Chapter 5
Californication
The next few months went by fast. She was having a good time in California, unlike she expected and she made friends. It was the same but different. Her friends were kind of like the one's she had at home, and one of them was her brother. He always hung out in the same crowd she did. "No way, Chad Michael Murray is WAY cuter than Sean Faris." Callie said. "Uh NO. Sean Faris is definitely hotter." Kayla and Nicole said at the same time. They all laughed. "Hey girls hey Kay." Bradin said as he walked over with Jake and . "Hey Bradin." Kayla said and kissed him on the cheek. "So what were you girls talking about?" asked. "Chad Michael Murray." Sean Faris." The girls said at the same time. They laughed. "Oh my god Justin is so much hotter!" Lucas said jokingly. They all laughed. "If you do that again I just might have to kill you." Bradin said and laughed. "Sorry dude." Lucas said. "So what's the plan for today?" Kayla asked. "I was thinking surfing and then the boardwalk, and then movie night!" Jake asked. "I like it. It IS Friday." Kayla said. "Ok so everyone at my house at 4." Bradin said. "Deal." They all agreed. They went to their classes. Ring "FINALLY the lunch bell!" Kayla said as she walked out of History. She went to her locker and grabbed her books. But on her way to go meet everyone she saw a blonde girl and Bradin kissing. "I can't believe you Bradin!" She yelled as she ran down the hallway to find Nicole. She was crying so hard Nicole had to lead her to the bathroom because she could barely see. "What happened?!" Nicole asked frantically. "I- I was walk-walking d-down the h-hall and Bradin was kissing another g-girl!" She said crying. Meanwhile Bradin pushed Sarah off of him and ran after her. But when he saw her go in the girls' bathroom he stopped. "Callie…She knows about Sarah!" He ran into the lunchroom and told Callie what happened. "Cal! Sarah came to my l-locker a-and she- she kissed me! Kay saw her k- kissing m-me and she ran in the bathroom! Can you please talk to her for me I don't know what I would do without her!" He said his eyes tearing up. "Yeah I'll be right back." She said heading for the bathroom. "Now I don't think Bradin would do it on purpose I know he wouldn't just the other day he was asking me what the perfect present was to get you for Christmas." Nicole said trying to comfort her friend with not a very good result. "Hey can I talk to her for one second?" Callie asked Nicole. "Sure. Maybe you can try." She smiled. "Meet you in the lunchroom." She said. "Kay, listen to me, what you just saw wasn't real. There is more to it than you think. Look, I'm not going to say what, Bradin will explain to you how it was wrong, and you'll understand." She said calmly. "What's to understand he kissed another girl!" She said. "Please just believe me, he's in there practically crying. He- He loves you, and he would never do that to you on purpose. Please go out there and talk to him." Callie said. Kayla dried her face re- applied eyeliner and eye shadow, and walked out the door. He was standing there. "Kay, please listen." He said slowly. "What you just saw was Sarah kissing me. We used to go out but she was the girl who got me in trouble. I fell out of love with her but apparently she still has feelings for me. I love you more than anything and I never meant to hurt you, I never wanted that to happen. Please, forgive me." He said sadly. She looked at him and kissed him. "I forgive you." She smiled. "Ok. Now let's go get some lunch." He smiled and grabbed her hand. They went to go eat. She went to the classes for the rest of the day. When the bell rang to leave she walked out to her locker. "Hey." Bradin said and gave her a hug. "Hey." She smiled. She got her books and they walked to the front of the school talking. Asking each other what they wanted for Christmas. "Well I'll see you at 4!" Kay said, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and walked home. She called her friends back in Jersey as soon as she got home. They talked about everything they possibly could think about until Kay had to do her homework before she went to surf with everyone. She got her homework done just in time to throw on her bathing suit. She walked downstairs and grabbed a towel, surfboard, and wax for it, and walked over to Bradin's house. "Hey Ms. Gregory." She said as she laid her surfboard and towel on the beach. Ava was on the beach just looking at the water. "Hey Kayla, how are you?" She asked. "Good, and yourself?" She asked. "I'm doing ok." She sighed. "Doesn't look or sound like it." She smiled sincerely. "Well it's just that Christmas is in a week, and it's the first Christmas the kids will have without their parents. I just don't want it to be a sad one." She said. " I see. Well it doesn't have to be." She said. "Well I'm afraid it will be." She frowned. "Well how about you come over my house for Christmas eve. We'll have a party. And on Christmas day it could be just you guys sharing good memories of your sister and brother in law." She smiled. "Ok we'll come. Thank you, you helped me so much. I'm going to go inside and start preparing." She said excitedly. "Oh Ms.Gregory," she said, "do you have any idea what Bradin wants for Christmas?" She asked. "Yes, but I'm sure he would rather have you pick it out yourself and give it to him from the heart." She smiled. "Thanks, that helps, I know just what I'm going to do." She smiled. Bradin came out with the others. "Ready to surf?" She asked. They all waxed they're boards and went into the water. When they came out they just sat on the beach. "Jake you're bleeding!" Callie said. "I am?" he looked down, "ooh ouch I am." He said. "I'll go get a band-aid." Kay said. She ran inside. When she got inside she saw Bradin's sister Nikki on the couch, and she looked upset. "What the matter Nik?" She asked concernedly. "Everything." She sighed. "What do you mean everything?" She asked. "Well the other day, Amber said something to Cameron and now they are both acting weird." She said. "What do you mean weird?" She asked. Meanwhile, Bradin walked into the hall wondering where Kay went, but he stopped when he saw her talking to Nikki. "Well, I don't know, they act silent sometimes, they don't want to hang out like all three of us together, and when I hang out with one of them they seem, nervous." Nikki explained. "Well, have you asked them about it?" Kayla asked. "No, I want to, but…" She stopped. "No buts Nikki when your friends are acting weird and making you feel uncomfortable you ask them what's going on. I know it seems hard to do but trust me, it will work out." She smiled. "I wish it was that simple. I mean, I could talk to them about it, but I don't know if I will get a straight answer out of them, or if they'll get mad at me." She sighed again. "Well if they get mad at you they aren't good friends are they? Trust me I've had plenty of friend situations back in Jersey that were worse. Try confronting them, and if you can't do it, or do it alone, I'm here if you need me, ok?" She smiled. "Okay, thanks, Kay, I might need your help, but I'm not sure." She smiled. "I'm here." She smiled, gave her a hug, and walked away. She went into the bathroom and got band-aids for her brother. Bradin came in. They were walking back out of house and they were going through the living room when Bradin said, "Get lost?" He laughed. "Shut up, Bradin." She laughed. "Nah, just helping a friend." Nikki said and the two girls smiled at each other. They went back out to surf.