Bradin came back to the usual chaos that ruled the Ava Gregory household. Ava would be trying her hardest to be a good mother-figure for the kids, while discussing design ideas with Susannah. Johnny would be barbecuing in the backyard, Jay would be either be making out with Erika or ordering more supplies for his shop. Nikki would always panic on how to act or dress to impress Cameron, when she firmly insists that they are just friends. Derrick would be booming the speakers on his videogame system as he was trying to win, pushing the buttons on the hand-held controller ever so hard. It was a surprise that he hadn't already broken it yet.

Bradin was already used to the normal turmoil that would greet him as he came home from a long day. Especially now since his mind was completely occupied from the fact that he saw Kristen, his long lost best friend. He was so eager he'd meet up with her today. Bradin hadn't felt that kind of personality from someone in a long time. He missed it. He wanted to know what was up with her, how his old Kansas friends were doing, the "411" on things. The bad part was, she reminded him of his time there; when his parents were alive.

"Bradin! Come down for lunch!" Ava called. "Johnny grilled some hot dogs!"

Bradin sighed, slipped his hands into his pockets and made his way to the backyard patio. He took a plate and plopped a hot dog sausage on it along with a hotdog bun. He took a seat across from Derrick.

Bradin remembered when his dad used to make hotdogs. He would grill it just right and add some chili in the center. He couldn't help but think about Kristen as well. She'd come over every weekend and eat hotdogs with him. After, they'd watch their favorite PBS kids show that afternoon and giggle at the most un-funniest parts. She'd be the only one who'd understand him and his unusual sense of humor. Bradin always thought of her as a friend, but now that she'd come to visit, he thought they could be more than friends. Maybe start a relationship. He'd been searching for someone with her personality and really good looks for a long time.

"Aunt Ava, why is Bradin smiling like that?" Derrick asked with his mouth full of hot dog.

"And why's he so quiet all of a sudden?" Nikki asked, giving her brother a strange look.

"Girls." Jay purposed. "He's thinkin' about girls again."

"No I'm not." Bradin lied. He got up. "I'm gonna go out for a little bit aunt Ava."

"Alright, be back before dinner." She said to him. "And no more fooling around, got it?"

Bradin sighed with a hint of annoyance. He hated when his aunt acted all "parental" around him.

It was almost time for him to meet Kristen by the shop. He decided to fix up his hair a little and throw on his swimming trunks and a white shirt that hugged his muscular body tightly. He grabbed his surfboard and started heading out.

As he walked out of his room, something caught the corner of his eye. He looked at his dresser. Behind all the surf catalogs, he found what looked like a leg sticking out. He pushed all his junk to the side and picked up what he saw. It turned out to be a purple spotted green dinosaur from his past. He thought it was really stupid looking, but he decided to take it with him, for good luck purposes.

Bradin waited patiently for Kristen, leaning his back to the store wall.

"Hey Brae!" A shout took him by surprise as he whirled around to once again meet face-to-face with his friend.

"I mean, if I could still call you Brae." Kristen said. "I mean, it's been so long and…"

"No problem." Bradin said. "Call me anything you want. Whatever floats your boat."

Kristen giggled. "Alright."

"Look what I brought." Bradin said smiling at her as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the stuffed animal he took earlier. "Remember him?"

"Oh yeah!" Kristen's face lit up. "I gave this to you as a 'sorry' present when I pushed you too hard on the swing in the second grade!" She laughed at the thought.

"Well I'm giving it back to you as a 'sorry' present for not keeping in touch with you after all these years." He replied. "Besides, he's really ugly-looking and I don't know why we ever liked his show in the first place."

"Kinda ugly like you?" Kristen joked. "Just playing. Thanks though." She took it from him. "It'll be like a memory of you when I go back to Kansas."

Bradin's smile slowly faded away. "Oh yeah, you're going back huh. When are you leaving?"

"Saturday." She replied.

Bradin sighed. "Well, since you're leaving soon, I was wondering if you wanna, um, hang out tomorrow night, I mean, I know we've just known each other as friends and all, but, I was thinking, maybe this could be sorta like a da-″

"Hey baby." A voice cut Bradin off.

"Oh, hey Erik." Kristen's pleased expression faded away.

"Who's he?" Erik asked Kristen, giving Bradin a look that seemed to say "she's taken".

"Oh, this is my really good friend Bradin." Kristen said. "Bradin, this is, um, my boyfriend, Erik."

"Nice to meet you." Bradin held out his hand without showing any facial expression as to actually being content with meeting this backstabber.

"Um, yeah nice meeting you too Bryan." Erik said without taking his hand in his.

"It's Bradin." Bradin corrected him sternly. "Hey Kristen, I gotta go, I'll see you around." Bradin said with a hint of pain in his voice as he marched off to the opposite direction.

"Bradin wait!" Kristen called. But Bradin had already left by then, obviously hearing her, but showing no emotion of waiting. He was heartbroken.

A/N: Does it seem like the flow of this chapter was going by a little too fast? Please let me know! And let me know about other flaws you think I should fix. Thanks, please review!