Kali sat on the couch weeks later not as well as she wanted to be. But, she couldn't control it. She was flipping through the channels on the television trying to find something to watch. Lucas sat next to her making her look at him.
"Why do you run away when people try to tell you something?" he asked.
She shrugged and looked back at the television.
"Bradin loves you, Kali," Lucas told her, "Don't you love him back?"
She got up to walk away.
"Stop running!" he yelled grabbing her arm, "Tell me now! We all have a right to know!"
"My father took eveything form me! That's why! He made me scared of being with guys! He made he feel like I shouldn't be here! He made me feel as if no one would ever want me!"
"Bradin wants you!"
"Shut up!" she shouted to her step-brother, "I don't want to hear it!"
"Did he take your love?" he asked making her look at him. "Answer me! Did he!" Kali glared at him and walked away without answering his question.
Bradin stood in Jay's surf shop waxing a new surf board. He heard somone walk into the store and looked up to find Lucas there.
"Hey, man," Bradin said, "How is she?"
"Besides having trouble with her legs? Stupid," Lucas responded, "She won't talk to anyone. And, if she does say something to you, she shouts it." Bradin sighed. "Just, leave her be, Bradin. As hard as that may be for you, just leave her be."
Bradin nodded and went back to waxing the surf board. Lucas walked out of the shop. Bradin started to cry. Kali was gone. He had no chance of being with her, ever, no matter how hard he tried. He needed her more than anything or anyone in his life.
Days passed and Kali spoke to no one. Out of the blue one day, Mrs. Langstings called Kali up and asked if she would try out for a famous singer who needed a few backup singers. Kali agreed to do it. She knew that if she got in, she'd be able to get out of Playa Linda hopefully for good.
Bradin and Lucas sat around at Lucas' one night just hanging out for the hell of it. Kali was in her room doing who knows what. Bradin hoped that she would come down so he could just see the beauty he's been missing for as long as he can remember. Lucas got up to get some food with Bradin following when they saw Kali coming down the stairs with her car keys and looking as if she were going on a date of some sort.
"Where are you going?" Lucas asked.
"Out," she said.
"Looking like that? Who are you going to see?" he asked, "A guy?"
She looked at him as if she would kill him. "As a matter of fact I am," she said, "His name is Jerry Wilson. And, he's going to get me out of this hell hole."
"Can we meet him?" Lucas asked.
"I don't give a shit what you do. Be at the center before 8 tonight. You'll meet him there."
"Why are you going there?"
"Go and find out! I have to go." With that, she walked out slamming the door behind her. Lucas turned to Bradin.
"Let's go," Bradin said.
At the center, there were hundreds of cars parked. It took Lucas almost twenty minutes to find a parking spot. When he found one, he and Bradin got out and walked into the center. At the opening, there was a sign talking about back-up singer auditions for Carrie Underwood, Aly & AJ, and many other singers. Both guys looked at each other and smiled knowing that Kali was singing once again.
Kali stood backstage waiting for her turn to sing. She looked up at the ceiling and closed her eyes as she talked to her mother quietly.
"Kali Santos!" the announcer yelled.
You were the one That I couldn't find Hidden away In the ups of my mind
Why did I let you go You're to good to be true I messed it up and now I don't know what to do We ran in circles and wasted time From right to wrong From right to wrong
If I knew that you were mine I wouldn't have wasted time I wish I could erase the past Now its all collapsed In my lap
I over thought So I locked up my heart yeah There you stood You're blue eyes hidden underneath your hurt
Why did I let you go You're to good to be true I messed it up and now I don't know what to do We ran in circles and wasted time From right to wrong From right to wrong
If I knew that you were mine I wouldn't have wasted time I wish I could erase the past Now its all collapsed In my lap
My mind is blank just like a deep sleep With a meeting with a guy with the same blue eyes And the same name with a colored shoe I can't believe they have the same hat with my old mate Then I will make another mistake And think that he's just another fake
Wish I could erase the past Wish I could bring you back
If I knew that you were mine I wouldn't have wasted time I wish I could erase the past Now its all collapsed In my lap
If I knew that you were mine I wouldn't have wasted time I wish I could erase the past Now its all collapsed In my lap
Bradin and Lucas both smiled as she finished singing. Kali walked off of the stage and ran in to Mrs. Langstings and Mr. Wilson. She hugged them both as tears formed in her eyes.
The end of the show came and the winners were going to be announced. Bradin crossed his fingers hoping that Kali would win.
"Now from Jerry Wilson's group!" the announcer yelled, "Lisa Henry, Jake Randolph, Kevin Gregory, and Kali Santos!"
Kali covered her mouth and screamed. Mrs. Langstings and Mr. Wilson both hugged her before she went on to the stage with the other winners. She looked out to the audience and saw her step-brother and Bradin clapping for her. She didn't think that they would actually show.
Bradin and Lucas waited around after the announicng of the winners to see Kali and congradulate her on her winnings. They saw her walking with Jerry Wilson and their teacher slowly as the two adults talked to the teenage girl.
"Hey! Congrats!" Lucas yelled hugging her.
"Who are these men?" Mr. Wilson asked.
"This is my brother, Lucas. And, his friend Bradin," Kali said softly.
Bradin looked at Kali as Lucas began to talk to the two adults. She looked as if she was uncomfortable at the moment. He walked up to her. "Can we talk?" he asked softly.
"About what?" she asked.
"Us," he told her, "I love you. I need to be with you. These past several weeks have been a mess. I've barely spoken to anyone. I've seen you near my job and it hurt me so much that I never saw you walk in after I saw you look in many times as if you wanted to. I've gone to your house many times to hang out with Lucas hoping that you and I could talk about everything. If you love me, why don't you want to be with me?"
"I'm going to hurt you," she told him.
"You're hurting me by not being with me," he said pointing to himself, "You're my life, Kali."
"You don't know me the way you should!" she yelled tears coming to her eyes. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm going on tour within the next year," she said, "We can't."
Bradin smashed his lips against hers catching her off guard. He felt tears go down her face as he kissed her. She pulled away, placing her head on his shoulder as she cried, and held him tightly. Braidn held her tightly as well never wanting to let her go. tears formed slightly in his eyes. But, he held them back not wanting to show her how much she's hurting him. He wanted to be strong for her. She pulled away and looked at him smiling. She wiped tears that escaped his eyes.
"Please?" he asked.
"I'm sorry," she told him.
