A/N: hey guys! Thanks for the great reviews. Keep 'um coming! Sorry this chapter is a little short, its just cluing you in on why stuff is happening. Im going to write the beginning of the next chapter tonight, so maybs it'll be up tomorrowish… We'll have to see, wont we! ;-D
"Are you ok?" she heard. She shielded her eyes because the figure was standing straight in the sunlight "Miss, are you ok?"
Erika wiped her eyes "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, thanks" she said.
"You don't look fine" the figure said. He had leaned down and she could see him. He was tall, with clean cut brown hair and matching brown eyes, just like hers. "Can I help you?"
Erika smiled. She gave him her hand and he pulled her up. "Thanks" she said "I'm Erika"
He smiled back at her "Jake" he said "Are you sure you're ok?"
She laughed "Um, define ok" she said "I just got dumped because my now ex-boyfriend was cheating on me and fell in love with the other girl and out of love with me" she said "It's been a pretty crappy day" she laughed again
Jake laughed "I'm sorry" he said "How about I take you out for an ice cream to try and cheer you up. My treat"
Erika smiled "Thanks, that sounds really nice"
The two walked in silence to the pier. Erika prayed that Bradin and Liz weren't around. They got up to the counter and ordered. He handed her the ice cream, but when she insisted on paying, he laughed "It's my treat, you can get the next one" he said
She couldn't help but smile. He seemed to truly care. They sat down on one of the benches by the edge of the pier "So what were you doing when you found me?" she asked "Or do you make it habit to find girls crying on jetty's and buy them ice cream to make them feel better?"
Jake laughed "I was just walking along the beach and I happened to see you. I find the ocean really relaxing. We had it where I came from; the ocean in South Carolina is gorgeous. I used to walk along the beach every morning before I went to school ever since I was 12 and my mom let me out by myself" he sighed "Does it have the same effect on you?"
Erika nodded "I grew up in the ocean. My father was a professional surfer, and I went pro for a few years, it's in my blood I guess"
He laughed "Good blood to have" he said "I can't stand on a surf board for longer than 3 seconds"
She smiled "Well perhaps you haven't had a good teacher. I give lessons you know, first one's on the house, second's too if I get to go out with you after" she said, flirting
He laughed "Well then, that's a great deal. Do I get them all for free if I ask you to be my girlfriend after the second date?" he joked
"Nope" she said "you get um for ½ off". The two laughed as they got up.
They walked along the ocean towards Erika apartment complex. She looked at him. Just being with him made her feel better, much better. She smiled "Thanks for this. You really made me feel better. It was really sweet"
Jake smiled "It was nice to spend time with you. Its not every day that I get to save a beautiful damsel in distress."
Erika bit her lip and blushed a little "Thanks" she said meekly. She looked into his eyes "Do you want to come in and hang out for a little while. We could order pizza and watch a movie or something. Just hang out; I really don't think I can handle being alone right now"
Jake smiled "Sure. I'd love to" he took a mental picture of her as they walked into the condo. He wanted to remember everything about her.
Bradin walked along the beach. It broke his heart to hurt Erika the way he had, and he knew that she would always have a huge part of his heart, but he really did love Liz. He walked towards Spanish Cove. A petite blonde was leaning against a rock towards the entranceway. He smiled when he saw her. "Hey baby" he said hugging her
The girl smiled back "Hey" she said, brushing a stray piece of his hair out of his eyes "Did you do it?"
Bradin swallowed hard "Yeah. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, but I did it. I did it for us Lizzie. You want this right… an us?"
Liz nodded "More than anything. I don't want to have to share you anymore. I want you to be with me and only me. That's all I'm going to allow." She hugged him tighter and kissed him softly "Only us"
Bradin nodded. He would never admit it, but this was much more her than him. He knew that inside he loved Erika more than he'd ever love Liz, even more than he'd love anyone. But Liz said she'd protect him, and with Erika, nothing was a guarantee. He smiled at her "You're amazing Liz." He said, kissing her nose
She smiled at him. She had fallen fast, but Erika was a constant threat. But Jake should have found her, and as soon as she opened up to him, she'd get stuck. And that was just what Liz was hoping for. Everything was a twisted, complicated web, and all Liz had to do was pull a tiny thread, and she could watch her plan in action.