You Don't Have to be Alone

Chapter 3 – Money's Problems

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.

A/N: Hey guys! Thank you so much for the amazing reviews! They keep me writing! So please, keep sending reviews and I'll try to get another chapter out, probably tomorrow night sometime. Enjoy!

Genesis squinted to see the person that had yelled his name. She saw the outline of a tall, African-American woman. "Don't worry, it's just Susannah. You can come…if you want," Bradin shrugged and started to walk towards his home. He hoped Genesis would follow.

"I-I don't know," Genesis sighed and shrugged. "My parents are going to be really worried about me. They're having some party thing." She felt awkward about going. After all of the years having her father tell her about how friends were simply money stealing strangers, she didn't know if it was right…going in, with Bradin.

"It'll just be a second. My Aunt and her friends are going to some party or something, anyway," Bradin shrugged from a few feet in front of her. He wanted to spend the entire night with this girl. She was different than the others. He couldn't put his finger on how she was…she just…was.

"I-I—" Genesis started, but didn't have time to finish, considering Bradin had begun to pull her up towards his home. She giggled softly and pulled up her dress with her other hand. Bradin felt his cheeks grow with warmth as he reached his home. "Bradin!" Genesis laughed once they had reached the home and they spotted the woman standing there.

"Hi," the woman looked at Genesis and then looked back to Bradin.

"Susannah, this is Genesis Alexander—"

"Genesis Alexander?!" She gasped. "As in, the Genesis Alexander related to Chandler Alexander, the fashion designer?" Genesis's face fell from a smile to a frown as she nodded. "Oh! Wow!" Susannah laughed and grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her inside. "Please, come in! It is such a pleasure to be meeting you!" Genesis nodded.

"Y-You too," Genesis said with a sigh. Bradin was confused. He was really confused. How did Susannah know about this amazing girl he had just met? How did she have any idea?!

"This is such a coincidence that you're here! We were just headed to your father's Christmas party," Susannah smiled brightly at the young teenager. "We have a few minutes, though. Would you mind checking out my new line of clothing? I'll have to go and get Ava! AVA!" Susannah yelled and walked over to the flight of stairs. "I'll be right back." She smiled over at Genesis, then returned to the stairs and walked up.

"Wow," Bradin laughed lightly with a frown. He hadn't been more confused. "That was…interesting. I mean, it's not every day I bring a girl home and have her gawked over by my roommates." He laughed. He stopped when he noticed Genesis didn't find it funny.

"I'm always recognized because of my dad," Genesis sighed and looked around the gorgeous home. The Christmas decorations made her big brown eyes swell. She blinked and looked back at Bradin as a single tear ran down her cheek. "Sometimes I just wish that my father wasn't rich and didn't have all the money in the world," she laughed lightly and hastily wiped away the remainder of her tears. Bradin wished he could find something to say…but the words wouldn't come.

"I-I didn't know," Bradin muttered and watched as Susannah and Ava came down the stairs. Susannah had a pile of her fashions in her arms and struggled to see over her feet. Ava smiled at the girl. "Aunt Ava, this is Genesis Alexander. Genesis, this is my aunt, Ava Gregory."

"It's nice to meet you," Ava smiled and shook Genesis's hand. Ava could tell the girl had been crying. She was under the impression it had something to do with her nephew.

"Thank you…you too," Genesis smiled. Susannah began to lay out clothes along the couch in the family room. "I'm sorry, Susannah, but I have to get home. I'm not feeling too well and I think I need to lay down." Genesis sighed and headed towards the back door. Bradin sighed and jogged to catch up to her. He reached her when they had gotten outside.

"I'm sorry…about Susannah…she doesn't understand—"

"I know," Genesis cut Bradin off and looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "Thank you for tonight, Bradin. It was amazing." She smiled and went to walk away as she continued to wipe away tears.

"Genesis!" Bradin yelled after her. She turned back around and looked at him as she sniffled. "Will I see you at the party tonight?" He asked, in hopes of a yes.

"Probably not," Genesis sighed in disappointment. Bradin had been the one person to cheer her up in a long time. "I just don't feel great and I want to sleep. I'm sorry." She sighed. She turned back to head home and then remembered something. She turned back towards him. "Oh, and Bradin?" She called. "Be happy that you have a family that cares for you and loves you. Be happy that you have a family that takes the time to hang Christmas decorations and remembers you. Even though you don't have your parents, you have substitutes that love you. It's better than having parents that don't."

A/N: Okay! I love this story!!! I know exactly where I'm headed with it, too :-D, which is great, lol. SEND FEEDBACK!