Hey everyone! This is one of my first stories so I would love to hear some feedback, good or bad. Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Summerland or any of the characters except for Michaela Smith.

The Greyhound bus was practically deserted as a young girl of 16 ascended the stairs onto the bus. She found a place to sit in the 10th row, threw her duffle bag, which had her name Michaela Smith embroidered on it, on the rack above the chairs, and then took her seat next to the window. Once Michaela sat down, she took a moment to take in her surroundings. There was an old man sitting near the front of the big bus, a couple sitting towards the middle, and a middle aged woman sitting in the very back, all of them sleeping. Michaela glanced down at the screen of her cell phone which told her it was 2:30 A.M. on Tuesday, August 29th, 2008. She hadn't realized it was so late, probably because she had so much on her mind. She turned to look out the window, but only saw her own reflection staring back at her due to the glare of the lights inside the bus. Michaela examined her reflection for a moment; Shoulder length, auburn colored hair, layered to frame her soft, pale, tired, face, on which she wore a very sad expression. She stared back into her own emerald green eyes and was able to see her own pain and hurt inside them.

Ok Michaela, you can do this. You know you have no choice but to leave because if you don't he might --- but her thought was cut off by the driver's voice on the P.A. system.

"Welcome passengers to the one way bus from Portland, Oregon to Playa Linda, California. Before we get going, there are just a few things we need to go over. First off, we will be stopping every four hours to get food, go to the bathroom, and stretch our legs. We will stop for exactly 25 minutes and then we will board the bus again and continue on. Please make sure that you are back on the bus when those 25 minutes are up. It is not our fault if you get left behind. Second, we do allow food and drink on the bus but we ask that you please be careful and keep your area clean. And last, when exiting the bus at our destination, please make sure that you have all your possessions and that your area is clean. Thank you for choosing Greyhound bus company and we hope that your ride is comfortable."

At the end of the driver's welcome speech, he turned the key and the engine roared to life. Michaela continued to stare out the window as she sunk lower in her seat and set her head against the window. Memories of her life in Portland rushed through her head as the bus slowly started to move and the bus station was starting to go past her. Silent tears built up in her eyes and spilled out onto her cheeks as reality finally hit her. Portland was her whole life, it was all she had ever known. Everything that she had ever loved, she was leaving behind.

Wait, on the contrary, there was nothing there for her to love, at least, not anymore. The only 2 things she ever truly loved don't exist anymore and one of those two things, she can only despise now. It's been like that for 3 years now and it took her until a week earlier to figure it out.

There's nothing left for you here, only pain. You know this is what you have to do., Michaela thought to herself for about the millionth time that night. With that thought in mind, she closed her eyes and let the hum of the engine lull her to sleep.

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ONE MONTH LATER

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DDDDIIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGG!!!!!

At the sound of the final school bell, Bradin Westerly jolted awake, knocking all of his books on the floor of his 7th period history class. Everyone turned to look at him as they were packing their stuff up or walking out of the classroom. He turned to look at his teacher and found that he was not happy with him. Knowing what was going to happen, Bradin groaned in frustration and bent over to collect his books, waiting for his teacher to come over and lecture him. As soon as all of the kids were out of the room, except for one girl who was still at her desk, his teacher approached him.

"Bradin, you've fallen asleep in class everyday for the past two weeks and, as a result, you're failing this class. And we're still in the first month of school!" He said sternly.

"Sorry Mr. Stevens, it won't happen again." Bradin replied, flipping his shaggy blond hair out of his eyes in an attempt to look at the teacher.

"You've said that to me every day now, and it's still not happening. So, if you'd rather sleep then learn in class, then I guess you're just going to have to learn outside of class."

At this, Bradin stopped putting his books in his back pack and looked up at Mr. Stevens. "What are you talking about?" He asked worriedly.

"I'm talking about assigning you a tutor."

"But, Mr. Stevens-"

"It's no use arguing Bradin. I already talked with your Aunt Ava and it's all set. Michaela here," Mr. Stevens said, gesturing to the girl still in the room, who stood up when he said her name, "is your new tutor. She will work with you every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after school until your grades show significant improvement. Where you two work together is yours to figure out and coordinate." Bradin groaned if frustration, plopping down in his desk in defeat. Mr. Stevens leaned in closer to Bradin and said in a quieter tone, "It's your senior year Bradin. Make it count." With that, Mr. Stevens walked back to his desk and grabbed his brief case. "I'll leave you two to get acquainted." And then he was out the door.

Bradin looked over at Michaela, who was sitting, staring at her hands in her lap but would glance up at him every few seconds. He sighed and stood up, swinging his back pack over one shoulder. As he turned to walk out of the classroom, Michaela abruptly stood up and said, "Wait!" Bradin stopped and turned to look at her. She had her hand out, ready to shake hands with him. "I'm Michaela."

Bradin, not wanting to be too terribly rude, walked over to her and clasped her hand in his. "Bradin." He introduced himself and then they released hands. They stood there for a minute, all the while Bradin was thinking about how much he did not want to be tutored.

"Look, even though it is Friday, I realize that you just found out about this tutoring thing," Michaela began, "And I'm sure it's something you don't really wanna do, so let's start on Monday after school. That way you have the weekend to yell at your Aunt about how she's being so unfair, deal?"

Bradin gave a little smile. "Ok. Deal. So, where are going to do this? We can't do it at my house because there's already so many people living there, we'd never get any work done. What about your house?"

"…..My house?… Um…. Well….," Michaela was having a hard time coming up with a non-suspicious explanation as to why Bradin couldn't come over to her house, "My parents work all day and they don't get home till 6:00 in the evening and they don't like me having people over when they're not home." Michaela recovered, trying to sound convincing.

Bradin watched her for a moment and wondered why she seemed like she was hiding something, but then let it go and decided it was nothing. "Ok. Why don't we meet up at the ice cream shop and from there we'll go down to the beach. I know a place where we can study."

"Alright. Sounds good. So, we'll meet at the ice cream shop, say, 4:00 after school?"

"Yeah. See ya then." Bradin turned around and headed for the door. Michaela watched him as he walked across the room and out the door, leaving her standing alone in the classroom.