You know the drill! Don't own Summerland do own Teresa!

Omg!! I did it again!! (Took forever to update) but at least it wasn't a whole month like last time, right? Ok, this goes out to my wonderful reviewers!!! You guys, girls, whatever! Y'all are amazing!!! You do not know just how much your reivews and kind words mean to me. Thank you.

oNly hizzZ times INFINITY: Are you a new reader? YAY!! (if you are! lol!) I'm so glad you like my story!!! SOO glad:) It makes me feel so good to hear y'all saying you like it!! smiles BIG Thank you so much the review too!!! Hope you're still reading:) "update soon please and thnak yaz" No, thank YOU! Thank you for reading!

ChrissyD: Ah! It's nice to see you're still reading!! You were one of my first readers!! Thank you!! And thanks so much for the reviews!!! Ok, yes, they are dating. (but you figured that out.) I said they were back in like, chapter 10 or something...anyway. Sorry if you didn't like the sex scene much... It needed to be there though so... They are both 16. Ah... so you think someone else will die, eh? You'll just have to read to find out! wink Oh, and thanks for saying how the storm was good being there while it all happened. I'm glad you felt that way cuase that was the idea! lol:) Thanks so much for the review!!! I always enjoy reading your reviews:D

CountryHottie: Thank you! Are you a new reader too? If so, yay! lol!! I get excited every time I get a new reader:)

Varinia: Thank you! I didn't know if anybody really liked that or not but I'll keep doing that just cause you said you liked it:) And thank you so much for the review!! Are you a(nother) new reader? Wow! 3 new readers!! Yay!!! lol!!

Sweet-Romantic: lol!! Oh don't worry... I believe I already told you this but... Jerry won't get off scott free so don't worry. Is Bradin okay? Well, you'll see. THANK YOU!!! I am SO glad you find the story believable!!! That means more to a writer than you'll ever know!! (Well, unless you're a writer too! lol!) But really, thank you. :)

justthegirl07: Thank you so much for the review!! (About Bradin being in so much pain. I realize it's probably not very realistic but I tried... sorry if in't not believable..)

88KarateGirl88: Hey, girl!! Thank you!! I'm so glad you like the story!!! Hmm... What do you mean? Slots? You mean, like, rating and genre? Why don't you email about it. It'll be easier than trying to tell you here. Or you can PM me. Either way is fine.

kbg17223: Thank you so much, Krissy!!! You're another of my first ever readers!! You, CrissyD and justthegir07! I love you all though!!! and thanks so much for liking it!! You'll find all that our in the next chapter. I had to leave Bradin and Teresa for a chapter to explain what went onl before Jerry beat him. Hope you like it:)

Ok, here's the next chapter. I'm sorry it's so short but I'm working on it... lol! The next one will be longer, I promise! (It's already written so I know it'sll be longer lol!

Hope y'all like it!!

Chapter XX

Making Dirty Lies to Cover the Filthy Truth

"Oh, hey, Jerry! Come on it," Johnny let Jerry into the house and said, "I'll go get us a couple of beers." Johnny walked into the kitchen while Jerry sat down in the living room.

"Who was at the door?" Ava asked as Johnny went over to the fridge. Ava was standing at the sink, her back turned to Johnny, and Bradin was sitting at the counter eating an Oreo.

"Jerry," Johnny answered simply, taking out two beers and turning from the fridge.

"Oh," was all Ava said but Bradin seemed to suddenly choke on his cookie.

"You alright there, Brae?" Johnny questioned, patting Bradin on the back so he could breathe.

Bradin whirled around on the stool he was sitting on and almost yelled, "How can you keep letting that damn bastard come here!?"

"Bradin, language," Ava said without turning around.

"I don't fucking care! Why do you keep letting him over here!?" Bradin yelled, clearly angry, ignoring his aunt's request. "I live here too you know, Johnny!!"

"So what!? He's a friend of mine and he can come over if he wants-"

"No, he can't! Shit! I don't understand why the fuck you keep-"

"Shut up, Bradin! What's your damn problem anyway!? He's never done anything to you!" Johnny yelled at the teen and instantly knew he'd just made a terrible mistake.

He's never done anything to you! Bradin heard Johnny yell at him. Bradin said nothing and stood stock still as horrific memories of what Jerry had done to him replayed in his mind. He looked down quickly as he felt threatening tears stinging his eyes. "Aunt Ava-" he had to stop to steady his voice, "where are Nikki and Derrick?" he finished, still hanging his head. No answer. He looked up to find his aunt and Johnny both staring at him with concerned faces. "w- what?" he felt like he was gonna cry because of how much they reminded him of his parents right then.

Ava finally spoke up, "Nikki's at Cameron's and Derrick's at Martha's," she said softly.

Bradin silently nodded, "I'm going for a walk, I'll be back soon..." He said as he headed for the back door.

"Bradin wait," Ava stopped her nephew by grabbing his arm, "what's the matter?"

"Nothing, Aunt Ava... nothing," he turned and walked out the door.

Setting the beers on the counter Johnny ran after him Ava at his heels, "Bradin!" Johnny called seeing Bradin about 5 feet in front of them, "Bradin, wait!"

"Bradin whirled around shouting, "Fuck off, Johnny!" He then saw his aunt and how concerned she was and tears filled his eyes. Before they could fall, however, he turned and ran down the beach getting as far from his house as he could.

Johnny watched him go... this had to stop. He marched inside and into the living room, "Jerry," he said sternly, "we need to talk."

"What about?" Jerry asked nonchalantly.

"About Bradin," Ava interjected, stepping into the living room behind Johnny.

"Oh him? Okay, what about him," Jerry asked leaning back in his chair as if he really didn't care one bit.

Ava and Johnny exchanged a glance then sat next to each other across from Jerry.

"Well," Johnny began slowly, "first of all... he seems to hate you... You got any idea why?"

"Frankly, Johnny, I do," Jerry sighed, "I've known Bradin since he was about 6. We used to get along fine... Got along all the way till he was 15 actually, but then I found out he was... he was sleeping with his girlfriend and-"

"He was sleeping with her!?" Ava exclaimed, interrupting Jerry.

"Yeah... I was supposed to be watching Nikki and Derrick, Bradin was at a friend's house, or so we thought... Anyway, Derrick wanted to play football and so I went up to get his ball to play with and since it wasn't in his room I thought I'd check in Bradin's...: Jerry paused and looked at Ava and Johnny, who were buying every word,. Good, stupid, idiots! They were taking it like bait! He looked back at the floor and continued. "So I opened his door and found him and his girlfriend in his bed having... well you know what they were doing. Now Bradin was like a son to me! So I did what any parent would do if they found their 15-year-old son having sex...you know? So I told them to get dressed and get their asses downstairs. Well, long story short, I told his parents and they banned him from seeing her anymore and they grounded him for the rest of the school year and the whole summer... And he's hated me ever since... I hate that he doesn't like me anymore but I believe I did the right think you know?" Jerry looked up and looked sad and hurt.

"Of course you did! Oh God, he was only 15! What else could you have done!?" Ava exclaimed.

Johnny nodded his head in total agreement, "One question though, wouldn't Karen have told Ava?"

"I remember they asked me not to tell anyone and told me that they weren't gonna mention it to anyone... So, no, I guess she wouldn't have. I think they were kinda ashamed they hadn't caught him before then!" Jerry said.

"Before?" Johnny raised one eyebrow.

"Yeah.. Bradin accidentally 'admitted' to that being their 5th time." Johnny said. 5th time? Maybe that was a little over the top... He thought anxiously but his fears were quickly put out by the looks on Ava's and Johnny's faces that said they believed every lie that was coming out of his mouth.

The three talked a little longer then Jerry said he'd better go home before the storm broke out.

After Jerry left Ava and Johnny told Jay and Susannah the whole story. They were both shocked that they hadn't figured something like that before... but why would they have really? The all awaited Bradin's return so they could talk to him...

Nikki came home shortly before the storm arrived with Derrick, who she'd gone and gotten, but still no Bradin...

The storm arrived and broke out violently, Bradin, still, had not returned.

"We need to go look for him," Ava said worriedly, pacing the living room floor.

"Shh... Ava calm down! Just be logical for just one second, okay?" Susannah pleaded. Ava stopped pacing and looked at her as she continued, "We can't go out in this! Now, Bradin's a really smart kid, he knows enough not to stay out in something like this. I'm sure he's at a friend's house and that we'll hear from him in the morning, okay? Now calm down, Honey!"

Ava took a deep breath and sat down on the couch, "You're right..."

Now, please don't forget to reivew! You don't realize just how much it means to me to get the reviews and you don't realize that the reviews are what keep me writing this story:)

Anna Christie AKA SecondStarToTheRight15