Title:
A/N: My first Summerland story. It's AU. A tragic accident rocks the house and brings changes for everyone. All cast included, but mostly Bradin and Jay.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of them, cept the ones I made up.
Dark eyes twinkled as Erika hooked her arms around Jay's neck. Her mouth quirked. "Tell me," she whispered teasingly. Jay squeezed his lips together and gave a small shake of his head. "Tell me," Erika demanded again, "or I won't kiss you before I go."
Jay shrugged. "That's all right."
"Really?" She pulled back a bit, surprised.
"Sure. Cuz I can always kiss you." He leaned forward, gently grasping her chin with one hand. The kiss was soft, with the quick intimacy shared between lovers. She tasted sweet, like the vanilla lip balm she always wore. He rested his forehead against hers as she laughed.
"You got me," she admitted.
"I always do," he grinned.
"Hey." Erika's chin jutted out stubbornly. She gave his shoulder a push. "Don't get cocky with me. I know you too well to let your head swell like that."
The Australian brushed a lock of dark hair out her eyes. "I suppose you do."
"But you're still not gonna tell me, are you?"
"Nope." He loved torturing her, the little pout she got when she was frustrated, and the coy smile she used when trying to weasel secrets out of him. "I'll tell you tonight, at dinner, promise. 7:30 at Renaldo's, don't be late."
Her smiled broadened and her nose wrinkled. "I can't believe we're having dinner at the most expensive French restaurant on the beach. It's not even an any month anniversary. You better watch out Jay, or you're gonna turn into a regular romantic on me. And I can't believe you, of all people, just told ME not be late."
Jay winced, sucking in a breath between clenched teeth. "Okay, so I don't have the best track record." His eyes flicked over her face, noting the raised eyebrow. "Okay okay, so I have one of the worst records. I know. But no worries, all I have to do is close up shop in an hour and then head home for a shower and quick change. I'll even be early."
Erika rolled her eyes. "On time is fine. I'm gonna head out then, so I don't distract you and make you late. Besides, I need to get ready too. I'll see you tonight." She kissed him again and turned on her heel, striding for the door.
Jay watched her go, through the door, and out toward the parking lot, till she was a mere dot in his eyes. He chewed the inside of his lip, and his hand slipped into the pocket of his shorts. He leaned on his elbow, running his free hand over his mouth. He set the small box down on the counter in front of him, staring down at the black velvet case. It had taken him a long time to get here, but he finally realized it was exactly where he wanted to be.
--
Erika was practically skipping as she made her way into the parking lot. She and Jay had come so far in the past months, and she finally was sure that they were real. This time she wasn't imagining anything. She tossed her bag into the back of her open cab and opened the driver's side door. It was then that she noticed the commotion a few yards away. Erika recognized the form and spiky blond hair of Bradin, nephew to Jay's roommate Ava and her own brightest new student.
He stood with a tiny blonde beside a dark two seat sports car. She couldn't hear the conversation, but the wild hand gestures and occasional loud shout were clue enough that they were arguing. Suddenly the blonde struck out, the slap of her hand against Bradin's face echoing across the tarmac. Then she pushed him and lunged for her car, jumping inside before Bradin could stop her. The tires squealed as she tore from the parking lot, leaving two strips of rubber in her wake.
Bradin's shoulders slumped forward. One hand gingerly probed his face. He spotted Erika watching him when he turned. Almost immediately he picked up a run. "Erika!" he yelled. he sprinted toward her, shoes skidding on the pavement as he slid to a halt on the other side of the car. His eyes were wide and wild. "I need a ride," he said in a rush.
"No prob Bradin, I can drop you at home."
"No, not home. Sarah's pissed. She told me her parents want to send her away to boarding school. She was really upset and I think I made it worse. She doesn't think anyone cares. Erika I think she might do something stupid. I need to follow her. Please?"
A bubble of unease welled in the older girl's stomach. She glanced at the small digital clock on her dash. 5:48. Her mind raced. Follow Sarah, deal with whatever melodrama was to follow and still have enough time to get ready and meet Jay? She sighed, knowing full well that this excursion would probably make her late. Maybe if she hadn't just seen her peel out of the parking lot. Maybe if Bradin didn't look quite so freaked. But the maybe's didn't matter, because she had seen it, and he did look freaked. She sighed. "Get in."
Bradin's stone set face shattered into a grateful, relieved smile. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me yet," Erika said grimly. "We still have to catch her, and I can guarantee that little car of hers has more juice than mine." His face darkened again. "We'll get her," she assured. "Just....buckle up huh?"
Five minutes later her dark hair whipped her in the face as they sped along the freeway, headed south. The knot in Erika's stomach grew heavier with each passing mile marker, knowing that every moment took her farther from Playa Linda, and farther from her fancy dinner and romantic evening.
She pressed her foot farther down on the gas pedal. The engine roared, the needle of the tachometer hovering just past 5 thousand RPM's. She willed the engine to shift, and made a mental note to have someone check the transmission the next time she took it in. Finally the engine shifted gears, and they zipped through a small gap between an SUV and a semi.
Bradin's half closed fist hammered her shoulder. "There!" He shouted. The wind tore away at his words. He pointed over to the far left lane, where a small, dark car was weaving dangerously between cars. "That's her! Can you get closer? Maybe she'll pull over if she sees me." The girl is nuts, Erika decided in that instant. She's gonna get herself killed. She didn't however, think that this was the best time to tell Bradin of her revelation of his girlfriend.
Erika grit her teeth and pressed her foot to the floor. The needle hovered between 85 and 90. Sarah's car was only one car in front of and a lane over when it happened. With no warning whatsoever Sarah cut across three lanes of traffic and up onto an exit ramp. One driver, completely unaware of the erratic teen, had merged onto the ramp as well.
The dark sports car nearly clipped the bumper of the four door sedan. The driver instinctively hit the brakes and jerked his wheel back over to the left. The sedan careened into the side of a minivan at nearly sixty miles an hour, sending it spinning around into the path of a large work truck towing lawn maintenance equipments behind it. The trailer and truck jack knife, and the trailer flipped, dumping its load into the middle of the highway.
Erika saw the whole thing happen in slow motion, when in reality it had taken less than a few seconds. She hit the brakes, already knowing they were too close, and going too fast to stop. Bradin's hands gripping the dash were bone white. She cranked the steering wheel to the right and the sound of squealing tires filled her ears.
Bradin held his breath as he watched them slide toward the pileup. He felt the wheels lose their hold on the asphalt and the top heavy vehicle begin to flip. There was the sound of crunching metal and a scream. Then there was nothing, just the silence, and the dark.
--
Jay barely registered two of his best friends huddled together on the living room couch when he got home later that day. He pulled open the fridge door and picked out a soda, popping the top as he shut the door. "Where is everyone?" He asked, sipping his drink. "Usually it's a three ring circus in here around this time."
"Jay...." Susannah's voice was thick.
He turned, his jubilation dying away just a little. Johnny and Susannah stood in the center of the living room, though Susannah looked like she was having a hard time of it. Her hair was mussed and her face streaked by tears. An open box of tissues sat empty on the coffee table. Johnny had his arms wrapped securely around her shoulders and even he looked strained.
Jay set the can down on the countertop. "What's wrong?" He jumped down the steps out of the kitchen, an edge of panic creeping into his voice. "Where are the kids? Where's Ava?"
"She took the kids....they left...." Susannah managed to choke out before breaking down in tears.
"Left? Left for where? Somebody please let me know what in bloody hell is going on?" His eyes scanned desperately over Johnny and Susannah.
"The hospital," Jonny told him simply. "There was a car accident man."
"Bradin?" Jay questioned. "Is he okay? Is it bad?"
"Jay, you might want to sit down....."
End Prologue
So what do you think? Love it, hate it? I have a basic idea where I'm going with this, but it does take me a while to update. Feedback is greatly appreciated.
A/N: My first Summerland story. It's AU. A tragic accident rocks the house and brings changes for everyone. All cast included, but mostly Bradin and Jay.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of them, cept the ones I made up.
Dark eyes twinkled as Erika hooked her arms around Jay's neck. Her mouth quirked. "Tell me," she whispered teasingly. Jay squeezed his lips together and gave a small shake of his head. "Tell me," Erika demanded again, "or I won't kiss you before I go."
Jay shrugged. "That's all right."
"Really?" She pulled back a bit, surprised.
"Sure. Cuz I can always kiss you." He leaned forward, gently grasping her chin with one hand. The kiss was soft, with the quick intimacy shared between lovers. She tasted sweet, like the vanilla lip balm she always wore. He rested his forehead against hers as she laughed.
"You got me," she admitted.
"I always do," he grinned.
"Hey." Erika's chin jutted out stubbornly. She gave his shoulder a push. "Don't get cocky with me. I know you too well to let your head swell like that."
The Australian brushed a lock of dark hair out her eyes. "I suppose you do."
"But you're still not gonna tell me, are you?"
"Nope." He loved torturing her, the little pout she got when she was frustrated, and the coy smile she used when trying to weasel secrets out of him. "I'll tell you tonight, at dinner, promise. 7:30 at Renaldo's, don't be late."
Her smiled broadened and her nose wrinkled. "I can't believe we're having dinner at the most expensive French restaurant on the beach. It's not even an any month anniversary. You better watch out Jay, or you're gonna turn into a regular romantic on me. And I can't believe you, of all people, just told ME not be late."
Jay winced, sucking in a breath between clenched teeth. "Okay, so I don't have the best track record." His eyes flicked over her face, noting the raised eyebrow. "Okay okay, so I have one of the worst records. I know. But no worries, all I have to do is close up shop in an hour and then head home for a shower and quick change. I'll even be early."
Erika rolled her eyes. "On time is fine. I'm gonna head out then, so I don't distract you and make you late. Besides, I need to get ready too. I'll see you tonight." She kissed him again and turned on her heel, striding for the door.
Jay watched her go, through the door, and out toward the parking lot, till she was a mere dot in his eyes. He chewed the inside of his lip, and his hand slipped into the pocket of his shorts. He leaned on his elbow, running his free hand over his mouth. He set the small box down on the counter in front of him, staring down at the black velvet case. It had taken him a long time to get here, but he finally realized it was exactly where he wanted to be.
--
Erika was practically skipping as she made her way into the parking lot. She and Jay had come so far in the past months, and she finally was sure that they were real. This time she wasn't imagining anything. She tossed her bag into the back of her open cab and opened the driver's side door. It was then that she noticed the commotion a few yards away. Erika recognized the form and spiky blond hair of Bradin, nephew to Jay's roommate Ava and her own brightest new student.
He stood with a tiny blonde beside a dark two seat sports car. She couldn't hear the conversation, but the wild hand gestures and occasional loud shout were clue enough that they were arguing. Suddenly the blonde struck out, the slap of her hand against Bradin's face echoing across the tarmac. Then she pushed him and lunged for her car, jumping inside before Bradin could stop her. The tires squealed as she tore from the parking lot, leaving two strips of rubber in her wake.
Bradin's shoulders slumped forward. One hand gingerly probed his face. He spotted Erika watching him when he turned. Almost immediately he picked up a run. "Erika!" he yelled. he sprinted toward her, shoes skidding on the pavement as he slid to a halt on the other side of the car. His eyes were wide and wild. "I need a ride," he said in a rush.
"No prob Bradin, I can drop you at home."
"No, not home. Sarah's pissed. She told me her parents want to send her away to boarding school. She was really upset and I think I made it worse. She doesn't think anyone cares. Erika I think she might do something stupid. I need to follow her. Please?"
A bubble of unease welled in the older girl's stomach. She glanced at the small digital clock on her dash. 5:48. Her mind raced. Follow Sarah, deal with whatever melodrama was to follow and still have enough time to get ready and meet Jay? She sighed, knowing full well that this excursion would probably make her late. Maybe if she hadn't just seen her peel out of the parking lot. Maybe if Bradin didn't look quite so freaked. But the maybe's didn't matter, because she had seen it, and he did look freaked. She sighed. "Get in."
Bradin's stone set face shattered into a grateful, relieved smile. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me yet," Erika said grimly. "We still have to catch her, and I can guarantee that little car of hers has more juice than mine." His face darkened again. "We'll get her," she assured. "Just....buckle up huh?"
Five minutes later her dark hair whipped her in the face as they sped along the freeway, headed south. The knot in Erika's stomach grew heavier with each passing mile marker, knowing that every moment took her farther from Playa Linda, and farther from her fancy dinner and romantic evening.
She pressed her foot farther down on the gas pedal. The engine roared, the needle of the tachometer hovering just past 5 thousand RPM's. She willed the engine to shift, and made a mental note to have someone check the transmission the next time she took it in. Finally the engine shifted gears, and they zipped through a small gap between an SUV and a semi.
Bradin's half closed fist hammered her shoulder. "There!" He shouted. The wind tore away at his words. He pointed over to the far left lane, where a small, dark car was weaving dangerously between cars. "That's her! Can you get closer? Maybe she'll pull over if she sees me." The girl is nuts, Erika decided in that instant. She's gonna get herself killed. She didn't however, think that this was the best time to tell Bradin of her revelation of his girlfriend.
Erika grit her teeth and pressed her foot to the floor. The needle hovered between 85 and 90. Sarah's car was only one car in front of and a lane over when it happened. With no warning whatsoever Sarah cut across three lanes of traffic and up onto an exit ramp. One driver, completely unaware of the erratic teen, had merged onto the ramp as well.
The dark sports car nearly clipped the bumper of the four door sedan. The driver instinctively hit the brakes and jerked his wheel back over to the left. The sedan careened into the side of a minivan at nearly sixty miles an hour, sending it spinning around into the path of a large work truck towing lawn maintenance equipments behind it. The trailer and truck jack knife, and the trailer flipped, dumping its load into the middle of the highway.
Erika saw the whole thing happen in slow motion, when in reality it had taken less than a few seconds. She hit the brakes, already knowing they were too close, and going too fast to stop. Bradin's hands gripping the dash were bone white. She cranked the steering wheel to the right and the sound of squealing tires filled her ears.
Bradin held his breath as he watched them slide toward the pileup. He felt the wheels lose their hold on the asphalt and the top heavy vehicle begin to flip. There was the sound of crunching metal and a scream. Then there was nothing, just the silence, and the dark.
--
Jay barely registered two of his best friends huddled together on the living room couch when he got home later that day. He pulled open the fridge door and picked out a soda, popping the top as he shut the door. "Where is everyone?" He asked, sipping his drink. "Usually it's a three ring circus in here around this time."
"Jay...." Susannah's voice was thick.
He turned, his jubilation dying away just a little. Johnny and Susannah stood in the center of the living room, though Susannah looked like she was having a hard time of it. Her hair was mussed and her face streaked by tears. An open box of tissues sat empty on the coffee table. Johnny had his arms wrapped securely around her shoulders and even he looked strained.
Jay set the can down on the countertop. "What's wrong?" He jumped down the steps out of the kitchen, an edge of panic creeping into his voice. "Where are the kids? Where's Ava?"
"She took the kids....they left...." Susannah managed to choke out before breaking down in tears.
"Left? Left for where? Somebody please let me know what in bloody hell is going on?" His eyes scanned desperately over Johnny and Susannah.
"The hospital," Jonny told him simply. "There was a car accident man."
"Bradin?" Jay questioned. "Is he okay? Is it bad?"
"Jay, you might want to sit down....."
End Prologue
So what do you think? Love it, hate it? I have a basic idea where I'm going with this, but it does take me a while to update. Feedback is greatly appreciated.