Chapter Twenty

Marie woke the next morning happier than she had been in a long time. She had Bradin back and things were starting off nicely.

Then why is it bugging you that you saw Kyle with another girl? The voice in her head just had to rain on Marie's parade. But it had a point. Despite her gleeful, bright-sun-shiny attitude, Marie could not forget the fact that she'd seen Kyle with another girl. And Bradin's ex for heaven's sake! What were the chances of that happening? Marie was happy, really she was, but the thought of Kyle finding someone else so quickly kind of hit her where it hurt.

You're being very hypocritical about this, the voice said, didn't you just get together with Bradin after sleeping with, and then dumping Kyle?

Marie growled frustratingly. Why did her emotions have to be so confused and jumbled together? Why did she have to care about Kyle? Sure they had been friends, really good friends who could have deep and meaningful conversations about almost anything, but that was over the second that he punched Bradin. So why then could she not get him out of her head.

Tossing the covers off her, Marie got out of bed. She could not just simply lay around and think about everything that had happened. No, she needed to get up and keep busy. To let the thoughts that were impressing upon her into her mind could be nothing less than disastrous.

After a quick shower, Marie dressed hurriedly, pulled her hair back into a ponytail, and headed off to the Sandbar.

The restaurant was already buzzing as Marie walked inside. The breakfast crowd was being served and their energetic, early morning chatter filled the front room. Marie quickly tossed her purse in the back and tied her apron on before heading back out onto the floor.

"Hey, Marie."

She stopped in her tracks and stared up at the person before her.

"Kyle, hi."

> > > > >

"So you and Marie are back together now?" Ava asked as Bradin dug into his bowl of cereal.

"Yep." He couldn't keep the grin from spreading across his face. Ava smiled at how happy her nephew was. She hadn't seen him like this in a long time. It was very refreshing to not have him moody and temperamental.

"I knew you two would work everything out. You just seem so perfect for each other."

Bradin rolled his eyes at his aunt's sappy tone.

"Who's perfect for each other?" Johnny asked, stepping up into the kitchen and placing a quick kiss on his wife's cheek.

"Bradin and Marie." Ava replied. "They got back together yesterday."

"Really?" Johnny turned from where he was pouring himself a mug of coffee and looked at Bradin. "I thought Marie was with that Kyle guy."

"That didn't last." Bradin said. The turn this conversation was taking was making him uncomfortable.

"Oh." Was Johnny's reply. He poured the rest of his coffee and kissed Ava once more. "I'm going down to the Sandbar, I'll be back for lunch."

"Hey, Jay, wait up." Bradin quickly finished his breakfast and put the empty bowl in the sink. "I'm coming with you."

> > > > >

An uncomfortable silence settled over the pair. Marie looked down at her shoes, at the bar, at the costumers that were swiftly filling her tables. She looked anywhere that meant she didn't have to look at Kyle. The tension that rippled around them was thick. Marie was still mad at him for talking her into sleeping with him and beating up Bradin, and still very confused over the emotions that had been stirred at the sight of him with another girl.

"What are you doing here?" She asked once the silence became too much for her.

"I want to see if we can't work things out."

"Kyle…"

"No, let me finish." He interrupted her. Marie sighed and nodded. She just wanted to get this over with and get him out of there so that she could get to work and forget everything that had happened.

"Marie, I'm sorry if I hurt you. Believe me, that was not my intention." He took a step towards her and Marie stiffened. She was quickly becoming very uncomfortable. Seeing how she reacted to him, Kyle stepped back.

"I care about you, Marie. I care about you a whole lot." He continued. "But I realize that I made some mistakes and that you can't trust me right now. But I also know that you care about me just as much as I care about you and that our friendship means as much to you as it does to me. So if we can't be together, please, can't we at least be friends?"

He looked so pitiful, standing there with those puppy dog eyes. Marie could never say no to his puppy dog eyes, and she found herself giving in to him.

"Alright," she sighed, "but on one condition. You have to accept the fact that I'm with Bradin and that I love him. You can't go trying to ruin our relationship."

"I promise." He replied. Marie wanted to believe that he was sincere, she had to believe that he was being sincere.

"Okay." A slow smile spread across her face. "Now get outa here before Johnny finds me slacking off." Kyle grinned and nodded.

"I'll catch ya later." He called before walking out of the Sandbar. Marie chuckled softly and shook her head. Things were turning out quite nicely.

> > > > >

Emma watched from the movie theater's entrance as Kyle left the Sandbar, only moments before Bradin appeared and entered the restaurant. A smug smile spread across her flawless lips as she saw Bradin and Marie kiss. They wouldn't be so damned happy once her plan was complete. Nope, they wouldn't be happy at all.

Seeing Kyle make his way towards her, Emma pushed herself off the wall and took a step towards him.

"Hey." She said, pulling his head down for a heated kiss.

"What was that for?" Kyle looked so cute when he was confused.

"Nothing." She replied, smiling that same self-satisfied grin.

> > > > >

"So I was thinking that we could catch a movie tonight, or maybe just rent something and hang out at your place." Bradin said, walking along with Marie as she carried trays full of plates from the kitchen to her tables.

"A movie sounds good, but not at my place." Marie smiled at the costumers as she placed their food in front of them.

"Why not?"

"Bradin, you know what will happen if we are alone in my apartment for a long period of time."

"That's not gonna happen, Marie. I know that you want to go slow." Bradin protested and Marie gave him a look.

"We can rent a movie, but we're either going to watch it at your place or invite Nikki and Cameron to join us." She said.

Bradin sighed and ran a hand through his already wind tosseled hair. Either he was stuck at home watching a movie with the entire family or he was stuck with a double date with his sister and her boyfriend. He weighed the options carefully.

"I'll tell Nikki and Cam to meet us at the video store."

> > > > >

Kind of a short chapter, but it sets the stage for things to come. I think this story is slowly winding down. There should only be a few more chapters after this one, probably like five or six more. But I'm not completely sure. Anyways, please review and tell me what you thought.

SomeRandomPerson: Sorry, but no, I don't go to Millenium Highschool.

Caitlin, kandykane, beverleyd, grullo-cowgirl, charlie00, and Soxbabe: Thank you all so much for reviewing. You guys totally rock!