped myself after that, refusing to let my fantasy get any further. I'm not sure where the thought would have led, but I didn't want to find out.

I was getting really tired of these thoughts, and I wanted to get rid of them for good. How was I going to spend the rest of my life with Suze as a stepsister if I couldn't even get her out of my head for a day? Scratch that. I couldn't even get her out of my head for a total of five minutes. It was pathetic.

Once lunch was over, I went through the rest of the day groggily. I can't even remember the last time I had been this tired. It was awful.

After school, I walked out to the Rambler. I looked over to see Suze getting into what I assumed was that guy's car—a brand new Volkswagen Bug. Obviously, he had money. That was just great. Here I am, driving a Rambler and trying hard to earn this Camaro, and this guy's over here driving a brand new car.

The good news: Suze wasn't alone with him. The albino girl (sorry, I don't know her name) was in the car with her.

The bad news: That guy was holding open her door, beaming up at her like they were going on some sort of a date.

I didn't realize I was glaring until I felt Brad's hand land on my shoulder.

"What's got you so uptight?" he said, smirking at me and raising his eyebrows as he glanced over at Suze and that guy.

I quickly shrugged his hand off of my shoulder.

"Get in the car already," I said, turning to get in the Rambler.

I heard Brad snicker as he and David got into the car.

"Shut up!" I said, glaring at him menacingly.

This is just what I needed: Brad finding comedy in my sick, twisted, and pathetic obsession.

"Where's Suze?" I heard David ask.

"Ask Jake," Brad said, smirking as he chuckled.

I glared at him again.

"She's riding with some friends," I tried to say calmly, as I pulled out of the parking spot.

"What are you laughing about?" I heard David ask Brad.

"Well, you see, David. Jakey here has a little cr…"

But I didn't let him finish.

"Brad, SHUT UP!" I said, my face red, as I jerked the car out of the parking lot and onto the main road.

I think Brad finally saw how serious I was. He looked over at my face, rolled his eyes, and smirked as he turned to look out the window. But at least he shut up.

How embarrassing. I really think my life has hit an all-time low.

After getting home, I tried to take a short nap. It took longer than usual to fall asleep, on account of the fact that I was constantly thinking about where Suze was or what she was doing.

I finally drifted off, only to wake a few hours later by the phone ringing.

I picked it up and answered, groggily.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Jake. It's Bryce."

"Yeah, Bryce. I know your voice by now. I knew it was you," I said, yawning.

"Oh, well sorry," he said, chuckling lightly. He still sounded like he might be a little loopy on medication.

"Yeah, no problem. So….what did you call for?" I asked, curious.

Bryce and I didn't talk all that much, and especially not on the phone. If he called, he always had something he wanted to say.

"I was just calling to tell you that your new stepsister showed up to visit me today. You know, the hot one," he said. I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Umm, yeah. Well she's the only stepsister I have, so I'm pretty sure you didn't have to elaborate. I know who you're talking about. And, by the way, she has a name. It's Suze," I said a little bitterly.

Sorry, but I didn't want him to refer to my new stepsister as "the hot one."

Besides, I didn't want to think of the words "hot" and "Suze" in the same sentence ever again.

"Yeah, I know her name. I mean, I had to and all, considering we were supposed to go on a date Saturday night," he explained.

I knew this already, on account of Brad telling me. But I still didn't want to hear it. Then again, he said was supposed to go. As in, past tense. I relaxed a little at that.

"Supposed to?" I asked, curiously, but trying not to sound too interested.

"Well, yeah. I can't go now, since I'm in the hospital. But it sucks, because I was definitely looking forward to it. I mean, I was going to take her to a nice restaurant, and then I was going to kiss her goodnight. But I guess that's not gonna happen," he said, sighing in defeat.

I felt my whole body tense at that.

I DEFINITELY didn't want to think of the words "Suze" and "kiss" in the same sentence. That's for sure.

I definitely couldn't afford to get the image of me and Suze kissing in my head. I'm pretty sure if I did, it would never go away. So I quickly shrugged off the idea, before I could form a mental picture.

But, in doing so, I started to picture Bryce kissing Suze, and I felt sick. And angry.

I guess, since I didn't respond, he thought that meant he should keep talking.

"I mean, I know she's your sister and all…"

"STEP-sister," I felt the need to add through gritted teeth.

Great. Just what I needed. My friend to think I'm crazy and obsessed too.

"Whoa, sorry. I'll try again. I know she's your STEP sister and all, but she's still incredibly hot. And look at the way she walks around. She definitely seems experienced. I bet you she's one incredible kisser," he said, his voice drifting off.

I was starting to get really annoyed.

First off, she was my STEP sister, NOT my sister. That was a big difference, believe me.

Second, I didn't want to think of Suze as experienced AT ALL. I would prefer that she had never had any experience ever!

And lastly, I really, really didn't want to think of how incredible of a kisser Suze was.

"Yeah, sorry man, I hadn't noticed," I said, clearly lying.

What did you expect me to say? "Yeah, my sister's hot, and I think about her constantly. I'm pretty much obsessed."

Obviously, I couldn't say that.

I'm such a freak.

"Well, obviously. That'd be weird if you had," he said, oddly.

Yeah, thanks for that. As if I needed someone else telling me I was weird in order to know that it was true. I was already well aware of that.

"Ha, yeah. You're right," I said, awkwardly, trying to laugh it off.

"Anyway, our date had to get called off since I was in the hospital. But still, it was nice that she came and visited me. So, I was thinking, you know, that maybe you could keep me updated on anything going on in her life in the area of love interests. After all, I'm going to be in the hospital for quite a bit, and I want to make sure that no one's moving in, if you catch my drift."

I felt my eyes narrow. He wanted me to keep an eye on her love life?

That was like stalking her. Not that I wasn't pretty much doing that already. But still, having someone ask me to do it was just…wrong.

"Come on, Bryce. She's only met you once. I can't stop her from dating other guys," I said, rolling my eyes.

I definitely wish that I could. If I could, I would make sure that she never dated anyone but me.

I quickly pushed that thought aside.

"I'm not saying not to let her date anyone else. I just want you to keep me updated," he finished.

"Fine," I said, grudgingly.

What else was I supposed to say? I didn't want to say no and risk him thinking something was up.

"Alright, cool. Thanks man! I'll owe you," he said, hanging up.

Yeah. Whatever.

I was really annoyed by now and decided to go back to sleep until dinner time.

Hopefully, I could clear my head of Suze enough to finally get some rest.

But I knew that was a lost cause. I sighed, rolled over, and gave into the thoughts about Suze that I had been suppressing all day.

A/N: Okay, that's all for now! Please review and tell me what you think! Tell me if this chapter was okay. I know it sort of wasn't in the book, but tell me if I did it okay?

Please review?!

And thanks for reading!