Author's Note: Wow, you guys! Thank you so much for your reviews. I love to read them and see what you have to say. I'm soooo sorry it took me such a long time to write the next chapter. My story doesn't take place in a specific episode either. I just kind of used some basic background information (i.e. Bradin's feelings towards Jay/Erika; Nikki's temper). And as for Nikki, I simply combined her jealousy issues and her temper. Thanks for reading the chapter and I hope you like it! Please Review 3
pst . this is somewhat of a transition chapter. next one should be better.
Chapter Four
L ... Is For The Way You Look At Me
Bradin shifted gently in his sleep, and groaned. His phone was ringing in his pocket, as he tiredly grabbed it from his jeans and looked at the front to see who was calling. They better have a good reason for waking me up, he thought. Seeing the title "Home calling …" He rubbed his head in confusion, and looked up to see Nikki standing at the door with the wireless phone pressed up to her ear. A wide smile covered her face. He looked at her, as his eyes narrowed on her, thinking back to the night before. As if Nikki knew what he was thinking, she began to talk.
"We all thought it was time for you to wake up." Nikki said, explaining why she was calling him. It was an old trick she had picked up back in Kansas when Bradin would sleep late. He slept late, but when he woke up he wouldn't be able to fall back. A quirk of his. He ran his fingers thru his hair, as he looked down at his stomach. He was still half asleep, and needed a few moments to wake up.
"Wake up .. already?" Bradin asked, he felt like his head had just hit the pillow.
"Yeah, Bradin. Already. It's 12:30." Nikki sighed and walked away. She knew she wasn't his favorite person at the time, and felt awkward standing there... just the two of them.
Bradin sighed heavily, sat up, and walked into the kitchen. "Now serving lunch." Johnny called out, as if to say Bradin had slept all morning. "Late night, kiddo?" He chuckled.
"Yeah. I couldn't fall asleep." Bradin replied, his head swinging dangerously close to the cereal bowl that Ava had set before him. "Thanks Aunt Ava." He mumbled, sticking a spoonful into his mouth. He was slowly gaining energy, and could now hear the loud grumbles coming from his hungry stomach.
"So, do you have any plans for the day?" Ava asked him, curious to see what he would be doing with himself in the summer.
"Actually, I do. I was going to surf for a bit, and then Allie and I are going to the carnival tonight." Bradin said, his eyes were fully opened now, and he was enjoying his second bowl of cereal by now.
Ava smiled, along with Johnny, who were both happy to see that both Bradin and Allison had made a new friend. They both knew they needed one. However, Nikki, who had been sitting on the couch, gritted her teeth softly, and walked off to her room. "Well, I'm sure you two will have a great time." Ava commented, sitting down between Johnny and Bradin at the counter.
--
Jay stood up; shaping the board he was working on and giving its soul shape. He looked up, and saw Allison sitting at the register, loosely flipping through a magazine, that she seemed to have no real interest in. She hated how the only thing plastered on magazine pages were airbrushed, anorexic models. Jay chuckled softly, and thought back to the night before. He knew that it hurt her to be attacked like that, but she had pulled back from it and seemed to be doing better this morning. "So, how do you like Bradin? He's about your age."
Allison looked up from one of the pages, a look of disgust at the airbrushed model staring back at her on the page turned into a smile as she stood up and walked over to Jay. "He seems cool. We're actually going to the carnival tonight together. It should be fun."
"Ah, yes. Bradin did mention that, I must have forgotten." Jay smirked, as Allison just shook her head in laughter. She knew Jay better than anyone else, and she knew exactly what he was thinking. Bradin and Allison. She laughed aloud. No way.
"You laugh now." Jay spoke; his Australian accent was very lucid.
"Oh, I'm sorry, my wise one." Allison said, barely able to finish the sentence before bursting into laughter.
--
Cameron, who Ava had allowed up into Nikki's room knowing she would want to see him after last night's episode, made his way upstairs, looking for Nikki. He knocked gently on her door, as he heard her stomping feet come closer and closer. Slightly afraid at what her reaction would be to him, he stepped back a bit. Nikki swung open the door, as a look of bewilderment crossed her face. She was embarrassed, and confused at the same time. Aunt Ava said she was grounded.
"Your Aunt let me up." Cameron said, noticing her facial expression. "I wanted to come by and see how you were doing." Nikki's face contorted, as Cameron looked down at his shoes and shuffled his feet. "Could I come in?" Nikki, who remembered the feeling of butterflies yesterday, found it hard to say no to him.
"Sure." She spoke, softly. He would have heard her harsh tone if she spoke any louder. She calmed herself down, and smiled at Cameron. "Come in."
Cameron smiled back at her. "Are you okay? Last night … you kind of went off the deep end on Al." A twinge of jealously fluttered through her spine at the mention of her name.
"I'm fine." Nikki insisted.
"Well, I already asked your Aunt since I know that you're grounded, but she said it was tentative, and that I could ask you if you wanted to go to the carnival with me tonight. So do you want to? It should be tons of fun." Cameron said, with more enthusiasm than normal in his voice. She had forgotten that Bradin and Allison were going together.
"Of course. That sounds great. I really need to get out of this house anyway." Nikki smiled, and laughed, trying to relieve the slight tension.
"So do you want to meet me at Curly's, across from the big Ferris wheel around 8?" Cameron suggested. He had a few things that he had to do beforehand, but otherwise he was free to hang out with Nikki all night.
"Sounds great!" Nikki said, with a smile plastered across her face, as the feeling returned from the day before. This time it was stronger, as she slightly blushed. They were back. Butterflies.
--
The night had begun to rise, as the dark skies filled every corner of the sky. It was nearly closing time at Jay's shop, as Bradin wandered in. He looked around, and spotted Jay behind the register. "Ah, my man Bradin." Jay said, noticing him walk in.
"Hey Jay." He smiled. He was anxious to go out, and have a good time. It had been a while since he had remembered having fun. Bradin looked at his cell phone. It was only 7:00 and already dark out.
"Al's in the back. She should be out any minute." Jay said, as Bradin leaned forward on the register and he and Jay started a random conversation about one of the surfers on the front of a magazine.
Within a few minutes, Allison walked out from the supply closet. She looked up and saw Bradin, as though she weren't expecting to see him that moment. She gave him a warm smile, as Jay said, "Go ahead. I'll close up. Don't worry."
Allison nodded appreciatively, as she pulled her sweatshirt out from behind the register and slipped into it. The two walked out, and along the beach. The carnival was on the next pier, and they would have a shorter walk on the beach.
After a while, Bradin and Allison had gone on several rides, several times, and they were both having a great time with one another. They had gone on The Nor-Easter, The Zipper, Chaos, The Tea Cups, The Magic Carpet, The Haunted House, and quite a lot of other rides. Bradin hadn't remembered the last time he had enjoyed himself this much, and neither could Allison. They didn't tell each other this, but it was apparent through their attitudes.
They walked around for a bit together, as they saw Curly's … a little place to get ice cream, milkshakes, French fries, and snacks. They came up with the plan to get something at Curly's and then go on the Ferris wheel across the way. "Stay here and I'll go get the stuff." Bradin suggested, seeing an open table that seemed to be a rare finding around here, judging by the crowded area.
"Alright." Allison replied, as she took a seat, and saved the table for her and Bradin. Bradin walked over to the quiet stand. No one else was in line, as he placed his order.
A red haired girl came up and stood next to him. She leaned forward on the counter, folding her arms in as she waited for someone to come to her. She pushed a curl back from her face, and looked over at Bradin with a flirtatious giggle. "Hey, I'm Maggie." Maggie introduced herself. Maggie's hair, flowed past her shoulders, as her chocolate eyes looked over at Bradin. She was beautiful.
"Bradin."
"The one from Kansas?" Maggie smiled, as Bradin shook his head. "We've heard quite a lot about you. Not everyday we get a farmer to this part of town." Maggie eyed him carefully, as she twirled a strand of hair around her pointer finger.
The server in the back handed Bradin his order and took Maggie's. "Two shakes?" She asked him, before he could walk away.
"Oh yeah. I'm here with my friend Allison." Bradin responded, pointing over to Allie sitting down at the table. She seemed to be staring off in the distance.
"Skeets? Oh no. You don't want to hang around her, Bradin." Maggie said, as she looked back at Bradin after seeing Allison alone at the table. Bradin looked at her curiously. Allison was a nice girl, why shouldn't he hang around with her?
"Skeets?" Bradin questioned. What kind of a nickname was that? "Why not?"
"It's a long story, Bradin. But the short form, no one likes her. She's a loner, and quite rude if I do say so myself. She isn't like everyone else, and refuses to hang with us." Maggie lied. The truth was her friends didn't want to hang around with her.Bradin didn't believe it, but then again he had no reason to doubt Maggie. His disbelief showed on his face, as Maggie continued. "You have to get in with the right group, Bradin. And she isn't it. She doesn't do anything anyone else does. I'm sorry I had to be the one to break it to you. I'm just giving you the cold hard truth." Maggie said, putting a look of sorrow and pity into her eyes, hoping Bradin would take the bait.
Maggie's order came up, as she took it in her hands. "You seem like a nice guy, Bradin. We hang around Spanish Cove at night if you want to chill." Maggie suggested, as she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek and walked away.
Bradin looked down at the milkshakes in his hand, and over at Allison sitting at the table alone.
Alone.
It made sense now. That's why he never saw her with anybody. He didn't know the whole story, but a part of him liked the idea of her not having friends. He felt a connection with that. Yet another part of him yearned to be accepted. To be with Maggie.
He acted unphased as he walked back to the table. He noticed Allison's look of loneliness again and once more noticed her subtle beauty. Her hair fell perfectly onto her face, and her sweatshirt hung on her flawlessly. It seemed that she couldn't completely hide her beauty no matter how hard she tried.
He smiled softly, thinking about her, and decided to talk to her about what Maggie said when they got on the Ferris wheel. He walked up next to the table and sat down next to her. He handed her a milkshake and smiled.
"Thanks." Allison smiled, the loneliness clear in her eyes.
Bradin nodded, and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, as the breeze passed by them. She took a sip of her milkshake as she looked up to see Cameron and Nikki standing in front of them.