You Don't Have to be Alone

Chapter 1 – Emotions

Disclaimer: Hey guys! I do not own Summerland or anyone affiliated with them! I do, however, own all the fictional characters, the story line and the title. No stealing! I don't own NSYNC's song, You Don't Have to be Alone.

"Bradin!" Bradin heard someone yell behind him. He turned and watched his aunt, Ava Gregory, make her way down the sand to stand next to him by the water. When she stood next to him, he turned back to face the dark blue ocean. "I was looking for you. Are you okay? Nikki said that you needed some time alone." She frowned. She hadn't seen her nephew depressed since his old "fling" with a girl named Sara ended.

"I'm fine," Bradin sighed with grief. He hadn't felt this way in a long time. Not since his parents died, at least. "I just needed some air. And I still do, to be honest. Could I just skip this fashion party? I really don't feel like going somewhere where I don't know anyone and they could careless if I showed up or not," he sighed.

"Bradin, this party means a lot to Susannah," Ava sighed. She, too, didn't feel like going. Her best friend had a wonderful job that meant more than just a small fashion business, run from a home.

"I know it does," Bradin sighed, as well. "I don't like the whole, dress shoes and tie kind of event. You know that, Aunt Ava," he said. "I just…need time." He shrugged. He watched each wave roll in and crash along the sand. They were perfect waves. He could picture himself surfing in them right now.

"Why don't you talk to me about what's bothering you?" She questioned the sixteen-year-old. She followed his glance out to the sea. She knew that the water was calming to him. She watched what he watched.

"This is the first Christmas without mom and dad," Bradin muttered softly, so just Ava could hear. She then realized what hadn't been said for some time now. "Before school started, Nikki, Derrick and me went into mom's cooking stuff. We found things…we cried together." Bradin's eyes began to fill with tears all over again. "It's like all of those feelings are rushing back!"

"Bradin, I know how you feel," Ava sighed and watched him as a tear rolled down his cheek. He hastily brushed away the tear with the back of his hand so his aunt couldn't tell he was crying. "I'll tell you what." She said with a smile. "How about I cover for you with Susannah and then we say you owe me one?" She asked. Bradin looked down at her with a smile.

"Thanks, Aunt Ava," he smiled and hugged her. He then turned and started to walk towards Spanish Cove where he could think for a while. Ava watched him reach the rocks and then turned back inside with a sigh. She knew she would have to deal with Susannah, but with Susannah's big night, she'd forget about it.

As Bradin watched the rolling waves, he calmed down. He didn't feel as…confined. He felt more free and open to think what he wanted to think. He heard someone cry softly and frowned. He could have sworn he was alone. He turned and looked for a body, but couldn't see anything due to the darkness of the night. Then, in the small nightlight from the moon, he caught the outline of a girl, hunched over. She was crying into her lap with her knees curled up to her chest. She had on a long evening gown and her brown hair was wavy down over her shoulders. Bradin quietly stood up and walked the little ways over to the girl. He saw her high heel shoes in the sand by her feet. She stopped crying when she realized someone else was there. She looked up at him, revealing her chocolate colored eyes. Her chest heaved slightly as she tried to calm her cries.

"A-Are you okay?" Bradin frowned and took a seat on a rock next to her. He could tell that he startled the girl, because she was shocked and wasn't saying anything. "I'm sorry, I just…I was sitting down there on one of those rocks and I heard you crying. I didn't know who it was." He watched her as she brought a hand up and tucked some of her long wavy hair behind a double pierced ear. Her gaze continued to fall on the ocean.

"I was just thinking," she replied, her voice raspy from crying.

"Thinking with emotion," he laughed lightly and looked out to the ocean. "I was actually doing the same thing." He nodded. He, then, returned his green eyes back to her dark blue dress. "Kind of dressed up to be on the beach." He said and looked to try and connect with her eyes. She looked back at him.

"So are you," she said.

"Bradin Westerly," he frowned at her. There was something about this girl…that drove him crazy. It was like he knew who she was, and yet she didn't have a name for his image. It was like he had seen her before. She reminded him so much of…himself.

"Genesis Alexander," she sighed and smiled when he didn't recognize the name.

"Why were you crying?" Bradin asked. He didn't want to scare the girl, but then again, he wanted to know what could make her cry.

"Why should you care?" She sighed and hopped down from the rock. She picked up her shoes and slowly made her way down to the water. Bradin's eyes followed her. Then he took off his dress shoes and black socks and held them in his hand. He jogged to catch up next to her.

Genesis looked up at him. He was definitely attractive. He was about two inches taller than she was, he had shaggy blonde hair and green eyes. He had on dress pants and a white dress shirt with the black tie loosened to a hanging position around his neck. "Are you new around here?" Bradin decided to change the subject.

Genesis eyed him suspiciously. When she realized that maybe he was a good guy and maybe he could possibly care, a small smile pierced her lips. "Yeah. I am."

A/N: Okay! There's the end of chapter 1! Keep the feedback coming!