I slowly trudged up the driveway with my bag hanging half off my shoulder. I didn't know if I was more exhausted from running, or crying.
Luckily my Parents had gone down to the school to see Doc's science project thing, Dopey had gone down to the beach with some friends for surf… And Sleepy was, well… Sleeping.
I made it to the main bathroom downstairs, washed my face and straightened up my hair. I couldn't let Jesse see me in this state!
As I was walking up the stairs, I was contemplating on whether or not I should tell Jesse the real truth about what had happened… or lie, once again… I opened my bedroom door and headed lifelessly for my bed.
"I thought you were going to…"
Jesse looked at the jogging clothes I was wearing. My body was now sprawled out, face down on the bed.
"I didn't go" I muttered.
Wow, if you're going to try and fool him, you're doing a great job Suze, I thought. But I didn't have the energy to care.
"Susannah, what is going on?"
Jesse's voice sounded full of concern, as I could hear him walking towards me. I rolled over… a little to far, and fell off the bed.
All of I sudden, I couldn't contain it and I started laughing hysterically.
"Susannah?"
He knelt down on the floor next to me, not sure how to react with my laughter. As he held my head, and lifted me up so that I was sitting against my bed, I looked into his eyes, and stopped laughing.
Instead, I started to cry.
Jesse was now really worried and confused with my dramatic emotion change… Probably thought I was loosing it… Which I guess, I was!
"Querida, what is wrong? Has something happened to you?"
Jesse asked, moving in closer and placing a hand on my arm.
"I am so, stupid!"
I managed to blurt out, lowering my head down.
Then it had occurred to him, that Brett must have had something to do with this.
"It was that guy wasn't it? What has he done? … Dios! Susannah, you're shaking!"
He grabbed one of my jackets, which was on the chair behind him, and wrapped it, and his arms around me. He gently cradled me in his arms, continuously telling me that I was safe now, and that he'd look after me.
After a few minutes, I had finally composed myself and Jesse had helped me sit up onto the bed.
He sat beside me, holding my hands, waiting patiently for me to tell him what had happened. I sighed and took a deep breath, staring towards the window, away from Jesse's gaze.
"He wanted… He tried to…"
Jesse held my hands tighter, rubbing them with his thumbs.
"Why did I have to go and see him again!" I wailed. Man, I felt like an idiot!
Jesse sat there, looking at me… "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
He asked, suddenly moving his face into my view.
Then I proceeded to tell him the whole story, even about the date…Hardly stopping for a breath of air.
He had to know the truth. Because I knew, that if there was one person who would stick by me through anything… even if he may not approve of what I do sometimes… I knew that Jesse would always be there for me.
So he had to hear the truth…
As my mouth was going a million miles per hour, I noticed a few times he'd pull a disgusted face, or a 'I can't believe this guy' kind of look.
Once I had finished, I sat back; not knowing what Jesse would do, or say…
"Jesse, I'm so sorry"
I whispered, sniffing and wiping my eyes with the corner of my bed sheet.
Jesse didn't say anything, so I looked up into his eyes. He looked like he had water welling up inside them. Was he about to cry for me? Then he threw his arms around me tightly.
"Oh my dear Querida, you don't need to be sorry for anything"
We sat there for a moment in one another's arms… I knew he was shedding a few tears, I felt them roll down my back. Not that his shirt was dry though, no, his shoulder was drenched.
Then before he leant back, he wiped his eyes so that he'd think that I wouldn't notice he'd been crying…
I sniffed and gave a little laugh at the fact that he'd cried for me. He laughed at my laugh, looked up and wiped my teary cheeks with the sleeve of his shirt.
"It's getting late. Well, I'll let you get some rest hey?" He said, slowly standing up from my bed.
"Jesse wait!"
I grabbed onto one of his arms. He stopped and looked down at me.
"What's wrong, can I get you something?"
I smiled at him "Thank you so much, for understanding…" I finally managed to say.
He chuckled. "You, Susannah Simon, are nothing but trouble"
I lowered my head. "And boy do I attract it"
Then he knelt down at my bedside and held my hands together in his.
"Susannah, You know I will do anything for you…"
Then he gently layed me down and tucked me in, pulling the covers up to my shoulders.
"No dejaré ningún daño malvado usted mi Querida, permaneceré por usted el lado y le protegeré"
He whispered ever so quietly. I gave him a clueless look that said 'translate please'
He ran his hand gently down my cheek.
"I will let no evil harm you my Querida, I will stay by your side and protect you, forever".
I smiled and closed my eyes knowing that I had someone special watching over me while I slept. That was a comforting feeling.
I awoke the next morning to the heavy sound of rain and rolled other to check the time… I was running late for school.
"Oh damn, it's 8:05am"
I grumbled and pulled the covers back over my head.
Then surprisingly, Jesse had done something he'd never done before… I felt him climb on top of me and sit with each leg either side of my stomach.
All of a sudden he pulled the covers down from my face.
"Awe Jesse, you're squishing me under here" I tried to laugh.
"Someone's going to be late if they continue to stay in bed all morning" Jesse said smiling.
"But it's dismal and raining outside, I want to stay in bed"
I whinged in a baby voice turning my head to avoid Jesse's gaze.
I felt him lean down, he put his weight onto his arms which he place either side above my shoulders. I kept my eyes shut, is he going to kiss my neck? I thought to myself.
Then he gently pulled the hair away from my ear, bent down, placed his lips almost right on my check and whispered to me.
"Well, if you don't get to school, maybe I won't give you your surprise later on..."
I didn't move for a second. I was frozen. Not from the fact that he had a surprise for me, but the fact that if I moved, his lips would touch my check.
I think he must have realised he was a little close, so he backed off a little.
I immediately turned my head to face him so I could look him in the eyes and ask what this surprise was… but my gaze was staring right at his lips.
And I'll tell you; they were beautiful lips, Oh My God!
But then my eyes wandered down his shirt… Because he was leaning over, I got front row seats to 'Jesse's torso show'.
"Susannah"
He said, trying to get my attention back to his face.
But I was long gone off with the fairies. My eyes were getting their surprise early! I felt them grow heavy, as if they were being mesmerised.
"All…right!"
I said unknowingly that I'd just said that out loud, but in a cool tone.
"Susannah?"
Jesse sat up as if he weren't happy that I was looking down his shirt.
"Aye?"
I said as I was snapped out of my fantasy. He raised his eyebrows as he looked down at me, shifting his weight to the space of mattress on my right side near my stomach.
"Did I um… just say that last bit out loud?"
I asked kind of embarrassed.
"Well it's nice that you want to study my body, but how about you get out of bed and go study something more useful young lady… like going to school."
I groaned, rolled out the other side lifelessly onto the floor, taking my bed covers with me; and I layed there tangled.
I heard Jesse sigh as he layed on his stomach across my bed to look down at the tangled pile on the floor.
"What am I going to do with you?" He smiled.
Finally, after he had dragged me out of the tangled covers, I got changed into my pair of dark denim fitted hipster jeans and a white V neck fitted tank top.
I came out of the bathroom. Jesse was fixing up the covers on my bed and tucking them in ever so nicely.
"Oh wow, I'm gonna have to hire you as my maid"
I said patting him on the back as I went to my dressing table to pick up my hairbrush. He looked a little peeved about my comment.
"I just want to save your mother from doing it"
He replied as he fluffed up my pillow.
"But my mother always tidies up my room, she always has… it's what mothers are for"
I said looking into the mirror as I brushed my long, straight, brown/chestnut-coloured hair.
"No Susannah, that's not what mothers are for. It should be your responsibility".
I saw him turn to face me in the reflection of the mirror.
"Not that I mind tidying up every now and then…"
He added, walking over to the window seat to pull the curtain open. I put my brush down and turned to the window.
"Huh, you've been cleaning my room?" I asked surprised.
"Yes, Susannah. I've overheard your mother saying how impressed she is with the state of this room and how she never has to clean it"
"Really? Oh, thanks… I never knew" I chuckled softly.
I put on a navy-hooded jacket over my top and zipped it up just until where my chest started so the V-neck could be clearly seen.
"It is raining quite heavily. You had better hurry up so that your brother doesn't leave without you"
Jesse said as he watched the rain fall into the puddles on the ground.
"Adam and Cee Cee are picking me up today," I said zipping up my ankle boots.
"Anyway, Jesse, what's with this surprise you mentioned before?"
He smiled suspiciously at me from across the room.
"Oh well, that's only for girls who go to school, stay at school and don't misbehave".
I walked over to where he sat on the window seat and stood in front of him with my hands on my hips.
"Really Now?" I said cheekily.
"Go to school, Susannah!" He ordered.
I screamed childishly and ran out the door.