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?

A/N: Here's the last chapter!

Read it all up and enjoy! Savor every last word! =)

The rest of the actual book shows hardly anything about Jake, so I'm definitely going to have to ad-lib quite a bit. It might be a bit different from what really happened, but we don't know. Plus, it's my story. So yeah…….I hope that you still like it! Be sure to review and let me know!

I woke up to my alarm clock going off, almost immediately after my head hit the pillow. Or at least it felt that way. My body felt like I had been pounded with hammers, and my head felt much heavier than usual. If I had ever walked around looking as if I was half-asleep, it was definitely today.

I didn't even bother trying to look as nice as usual. I just showered and got dressed. Styling the hair could be ignored just this once.

I grabbed my jacket, with my eyes half closed, and headed to grab the keys. I looked around to see that David had basically the same appearance as me. His clothes were a little wrinkled, his hair was sticking up a little bit, and his eyes were half closed.

I looked over at Brad and let out a grunt when I saw that his hair was styled, as usual, and he didn't look tired at all. How lucky.

I looked around, but I couldn't spot Suze.

"Did anyone see Suze around this morning?" I asked, curiously.

I looked over at David. He looked concerned, but then he shook his head no.

I felt a panic rise in my chest. I really hope she hadn't decided to go out again last night after we got home. She wouldn't do that, right?! Not after my lecture. I mean, she looked like she was actually listening to me. I was hoping that she'd take my advice and take up surfing instead.

I heard Dad shout from the other room, "I think she's still asleep. We tried to wake her already, but she wouldn't budge. She didn't even open her eyes to look at us. We think the jet lag has finally caught up with her."

Jet-lag. Yeah, right! He wishes. If only he knew was she was really up to that was making her so tired. I'm pretty sure being practically buried alive would drain the energy from anyone.

"I'll go check on her one more time, just to be sure," I said, heading up the stairs.

I needed to see for myself that she was actually there.

Plus, I wanted to make sure that she was still breathing and all that. You never know what kind of internal damage could have occurred last night. I'm not a doctor or anything, but she was buried under some pretty heavy pillars.

I jogged up the stairs, knocked quietly just in case, and then entered when I heard no answer.

I breathed out a sigh of relief. At least she was home. That was definitely a good thing.

I walked over to the side of the bed to look closer.

I saw her beautiful brown hair cascading all around her as her chest rose and fell with each breath. Her lips looked a deep red and her cheeks showed a slight blush. She looked so calm and peaceful that I hardly wanted to disturb her.

I just sat there and stared for a minute, trying to take the image in.

It wasn't like I wanted to watch her or anything.

It was only because I was concerned about her. That's all. Really. She could have a concussion, after all. That might explain why she didn't wake up.

That was definitely the only reason I stood there staring at her. Just to make sure she was okay. That's all.

Her lips showed a slight smile, and I felt myself smiling back. I saw a piece of hair fall in front of her face, and before I knew what I was doing, I brushed it away. Her skin was so soft that I let my fingers linger there for just a second, before realizing what a creep I was being, and pulled my hand away.

Suze seemed like a completely different person in her sleep.

Instead of the rough exterior she normally carried, she looked sweet and vulnerable. She definitely didn't look like someone who would take part in a gang initiation stunt that ended up destroying part of the school. She looked so completely innocent.

Ha! Right…. Suze, innocent.

I chuckled at the thought, when I heard a voice from downstairs.

"What's taking you so long up there, Romeo? We're going to be late!" I heard Brad yell up the stairs.

I grimaced and clenched my fists. I was going to kill Brad.

"I'm just trying to see if she'll wake up," I lied. I quickly decided that I would try to wake her up once, just in case.

"Suze," I said, tapping her gently.

"Mmmm," she stirred slightly. "Jesse…." She mumbled in her sleep.

It felt like someone had just punched me in the gut.

This stupid idiot, Jesse, apparently leaves her for dead under a pile of tiles and wood to die, and yet she's dreaming about him!

Life was definitely unfair.

I finally turned, walking out the door and dragging my aching heart behind me.

Not that it was aching, because she liked this Jesse or whatever. It was just because I was angry that she liked him after he hadn't even tried to rescue her. That's all. Really. I was just concerned for her wellbeing.

"She won't wake up," I said, as I jogged down the stairs.

"It's okay. Just let her be. Let her catch up on some sleep," Dad said.

I didn't really like the idea. Going to school without Suze made me uncomfortable in so many ways.

What if she snuck out again? She could get into danger and I wouldn't even know. I couldn't save her this time….unless David had another one of his psychic moments.

What if she DOES have a concussion and we're just letting her sleep, when clearly that's what you're NOT supposed to do. What about that?

Or what if this Jesse decides to sneak over and see her?! What if he tries to apologize for leaving her for dead? And what if she's so vulnerable and tired that she just forgives him like nothing ever happened?

Plus, I just really didn't enjoy school without being able to at least see Suze passing in the hall every now and then.

All of these issues kept running through my head. I couldn't say them out loud, though. That would be admitting two things I didn't want anyone to know. First, that we had something to do with what happened at the school last night AND second, that I had Suze on my mind. I definitely couldn't admit to either of those.

I must have looked concerned, because dad and Brad both gave me a funny look.

"I'll stay with her," Dad said to me.

"Okay, good," I replied, with a silent sigh of relief. I heard Brad let out a small chuckle as he smirked at me. I glared back and started to head out the door.

"Now, let's go. We're gonna be late," I said, as I headed to the Rambler.

I decided that I could just check on Suze when I got home. If she still wasn't awake, then I'd try taking her to a hospital in case she had a concussion.

The car ride was pretty silent on account of the fact that David and I were both exhausted. And all Brad wanted to do was smirk at me knowingly the whole time.

Oh, how badly I wanted to wipe that idiotic smirk off of his face.

When we got to school, everyone was talking about the collapsed breezeway. I looked at David, and he looked concerned as well. What was going to happen? Were they suspecting Suze (or us, because I'm pretty sure that my fingerprints were all over that crime scene)?

Luckily for us, we found out that everyone was blaming it on an earthquake. I let out a breath that I didn't even know I was holding.

Apparently, the force (of whatever Suze was up to) was so strong that people felt it all around town. Suze seriously astounds me sometimes. How she managed to take part in something this enormous was just insane!

I still wish I knew what Suze had REALLY been up to, though. I mean, what could possibly bring down that huge breezeway like that? Who else was involved? Why did they all make it out safely, except for her? Why did they leave her?

So many questions that I'm sure will never be answered. Suze doesn't really like to give a lot of details.

Anyway, a lot of the hype finally died down as we were sent to our classrooms by Sister Ernestine. Scary woman!

School dragged by so slowly without Suze around, and it was definitely less interesting. I mean, things were not falling or breaking. No one was being nearly killed. It was actually rather suspicious. Nothing happens at the school until Suze comes to town. Then, it's utter chaos. Now Suze is out for the day, and school is back to normal.

Was I the only one who noticed?!

The only remotely interesting thing I heard was that Suze was elected Vice President. That was no surprise to me, of course. Suze was absolutely amazing. She was intelligent and sensitive. She'd make a great Vice President. Plus, of course, she DID save Bryce, and she is incredibly good looking (I did NOT just think that). After all, popularity and good looks are MOST of the reasons people at the Mission vote for VP. But, lucky for us, Suze has all of that and more.

Suze had only been here in a short time, but she had already managed to change the lives of so many people, especially mine……

After hearing this news, school began to drag slowly again. I can't explain the relief I felt when it was finally over.

As we were piling into the Rambler, I saw Brad staring at me.

"What?" I asked, giving him an annoyed look.

"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking about something….." he said, giving that same smirk as this morning.

I glared at him and clenched my fists again.

"Just shut up and get in the car, idiot" I said, hopping into the driver's seat. I was annoyed and exhausted. I really didn't want to deal with Brad right now. I wanted to drive home and make sure that Suze was home, safe and sound, and alone.

"Whatever," Brad, said, hopping in the passenger side. "At least I'm not a pervert," he said, giving me a look.

I just gave him a dirty look and pulled out of the parking lot.

What was I supposed to say to that?!

It was true. I am a pervert. What kind of brother (well, STEP- brother) worries about his sister this much? And constantly wants to be around her? Worries about if she's going out with another guy? Worries what she thinks about him? Worries if she's home alone or with someone else?

I'll tell you how many: ONE! That's right, just one. And that one would be me.

So, you see, I couldn't even argue back, because he's right. I am a pervert.

So, instead of arguing back, I focused on driving home and getting us all there in one piece. After all, I was incredibly exhausted. And judging by the look on David's face, he was too.

As soon as we got home, I saw Brad rush up the stairs, stomping past Suze's room. He must still be angry that she got him grounded. But, whatever, he totally deserved it.

I followed suit, up the stairs, but without the stomping. I peeked in Suze's door and let out the breath I was holding.

There she was, sitting on her window seat, flipping through some magazine. The breeze was coming in the window slightly, whipping Suze's hair around her face. She looked up at me with those mesmerizing green eyes, and my breath caught in my throat. She was absolutely stunning.

Brown hair blowing in the wind, green eyes sparkling, looking up at me with the cutest expression of curiosity.

I was going insane.

I shook my head to try and clear my thoughts, as I turned around and headed out of her room.

As soon as I left, I saw David knock on Suze's door, looking rather shy. I heard Suze tell him to come in, and he entered, carrying Suze's homework with him. Part of me wondered if he was going to talk about how he knew where to find Suze last night. And that part of me really, really wanted to listen to the conversation.

But I didn't. Because no matter how much I worried and thought about Suze, spying on her and listening to her conversation was just plain wrong. And a little stalker-ish.

I went to my room to sleep, but sleep never came. Instead, thoughts of Suze filled my mind.

I heard the phone ring as I was lying there, thinking about the drastic change my life has taken since Suze came into it. Then, after a few minutes, the phone rang again. Then a few minutes later, it rang a third time. What was going on? And who kept calling?

I saw Brad walk into my room a few minutes later, and I sighed in annoyance.

"What do you want?" I asked, not hiding my annoyance at all.

"Oh……nothing……" he said, smiling at me with that stupid grin of his. "It's just that….."

"Spit it out, already," I said, fed up with whatever stupid game he was playing.

"I just thought you'd wanna know that apparently, Bryce is transferring schools. Too bad for poor Suze. She and Bryce won't get that date."

"How'd you know about that date? Or that he's transferring?" I asked, suspiciously.

"Oh, I have my ways. Anyway, I bet that's a real bummer for you. I mean, you must be devastated and all. Poor Suze, not getting to go out with one of the most popular guys in school. Suze might actually have to settle for someone else now," he said, giving me a look that practically says 'I'm so onto you.'

"And your point is….?" I asked, acting as if I was confused.

"As if you don't know…. I just thought that maybe you had someone in mind," he said, crossing his arms and smirking again.

"Right. Whatever," I said, waving my hand at him, indicating that it was his time to leave.

"Oh, and just so you know, Suze just got a call from Father Dom. They sure do talk a lot, huh? Maybe Suze didn't like Bryce after all. Maybe she likes older men," he said, smugly.

Brad was such a jerk, especially accusing Suze and Father Dom of having a thing. I shuddered at the thought. He was a priest! And she was a kid! That's just wrong in so many ways!

"Sorry, bro, but I think that if she goes for guys that age, you might be just a little too young…." He trailed off, grinning again.

"Brad….." I warned, throwing a pillow at his face. "Get out of here or I'm going to beat the….."

Luckily, I didn't have to finish that sentence, because he walked out, chuckling, and closed the door behind him.

I groaned in frustration. Brad was such a jerk. I was already in enough agony, and he has to go and rub it in.

What was up with him anyway? Thinking that I wanted Suze to date me?!

Was he crazy?

She's my sister, well STEP-sister, but still. I mean, why would I want to date her?

Why was I so interested in Suze's life? Why did I worry so much about her? Why am I unable to breathe when I look into her eyes? Why did I constantly think about her? And WHY do I get this weird fluttering feeling in my stomach when I see her?!

Why? Why? Why?!!!

And then I realized that I finally needed to admit it. Not out loud or anything. And DEFINITELY not to anyone else, but at least to myself.

Apparently, ignoring these feelings that I've been having didn't make them go away. And they definitely didn't seem like they were going away anytime soon.

So I might as well just accept it. It was pretty torturous trying to make up excuses or ignore it.

I finally have to admit the truth.

I like my sister. I like Suze. And not like as in I think she's a cool person (even though I do) or like as in I can stand her. Not even like as in I wouldn't mind hanging out with her.

I mean, I like, like her, as in I wouldn't mind dating her, or even kissing her. A lot.

And that brings me to my next conclusion: My life is definitely messed up. I'm such a weird pervert that I can barely even look myself in the mirror anymore.

Why did I have to have feelings for my step-sister?!

At that moment, I realized that my life had changed drastically when Suze entered into it. Ever since she came into my life, I felt as if my life had become a constant roller coaster. And I had the feeling that it wasn't going to stop here. Although, when it would finally stop, I had no idea.

But I knew one thing: It was going to be one CRAZY ride!

A/N:

THE END! Okay, I'm all finished. Let me know what you thought! Should I try to do more of the series in Jake's POV? Or was this better as a one time thing?

Please tell me what you think, whether you loved it or hated it….