Author's Note: I am so sorry for taking so long with this chapter! I've been buried under a ton of schoolwork, and I've not had much time to write. It doesn't help that his chapter has not made itself easy in coming out of the fingers...bah! lol! Thank you everyone for your reviews…I'm glad you like it so far and please forgive me for making you wait so long! Ok, I'll cut this short because I'm sure y'all are just champing at the bits to read this so, here's chapter 14.

p.s. Chapter 15 is almost ready for posting, but I think I'll make you wait a little bit...maybe not...lol!

August 27, 2004 &

September 25, 2004

Disclaimer: I do not own Summerland, nor do I own any related character or places. Some of the events in this fanfic I have borrowed from the show, and the original ideas belong to the writers and creators of Summerland, but I have put my own twist on them.

Your Beautiful Soul

Chapter 14

The cries of seagulls fighting over food were the first sounds to filter into the darkness, piercing Bradin's blurred and confused brain like fingernails scraping across a blackboard. By the vile, fuzzy, road-kill-like taste in his mouth, he could tell he'd been sick somewhere the night before. He forced his eyes to open, rolling onto his back. In the early light of day filtering in through the blinds, he could just make out the hazy shapes of a computer and several other various things that he couldn't quite identify. Becoming aware of his nearest surroundings, he deducted that he was on a couch of some sort. He swung his feet over the edge and, pushing himself up, stood unsteadily. His head ached like a giant clamp was steadily tightening onto it, and his stomach lurched, but he managed to keep his balance.

Bradin shuffled to the open glass double-doors, squinting hard as he came into the full light. He leaned on the doorframe for support, taking in what lay before him. A few hundred feet down a gentle slope of well-manicured green grass, a large pool sprawled, lazily reflecting the sun in sparkling liquid diamonds. Something about the whole place seemed vaguely familiar, but in his present state of mind, he didn't bother to remember. Bradin picked his way gingerly across the patio, nearly tripping over the same lawn chair twice. Once he cleared the tall black-iron gate at the end of the long driveway around front, Bradin paused, head whirling crazily.

Now it was only a matter of finding his way back home. He wasn't aware of the time, nor was he aware of how long it took him to stumble and fall back to the beach house, but instinct seemed to guide him, and walking into the house, he was relieved to find it empty and void of sound. He had no idea where the family was, but in all truth, he didn't really care. At least this way, no one would know he stayed out all night. Bradin made his way to his room, flopped down on the bed, and closed his eyes.

His muscles tensed momentarily, then relaxed, and Bradin was once again aware of the world. The sun slanted across the room through the window at an oddly distinct angle, illuminating the suspended dust and particles in its shaft of light. Ringing pierced his ears, and he groped the bedside table for his cell phone. His fingers came across the smooth plastic and he picked it up, flipping it open.

"Hello?"

"Oh, good, Bradin," his aunt Ava said. "I'm glad I caught you. I didn't see you this morning, but Derrick said you left early."

"Uh, yeah." He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to remember anything about the night before.

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that we're going out to dinner tonight, so if you want to come, be home by six-thirty."

"Yeah, okay," Bradin yawned, sliding off his bed.

"Are you still at home?" Ava asked. "Don't forget surf team sign-ups."

Bradin glanced over at the alarm clock; it was 1:45. "I gotta go, Aunt Ava. Bye."

"Bye."

He shut the phone and headed for the a shower. The warm water was refreshing, seeming to cleanse him from the hangover that plagued him. Fifteen minutes later, he was dressed and walking towards the high school. Entering the unknown of Playa Linda High, Bradin glanced around in question. Before he could move past the entryway, someone skipped up behind him and grabbed his arm, spinning him around.

"Sarah," he warned quietly, pulling her hand off.

She rolled her blue eyes and flashed a smile, ignoring Bradin and replacing her hand. "I was waiting for you earlier. Why didn't you meet me?"

"I lost track of…" –he swallowed hard— "…um, time. How'd you know I'd be here?"

Sarah grinned mischievously. "Why don't we go get you signed up? Then we could go catch a few waves or something—what do you think?"

"Um, well, I," Bradin stalled for time. Think—think! "Uh, I'm actually busy later."

"Baby." She planted a quick kiss on him before continuing. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were trying to avoid me."

Three days later:

Maggie sat on the edge of the hotel bathtub, holding the phone to her ear. Through the door, in the main room, she could hear her two roommates, Kelsey and Amanda, laughing over something on the TV. Three rings; four rings. Bradin, where are you?

"Hello?" a female voice answered at last.

"Hi, is Bradin home?" Maggie asked.

"Um, no, sorry, he's out with friends. Is this Maggie?"

"Yeah."

"It's Erika," the voice on the phone said. "How are you?"

"Oh, I'm good. Totally excited about tomorrow and everything," she smiled into the receiver. At least someone cared enough to ask how she was.

"Hey Maggie," Kelsey said through the bathroom door. "Hurry up, we're leaving for dinner in ten."

"Be right there," Maggie replied, then into the phone, "I've gotta go, do you have any idea when Bradin will be back? He was out when I called last night, too."

"Sorry, Maggie," Erika said disappointedly, "I haven't seen him since yesterday before surf team try-outs."

"Okay, thanks."

"I'll tell him you called when I see him," Erika offered.

"Alright, thank you, Erika," Maggie said.

"Okay, bye—wait," she paused, laughing into the phone. "Ava and Susannah say to have fun tomorrow."

"I will. Tell them 'hi' for me."

"Will do."

Bye." She smiled, setting the receiver on its rest and walking into the main room. Replacing the phone on the bedside table, she plopped down on the bed next to her friends.

"Wasn't there again?" Amanda rolled onto her back and looked up at Maggie.

"No," she sighed. "Erika said he was out with friends."

"I'm sure he's just trying to distract himself so he doesn't miss you so much," Kelsey put in with a hopeful smile.

"I don't know. He seemed so sad when I left. I was sure he'd be sitting by the phone the whole time I was gone." –shrugging— "Whatever, he has his own life. I can't blame him. Let's go get some food."

"Yeah!" Kelsey and Amanda agreed. All three stood and made their way out the door to the elevator. Down in the lobby, the three friends met up with the rest of the Summerland Bike Club before heading out for dinner in downtown Seattle.