Jessica was waiting for Bradin when he left his house the next morning for school. Upon exiting the front door, he instantly noticed her sitting cross-legged, book in hand, on the front lawn. She glanced up at the noise of the door shutting and gave a feeble smile.

"I thought I might as well take a leaf out of your book," she offered.

"Uh, how long have you been in that position?" He cast a wary look at the novel and at her comfortable position. Not to mention the thermos of coffee beside her.

"That doesn't really matter," she shrugged. "But you see, I knew you'd probably try to avoid me by leaving early so I came bright and early. Coffee?"

"I've got to get to school." Bradin bristled, walking away.

"Bradin, come on, I'm sorry," Jessica stood up and followed him. "I was stupid. I'm not friends with Jason any more, okay? He was an ass hole and I see that now."

"I just can't comprehend how you'd really choose to believe all that crap about me," Bradin shook his head. "Hear I am thinking we're close friends and the moment Jason says one thing bad about me, you come and end all contact with me."

"I didn't see the facts. I made a huge mistake, and I want to make it up. Please, Bradin, I don't want to lose you!" she exclaimed.

"You did just a few days ago." Bradin answered frostily.

"I don't understand why you won't accept my apology and move on," Jessica wringed her hands, nearly knocking over the coffee as she did so.

"I can't just move on because I've been here for you each and every time. I'm tired of begging, of wheedling, of trying to persuade you to take me back. Stuff always screws up with us. And I'm tired of it. I'm tired of being angry, of being frustrated." Bradin harshly snapped.

"Don't you still want to be friends with me?" Jessica asked in a very small voice. "Don't you still like me?"

"There's too much drama! I can't take it any more. No, I don't want to be friends any more, no I don't want to have to deal with this any more." Bradin answered angrily. He turned around and walked away, either not noticing or not caring that Jessica was frozen to the spot with tears blinding her vision. She dragged herself up to him one last time.

"You don't care about me anymore?" she choked out.

"If that will get you to leave me alone, yeah I don't care about you any more." Bradin said, not even bothering to look at her. "We're done."

Painful physical stabs pierced through Jessica's chest and she couldn't stop from crying as she watched him walk away without a second glance. Her knees buckled from under her and she was left kneeling on the grass, empty, silent sobs coursing through her. She couldn't see, she couldn't feel. The world was spinning, her world was spinning. Over and over again, never ending. Bradin Westerly wasn't going to speak to her again. Bradin Westerly didn't give a rat's ass that she was hurting. He didn't care. He didn't want her friendship. She didn't know how long she grasped at the grass in tears but a voice sliced through and interrupted her.

"Jessica, honey, if you don't start walking soon you're going to be late for school." Jessica pulled herself together and looked up. It was Susannah, Bradin's Aunt Ava's roommate and close friend.

Jessica muttered with an unconvincing laugh, "Heh. Sorry…I guess I kind of took over your lawn for a while." She tried to keep her face blank but she knew how red she must have been.

"Don't worry about it," Susannah brushed off. She watched sympathetically as Jessica stood up and brushed off the grass. "Whatever Bradin said, don't worry too much about it. He's hormonal. I'm sure once he cools down a bit, he'll be more agreeable. Don't let his mood swings get you down."

Jessica managed a smile and turned to go to school, wishing with all of her being that she could just stay home that day.

That day was a quiet one. Jason was wisely keeping his distance. Bradin didn't even take the effort to avoid her, he simply ignored her presence. Will was there for her, though. He was silent and didn't prod, letting her coast through the day with as minimal activity as was possible. Of course, the freshmen class just happened to have a special musical presentation on the balcony that day. The sight of the piano did not exactly cause her to jump for joy.

At the end of the day, Jessica stumbled her way home. The only thing she wanted to do was curl up and scream. Chocolate eating was also a very attractive prospect. She felt and acted as if she had just been dumped. In a way, she felt she had been. Bradin and her were only friends at the time but it was useless to pretend that that was all either of them wanted. If she hadn't been so moronic and accused him of threatening Jason, there was a very high chance they would be very close to dating right now. If Jason hadn't said anything, Jess probably would have been comfortable enough, ready enough, to give Bradin a chance. To take it a step further. Lord knows she wanted to. She didn't understand herself sometimes… He wanted to be with her, she wanted to be with him…by all respects; the logical thing would be that the two would be together right now. If only she wasn't such an easily manipulated coward. If only Bradin wasn't stubborn and proud. If only the universe would work in their favour for once.


"Can we talk?" Will asked Bradin as he was walking home. Bradin glanced at him and half shrugged.

"Did Jessica send you?" he sneered.

"No but I'd like to talk to you about her." Will said. "I know you probably don't want to hear this again, and you probably know all of this, but she's beyond sorry. I don't know if you saw her around school today but it was like something died in her. Why are you being so stubborn about this? You really like her, so why not move on? It's not like she got drunk and tried to grope you. It's not like she had no memory of you after living in the same town for fifteen years. It's not like she did something unforgivable."

"She didn't trust me." Bradin answered. "That's why."

"Bradin, the only thing she did wrong was trusting Jason." Will sighed. "You've got to admit, in her eyes, when it comes down to you and Jason, Jason would seem more reliable a source." Bradin didn't answer. "Jessica has always adored you, can't you see? She never meant to hurt you."

"How many times are we going to do this? I don't think there's been a full month where Jess and I actually get along really well." Bradin said.

"Everyone fights. It'd be abnormal and unhealthy not to."Will shrugged.

"Not like this. I can't keep apologizing, I can't stay in this circle." Bradin shook his head. "Besides, aren't you going out with her?"

"I wish. We tried it but it was obvious she was only into you. I was her attempt to move on. Her failed attempt, but hey, she was honest with me at least." Will responded. "She's crazy about you. Jason's been trying to date her all year long and she misses all the signs. She just doesn't care. You're the only one she notices."

"Then I'm doing her a favour." Bradin said indifferently. "She might as well get on with her life."

"But you like her too. I've seen you two together. No one would believe that you've never gone out. There's so much chemistry, so much emotion. You guys are meant for each other." Will protested.

"Then why isn't she the one telling me this?" Bradin didn't appear fazed in the least, no hint of being moved, or stirred, or anything at all.

"She's too busy wallowing. Do you really think she'd be able to do it? To talk to you and put herself out there again after you so kindly dismissed her from your life? You told her that you don't care about her any more. She heard those words. The way she's acting, one would assume that you two were seriously dating… You were really close to her heart." Vouched Will.

"Whatever. I don't care." Bradin waved him off, walking faster and ditching the tenth grader. Will stared at him in amazement. He had really thought his words would have caused some reaction. He knew Bradin really cared about her before, how could he be so harsh now? It didn't make sense.


A/N: Thanks for reviewing! Over 200 now, Yayness! Ugh, I saw the trailer for next week's Summerland on and it just depressed and angered me. DOWN WITH BRERIKA! Anyways... You know, somehow, someway I am going to have to fit in Bradin in a suit, a tux, a private school uniform... He cleans up so well! Chad in that Chilton uniform makes me nearly keel over... they've got to show Jesse in suits more, that white one in Ava's dream was heavenly! Okay, I'm done ranting now, lol

Ahhhh thanks Caitlin for catching my mistake, yeah Jason wasn't there, I meant to say Will, it's changed now :)