I own none of the rights to Summerland or it's characters. I do, however, own the rights to Teresa Coleman, her family, friends and her story.

Thanks to: Samahenoy Phye, ChrissyD. and Shelbyq for reviewing.

Shelbyq: Thank you, it's nice to know you are, but if you could I'd really appreciate the reviews! Thanks!

ChrissyD.: Good, glad I got that cleared up for ya:-) Thanks for the review!

Now, I shall quit talking so you can read!!

Chapter VIII

Happy Meeting

He felt her playful punch, it was innocent, totally innocent, but Bradin cringed inside and fought back the urge to jump away from her.

Teresa moved closer to him, "So," she said lowly, in a mock sense of secrecy, "are we gonna ask your aunt if you can come or not?"

"Yeah, right," Bradin got up and offered her a hand, he pulled her lightly to her feet, realizing she couldn't weigh more than about 110 pounds. She smiled at him as they both brushed sand off of their clothes. Neither of them noticed Ava and her roommates standing in the doorway until the sound of footsteps on the porch made the two teens look up, Ava was standing there along with Jay and Susannah.

"Aunt Ava," Bradin looked at her trying to see if she was mad or not, "Uh... I want y'all to meet Teresa Coleman. Teresa," he said turning towards her, "this is my aunt, Ava," he pointed at Ava, "and that's Susannah and Jay," he said and pointed to each in turn.

"Hello Teresa, it's a pleasure to meet you." Ava smiled as she walked down the steps and stepped into the sand near Bradin and Teresa, "I see you've already encountered my nephew!" She laughed, winking at Bradin who smiled slightly.

Teresa blushed, "Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you too," Teresa reached out and shook her hand with a big smile on her face,

Susannah followed Ava down the steps and shook Teresa's hand saying, "Hey girl, nice to meet you. Where do you live?"

"Hi, nice to meet you too!" she smiled and shook Susannah's hand, "I live about half a mile down the beach from here in a house about like this one, or at least it looks like mine from the outside!" She laughed.

"Well, I'm sure yours doesn't look half as messy as ours!" Ava laughed.

"I don't know about that, you'd be surprised, having a baby sister causes quite a mess!" Teresa said animatedly, "And you're Jay, right?" She looked at the man still standing on the porch.

"That's me," Jay smiled, and this is Johnny," Jay motioned to Johnny who had just stepped outside, "Johnny my boy, this is Teresa-"

"Coleman." Teresa smiled.

"Right, sorry. Coleman." Jay finished.

"Hi!" Johnny seemed distant.

"Hi," Teresa smiled. "So um..." she looked at Bradin.

"Uh, Aunt Ava, could I go down to her house for," he looked at Teresa.

"Only for about 4 hours, Mom's throwing me a "surprise" party and I don't know anybody in Playa Linda, other than my mom and baby sister, except for my aunt and my mom's best friend... so I was wondering if Bradin could come." Teresa finished with a hopeful look on her face.

"Oh, well, I suppose it's fine, 4 hours you say? Are you sure you wouldn't like him to stay longer?" Ava smiled at Teresa.

Teresa's face lit up, "Well, actually if you don't mind, I'd like him to stay for supper too... Is that okay, he'd be home by nine."

"Oh that's fine!" Ava smiled at her then turned to Bradin, "Just be home by 9:30 okay?"

Bradin was surprised to say the least by how easily his aunt had let him go, "Sure Aunt Ava, I'll be back by then thanks!"

"Okay, now don't you think you might want some shoes?" Ava laughed.

Bradin laughed, "Yeah, I guess so."

"Hmm... would it be trouble if I stayed here about an hour or so while I wait for my mom to get my "surprise" party ready, cause if I go home now, she'll just send me out to get something she doesn't need. Then, I'll just be wandering around the beach for an hour waiting for her to call me on my cell and tell me to come home..." Teresa looked hopeful.

"Well, uh.. I don't see why not, sure!" Ava smiled at the teenage girl and said, "Happy Birthday!"

"Yes, Happy Birthday girl! How old?" Susannah said.

"Well, don't leave us out, Happy Birthday!" Johnny and Jay said at the same time.

"Thank you," Teresa blushed slightly, "I'm 16."

"Getting old?" Ava laughed, she then turned to Bradin, she was so happy to see him smiling. "Have you had anything to eat today?" She asked him.

"Uh, no..." Bradin said and turned to Teresa, "Have you?"

"Well actually, no," Teresa laughed.

"Well come in and have some of Johnny's famous egg omelets!" Johnny said with a grin.

"I think I will, thank you!" Teresa smiled at the adults.

"I guess I'll see you later everyone, and Bradin, you were supposed to come in today, but never mind." Jay winked at Bradin.

Bradin looked down, "Sorry," he muttered.

Everyone but Jay walked into the kitchen to find Nikki and Derrick fighting with each other, "No, it's not! Now give it to me!" Derrick yelled.

"Yes, it is! Give it to me!" Nikki matched the volume of his voice.

"No!"

"Yes! Now give it-"

"Nikki! Derrick! Enough!" Ava shouted at them, "Now sit down an eat some breakfast."

"But it's mine," Nikki said through gritted teeth.

"What is?" Susannah asked getting out plates for all the kids.

"That piece of paper." Nikki said almost looking scared.

"Derrick, give me the paper," Ava commanded.

Derrick handed it to her with a frown, "But I wanted to read it cause it fell out of her diary! It's probably about Cameron.

Nikki flushed deeply, "It is not," she said quietly, "Aunt Ava, please don't read it! It's private!"

Ava looked at Susannah, Susannah nodded in the slightest bit and Ava looked back at Nikki, "Okay, here." She handed the piece of paper to Nikki who took it gratefully and folded it up tightly.

"Hey Brea, who's she?" Nikki looked at Teresa.

"This is Teresa Coleman," he smiled. He turned to Teresa, "Teresa, this is my sister Nikki and my brother Derrick."

"Hi," Nikki smiled. Oh my God, Bradin is smiling! She thought and felt a wide grin spreading across her face. Bradin hadn't smiled at all, and if he had it was totally forced, since the day their parents died.

Bradin saw the look on his sister's face and only smiled more; Nikki hadn't smiled like that in 2 months! He was glad to see a smile on his sister's face again.

"Hey," Derrick said, "How old are you?"

"I'm 16 today." Teresa smiled.

"Happy Birthday," Nikki exclaimed.

"Oh," Derrick answered and looked down.

"Thanks, Nikki," Teresa smiled, "What's the matter with that, Derrick?"

"Nothing." Derrick still looked sad.

Nikki leaned close to Teresa and whispered, "Derrick just wants somebody he can play with."

"Oh," Teresa whispered back, she then turned to Derrick and said, "Well Derrick, I may be 16 but I still like to play Hide and Seek!"

Derrick looked up, "Really," he said hopefully, "Could we play it now?"

"Well, how about after you eat your breakfast?"

"Okay," Derrick said and sat down at the table with a big smile.

And now!!!!! Reviewing time!!!!!

Anna Christie AKA SecondStarToTheRight15