Author's Note: Ok, looking at the date below, you will realize this was written before a majority of the previous chapters. I have this stupid habit of writing future chapters before I get there because I get ideas and then I'll lose them if I don't write them down. Haha, I was surprised with this one though, because I didn't have to change much. I'm so proud of me! I am finally being a successful writer! It's funny to look at where I am with this story now and where I started. I had a completely different story line in my head at first. It just goes to show that you shouldn't set your plans in stone and that you have to trust the characters to show you where they want the story to go.
My off-topic splurge…Jesse's debut album 'Beautiful Soul' is awesome! He sounds great! (as usual, lol) GO GET IT AND SUPPORT JESS! Ok, I'm done…I promise.
August 24, 2004
Disclaimer: I do not own Summerland, any related characters or places, nor I do not own the lyrics of Hoobastank's The Reason.
Your Beautiful Soul
Chapter 18
Maggie curled up on the couch, randomly flipping through the channels on the TV. She was on her fourth time around—still finding nothing interesting—when Kyle came up behind her and dropped an object in her lap.
"Someone left this for you at the front door," he said.
"Whatever." She shrugged, tossed the thin CD case onto the coffee table, and continued flipping channels.
"You might want to check it out." Kyle turned and walked to his room.
Rolling her eyes, she turned her focus back to the Weather Channel. The forecast was just as it had been five minutes earlier: sunny skies, high-97, low-72. She scoffed at the unrealistically happy weather girl on the TV, pointing out the thunderstorms on the East Coast.
"I bet that tan's fake," she said to the skinny blonde. "And I doubt that's the nose you were born with."
Tiring of finding nothing to watch, Maggie picked the case off the low table and headed up to her room. She shut the door, flopped on the bed, and slid the home-burned CD into the stereo.
She leaned back on the pillow and closed her eyes, listening to the rhythmic opening of the song.
"I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you
I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with every day
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That's why I need you to hear
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you"
Maggie turned onto her stomach as the tears burst out and buried her face in the pillow.
"And the reason is you…
And the reason is you…
And the reason is you.
I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you
I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you"
She lay sobbing uncontrollably for nearly fifteen minutes after the last note had died away. Still sniffing, eyes bleary and red, she shoved herself off the bed and slipped her bare feet into a pair of tennis shoes. Her fingers fumbled numbly with the laces, and after several wipes of her face, she managed to coax the laces into a knot.
Rushing out the open door, she hurried down the steps to the sand and took off running. She tripped and fell to her knees, but forced herself back up and kept going, pushing her way through a crowd of beach-goers. Rounding a corner, Maggie ran up to the front door of the Gregory residence and knocked frantically, willing it to open.
"Maggie?" Susannah asked worriedly as the door flew open. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Maggie broke down again, tears falling freely as she fought for breath. Wiping her eyes, she forced out, "Where's Bradin?"
"I don't know, sweetie, but he said he'd probably be at the Promen—"
Before Susannah could finish her sentence, Maggie had turned and disappeared from sight, sprinting down the sidewalk. She chose the route that curved down by Two Brothers on the off chance she'd see him on the beach, but she was disappointed and altered her course for a more direct path to the Promenade. As she walked hurriedly through the weekend crowd, fresh tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over, streaming down her face unchecked. Stopping at a bench near the big Playa Linda mural, she dug her knuckles into her eyes, wishing herself anywhere but where she was. A voice caught her attention, but when she tried to search for the face, the world around her was blurred and confusing, making her feel more like the main character of a horrible nightmare than ever.
She was alone; confused; helpless. She wanted to go back home to New York; she wanted her father—yet, neither of those would ever be possible. She didn't know what she wanted anymore. Why was life so hard and confusing? The question raced through her aching head, taunting her mercilessly.
In an instant, all the confusion—all the pain and hurt was wiped away, and she knew the seemingly only thing that would make her alive again; to fill the gaping hollowness within her soul. She wanted him; she needed him.
She ran the back of her hand across her face and stood. Sucking in a breath to steady herself, a shiver ran through her, and she took off at a run, dodging shoppers and passers-by. Five minutes later, she reached the small surf shop, sinking into a weeping heap just inside the door next to a surfboard leaning on the window. Through her misery, she thought she heard his voice. She didn't believe herself and didn't bother to lift her head from the floor. The next moment, she felt his arms around her and heard the steady beat of his heart in her ear.
"I'm sorry," Maggie sobbed into his shoulder. "I'm sorry—I'm sorry."
"So am I," he whispered soothingly.
"I was hurt," she cried. "I was scared…I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
Bradin eased himself onto the floor, pulling Maggie across his legs and closer to him. He gently stroked her face and rocked her back and forth, doing his best to reassure her. How long he held her, he did not know, but when she released her tight grip and looked up at him, the sky was well on its way to being dark.
"I'm sorry," she said again. "I was scared and—and confused and I…"
"It's okay, Mags." Bradin brushed a stray tear from her cheek. "I understand."
"I love you, Bradin Westerly." Maggie managed to smile up at him, and despite her puffy and red-splotched face, he was yet again reminded of how much he cared for her and loved her. She was beautiful; her soul was beautiful.
"I love you, too, Maggie Ward," Bradin pulled her close again.
The End
Author's Note: I know you all wanted more, but this is where Maggie and Bradin told me they wanted to stop, so I respected their wishes, lol. Hope you enjoyed it!