Alone In Playa Linda
By: Ashley Loudan
Disclaimer: I own none of the Summerland characters in this story except
for Audri, Bruce, Jesica and Cole. All the other characters
belong to the late Aaron Spelling and the WB.
Rating: I set the rating to PG. Everything should be fine for everyone to read,
but there will be some suggestive dialogue.
Setting: This story takes place after the episode, "Fireworks," in Season 1.
Chapter 1A brilliant orange sun rose slowly above the California ocean. The rays of light soon spread, casting multi-colored reflections on the water's smooth surface. Gulls dipped their wings lightly in the sea, in search for their morning meal. A few early risers jogged along the shore before dragging themselves to work. Life began to stir amongst the households as their residents awoke to greet another beautiful day on the California coast.
Ava Gregory, a near veteran to Playa Linda, sat indulged in the morning newspaper, occasionally sipping her usual cup of coffee. She frowned slightly at the article she was reading, then folded up the paper and tossed it aside on the table. Picking up her coffee mug, she stood up from her chair and went into the kitchen to start breakfast. As Ava uncovered the items she needed, her twelve-year-old niece, Nikki was coming down the stairs.
"Good morning, Aunt Ava," Nikki said cheerfully, unsuccessfully stifling a yawn before taking a seat at the table. She carefully unfolded the newspaper her aunt had neglected to look for movie times.
"Good morning, sweetie. Did you sleep okay last night?"
"Like a baby," Nikki smiled, then paused in thought before asking, "Do you know any good date movies that are out right now?"
Ava knew why Nikki was asking. Her niece's 'house arrest' sentence after Founder's Day was now over, and Cameron Bale was back in the picture. She couldn't help but smile to see the nearly innocent look on Nikki's face.
"Why don't you help me with breakfast, and we'll go over the choices."
Nikki grinned, "Okay, deal."
After a movie decision had been made, Susannah and Bradin came downstairs.
"What's for breakfast?" Bradin asked, entering the kitchen.
"My famous bacon, egg and cheese omelet," Ava answered, sorting through the food items on the counter.
"Sounds delicious," Bradin replied, pouring himself a glass of orange juice.
"They are exquisite if I do say so myself," she remarked, handing the unused food to Nikki, who placed them back in the refrigerator and closed the door.
"Where's Derrick? He's usually up way before any of us," Nikki asked, noticing that her younger brother hadn't come down with the other two.
"Oh, him and Johnny went for a walk early this morning on the beach," Ava answered, tearing the bacon into small pieces and throwing them in the skillet while Nikki stirred the eggs. She nodded, pleased with the answer.
"Where's Jay?" Susannah whispered to Ava, helping herself to a cup of coffee.
"Him and Erika went to the surf shop earlier…much earlier," she whispered back, careful so as not to let Bradin overhear her.
"Right," Susannah said, nodding.
"Um…Bradin, could you set the table for me?" Ava asked, throwing in her last ingredient.
"Yeah, sure."
"Oh, and Bradin, don't you have another surfing lesson today?" she asked, turning off the stove. The house was now filled with the sultry smell of eggs and bacon.
"Yeah, why?" Bradin asked, digging down plates from the cupboard.
"Tread softly, girlfriend," Susannah warned, passing Ava in another low whisper.
"No reason really. Jay just wanted me to ask you if he could come down for a while to watch how you've progressed."
Bradin rolled his eyes and his expression turned into one of annoyance.
"What was that for?"
"You know that I'm not the one he wants to watch, Aunt Ava."
Ava opened her mouth to speak words she wasn't sure of, but Bradin cut her off quickly.
"Forget it, I don't care what he does," Bradin said, storming outside, leaving his job undone.
"Bradin-" Ava called after him. Bradin ignored his name, and was already out of sight.
"Obviously, 'tread softly' is something you still have yet to learn," Susannah said.
"Yeah, that and so much more."
"Don't worry about that, you're doing fine, but don't push it with him, Ava. He has got to get over Erika and accept the fact that there will never be anything more between them other than friendship. Plus, you know how temperamental teenage boys are over girls, " Susannah said, resuming Bradin's abandoned job.
"I know, but I just feel bad for him. I can tell he really likes her, and Jay's not exactly helping anything. I mean, he is the one that got Bradin into this mess when he first got here," Ava protested.
"Jay and Erika are dating. That's something Bradin's going to have to deal with. Well, that and the fact that Jay was here first. Besides, she's a lot older than him."
"It's only four years."
"Yes, but it makes all the difference in the world sometimes, especially when you're young and stupid."
Ava allowed herself a slight smile as she distributed breakfast and thought about it once more. Turning everything over in her mind and once again making no better sense of it, she decided to leave it be. With a sigh she said, "And so the day begins…again."
Nikki and Susannah had just seated themselves at the table when Johnny and Derrick came running in, feverish with the morning sun.
"Auntie Ava, I won!" Derrick exclaimed excitedly, and out of breath.
"You did? What did you win?" Ava asked, smiling back and embracing her youngest nephew.
"Yeah, I beat Johnny by a mile! We had a race to see who could get back home the fastest and I won!"
"He sure did," Johnny laughed, taking his seat at the table, "Youth sure isn't wasted on the young. Give me five my man," Johnny said, holding out his hand to Derrick.
Bradin soon followed, coming inside without a word and took his place around the table. They all took hands, said a silent grace, and ate most of their meal in silence. Yes, the day had indeed begun for everyone in Playa Linda.