Author's Note: YAY, it's finally done! Well, this chapter anyway, lol! First and foremost: A HUGE thank you to Jolien!!! (you know who you are, lol) Nothing to say, I guess, other than thanks to everyone who reviewed! Keep 'em comin' I wanna know what all y'all think. Ok, on with the story….

October 2, 2004

Disclaimer: I do not own Summerland, nor do I own any related characters or places.

Your Beautiful Soul

Chapter 17

Bradin moved closer; and closer. In a moment, he leaned down and his lips met hers in a gentle kiss. She let her arms slide around his neck, pressing closer to his warm body. After several long minutes, they broke apart, still holding on to one another.

"Bradin," Maggie said quietly, lifting her eyes to meet his.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"Bradin."

"What?"

"Bradin!"

"What!" he shouted back. Realizing he wasn't in the cave, Bradin turned to face the voice he'd heard.

"This board isn't going to shape itself," Jay said, stepping around his young employee to take a closer look. Running his fingers along the edge, he commented, "You're sanding too hard. It's not an even stroke."

"Hmm?"

"What is up with you, Bradin? You've been a mess all week."

"I…" his voice trailed off.

"You what?" Jay pressed.

Bradin walked over the counter and sighed. "Maggie and I broke up last week."

"Have you talked to her?"

"Yeah, several times! She won't listen to me. She keeps telling me she has nothing to hear and then walks away."

Jay moved past the teen to look out the front window before asking, "What did you do?"

"I never—" He stopped himself. "Okay, so she saw Sarah—you remember Sarah—" Jay nodded and Bradin continued, "She saw Sarah kissing me when she was coming to meet me here."

"So you were cheating on her?"

"No!" Bradin shot back quickly. "Sarah kissed me; she seems to think we're still together. I don't know what her problem is. If Maggie would just listen to me, I could explain everything to her."

"Women can be that way sometimes," Jay offered. "Just keep trying or give up. That's about all I can tell you."

"Hey guys. How's it goin'?"

Bradin looked up. It was Maggie's brother, Kyle.

"Can't complain," Jay greeted his friend. "Hey, Bradin, I'm just going to close up, so you don't have to stick around. You wanna try out this new board?"

"Fine." Bradin took the newly painted surfboard and left the shop.

"What's up with those two?" Kyle's words followed Bradin out of the shop, playing over and over in his head as he walked along the boardwalk. What was up with them? He could tell him the answer in one word: Sarah. If she hadn't come and ruined things, Maggie would still love him.

"Maggie?" Bradin turned as she jogged past him. "Wait up."

He saw her shoulders drop and she stopped, slowly coming around to face him.

"What part of 'I have nothing to say to you' don't you understand?" Maggie asked, crossing her arms across her chest.

"I need to talk to you, Maggie."

"Then talk."

"I've been making a mess of everything for the past week because I know I hurt you. I'm crazy about you, Mags." Bradin reached his hand out to touch her arm, but she turned aside to avoid it.

"Can you promise me that the whole incident in the surf shop was induced by Sarah and that it was the only thing that happened while I was gone?"

Bradin hesitated momentarily. "Yes."

"Really. Are you sure?" Maggie paused, but he did not speak. "You wouldn't happen to remember Lucas, would you? He was at surf team try-outs. And the party," she prompted him. At his silence, she added hotly, "Or were you too drunk to remember?"

"No, I don't remember." His voice rose with anger. "Why don't you fill me in?"

"Lucas tells me you were drinking excessively, and that Sarah and you were making out in Spanish Cove. When the cops came, Sarah dragged you off. I heard you spent the night at her house."

"And how do you know Lucas? I thought you said you didn't have friends here," Bradin retorted.

"He was my first friend when I moved here, and now he's my only friend here."

Bradin cursed himself silently and stared down at his shoes. Now the pieces of the puzzle were coming together. He'd definitely had a hangover, and he now remembered why the house seemed familiar. What had he done?