Okay, y'all! This is something that came to me on Christmas day, which is when I began it, and I wrote it up this past week. It's only about 6 chapters in all but it's still good, if I do say so myself! ;)
I feel it only fair to warn you that it will be very, very sad.
I hope so bad that y'all won't hate me and not read any more of my stuff after this! (I almost hate myself for writing it! lol!) But seriously, I do hope y'all will keep reading my other stuff and will also enjoy this story.
Well, here's the first chapter, do let me know what you think and if I get a lot of negetive reviews, well, I'll take it down and throw it in the closet!
I do not own Summerland.
Summery:
For those still living,
Life goes on.
Is this good or is this bad?
And what is pain,
That it makes us sad?
CAN someone really get so mad?
Cruel acts and evil deeds...
Why choose THAT life to seize?
Lost Soul...
1.
Let 'Em See You Smile!
(Cause This'll Be Their Last Chance...)
Ava Gregory stood on the beach watching the waves come in... It was around 10:00am and only about two other people were on the beach with her. It was Christmas day but she really didn't care... no one was celebrating it this year anyway... or at least, not at her house...
She thought about her house and what was probably going on there right now;
The tree, which Susannah had put up in vain hopes of making Derrick feel better, was standing tall in the middle of the living room unaware of the sadness in the house with presents for everyone, wrapped and ready to open underneath it's proud branches.
There was a turkey and dressing, Susannah was trying to keep things as normal as possible, in the oven and Susannah was also cooking other good little odd and ends with Johnny's help. Ava was too upset to hang around the house on Christmas day feeling the way she felt.
Nikki was probably up in her room blasting Evanescence's My Immortal as loud as she could and writing in her diary or crying... or both.
Derrick was probably lying on Bradin's bed staring at the ceiling.
Johnny, Jay and Susannah were probably all going around the house cooking and what not in a sort of "dazed" state and trying to make the kids feel better and enjoy Christmas like they should.
Ava sat down in the sand as her mind wandered to the presents under the tree. She had, after some finally decided on something for each of the kids. She'd gotten Nikki Little Women, because she knew how much she liked to read, some makeup, Evanescence: The Open Door and a skirt and top.
She got Derrick a skateboard and an X Box 360 with about 5 games. Yeah, he was gonna like that she was sure.
Then there was Bradin; she hadn't been sure what to get him. She had finally decided on some CDs and a stereo. She got the stereo and then had to sneak around his room while he was asleep trying to see what CDs he had and didn't have! Ah, that had been quite an experience...
What else the kids got she didn't know... She'd find out what Nikki and Derrick got soon enough but Bradin... she didn't know if she ever would.
----------
Ava marked off the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th of November realizing it was the 20th and no one had marked off the days before! She shook her head, since the kids came along 6 months ago life around the Gregory household had been pretty hectic... But she wouldn't send them away no matter what! She'd grown to love them far too much and they were just starting to return to a normal (enough) state since their parents' death back in May.
She turned back to the stove to finish cooking supper when a knock sounded at the door, "I'll get it, Aunt Ava!" Nikki called, running downstairs, Ava continued stirring for a second then put her spoon down and walked into the living room.
Nikki reached the door and pulled it open but what she saw made her step back.
Two policemen stood on the doorstep. Their tags read "Burt" and "Kent."
"Does a Miss Gregory live here?" the one, whose tag said Kent, asked.
"I'm Miss Gregory," Ava said coming up behind Nikki, "is there something I can do for you?"
"Well, yes. Does a Bradin Westerly live at this residence?" Kent asked.
"Yes..."
"And you are his aunt and legal guardian, correct?"
"Y- yes I am..." Ava frowned, "What did he do now?"
The officers exchanged a glance. "Um... nothing, Miss Gregory... May we speak to you for a minute... alone?" Burt spoke for the first time in the conversation.
"Yes, um- of course," Ava replied stepping out onto the porch and shutting the door behind her. "Now," she began, "what is it?"
"Well... we- we uh... We don't quite know how to tell you this but- we..." Kent looked down at the ground as his partner took up where he left off.
"Miss Gregory," he said with a poker face, "we found a body."
----------
Tears came to Ava's eyes, stinging them harshly, ran down her cheeks and splashed onto her bare legs as the events of that day, and the days that followed, so vividly replayed in her mind.
----------
"Nikki, Bradin, Derrick, breakfast!" Ava called up to her niece and two nephews, "Hurry up!"
"Derrick instantly appeared followed closely by Nikki, Susannah, Johnny and, finally, Jay.
"Wow, Nikki! You look cute today," Ava commented her 13 year old niece as she gave her a plate and some eggs. "Spending the day with Cameron?"
Nikki blushed, "Yeah... Aunt Ava, do I really look cute?" she asked a bit nervously.
"Mm-mm, you sure do!" Ava smiled. She gave Derrick his plate and said, "Got a big game tomorrow right? You gonna be practicing your throwing today?" She smiled at her 8-year-old nephew.
Derrick looked up at his aunt with sad eyes, "No, I mean, yeah, I have a big game but I'm not gonna be practicing cause nobody has time to help me... Nikki's gonna be at the beach with Cameron, Johnny's got to go to work, Jay said he can't cause he's got something important to do, and you said you and Susannah are gonna be busy all day..."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Derrick... Well what about your brother?" Ava said taking her seat while the other adults made their plates.
"Ha! Bradin's gonna be glued to some girl all day!" Derrick said disdainfully.
"Oh really? How do you know that?" Ava asked raising one eyebrow.
"Well... he probably will be... I mean... he..." Derrick let out a defeated sigh, "I don't. In fact I doubt it..."
"Than why did you say it?" Ava asked taking a bite of her eggs.
"I don't know... just cause he never wants to do anything with me... ever since Mommy and Dad-" Derrick swallowed his emotions, "Daddy died, Bradin's been... different.
"I'm sorry, Derrick... How 'bout I try to squeeze in about an hour's worth of practice with you this afternoon?"
Derrick sighed, "Okay, Aunt Ava... thanks."
"You're welcome, Sweetie, now you better eat! And Derrick," Ava said making him look at her, "don't worry, you're gonna do wonderful at your game tomorrow and we're all gonna be there cheering you on!" Ava smiled encouragingly.
"Bradin too?"
"Yes, Bradin too." Ava assured him.
Susannah gave her friend a big smile telling her she'd taken care of that one wonderfully. Ava smiled back just as all the adults sat down.
"So um..." Johnny spoke up suddenly, "is Bradin here?"
"Bradin!" Ava yelled loudly, "Bradin Westerly!!"
No answer.
Everyone but Derrick exchanged a look then began eating. They all knew Bradin had been at a party the night before... Apparently he hadn't even come home...
Ava was just thinking that she was gonna have to have a talk with that boy when a thud from the living room was heard by all and then Bradin's voice, "Shit!"
Ava shook her head, "That boy and his language around Derrick... Looks like I'm still gonna have to have a talk with him," she thought.
Bradin walked into the kitchen, got a plate of food and took his place at the table as though he was right on time.
"Bradin..." Ava ventured, "would it be 'appropriate' for you to tell us where you were?" she finished slowly. She meant, was it something he could say in front of Derrick?
"Oh yeah... sorry about being late and all... I had to pick up a... friend." Bradin suddenly stood up and rushed into the living room. Everyone exchanged a look that said, "What's he doing now?" He returned a minute later, stood in the doorway, looked at Nikki and said, "Nik, you get my Christmas Present a little, er... a lot early this year!"
"Nikki stopped eating and stared as Bradin with a puzzled look.
"My present to you is for you to get to spend this whole weekend hanging backstage at the 2006 Fashion Awards with-" Bradin stepped aside and as if on cue, which she was, a woman stepped into his place and, taking up where he left off, said, "Miss Amy La'viva Labelle."
Nikki jumped from her seat squealing, "Oh my gosh, Bradin!! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!" She ran to him and nearly knocked him down with the force of the hug she gave him.
Bradin looked a little startled but quickly "recovered" and hugged her back saying, "You're welcome, Nik! Glad you like it!" He pulled away and said, "But take it easy! Ya gotta save some of the love for Miss Labelle!" He winked at Amy and again took his place at the table while Nikki gushed about how much she loved her designs and what a great person she was to give nice clothes to orphans and this and that to Miss Amy.
"Awe, Bradin! That is so sweet of you!" Ava cooed to her oldest charge with a huge smile on her face.
"Bradin shrugged his shoulders, "Awe, it was nothing really... I know how much she loves Amy's designs and I know a girl who knows Amy so I asked, er... begged her to talk to Amy." Bradin took a sip of his orange juice before continuing, "So anyway, my friend finally agreed to talk to Amy who agreed to talk to me and then she agreed to do it!" Bradin laughed, "But don't think it didn't cost me!"
"Oh? She made you pay? I somehow thought you meant she agreed to do it for free... how much?" Ava looked a little surprised.
"No, no, no! I meant is cost me to get my friend, Lindsay, to talk to Amy," Bradin grinned, "she's making me teach her to surf... I don't mind really though."
"Oh... I get it now!" Ava laughed. Just then Amy and Nikki sat down at the table. Nikki had asked Amy if she'd eaten and when she replied that she hadn't Nikki and Susannah insisted that she eat with them. Ava stood to get her a glass of juice while Susannah got her a plate. Just as Ava sat back down Bradin stood up saying, "Well, I'm going down to the beach for my surfing lesson and then I'm meeting up with Lindsay to give her a surfing lesson!" He smiled and rumpled Derrick's hair, "I'll see you this afternoon to help you with your throwing, how's that sound?"
"Great!" Derrick grinned from ear to ear at his big brother.
"Alright, I'll see you then!"
Nikki stood up and hugged Bradin again, "Thank you so much, Brae!" she whispered in his ear.
"You're welcome," he hugged her back then pulled away, messed up her hair and said, "I'll be back to make up for being nice to you by annoying you all the way till New Years starting at dinner tonight!"
"Bradin!" Nikki couldn't help laughing at the look he gave her.
He laughed too, "Well I'm going to!"
Nikki took her seat shaking her head at her older brother.
Bradin walked over to his aunt, "Bye, Aunt Ava," he said and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Bye, Sweetie," Ava said. She stood and whispered to him, "And that was so sweet of you to remember Derrick needed help with his throwing. He was really upset that no one was gonna help him earlier."
Bradin nodded then turned to Jay, "You need me to come in today?"
"Uh... Yeah, for about an hour if you can," Jay said.
"Sure, no problem, When?"
"Come at about 2 this afternoon and you can leave at 3, that okay?"
"Alright, see you then!" Bradin said and went upstairs.
A few minutes later everybody got up and started clearing the table talking and laughing about this and that.
Jay left just before Bradin returned from his room carrying his surfboard and a bag that contained his wet suit and whatnot. "I'll see you guys later!"
"Bye, Bradin!" everybody smiled at him and laughed at having said it at the same time.
With one of his "trademarked" dazzling smiles Bradin went out the door.
Thanks so much for reading! Hate me yet? ;) Hope not! If you're raging mad at me now or if you love it or if you were crying or whatever... REVIEW!!! prepares for a "text" beating
Anna Christie AKA SecondStarToTheRight15
