Chapter 3: A good day in Playa Linda
"Aunt Sally! Aunt Sally!" Emily yelled as she walked into her home for the next two weeks.
"In here, dear!" she heard her aunt yell from the dining room. Emily quickly walked into the dining room, where she was greeted by a hug from her aunt.
"I haven't seen you since you were about eleven." Her aunt said, and hugged her close.
"I know.. I've missed you, too!" Emily said, and embraced the woman back.
"So… What has been happening in Kansas? How's your little boyfriend?" her aunt asked Emily in a teasing manner.
"Well, nothing really happens in Kansas, as you know, and he's not my boyfriend! He's my best friend, and he moved about a year ago because his parents were… killed." Emily said, and couldn't face her aunt. She was still distraught about his parents' deaths, and missed them very much. She was actually pretty close to them.
"Oh… I'm sorry… Where did he relocate to?" Sally asked Emily, and then Emily got a look of shock on her face.
"He moved to Playa Linda! He's HERE! Oh my God! Bradin is HERE!" she yelled in excitement.
"You're more than welcome to go find him if you like. I'll put your things in your room. We can talk more later." Sally told her.
"You're the greatest, Aunt Sally!" Emily said. She then hugged her aunt, and sped out the door.
"Boy… Kids these days." Sally said with a small laugh.
"Bradin! Where are you going!" his Aunt Ava yelled at him, while he was attempting to sneak out the front door.
"I was going to—" he said, but Ava cut him off.
"You are grounded, and you aren't supposed to be going out." She said in a stern voice. Clearly she was having an off day.
"Can't I just head out to the beach? Please Aunt Ava, I won't cause any trouble!" Bradin pleaded. Apparently, it must have been a really bad day for his aunt.
"No. When I say you're grounded, you're grounded, and that is that." She said, and walked out of the room.
"God… What is up with her today!" Bradin yelled in disgust and walked into the kitchen. After all, sneaking and pleading aren't the easiest things to do. Just as he was making his sandwich, the phone rang.
"Hello?" Bradin said into the receiver.
"Is Bradin Westerly there?" the person on the other line said.
"This is he." He replied. He was a bit concerned because he couldn't place a face to the voice.
"Oh, hello dear! This is Sally Marsters, Emily's aunt." She said. The mention of the name Emily brought a smile to play on Bradin's handsome features.
"Hello, Ms. Marsters. How are you?" Bradin said, in a mannerly tone.
"I'm fine, thank you. I just thought that I'd call to let you know that Emily is in town, and she just left to visit you, except, she has no idea of where you live!" the woman said, and Bradin found himself laughing. It was just like Emily to get ahead of herself and leave something vital out of an activity. It was just like that, a time not too long ago, that Bradin could remember…
flashback
"Bradin! Come on! Let's go to the library, I want to get a book!" Emily said enthusiastically. She was very interested in researching a project that the pair had been assigned in Science class.
"Geez, hold your horses, Em!" Bradin called, as Emily tugged at his wrists. He laughed lightly and pulled himself up so that he was walking at the same pace as Emily. Up ahead, they could see the library. As Emily spotted it, she sprinted toward it, her heart set on a book.
"Come on, Bradin!" she yelled, and made her way into the library. Bradin slowly but surely followed.
After about thirty minutes of picking out books, Emily brought them up to the counter to be checked out.
"Can I see your library card, Miss?" the not-so-sweet librarian said, raising her eyebrows in questionable suspicion.
"You have to have a library card to get books?" Emily said, and looked at Bradin, shrugging.
end flashback
"Bradin, are you still there?"
"Yes, Ms. Marsters, I'm here."
"Well, Emily has just pulled up in the driveway, so I think I'll let her talk to you." The woman said, and Bradin heard rustling and an excited squeal emit from a girl known as Emily.
"Hey!" she said, and bit her lip.
"Hey Em!" Bradin said, and after an awkward silence, they both laughed.
"Do you think you can give me directions to your house?" Emily finally said, after the laughter died down.
"Sure. Just take Franklin Street left, and turn right at the stoplight." Bradin said, knowing where her aunt lived. He had visited her once before.
"Okay, thanks!" Emily said, and Bradin could almost hear her smile.
"So I guess I'll see you in about twenty minutes?" He asked her, hope in his voice.
"I guess you will!" Emily said happily, and the both bid each other adieu.
Hey! I just wanted to thank you guys for the wonderful reviews you have given me! I love you all for supporting me! If you have anything to say, or just want to give me constructive criticism or ideas, just send me a review! I'm sorry that this story seems to be developing sort of slowly, but there is a reason for that! Thank you guys once again for supporting me, and the next chapter will be out soon!
LC
