Chapter 3: The Party
Bradin stood in front of his mirror looking at his reflection, thinking. He had had a great week at school and it was now Friday and he was getting ready to go to the party, waiting for Ellie. He was thinking about Sara, how pretty she was and how she affected his train of thought. Then he thought about Piper, who made him get all quiet or made him babble, she was pretty too, and they could relate. He like both of them and there was yet another girl plaguing his thoughts. Ellie was so awesome, just sweet, and fun, and awfully pretty too. He sighed in frustration as Jay entered the bathroom.
"Hey," he said in his Aussie accent. "Hey," Bradin sighed, and looked at him through the mirror. "Uh-oh, disheveled look, frustrated sigh, this means girl troubles," Jay sat on the toilet and Bradin hopped on the sink counter. "Its just, all three of them are so great," Bradin started. "All three of them," Jay said, "that definitely isn't good." "I mean Sara, she's so hott, and crazy," Bradin went on as Jay nodded. "And then there's Piper, she's pretty too, and I don't know, when I'm around her I start to babble and sweat, no one does that to me." Jay continued to nod, "that's two down." "One more to go," Bradin sighed. "Why do I have the feeling that I know a little more about this one than the others," Jay looked him in the eye. "Ellie," Bradin confirmed, nodding guiltily. "That one isn't so weird," Jay said. "Why's that," Bradin asked confused? "There's always been chemistry between you two, but then again, I'm sure there's chemistry with the others as well." "Ellie's just, you know, Ellie, and that didn't used to do anything for me, but now..." he trailed off. "Ellie is a beautiful girl," Jay tried, Bradin suddenly tensed. "Yah and she's mine, so don't even think about it." "Easy tiger, Ellie is a little young for me, cradle robbing isn't my thing." Bradin's face softened and he nodded, "sorry." "Its okay." "So what do I do, who do I choose?" "Choose the one that makes you happy mate." "But they all do." "Then choose the one that's right for you." "But how do I know who that is?" "When the time comes, you'll know." Bradin nodded. Just then the door bell rang. Bradin looked at Jay. "Go on," he jerked his head to the door. Bradin gulped, gave himself one more look in the mirror, and left the room, saying a thanks to Jay. Jay just smiled a little and shook his head behind him.
When he got down the stairs he stopped when he saw Ellie and smiled. She looked awesome in her normal flowy skirt and surfing brand apparel. "Hey cowboy," she smiled when she caught sight of him. "Hey El," he continued to smile. "Ready to go," she asked? "Yah," he went to the door. "Alright, you two, have fun and have him back by one El," Ava said a they excited. "Will do, bye guys," Ellie called back before Bradin shut the door.
They walked along the beach to 'the point'. "So, you're looking good tonight stud," Ellie joked. "Well you know, I try, you don't look so horrible yourself either." "Thanks," she smiled and there was a moment of silence, "So you must be excited, Piper and Sara are both going to be at this party." "Great," Bradin rolled his eyes. Inwardly he was screaming, "not all three of them." They walked a little further and made it to the place, were the party was in full swing.
There were people everywhere. Dancing, talking, laughing, and Bradin felt relief was over him for a second, until he felt something else, a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Piper with a few other girls. "Bradin," she squealed, and gave him a big hug. "Hey Piper," he patted her back with one arm. When she let go, Bradin looked at her. "Are you drunk," he asked? "A little," she giggled and pinched her thumb and forefinger together to demonstrate, then grabbed his hand, "come on, you've got a ways to go to catch up." "Oh no, I-I don't think so," Bradin stopped her, "I don't drink, bad experience." "Oh come on, just one," she tried. "No," he said sternly, removing her hand from his, "please go, come talk to me when you aren't drunk of your ass." Then he left, Ellie following behind. "That was lovely," she joked, but shut her mouth when she saw Bradin's face.
They had been walking for a while when someone stopped Ellie. "Hey Tanner she tried to look seductive. "Hey," he smirked back at her, "you look hott tonight." Ellie blushed and squeaked a thanks. "So you want to come for a walk with me," he asked and they both looked at Bradin. "Oh- oh," he looked around in search of someone. "Bradin," he turned to see Piper, who didn't look so drunk anymore, "can we talk?" "Sure," he said, looked back at Ellie and gave her a 'be careful' look, then to Tanner and gave him an 'I dare you' look, then walked off with Piper.
They walked down the beach a little ways and sat down against a big rock. "So," he didn't know what to say. "So," she mimicked. "How do you like Playa Linda so far?" "Its pretty nice." "And school?" "Its alright, made a few new friends." "Cool," Bradin nodded. "Speaking of friends, what's up with you and Ellie?" Bradin looked at her, confused, "she's my pal, why?" Piper looked at him, not convinced. "Look Bradin, I like you, a lot, but I'm not stupid, there are feelings between you and Ellie that are more than platonic." Bradin looked down. "Well Piper, I like you too." "But," she urged? "But I do have feelings for El, and um, for someone else." "Oh," her face fell. "Yah, its complicated." "Well, un- complicate it," she said it like it was no big thing. "Its not that easy," he tried. "Yes it is, be with the girl that is right for you." "Yah that sounds familiar, thing is, I don't know who that is yet." "Bradin," she looked him in the eye, "I think you do." Bradin nodded once more. "So, what are you sitting around her for, go on then," she ushered him up, he gave her a meaningful smile. "Thanks," he muttered then was off.
"Ellie," he called, as he walked were he had seen her disappear to. "El," he called again, "El, Ellie." He stumbled onto a couple making out in the sand and blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry, I was just looking for," his face dropped when he realized who it was. "someone," he managed to spit out. "Bradin," Ellie tried, but he was already running off. He stopped for a second to think, when a voice spoke up. "So, you saw that then," he looked over to see Sara. "Me too, totally gross, I'm like, scarred for life." He glared. "I'm sorry, you know if its any consolation," she started, but was cut off by Bradin's lips on hers. He didn't know why he did it, but something came over him, jealously was the word dancing around in the back of his mind, but he kissed her anyway. "Bradin," Ellie ran after him, but stopped abruptly when he saw her kissing Sara. They broke apart as Tanner made his way down the rocks to them. "Fine, if that's the way you want to be, "she growled and kissed Tanner again. "Come on," Bradin spat, grabbing Sara's hand storming off. "Ugh, come on," Ellie grabbed Tanner's hand and stormed off in the other direction.
Bradin walked home later that night, a little earlier than he could have, but he didn't care. He dragged himself through the front door, only to meet eyes with his aunt. "Bradin, you're home early," Ava said surprised! "Yah, I guess I'm just not in the mood to party," he grumbled. "Uh-oh, what happened," she asked? "I got in a fight with Ellie," he confessed, looking down at the floor. "Oh no, well come over here and tell me all about it," she patted the couch an clicked the remote to turn the T.V. off. He came to her and sat down, putting his head in his hands. Bradin took in one deep breath and proceeded to tell her about that nights events. When he was done, Ava was frowning. "Oh you poor thing," she grabbed his head and hugged it, when she let go he spoke, "What am I gunna do Aunt Ava?" "Bradin, everything is going to be fine," she patted him, " you and Ellie are going to be fine, and the girl troubles will get easier after a while, I promise, well, they might get easier, or worse." He laughed a sad laugh, "It's just so hard." "Of course it is, without the speed bumps, it wouldn't be so rewarding making it to your destination." Ava gave him a pitying look and he closed his eyes, but opened them again when he heard the light turning of the door knob and the opening of it was heard, and in stepped Ellie. Bradin stood up in place, looking at her confused, she looked back at him just as confused. Ava looked between the two, and jumped up as well. "Well, I'm just gunna go get to bed, I've got to take Nikki shopping tomorrow and she'll be up at the crack of dawn, so goodnight Bradin, lock up when you're done, Ellie, see you later." Ellie looked at her, a pained look on her face. "Night," she squeaked out. Ava gave her a look that said everything would be alright, and turned to leave. "Goodnight," she called. "Goodnight," Bradin called back, eyes still locked on Ellie. When he heard a door close he sighed. "What are you doing here Ellie?" "Bradin, just sit down and listen to me," she said, making her way to the couch and sitting both of them down. "Just listen," she said again, and took one more breath before explaining.
Bradin stood in front of his mirror looking at his reflection, thinking. He had had a great week at school and it was now Friday and he was getting ready to go to the party, waiting for Ellie. He was thinking about Sara, how pretty she was and how she affected his train of thought. Then he thought about Piper, who made him get all quiet or made him babble, she was pretty too, and they could relate. He like both of them and there was yet another girl plaguing his thoughts. Ellie was so awesome, just sweet, and fun, and awfully pretty too. He sighed in frustration as Jay entered the bathroom.
"Hey," he said in his Aussie accent. "Hey," Bradin sighed, and looked at him through the mirror. "Uh-oh, disheveled look, frustrated sigh, this means girl troubles," Jay sat on the toilet and Bradin hopped on the sink counter. "Its just, all three of them are so great," Bradin started. "All three of them," Jay said, "that definitely isn't good." "I mean Sara, she's so hott, and crazy," Bradin went on as Jay nodded. "And then there's Piper, she's pretty too, and I don't know, when I'm around her I start to babble and sweat, no one does that to me." Jay continued to nod, "that's two down." "One more to go," Bradin sighed. "Why do I have the feeling that I know a little more about this one than the others," Jay looked him in the eye. "Ellie," Bradin confirmed, nodding guiltily. "That one isn't so weird," Jay said. "Why's that," Bradin asked confused? "There's always been chemistry between you two, but then again, I'm sure there's chemistry with the others as well." "Ellie's just, you know, Ellie, and that didn't used to do anything for me, but now..." he trailed off. "Ellie is a beautiful girl," Jay tried, Bradin suddenly tensed. "Yah and she's mine, so don't even think about it." "Easy tiger, Ellie is a little young for me, cradle robbing isn't my thing." Bradin's face softened and he nodded, "sorry." "Its okay." "So what do I do, who do I choose?" "Choose the one that makes you happy mate." "But they all do." "Then choose the one that's right for you." "But how do I know who that is?" "When the time comes, you'll know." Bradin nodded. Just then the door bell rang. Bradin looked at Jay. "Go on," he jerked his head to the door. Bradin gulped, gave himself one more look in the mirror, and left the room, saying a thanks to Jay. Jay just smiled a little and shook his head behind him.
When he got down the stairs he stopped when he saw Ellie and smiled. She looked awesome in her normal flowy skirt and surfing brand apparel. "Hey cowboy," she smiled when she caught sight of him. "Hey El," he continued to smile. "Ready to go," she asked? "Yah," he went to the door. "Alright, you two, have fun and have him back by one El," Ava said a they excited. "Will do, bye guys," Ellie called back before Bradin shut the door.
They walked along the beach to 'the point'. "So, you're looking good tonight stud," Ellie joked. "Well you know, I try, you don't look so horrible yourself either." "Thanks," she smiled and there was a moment of silence, "So you must be excited, Piper and Sara are both going to be at this party." "Great," Bradin rolled his eyes. Inwardly he was screaming, "not all three of them." They walked a little further and made it to the place, were the party was in full swing.
There were people everywhere. Dancing, talking, laughing, and Bradin felt relief was over him for a second, until he felt something else, a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Piper with a few other girls. "Bradin," she squealed, and gave him a big hug. "Hey Piper," he patted her back with one arm. When she let go, Bradin looked at her. "Are you drunk," he asked? "A little," she giggled and pinched her thumb and forefinger together to demonstrate, then grabbed his hand, "come on, you've got a ways to go to catch up." "Oh no, I-I don't think so," Bradin stopped her, "I don't drink, bad experience." "Oh come on, just one," she tried. "No," he said sternly, removing her hand from his, "please go, come talk to me when you aren't drunk of your ass." Then he left, Ellie following behind. "That was lovely," she joked, but shut her mouth when she saw Bradin's face.
They had been walking for a while when someone stopped Ellie. "Hey Tanner she tried to look seductive. "Hey," he smirked back at her, "you look hott tonight." Ellie blushed and squeaked a thanks. "So you want to come for a walk with me," he asked and they both looked at Bradin. "Oh- oh," he looked around in search of someone. "Bradin," he turned to see Piper, who didn't look so drunk anymore, "can we talk?" "Sure," he said, looked back at Ellie and gave her a 'be careful' look, then to Tanner and gave him an 'I dare you' look, then walked off with Piper.
They walked down the beach a little ways and sat down against a big rock. "So," he didn't know what to say. "So," she mimicked. "How do you like Playa Linda so far?" "Its pretty nice." "And school?" "Its alright, made a few new friends." "Cool," Bradin nodded. "Speaking of friends, what's up with you and Ellie?" Bradin looked at her, confused, "she's my pal, why?" Piper looked at him, not convinced. "Look Bradin, I like you, a lot, but I'm not stupid, there are feelings between you and Ellie that are more than platonic." Bradin looked down. "Well Piper, I like you too." "But," she urged? "But I do have feelings for El, and um, for someone else." "Oh," her face fell. "Yah, its complicated." "Well, un- complicate it," she said it like it was no big thing. "Its not that easy," he tried. "Yes it is, be with the girl that is right for you." "Yah that sounds familiar, thing is, I don't know who that is yet." "Bradin," she looked him in the eye, "I think you do." Bradin nodded once more. "So, what are you sitting around her for, go on then," she ushered him up, he gave her a meaningful smile. "Thanks," he muttered then was off.
"Ellie," he called, as he walked were he had seen her disappear to. "El," he called again, "El, Ellie." He stumbled onto a couple making out in the sand and blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry, I was just looking for," his face dropped when he realized who it was. "someone," he managed to spit out. "Bradin," Ellie tried, but he was already running off. He stopped for a second to think, when a voice spoke up. "So, you saw that then," he looked over to see Sara. "Me too, totally gross, I'm like, scarred for life." He glared. "I'm sorry, you know if its any consolation," she started, but was cut off by Bradin's lips on hers. He didn't know why he did it, but something came over him, jealously was the word dancing around in the back of his mind, but he kissed her anyway. "Bradin," Ellie ran after him, but stopped abruptly when he saw her kissing Sara. They broke apart as Tanner made his way down the rocks to them. "Fine, if that's the way you want to be, "she growled and kissed Tanner again. "Come on," Bradin spat, grabbing Sara's hand storming off. "Ugh, come on," Ellie grabbed Tanner's hand and stormed off in the other direction.
Bradin walked home later that night, a little earlier than he could have, but he didn't care. He dragged himself through the front door, only to meet eyes with his aunt. "Bradin, you're home early," Ava said surprised! "Yah, I guess I'm just not in the mood to party," he grumbled. "Uh-oh, what happened," she asked? "I got in a fight with Ellie," he confessed, looking down at the floor. "Oh no, well come over here and tell me all about it," she patted the couch an clicked the remote to turn the T.V. off. He came to her and sat down, putting his head in his hands. Bradin took in one deep breath and proceeded to tell her about that nights events. When he was done, Ava was frowning. "Oh you poor thing," she grabbed his head and hugged it, when she let go he spoke, "What am I gunna do Aunt Ava?" "Bradin, everything is going to be fine," she patted him, " you and Ellie are going to be fine, and the girl troubles will get easier after a while, I promise, well, they might get easier, or worse." He laughed a sad laugh, "It's just so hard." "Of course it is, without the speed bumps, it wouldn't be so rewarding making it to your destination." Ava gave him a pitying look and he closed his eyes, but opened them again when he heard the light turning of the door knob and the opening of it was heard, and in stepped Ellie. Bradin stood up in place, looking at her confused, she looked back at him just as confused. Ava looked between the two, and jumped up as well. "Well, I'm just gunna go get to bed, I've got to take Nikki shopping tomorrow and she'll be up at the crack of dawn, so goodnight Bradin, lock up when you're done, Ellie, see you later." Ellie looked at her, a pained look on her face. "Night," she squeaked out. Ava gave her a look that said everything would be alright, and turned to leave. "Goodnight," she called. "Goodnight," Bradin called back, eyes still locked on Ellie. When he heard a door close he sighed. "What are you doing here Ellie?" "Bradin, just sit down and listen to me," she said, making her way to the couch and sitting both of them down. "Just listen," she said again, and took one more breath before explaining.