You guys are all so amazing! I just love how you have embraced this story. Now that Summerland is coming back on, I should be able to have more drive to update this story regularly. For some reason it seems that I write more often in a story if the show that I'm writing about has like new episodes and stuff. It's weird, but very true. Lol. Anyway, enough babbling, one with the story.

Voices tell me I should carry on

But I am swimming in an ocean all alone

Baby, my baby

It's written on your face

You still wonder if we made a big mistake

Chapter Three

Marie ran up the stairs to her apartment. She quickly unlocked the door and slammed it shut behind her as she walked inside. Flinging herself onto the couch, she let the tears fall until she had none left. She felt so…used. Bradin claimed to still love her, and yet he had moved on and gotten a new girlfriend. One that was so beautiful she made Marie feel like nothing more than an ugly duckling.

"Stop this," she cried, sitting up and punching the throw pillow she had been crying into, "you're better than this, you know you are. Just because you don't have the boy you want doesn't mean you can fall apart." She wiped the tears from her eyes forcefully.

She hadn't cried in so long. It seemed almost foreign to her now. The last time she had really and truly cried was before she and her mother had moved. But, once life with her stepfather was behind her, Marie was happy, and free enough that she didn't feel like crying herself to sleep every night.

She stood and headed down the hall to the bathroom. Splashing cold water onto her face, Marie looked into the mirror that hung above the sink.

Two years ago the image staring back at her would have been covered with bruises and scars. There would have been dark circles beneath her eyes and make-up covering any mark too visible. Not anymore though. No, now she looked like a normal person. There were no scars, no bruises, not even any make-up. Now all that Marie saw when she looked in the mirror was a normal eighteen-year-old young woman who had her whole life ahead of her. And she wasn't about to waste that life pining for a boy that was no longer hers.

Filled with resolve, Marie went back out to the living room, grabbed her purse, and headed into town.

Wandering through Playa Linda, Marie slowly felt herself calming down. Though memories flooded her, she was able to force them to the back of her mind and instead focus on what could happen instead of what had. There was a field of possibilities just sitting in front of her. Marie could do whatever she wanted, she could live the life she always dreamed of. She smiled. It was time to get down to business.

Even though her mom was paying rent on the apartment, Marie still had to buy her own food and any other necessities, that meant getting a job. She looked around her, any of the stores would do. While living with her grandmother, Marie had worked in a few of the stores in the downtown area. She had the experience, but she wanted something different to do.

She continued to walk, looking around for anything that struck her fancy. Then she saw it. It wasn't a relatively large building, but it was cute. She headed inside. The tables were slightly crowded, the chatter of the customers and the soft music from a jukebox in the corner filled the restaurant. Waiters and waitresses moved lazily through the crowds, trays balanced precariously above their heads as they tried to avoid hitting the patrons.

Marie made her way through the sea of tables to the bar, where there was barely an available seat. The bartender was busy mixing drinks and filling glasses with beer.

"Excuse me?" Marie said, as the bartender made his way towards her. He looked up, a surprised look on his face, quickly followed by a wide smile. Marie squealed excitedly.

"Oh my god, Johnny, what are you doing here?" She cried, hugging the older man over the bar.

"This is my place." Johnny grinned, "what are you doing here?"

"I'm back for the summer." Marie said, "And since when did you open a restaurant?"

"I opened it awhile back," Johnny said, "I needed a change from the reality business and decided that I wanted to start my own business." His grin suddenly slipped from his face. "Have you um…have you been by the house?" He asked.

"Yeah," Marie's smile faded as well, "I know all about Bradin, but it's okay. We were together a long time ago, and I'm happy that he was able to find someone."

"Really?" Johnny asked, one eyebrow arched.

"Yeah," Marie nodded, slowly smiling once more. "So, I have a question for you."

"Shoot." Johnny grinned, easily falling back into the I'm-so-happy-to-see-you-again mode.

"Do you have any job openings here?" Marie quirked her head to the side. Johnny laughed.

"Actually, I do." He said, "You want it?"

"Totally, just tell me when I can start."

After Marie ran off, Bradin sat at the rocks for awhile longer, lost in his thoughts. Things with Emma had been going great. He had slowly but surely been falling for her.

Then Marie came back.

He remembered the way it felt to kiss her, to touch her body. He remembered the day that they had almost gone all the way. He recalled to memory every little detail of her skin; the way it felt, the way it tasted, the way it looked. Bradin could practically feel Marie against him.

Emma hadn't been reluctant to sleep with him. In fact, they'd only been going out for a few weeks before having sex. But with Marie, Bradin had been forced to hold himself back, to let her move at her own pace. Emma was on the same page that Bradin was, she wanted a physical relationship, she didn't want to go slow. But Marie, she was hurting, she was scared, she wanted no more physical contact than necessary. That had been two years ago though, perhaps now she had changed. Maybe now she wanted that physical aspect of a relationship.

Bradin shook his head. How many times had Ava told him that a relationship was more than just sex? A lot, that's how many. With Marie he had had a friendship, with Emma it was physical. Why was it so hard for him to choose between the two things? Why couldn't he just have it both? Friendship and sex, was that too much to ask for from a girl? Bradin certainly didn't think so.

Sighing, he stood up, his legs numb from sitting for so long. He brushed the sand off his shorts and went in search of Emma. If he was ever going to figure this out, he needed to talk to her.

"Orders are placed here, and picked up here. The number of each item left is placed on this board. Each time you receive an order for a certain plate mark down the number." Johnny glanced around the small kitchen of his restaurant, "I think that's all you need to know." He looked down at Marie. "Think you can handle it?"

"I think so." She nodded.

"Great," Johnny grinned, "if you can come in tomorrow morning at around ten, I think that'll be good."

"Alright," Marie smiled as the two headed back out into the main area of the restaurant, "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Oh, Marie," Johnny called as she made her way towards the door, "it's great to have you back."

"Thanks Johnny, it's great to be back."

Alright, so the chapters have been short so far, but I think that the next one will be longer. Please review and tell me what you thought.

the different person: I'm probably gonna add a flashback, or something like that in the next chapter to tell about how Bradin and Emma came to be together.

Charliechaz: Upcoming chapters will be longer, I promise.

Jmacsgurll5: My advice for somebody who is just staring out in writing, or at least fan fiction writing, is to start with a firm premise. I never start a story unless I know what I want it to be about. I always have a firm beginning and ending in mind. The story in between I simply let write itself. Weird sounding I know, but it's true. You have to create characters that are real enough in your mind to guide your story to where it should go.

It's going to take awhile for you to come up with something really good, and there are going to be lots of failed attempts. People aren't always going to like what you write, or your style of writing it, but don't give up.

When you do write something, let me know, I'll want to check it out. And, if you want, I'll gladly help you through the process with editing or helping you come up with ideas. Please, don't hesitate to ask for help. We writers have to look out for each other.

Mel: If you want to check out some of my non-fan fiction work, check out I have a bunch of stories posted on that site under the penname curlysara26. Be sure, if you do go to the site, to check out Angel of Mine, I'm planning on having it published when it's finished.

: If you want to check out some of my non-fan fiction work, check out I have a bunch of stories posted on that site under the penname curlysara26. Be sure, if you do go to the site, to check out , I'm planning on having it published when it's finished.

jessesfan0409: You always know how to make my day. Thank you so much for the amazing compliment. It really means a lot to me when people tell me how much my stories affect them. Thank you.

Theresa, Haylie, Candace, Saynt Jimmy, AllyCat16, kandykane33, tinhyeu92, and Beauey: Thank you all so much for taking the time to read and review this story. It really means a lot.