After the incident in the water Erika felt more comfortable around Bradin. It was weird. Like something was stirring inside her that kept telling her to just talk to him. Just look his way. But every time she did she saw herself get closer and closer to Bradin and its getting harder and harder to pull away.
Nikki stirred her cereal around in the bowl with her spoon. "You ever gonna eat that?" Derrick asked. "Yeah. When I'm good and ready." Nikki said keeping her eyes on the bowl. "Your cereal is gonna get soggy." Derrick said standing up from the table. "I'm good and ready." Nikki laughed taking a bite. "Hey Nikki? Can we make that sweet apple muffins mom used to make." Derrick said. "Uh...well I don't really have the recipe. But I can try to look for it." "Look for what?" Ava asked coming into the kitchen. "A muffin recipe. My mom used to make it." Derrick said. "Oh, I'm sure its upstairs in the fabric cabinet." Ava smiled.
Bradin held his board while he stood infront of the waves. Its been four weeks since he's gone in. He had to admit, he was very scared. He remembered the feeling that he felt when the wave took over him and he lost complete control. He put his board down. He the looked over to where Erika was setting up the surf team practice. His palms were sweating and his heart was beating a mile and minute he took a deep breath then walked over to where the tent stood. "Hey Erika." Bradin said coming up behind her. "Hi." "Um...do you have the list of people that are on the team? The attendence list?" Bradin asked casually. "Yep here." She handed him a clip board. He quickly took the pen from the small table and crossed his name of the list. He set it down on the table. "Hey uh, I gotta run, you wanna meet down town tonight. Later say, eight?" Bradin asked slowly backing up. "Sure." Erika didn't turn around but he knew she was just hiding her smile.
Nikki searched through the cabinet for the muffin recipe. "Excuse me sweetie, I just need to get to the blue fabric. I have to start a whole new fall design." Ava said reaching for the material. "Ah ha! I got it." Nikki rushed over to the copier and copyed the sheet. "Do we have all the ingredients?" Ava asked. "I think so. This is gonna be awsome. I can't wait to tell Derrick!" "Whats awsome?" Bradin asked. "You sister found the muffin recipe your mom used to make. The one with the apples." Ava smiled. "She what!" Bradin grabed the paper from Nikki and ripped it up. "Nikki! We've already talked about this. What DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?"Bradin shouted tears streaming from his eyes he never ever wanted to hear the words mom or dad again! He couldn't take it. "Bradin. Bradin what has gotten into you!" Ava said. Nikki took a step back. Bradin sat on the couch with his head in his hands."I'm not strong enough. I can't handle-" Bradin was crying so hard he couldn't talk. "Bradin. Listen to yourself. Are you okay." Ava put her hand on his knee. "I don't want to talk to you about it, you wouldn't understand! You wouldn't!" Bradin couldn't keep his voice low he wanted to scream to shout anything. "Fine. But til then you can wait in your room." Ava said pushing him along.
Bradin watched the clock tic. He saw that it was 2 minutes until eight. He had to meet Erika. He jumped up from his bed, he quietly opened the door and left. He made a run for the town. He finally got there and the streets were empty and dark. It was a bit spooky. He spotted Erika on a bench. He sat down next to her. "Hey, uh...are you okay?" Erika said tapping his knee. "Fine. Why'd you ask?" "Well, you aunt called me. And she-" "Oh." Bradin didn't want to get into it. "Bradin, I know how it feels, to loose someone so important to you. I lost my mom, remember." "I know. Its just horrible I don't even want to say mom or dad let alone talk about them."Bradin confessed. Erika and Bradin talked for a while. It felt good to let it all out. "By the way, why'd you cross your name of the list and skip practice?" Erika asked crossing her arms across her chest. "I just don't want to surf anymore." Bradin said. "Huh. Thats funny because I think the real reason is you scared. Your scared of getting hurt, possibly messing up." Erika said smileing. "No! Its not." "Uh huh. Right." Erika said. "You seriously aren't gonna do this to me are you?" Bradin asked. "Uh yep. Your coming tomorrow!" Erika playful hit his shoulder. "Is that so." Bradin laughed. "Yep, it is." Erika said. Bradin leaned in to kiss her when he heard a familar voice he looked up and saw Aunt Ava. He's heart literally skipped a beat or two and Erika then stood up trying to make up an excuse. "Erika, its not worth it." Bradin said. "This isn't the first time. For either of this. Bradin you know way better then to sneak out! Do you know how scary that is to find you gone? And Erika, last time it almost cost you your job, now it could cost you your home, without a job no money!" Ava could go on. "Ava, I'm so, so sorry. I know, I know I should'nt, I mean I can't." Erika started to back away from Bradin. "Erika, no. Come on. This is crazy. Its not right. I quit. I quit the team. I quit today. Now we can be together, right." Bradin said frusterated with the situation. "You quit!" Ava said.