A/N: I'm not too sure if this chapter really fits very well, but here it is any how. BRADIN COMES BACK TOMORROW! WOOOP!
A few days later, things with Bradin continued to improve. We were spending more time with each other and things were looking up. Unfortunately, that didn't occur in the other relationships in my life.
My parents and I got into a major fight. I was frustrated and upset, and I just couldn't take it anymore. Nothing I did could make them happy, everything I did was wrong. We always fought, especially since coming down to Playa Linda. Their words finally drove me out of the house. I ran to the nearby beach in an attempt to calm down but I desperately needed someone to talk to. As the tears viciously poured down my face, I dialed the first number I could think of.
"Hello?" Bradin's familiar voice rang through.
"Bradin," I croaked out, "It's Jessica. I'm s-sorry for bothering you and- I- I don't even have a very valid reason but I just really had to talk to someone a-and you were the only one I could think of to call… My parents and I got in another fight and I- well, you're the closest thing to a friend that I have in Playa Linda..."
"Jess, where are you?" Bradin asked, voice full of concern.
"B-beach," I managed to reply.
"I'll be right there, okay? Stay there. I'm coming!" Bradin told me.
A few minutes later, I saw Bradin running towards me, out of breath and worry etched across his face.
He sat down next to me and peered carefully into my red eyes. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm so sorry, you didn't have to come," I gulped, "It's not a big deal, I shouldn't have called…"
"No, no don't say that! You can talk to me about anything, okay? God, you scared the living shit out of me," Bradin said, putting an arm around my shoulder. "What happened?"
"My parents were just going on about shit again," I looked down. "They're making me take tenth grade. They think I'm spending too much time with you and now they're all pissy because I stormed out."
"I thought they liked me," Bradin said in confusion.
"They do but they think we're going out and they heard about the alcohol incident from your Aunt," I muttered. "They're worried about me hanging around a junior."
"I'm sorry anything I did caused issues for you," Bradin said ruefully.
"It's not your fault," I reassured him. Then I broke down. "They just think everything I do is wrong!"
Bradin hugged me and whispered, "Then they're wrong, Jess."
"I-everything I do makes them mad. I'm not the daughter they want," I said quietly, tears streaking down my red face.
"Shhh," Bradin soothed, kissing my forehead. "It's going to blow over, it always does."
Once I started talking, I couldn't stop. The outpouring of words rushed out mindlessly, everything I had been keeping in exploded out. "I had a brother, he was a lot older than me, and he committed suicide a few years ago. I guess he couldn't take the fighting. But the fighting is so much worse now and he's gone and it's partly my fault 'cause I largely expressed how much I despised him, I wasn't there for him and now he's never coming back and my parents hate me for it, he was the polar opposite of me…My marks weren't good enough to let me skip, it turns out I missed the opportunity by a smidge, it was just a glitch in the computer that said I could… And I just want it to end."
Bradin continued to hug me, remaining silent, patiently being the ear I needed to vent to. When the tears had stopped and the words all said, Bradin squeezed my arm and stroked my hair.
"I had no idea," he said, his voice muffled by my hair, "You had so much going on."
"Everyone has a sob story and I didn't want anyone's pity, it's not a big deal, I shouldn't have said anything," I turned away.
"Don't keep stuff like that inside, okay?" Bradin looked me in the eye. "I meant what I said, you can talk to me."
"I don't want to go back there," I said.
"Jessica, the longer you stay out here, the angrier they'll be when you return." Bradin told me softly. "But I'll stay here for as long as you need."
"No, you're right. School starts tomorrow, I should just go home, face what I have to." I muttered, "I feel world's calmer now. I really had to just get that out. Thank you for just listening to me."
"Any time," Bradin told me. As I stood up, Bradin stood up too. "But I'm not letting you return by yourself. I'm coming with you. Make sure your parents aren't too mad."
"You don't have to, really, Bradin," I shook my head, "I'm going to be fine."
Nonetheless, Bradin walked me home and greeted my steaming parents. They looked less than pleased to see him. He didn't have the best reputation, my parents had found out that he had been involved in a drunken fight and had been found with pot. Their original approval of him had faded considerably upon hearing this news.
"I'll be fine," I turned to Bradin, giving him a reassuring smile.
"Are you sure?" his eyes scanned mine.
"Yeah, thanks," I smiled.
"I'll walk by in the morning for school okay? We can walk to school together." Bradin offered.
"That sounds nice," I nodded. Bradin gave me another hug and slowly left.
