Chapter Sixteen

"Do you think I did the right thing, kissing Kyle?" Marie asked Nikki as the two girls wove through Playa Linda's crowded streets, smoothies in hand.

"It's not up to me to tell you if you did the right thing or not." Nikki shrugged.

"Gee, thanks for the help." Marie frowned and sipped her strawberry and banana smoothie. "I really need some objective insight here, Nikki. The dream I had last night was so real. I honestly felt my heart breaking. And the look in Bradin's eyes, Nikki I've never seen anyone look so betrayed."

"Marie," the younger girl shook her head, "you have got to get over this. You and Bradin have both moved on, now it's time to stop pining for each other."

"What?" Marie was startled. Bradin, pining for her? But he had Emma.

"What are you talking about, Nikki?"

"You are second guessing your relationship with Kyle because you're hoping that Bradin will come back into your life, and Bradin broke up with Emma 'cause he was hoping to get you back. You two are pining for each other and it has to stop. The only way to get on with your lives is to get over each other." Marie could sense that Nikki was tired of this subject, but she had to ask just one more question.

"Do you think that there really is one perfect person for everyone?" She looked at Nikki out of the corner of her eye. Her friend was silent for a moment, contemplating the question.

"Yeah," Nikki said after a few moments silence, "I think that everyone has someone they're supposed to spend forever with." A wistful smile covered her young face, "Like my parents. They were made for each other."

"You and Cam seem pretty well made for each other." Marie smiled slyly.

"Shut up." Nikki blushed as she slapped Marie's arm. Suddenly, Marie grew serious once more.

"Nikki," she said, "what if I messed it up with the guy I'm supposed to be with?"

"Please do not be talking about my brother." Nikki sighed.

"But think about it. Bradin and I have been through a lot together. He was there for me through the hardest time in my life. He helped me to be able to love again. What if he is the one guy for me? What if I've messed it up between us, forever?"

"If Bradin really is, and I doubt this very much, the guy for you, then you two will work it out."

Marie threw her arms around Nikki and hugged her tightly.

"How is it that I got to have a friend like you?" She asked. Nikki laughed.

The wave carried Kyle towards shore. He struggled to his feet as the beach came closer and closer. The board beneath him shook with every attempt and it wasn't long before he felt himself tumbling into the bone-chilling ocean.

"That was a good try." Jay said as Kyle waded back onto shore, dripping wet and angry at himself for falling off again.

"Yeah, I guess." He mumbled.

"No seriously, man," Jay said, "for never having surfed before, you did well."

"Thanks." Jay's praise didn't do much to bolster Kyle's spirit. He didn't even want to take surfing lessons. He'd only done it because Marie had mentioned that Bradin worked with Jay and Kyle saw that as an opportunity to get under the surf god's skin.

"Well, I think that's enough for today." Jay began to gather up his own surfboard, "What do you say we get together again tomorrow, same time."

"Yeah, sure." Kyle nodded his head, trying to seem excited.

"Alright, see ya then." Jay headed off, leaving Kyle alone. Frustrated, the young man laid down on his board. The sun beat down on him, drying up the water that lay on his skin and leaving only salt behind.

Wiping the salt off his forehead, Kyle stared up at the cloudless sky. Marie was out with Nikki that morning and had to work that afternoon. He probably wouldn't see her at all until sometime after dinner. The whole day was open to Kyle, he could do whatever he wanted. But what he really wanted to do was spend time with Marie. His mind conjured up their make-out session earlier that morning. A slow smile spread across his lips. That had been wonderful. He could still taste her, feel her lips against his. If only Bradin had been there to see it, then Kyle could have rubbed his and Marie's relationship in the golden boy's face.

The sun was slowly reaching its peak in the sky before Kyle gathered up his board. He turned around, the board tucked safely beneath his arm, and nearly knocked into a young woman. The bikini she wore barely covered her athletic and tanned body. God, he loved California.

"Watch where you're going." The girl snapped.

Kyle was taken aback by her tone.

"C'mon, Emma." A girl, dressed in a similar bikini to the girl in front of him, called. With one last glare, the girl brushed past Kyle and headed towards her friend. With a shake of his head, Kyle headed back towards Marie's.

Cringing, Marie headed towards a table full of teenaged guys. They were laughing and joking with each other, talking about the "killer waves" they had hit that morning. Their talk turned to crude comments as Marie took their orders. She glared at one who tried to pull her onto his lap. They simply laughed off her anger. She rolled her eyes as she walked away, their eyes following her. Why, oh why, did they have to sit at one of her tables?

As she gathered their drinks, Marie glanced around the restaurant. Bradin was just coming in the door. Instantly, Marie's mind flashed back to the dream she had had the night before. She could feel her heart breaking all over again as his eyes caught hers. From the look of surprise and hurt within his gaze, Marie guessed Bradin hadn't expected her to be working right then. His gaze dropped and he quickly headed out the door.

Marie wanted to race after him, to explain why she had gone with Kyle the day before. She wanted to ask why he had dumped Emma. But, most importantly, Marie wanted to know if Bradin still loved her. Her feet, however, did not seem to want to cooperate with her mind, and remained stubbornly planted to the floor beneath them. Before long, he was out of sight, and Marie's chance to talk to him was gone.

With a sigh, she headed back towards the table of guys, this time ignoring their comments completely. Her mind was wrapped around Bradin and her talk with Nikki that morning.

Could it really be true that he still loved her? If it was, did Marie still love him? The questions flooded her, overwhelming her. Could Marie risk her growing relationship with Kyle for a handful of what-ifs? And who was to say that, if Bradin did still love her, that a another relationship between him and her would work out. With her head pounding, and her heart in turmoil, Marie tried to go about the day as best she could.

Bradin slammed the front door shut behind him. Startled, Nikki looked up from the book she was reading on the couch.

"Wow," she said, taking in the distraught look on his face, "you look like your puppy just died." He glared at her, not at all in the mood for her quips.

"Gee, thanks." He growled, heading towards his room.

"What's wrong, Bradin?" Nikki asked as she set her book down and studied him.

"Nothing." He snapped, wanting nothing more than to bury himself beneath his covers and never come out. "Nothing's wrong."

"C'mon, you can tell me." Bradin could hear the concern in Nikki's voice. He sighed and turned back to face her. What was it about his sister that made it so easy to talk to her?

"It's just that…" he hung his head, ashamed to admit the truth.

"Just that, what?"

"I can't stop thinking about Marie…and Kyle. God, it makes me so mad to think of that smug bastard with Marie." He shook his head and sat on the opposite side of the couch from Nikki. "I love her so much, Nik, and I just can't help thinking that she's making a mistake being with him."

"Oh my god, are you two ever going to get over each other?" His gaze shot to his sister's. She was staring at him indignantly.

"What are you talking about?" Bradin was confused.

"You and Marie. I just had this same conversation with her this morning." Nikki shook her head. "You two just keep going around in circles. And you keep dragging me into your mess. Well I'm through with it, I wash my hands of you guys and your problems. From now on you have to handle them on your own." She stood up and marched up the stairs to her room.

Bradin was confused. Nikki and Marie had talked that morning? About the same thing Bradin wanted to talk about? Marie had talked to Nikki about him? A smile spread across Bradin's face as he realized what Nikki had been saying. Maybe there was hope for him and Marie after all.

Well, this chapter's a bit longer than the last few. I hope you guys liked it. Soon we'll be seeing the fight over Marie and we'll see Marie doing something very unlike her. All of this should be in the next couple of chapters.

kandykane33, Soxbabe, jamesluver122993, tinhyeu92, beverleyd, and Saynt Jimmy: Thank you all for reviewing. It really means a lot to me that people would take the time to review this story. So, thanks.