I can't believe that Summerland is over! And what a way to end the series. But they left so many loose strings. Like Derrick hating Bradin and the whole law suit thing. And what about Jay and Isabelle? What's going to happen with all of them? I wish that the series didn't have to end, I love Summerland so much. Oh well, at least the characters can live on in our fan fiction. Lol.

Chapter Twelve

Marie's face hurt from smiling so much. That was one of the downfalls to waitressing, and sore feet.

"Have a nice day." She called as a couple that had been seated at one of her tables left the restaurant. She headed over to the table they had just vacated and began to clear away the dishes that sat there. Picking up the tip, she counted out the money.

"A buck fifty?" She shook her head. Those people had been some of the most obnoxious people she'd served yet. And all they left her was a lousy dollar-fifty? Mentally shrugging, Marie pocketed the money. She would take whatever she could get.

"Hey, Marie, you got someone over by the window." Jack, one of the bus boys, said as he walked past with a dishpan loaded with plates and silverware and cups.

"Thanks." Marie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Walking over towards the table, she pulled out her pad and pencil.

"Hi, my name's…"

"Marie." She looked up, her eyes meeting with Bradin's.

"You've got to be kidding me." She muttered angrily.

"I didn't know you worked here." Bradin wouldn't meet her eye, and that pissed Marie off more than the argument that they'd had the day before.

"Yeah, well I do." Marie was in no mood to put up with his bull. "So what can I get you?" She jutted her hip out stubbornly, pencil poised to take his order.

"I'm not that hungry anymore." He said, standing and walking past her.

"Oh please, don't leave on my account." Her voice was filled with bitter sarcasm. Bradin stopped mid-step and turned his head to look at her.

The look in his eyes nearly broke Marie's heart, nearly.

His gaze fell back down to his feet and he quickly shuffled out of the restaurant. Marie watched him through the window. The way his shoulders slumped and his feet scuffed at the ground. Something was wrong. There was something on his mind that he wanted to share, but, for some reason, wouldn't. Sympathy bubbled up inside of Marie, but she quickly stomped it out.

If Bradin needed to talk to somebody he had plenty of people to go to. It wasn't her job to listen to him anymore. Marie had gotten out of that one, thankfully.

But as she watched him, she couldn't help feeling her own heartbreaking alongside his.

Walking on the beach, the sand squishing between his toes, Bradin watched the gulls swooping low over the waves. He closed his eyes, fighting back his rising emotions.

Seeing Marie at the Sandbar had been the last thing Bradin needed. He had had to fight to keep from blurting out that he still cared about her, still loved her. That he would breakup with Emily in a heartbeat and be with Marie if he only knew that she still felt the same about him.

She had to still love him. Bradin had seen the look in her eyes when she'd first approached him the day before- just before he'd made a complete fool of himself. She had wanted to talk, maybe even make up. And just a few minutes ago, when he had looked at her before leaving. She was hurt that he was walking away from her.

Sitting down on the sand, well away from the tide, Bradin stared out at water. Why did they continue to dance around each other? Bradin knew that Marie still loved him, and he still loved her, so why weren't they together?

He dropped his head into his hands.

It was all so confusing. He wanted to be with Marie, not Emma. He didn't love Emma. She was hardly more than someone to sleep with. Any real emotions that had once been a part of their relationship had long since disappeared.

For some reason he and Marie seemed to always be mad at each other. There couldn't be anything between them until they both got over their pride and made up. Somebody had to make the first move, someone had to be the bigger person and forget the past few days. And that somebody was going to be Bradin.

Ready to make Marie listen, ready to make amends and get back the girl he loved, Bradin stood and brushed the sand from his shorts. There was just one thing he needed to take care of first.

Emma was at the pier, serving up smoothies and ice cream at her uncle's shop like she did every weekday morning. Watching her smile and laugh with the customers, Bradin almost faltered in his decision. Seeing her act so nice and sweet, her eyes dancing and her smile wide, Bradin could remember the good times in their relationship. Those times when he had thought himself falling for Emma.

Then he remembered all the times she'd been a complete bitch, and he was again resolved to break up with her, for good.

He approached slowly, going over in his mind what he wanted to say. Emma saw him coming and smiled at him. Bradin tried to return the smile, but failed miserably.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey yourself." Emma grinned at him devilishly.

"Can we talk?" Bradin couldn't quite meet her eye, afraid that she would be able to read his mind.

"I get off in twenty. You can go wait over there 'til I'm done." She nodded her head towards a bench not far from the small ice cream shop. Bradin walked away quietly, his head hung low.

Twenty minutes, that seemed a reasonable amount of time to figure out what he wanted to say. But it was also an awfully long time to wait to break up with somebody.

The minutes seemed to tick by slowly. Bradin kept looking at his watch, trying to speed up time.

Finally, he saw Emma walking towards him.

Bradin stood and Emma wrapped her arms around him. She brought his head down and kissed him deeply, her tongue sliding into his mouth with ease. Bradin pushed away from her before he could get lost in the kiss and lose all will to end the relationship.

"We need to talk." He said. Emma searched his eyes, her gaze worried.

"What's up?" She asked. Bradin sat back down and she sat beside him. Her arm snaked around his waist and she cuddled up next to him, placing long, lingering kisses on his neck.

"Cut it out, Emma." He said, a bit more harshly than he'd intended.

"What's your problem?" She cried, pulling away from him.

"You are." Bradin said without thinking. Emma stared at him, shocked. He sighed and dropped his head into his hands.

"Look," he said, staring at his feet, "this thing between us, it's not going to work."

"Yeah right, Bradin, stop messin' with me." She scolded him.

"I'm not messing with you." He looked at her, finally meeting her stare. "I'm through, Emma. I'm done with this relationship. I don't want to go out with you anymore."

"You son-of-a-bitch!" She screamed, her voice shrill and catching the attention of people close by. "How can you say that we're over? We're not over."

"Yes, we are." Bradin held firm to his decision. He wouldn't let her sway him, no matter how big a scene Emma caused.

"Oh no we're not." She shook her head violently, her dark black hair hitting against her face. "We're not over until I say we're over."

"Oh really?" Bradin was pissed now. Why couldn't Emma just grow up and realize he didn't want to be with her anymore? Why did she have to make such a scene?

"I didn't know you were the one calling the shots here."

"Well I am, and I say that we're not finished." She was in full blown bitch mode now. "This is because of Marie, isn't it? You just can't live without that little slut, can you?"

Bradin fought back the urge to slap her.

"Marie is not the slut, you are." He seethed. Emma's eyes narrowed into small slits. Bradin didn't care how angry she got, Emma couldn't run his life. He stood, wanting to leave her before he lost control of his anger.

"Get back here, Bradin." She ordered.

"Have a good life, Emma." He said, without so much as a look back.

Well, what did y'all think? The next chapter is going to be longer than this one, I promise. There's a lot of ground to cover in the next chapter so it might be awhile before I get it out. Anyways, please review and tell me what you thought.

PS. Sorry if the chapter was a bit short.

the different person: I'm still not sure if it's going to be a completely physical showdown between Bradin and Kyle, though I do know that there will probably be a few punches thrown. As for Marie, well, my lips are sealed on that matter. :-x

Saynt Jimmy: Don't worry, Kyle's not as bad as all that.

Jmacsgurl15: Yes, I got your email, but my stupid email account wouldn't let me reply. Anyway, the exert was great and I can't wait to read the whole thing. When are you going to post your story?

charlie00, BrokenSpirit20, Hayley, Jamie, kandykane33, jessebradinsummerlandobession, Dramagrl, and jessesfan0409: Thank you all so much for reviewing. It really means a lot to me.