A/N: Whoa, just saw Summerland, Bradin was a really pissy jerk this episode! FYI I don't think the slapping incident was directly related to the Erica incident, so sorry for the wrong rant, lol. Poor Johnny! Bradin was uber hot, though.
Lol I'm finishing this chapter right before school. I'm so obsessive that I actually got up earlier to write! J-Macker and PROUD
Bradin was true to his word and arrived a bit early for our walk. I had to admit, I had been a little apprehensive that Bradin would not want to be seen with a freshman on his first day of senior year in a new school but it seemed to be an issue that hadn't even occurred to him.
When I met his eyes I felt something in between fear and hope. Every protective shield I had built up was destroyed. After last night, all traces of my barrier that was held between us was gone. I had tried so hard to distance myself from him…to make sure my real self wasn't shown…But last night, I had been completely exposed for the first time. Nothing would be the same… I had let him in. And somehow, I didn't really think he'd make me regret that decision any time soon.
"Excited yet?" Bradin half-smiled as we started walking.
"Bouncing and giddy," I answered wryly.
"New school, new start," Bradin smiled.
"Yeah, but why would you be looking forward to that?" I raised an eyebrow, "I mean, aren't you annoyed that your popular status will have to be rebuilt?"
"I'm sure it'll be fun," Bradin said.
"Easy for you to say, you were the most popular guy in our high school. Somehow I'm not too surprised that you're not overly worried about making new friends." I snorted.
"I wasn't that popular," Bradin replied, blushing, "And it's not that I'm not worried. I mean everyone's worried about starting all over. But how bad could it be?"
I looked at him and replied with a sardonic, "Hmmm. I'm picturing myself sitting at the reject table, coasting through the year with less friends than the loners 'cause even the so-called nerds have excellent bodies and chic wit not unsimilar to Adam Brody."
"You won't ever be at any reject table," Bradin stated firmly, slightly surprised that I thought that. "And what, exactly, is so crappy about your body and wit?" His eyes gave me a brief once over before meeting my eyes once more. "You're always down on yourself…and I just can't see why. You're hot!"
"Again, you don't need to lavish me with compliments and shit, suck up, I'm not mad at you anymore," I muttered, looking away and trying hard to hide the fact that I was crimson.
"Again, I'm not sucking up. You're gorgeous, and I don't get how you can't see that." Bradin told me, his eyes holding no sarcasm, no laughter; he was seriously heartfelt.
I didn't know exactly how to respond, I gave him a smile through the flush up my neck and stuttered out, "Um, thanks, Bray…"
The school was finally in view. Crowds of people I didn't know, in front of a building I'd be spending the next ten months in.
"Where's your locker?" Bradin asked me.
"Er…" I fished my schedule and locker combo out of my pocket.
Before I could answer, a bright cheerleader-y girl bounced in front of Bradin, "Hi! You're new, right?"
"Uh, yeah." Bradin replied, turning back to me.
"The school might be a little hard o navigate at first, why don't I help you find your locker?" the girl burst out with a killer smile.
"Uh," Bradin paused and glanced over at the paper I was holding. "Sure. We could both use some direction." He looked at me. "Our lockers are in the same general area."
The girl babbled on as we strode into the school. Her voice was really starting to piss me off by the time the girl, Valerie she said her name was, pulled to a stop in front of a group of lockers.
"2777." Valerie announced, indicating a specific locker.
"Ah. Thanks," Bradin flashed her a smile. She nearly melted. Insert eye roll.
"And it looks like I'm down the hall from here," I commented.
"Oh, really?" Bradin said.
"I'll see you later," I said off handily, beginning to walk off. Would he still want to hang around me with a school full of Valerie's all over him?
I felt Bradin's hand on my shoulder, "All right. Don't worry so much; you'll have a blast. I'll meet you here for lunch, okay?"
I brightened, "Okay. And Bradin, thanks."
"No problem," he grinned. As I began to walk off, he called out lightly, "Don't get lost, Kansas!"
Reaching my locker, I couldn't help but smile. This year looked like it'd be much better than I thought it would be,
