Sorry it took me so long to update. Writer's block is an evil, evil device. Anyways, I hope this update is worth the wait.

Chapter Nineteen

Marie could not stop smiling. She felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. The world around her was bright and shining and happy.

After cleaning up the aftermath of Bradin and Kyle's fight, and taking care of Bradin's bleeding- but not broken- nose, Nikki had gone back to the beach house, leaving Marie and Bradin alone in the apartment. They had curled up on the couch and quickly resumed making-out.

Nearly twenty minutes later, Marie pulled away from Bradin. Her lips were tender from being pressed so firmly against his and she could see that his own mouth was slightly swollen. With a smile, she traced her finger around the edges of his mouth.

"I can't believe I ever let you go." She whispered. The hurt of leaving him those two years ago flooded her. That had been the worst pain she had ever had to endure, apart from returning to Playa Linda to find out that Bradin had a girlfriend. To leave the one boy she had ever loved, and probably ever would love. It had been sheer hell.

"I can't believe it either." Bradin teased, breaking the moment.

Marie slapped him playfully.

"Hey! What was that for?" He cried, rubbing his arm where she had hit him.

"That was for being a smart ass." She said, "And this is for being so incredible." She leaned in and kissed him lovingly.

"I like being incredible." He grinned, pulling Marie back in for another kiss.

>>>>>

The side of his face stung where Marie had slapped him and he knew that it would leave a mark. Kyle ran a hand over his sore cheek, trying to rub the hurt out of it. But it was his heart that needed tending to.

She had chosen Bradin. Kyle still couldn't believe it. Even after she had slept with him, Marie had chosen Bradin. It just wasn't logical. Kyle shook his head and continued his wandering of the pier.

Up ahead, at a small ice cream stand, he saw the girl that he had bumped into the morning before. She was talking with her friend, the one who had been with her on the beach. The wind from the surf caught her dark hair and blew it around her face.

Kyle eyed her up, a plan formulating within his mind.

Nothing like ice cream to heal a broken heart, he thought, heading over to the stand.

>>>>>

Bonfires littered the sand; the figures standing around them sending long shadows across the beach. The cool sea breeze sent sparks flying up into the sky like millions of brilliant fireflies.

Marie shivered and wrapped her sweater tighter around herself. Beside her, Bradin felt warm and strong. She leaned into him, seeking more of his warmth. He wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. Marie couldn't help smiling. This all just felt so right. She couldn't help but feel, however, a gnawing guilt inside her stomach.

What she had done with Kyle had been stupid and Marie regretted it. She wished that she could take it back, but she couldn't. And knowing that she had given herself to Kyle in a way that she had never been able to with Bradin killed her. How could she have been so stupid?

Marie sighed and stared into the flickering flames of the bonfire. Maybe she could find the answers she was searching for within those flames. Unfortunately, all she saw was orange-red fire dancing towards the heavens. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. There would be no questions answered tonight.

But who needs everything solved in one night? She wondered.

Tilting her head back, she placed a gentle kiss on Bradin's jaw. They had spent an incredible day together and attending one of the numerous bonfires that night was the perfect end to that day. Bradin grinned down at her before quickly capturing her lips with his own. It had been like that all day. The two could barely go a minute without kissing the each other. They were just so happy to be back together that they wanted to make up for all the time they'd lost.

An irritating laugh, much like a hyena's, broke through the serenity of the night. Marie and Bradin broke apart and turned to see where the excessive and annoying laughter was coming from. Marie's heart stopped.

Kyle was there, and with his arm draped around Emma's waist no less. What the hell was going on?

>>>>>

Emma could have cared less about Kyle. Sure he was hot, but he was eye-candy and nothing more to her. Yet, when he had asked her out earlier she had agreed. But she got to pick where they went. And she had the perfect spot in mind.

Bradin had always loved to go to the bonfires and hang out with his friends. Emma was fairly certain that that was where he'd take that tramp that he'd dumped her for. And Emma planned to rub his nose in the fact that she had gotten over him just as quickly as he had dismissed her for that slut of an ex-girlfriend.

Her assumptions of where Bradin were proved correct. As soon as she and Kyle arrived, Emma spotted him with his mouth attached to Marie's in a sick display of tonsil hockey. It was all Emma could do to not go over there and grab the bitch by her hair and pull her away from Bradin. Bradin was her man, not some East Coast bitch's.

Anger boiled in Emma's veins as she watched Bradin and Marie. Jealousy had never been a trait that Emma liked to associate with herself, but it raged within her at that moment.

"C'mon." She said, pulling at Kyle's arm. She was going to sit on the opposite side of the bonfire and when Bradin stopped kissing his new little toy he wouldn't be able to miss seeing Emma making-out with some other guy. She was certain that he would get jealous as soon as he saw her wrapped in another guy's arms and realize that it was really Emma he wanted. The plan was flawless, now she just had to get Kyle to move.

The guy remained motionless, despite how hard Emma pulled. His eyes were glued to Bradin and Marie and the same emotions that Emma was feeling were reflected within his eyes.

Interesting. Emma's gaze went from Kyle to Marie then back again. So her new friend had the hots for Marie. Very interesting. The wheels inside Emma's deceitful mind began to turn.

>>>>>

"You know what," Marie said, pulling away abruptly, "I'm really tired, and I have to work the morning shift tomorrow. So I think I should head home."

Bradin looked at her curiously.

"What's going on, Marie?" He wasn't buying her quick excuse of having to work the next morning. Something was going on.

"Nothing." She replied quickly, smiling tightly.

"Yeah right. Something's up."

She sighed and shook her head.

"Please, Bradin. I just want to go home. I swear, that's all." She looked him straight in the eye as she spoke. Bradin knew that something was up, but he let the subject drop.

"Alright." He stood and helped her up. "Let's go."

>>>>>

Dammit, Emma cursed silently. They were leaving. She turned to look at Kyle, who had Jealous Rage written all over his face. Oh well, she still had a backup plan. A smile, which could only be described as evil, spread across her face.

>>>>>

What does Emma have up her sleeve? Hmm, I guess y'all will just have to wait for the next chapter to find out. Laughs Evilly Please review and tell me what you thought. I hope that it doesn't take me so long to update again, but I make no guarantees. But I will say this, reviews always help to get the imagination flowing.

PS. Sorry the chapter's a bit short.

the different person: Kyle's not a "bad guy" I don't think, but more of a "misunderstood guy." He's got issues that haven't come to the surrface yet and he and Marie really did have a deep connection in thier friendship. A deeper side to Kyle will most likely appear later on. As for the sequel to this story, it's still a possibility, but mostly it's up in the air right now. You might have to make do with just an epilogue, but I don't know yet.

grullo-cowgirl: Don't worry, if I do a sequel to this story it won't be about a break up or anything like that. I have a generally original idea for it, but it's still in the process of having all the kinks worked out.

Jo, crystal, jeanbug, sunPeTAL, Melissa, Caitlin, Lacey, ZephZero33, Shippousfriend, AlexaRose, Haylie, kandykane33, beverleyd, Jmacsgurl15, jessesfan0409, Saynt Jimmy, and charlie00: Thank you all so much for reviewing. You guys totally rock!