"Feeding time at the zoo" Bradin chuckled silently to himself as he walked into the cafeteria.

If these were supposed to be the offspring of Playa Linda's finest he couldn't imagine what the public schools were like.

He slowly walked passed the jock table where they were all chanting.

"Chug" "Chug" "Chug"

While one of them drank a carton of chocolate milk as fast as he could.

Bradin was headed to sit in the same place as yesterday when he heard a voice calling him.

"Bradin!"

He turned around to see Cassie waving him over.

"Sit with us" she said as he got closer.

Bradin put his tray down and slid into the chair next to Cassie's.

"Guys this is Bradin" she said to her friends.

"Aren't you in my English class?" the girl with blond hair questioned.

"Yea" Bradin nodded.

"Cool" she said, "I'm Natalie" she added as she put her hand out for him to shake.

"It's nice to meet you" Bradin replied as he shook her hand. He knew he sounded stupid, but what else was he supposed to say?

"I'm Brooke," the girl with brown hair said.

"Hi" Bradin replied, opting out of the 'It's nice to meet you' thing this time.

"Scott"

"Parker"

Bradin nodded his acknowledgement of the two guys.

"So you're new here right," Scott said.

"Yea" Bradin replied.

"Where are you from?" Natalie asked.

"Kansas" Bradin replied.

"Kansas?...ew" Brooke said.

"Ignore her" Cassie said as she glared at her friend.

"We should get going" Parker said as he stood.

Everyone followed his lead so Bradin did too.

"Where are you going?" Bradin asked "It's too early to head to class" he said.

"We're doing to opposite" Parker replied.

"Opposite of what?" Bradin asked.

"Going to class" Parker replied.

"If you don't want to skip with us you don't have to," Cassie said.

"No, of course I want to come" Bradin replied.

"Good" Cassie smiled.

"We have to get off school grounds before the bell rings or else the teachers get suspicious" Scott explained.

Bradin nodded his understanding.

"So, where are we going today?" Natalie asked.

"I was thinking we would go to the billiards and play some pool" Parker replied.

"Let's stop at Starbucks on the way. I wanna get a mocha," Brooke said.

"Me too" Cassie agreed.

The six of them piled into two cars and drove the short distance to the Starbucks and then on to the Billiards.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"Hey Bradin?" Cassie said.

"Yea" Bradin replied.

"What are you doing on Saturday night?" she asked.

"I don't think I have anything planned" Bradin replied.

"Great! Do you want to be my date to this charity thing for the children hospital?" Cassie asked.

"Sure" he replied.

"Do you have a suit?" Cassie asked.

"Uhhh...no" Bradin replied.

Cassie got a devilish look on her face.

"What?" Bradin questioned.

"We're going shopping" she replied as she grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the pool hall.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

"I'm not really a suit type of guy," Bradin said as they walked into an expensive formal wear store.

"Of course you are" Cassie replied.

Bradin followed Cassie around the store as she pulled random suit off their racks and gave them to Bradin to hold.

After about ten minutes she seemed content that they had everyone that might look good on him.

"I know!" she exclaimed "I'll get a new dress here and we can make sure they look good together" she said.

"Okay" Bradin couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.

Cassie picked out a few dresses and then they went over to the changing rooms.

"Here, try this one on first" she said as she handed Bradin a suit.

"Okay" he replied as he took the suit and headed into the stall.

A few minutes later Bradin came back out with the suit on.

"Wow, you look...amazing" Cassie sighed.

"You really think so?" Bradin questioned.

"Definitely" Cassie replied.

"Why don't you try on a dress now?" Bradin suggested.

"Okay" Cassie replied.

She grabbed a light pink, strapless dress with a tight bustier top and flowing bottom.

Cassie was in the stall for a few minutes before she spoke up.

"I don't think I like this one" she said.

"Come out and let me see it" Bradin replied.

"I don't know," she said.

"Why what's wrong with it?" he questioned.

"I look like Jennifer Lopez in that dress she wore at the end of Maid in Manhattan" Cassie replied.

"I never saw that movie," Bradin said.

Cassie slowly opened the door and stepped out.

"God! I feel like I'm going to pop out" she exclaimed as she covered her chest with her hands. The bustier of the dress was so tight that her breasts were being squished out the top.

"I like it" Bradin replied.

"I bet you do" Cassie laughed.

She quickly turned and went back into the dressing room.

"Pass me the white dress that has the bright pink ribbon" Cassie said.

Bradin found the dress she was talking about and passed it over the stall.

"Thanks" she said.

"Why don't you try on another one of the suit I picked out" she suggested.

"Okay" he replied.

Bradin was finished before Cassie and he came back out of the stall.

She came out a few minutes later though, but she was holding the front of her dress.

"Do you think you could zip me up?" she asked as she turned her back to him.

Bradin paused as he looked at her tanned back.

His fingers lightly brushed her soft skin as he reached for the zipper.

"There we go" Bradin said once he had finished.

"What do you think?" Cassie asked as she spun around once.

"Beautiful, but I already thought that without the new dress" Bradin replied.

"Thank-you" Cassie said.

"And that suit is definitely the one. I love it!" Cassie said.

"May I have this dance?" Bradin asked as he put his hand out.

"But there's no music" Cassie replied.

Bradin cleared his throat and then started to sing.

'Everyday, I look around Seems that no one's ever satisfied Could it be, that underneath We've all got something to hide?'

Cassie smiled and took Bradin's hand.

'If it's love that keeps us breathin'
Gives us something to believe in Is it fear that makes us blind?
Tell me, why is love so hard to find?'

He placed his other hand on the small of her back and she put her other hand on his shoulder.

'If we hear so much about it And we can't go on without it Let the mystery unwind Tell me, why is love so hard to find?'

They swayed slowly together. Bradin tighten his grip on Cassie and pulled her in closer to himself.

'All I know is when you find it Even earth can feel like you're in heaven Tell me now, unlock the secret Help us all to find the hidden treasure'

Cassie placed her head on Bradin's shoulder as they continued to dance.

'Don't you know I'm never gonna give up 'Til I find the love?
I'll be searchin' the whole world over To find my love...'

Cassie lifted her head off his shoulder as he finished singing.

"You have a beautiful voice," she said.

"Thanks"

Their eyes locked and Bradin was lost in how green her eyes were.

He slowly leaned in and their lips met. They kissed for a few minutes before pulling away for much needed air.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

PLEASE REVIEW!

What problems do you think Cassie and Bradin's relationship should have? To bring in a little drama and make it interesting.

Summerlander