I do not own Summerland. I do own the Coleman's.

Julie: Thank you! I'm glad he's okay too! ;) Hope this was soon enough! Lol!

codywells305: Hi!! NEW READER!!! (You are a new reader, correct?) Well, anyhow, thank you so much for reading!! I sent you a review reply about your question, by the way. So look for it! I hope you like this chapter!!!

ChrissyD: Hey! This story's not over yet!!!! I shoulda' made that clearer I guess, but anyway, there's still about 4 chapters to go.  I hope you like this one!! Oh, and thanks about the color white thing, lol! I always think that, you know, hospitals are SO white... sigh Anyway, thanks for the applause but I hope you'll keep reading till it's really finished:D By the way, what's your penname on here?

Sweet-Romantic: Merci!!! I hope this one is as "freakin' awesome!" lol!

XoCaliBabiox: Hey, thanks so much for the review! I hope you like this ch! Cool, I never really knew the character of Callie... I didn't see but about 5 episodes before the jerks canceled it! But I was hooked anway! Lol!

kbg17223: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it! I hope you like this one too! And yes, he is definitely based way more off Jesse than Bradin so he's kinda Jesse Westerly! Lol! Anyway, ok, I'll be looking for the link! Definitely! When you email me let me know what time you're usually on AIM so I can try to like, be on when you are! Lol! Oooh!!!!!!!!!! You suck!!! Man, I wanna see him SOOOOOOO freakin' bad... sigh One day, one day... Huh? What do you mean by: "Well anyways, I wrote the whole story of my day in my story Stereotype lolz." Yep, she really, really, really does! And did you mean to say Ava or Teresa? Cause you said Ava but he didn't talk to her in that chapter... did he? Oh god, I've lost control of my own story! Lol! Anyway, thanks again and I hope you like this chapter! Yes, there's more, four more chapters I think... maybe one more maybe one less but there will be a huge THE END when it's finished so no worries:D

SoMuch4MyHappyEnding: lol! Yeah, killing him once was sad enough... lol! Oh! Wait, which friends request? What's your username? Anyway, I hope you like this and that it was "SOONER!" enough for ya:D lylas too! And yes, school's out for me but I've been sooooo busy still... Anyway, hope you like this chapter!

Chapter XXXI

Talks, Dates and Walks

Bradin entered the front door of Jay's surf shop, the bell that hung on the frame dinged. "Jay!" he called, looking around and walking up to the front counter.

"Yo?" Jay asked, coming out of the back room carrying a clipboard.

"Um... could I talk to you a minute?"

"Sure, but could you do this while you do? I'm really behind on things around here..." Jay handed him the clipboard and started opening up a box of board wax that was sitting on the floor behind the counter.

Bradin started at a shelf near the front counter and asked, "Um... if you love somebody but you're not completely sure they love you back... what would you do to find out?"

Jay stopped what he was doing. "You don't think Teresa loves you?" he raised his eyebrows.

"Jay! Just answer me..." Bradin snapped.

"Sorry! Okay... sheesh..." Jay frowned then continued what he had been doing as he said, "Well... I think I'd ask her- it is a her isn't it?" He couldn't resist.

"Look man, this is not funny." Bradin frowned, "Of course it's a her! God, ok, it is Teresa! Now can you answer me!?"

"Sure..." Jay said coolly, "Okay, so I guess I'd ask her if she loved me."

Bradin stopped writing, turned to face Jay and frowned, "Honestly, Jay, would you just ask Erica if she loved you!? You know, go, 'Hey, Erica, do you love me?' Come on! You know that's not how it works..."

"Sorry, this is just too funny for me..."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, boy! Open your eyes! She is totally in love with you."

"I don't know about that..." Bradin mumbled.

"What?"

"Never mind, just forget it!" Bradin slumped his shoulders and turned back to the shelf.

"I'm sorry, man... I guess I would ask her... but you're right, that's not how it works so... I... I really don't know, Bradin, I mean... I think if you both love each other, neither of you will have doubts." He cringed. He knew that wasn't what Bradin wanted to hear and he hated to admit it but... it was true. Though he was certain Teresa loved him he didn't know Bradin had doubts about it. More likely than Teresa not loving him was him not loving her.

Bradin said nothing as he continued his job. Jay, also, remained silent. Finally, when Bradin was finished and he brought the clipboard into the back room and handed it to Jay, who spoke, "Bradin, listen. I really believe you two are in love... But, if you're doubting that than... just... let your heart lead you, okay?"

Bradin said nothing, didn't even nod. "I'll see you..." he turned and left the shop without another word. Jay sighed.

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Ding!

"I'll be with you in a minute!"

"Oh, it's only me, Jay!"

"Teresa!" Jay Robertson emerged from the back room, "What brings you here?"

"Well," Teresa's face was unusually stressed looking, "It's Bradin..."

"Of course..."

"What?"

"Oh, nothing.. what is it?" Jay mentally slapped himself for that.

"Well, I... Honestly I'm just not sure he loves me."

Uh oh... Maybe Bradin DIDN'T love her... "Why aren't you sure?"

"He just... I don't know... this is gonna sound stupid but... I feel like he just wants..."

"Sex?" Jay asked, his voice unsure.

"Oh, no! I meant he just wants to be away from me..." Teresa blushed.

"Sorry..." Jay tried not to laugh at his mistake for fear she'd think he was laughing at her. "Well, what makes you think that?"

"Whenever I try to hang out with him he just... shies away... Especially if I'm alone, you know, like, if I'm with friends he doesn't act so weird but when I'm alone... And I know it's just me cause I've seen him hanging out with his friends a lot! Guys and girls. But he never invites me anymore, like he used to when they would all go hang at the beach... It's like, he just wants to stay completely away from me... He'll barely even talk to me on the phone. I passed him a note in class today and he didn't even open it... I don't know, maybe I'm totally off and he's just going through something normal but it really doesn't seem normal to me..." Teresa fought tears. She loved Bradin, she hated the thought that he might not feel the same way... anymore.

Jay frowned, "Well, it might be normal... I mean, some guys just like to have a little room to breath but I don't think you've been crowding him in so that doesn't fit..."

Teresa looked down and all but whispered, "Jay, c- could he be... seeing somebody else?"

Jay didn't answer for a minute. He had thought of that... but he had to remember what Bradin had said to him only hours before when he came in asking a similar question, Does Teresa love me? Does Bradin love me? Hmm... maybe they just needed a while together, alone, to find that they did love each other.

"You think he is don't you?" Teresa's voice was almost a whisper once again.

Jay realized he had waited too long to answer, "Sorry! I was lost in thought for a minute there!" he laughed but became serious quickly, "No, Teresa, I don't think he's seeing anybody else."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Teresa sighed, "Then what is it? Do you think maybe he does want me to 'give him something more,' if you know what I mean..."

"Why? Has he asked you to do that with him?"

"Well... no, actually... I mean, he hasn't asked me but..."

"Did he try to make you?" Jay frowned. He better not have! Teresa was too nice a girl to be treated like that.

"No! He didn't try to make me do anything... Truthfully, I led him on to think he could and then I asked him to stop... on two separate occasions... And I just feel really bad about that cause I shouldn't have teased him. I should have either, let him, or let him know that I wasn't going to do that at all. Not stay in limbo land about it..." Teresa said, exasperated with herself for having teased Bradin.

"Hey, I think he really respects you so I doubt that's what's up with him... but if you want me to be sure, being a guy myself, did he seem really upset that you didn't want to?"

"No... he was really sweet about it, he told me I was totally worth waiting for... that he'd wait until I was completely ready... So no, he didn't seem upset..."

"Than I stand my ground, I really don't think he wants you to sleep with him. If you'd like I'll talk to him tonight, though... see if I can figure out what's up, you know..."

"Oh, would you!? Thank you, thank you! I would really appreciate that!" Teresa smiled though she still seemed stressed.

"Sure thing, and don't mention it!"

"Okay... one favor though?"

"Anything!"

"Keep it low.. you know, just you and him so nobody else knows?" Teresa said lowly.

"Of course!" Jay smiled.

"Thank you!" Teresa smiled back, "Well, I guess I have to go now, Aunt Rachel is probably gonna flip if I'm not home soon! Bye! And, Jay?"

"Uh huh?"

"Thanks again!"

"Anytime!" She really was the sweetest girl Jay had ever met.

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"Say, Brae... could I talk to you a minute?" Jay put his hand on the teen's shoulder as he was starting up the stairs. The family had just finished eating dinner and Jay was keeping his promise to talk to Bradin for Teresa.

"Uh... sure..." Bradin shook Jay's hand off and turned to face him, "Where?"

"How 'bout a walk?"

"Okay..." Bradin headed out the front door followed by Jay. Once outside and down the beach a little ways Jay started talking, "Bradin, how do you feel about Teresa?"

"W- what do you mean?" Bradin was clearly caught off guard.

"Just what I asked, how do you feel about her? You know, do you like her?" Jay had to keep from laughing figuring Bradin would act like he was crazy for suggesting he didn't like Teresa.. He was surprised however.

"I don't know..."

Now Jay was caught off guard, "You don't know?"

Bradin stopped in his tracks, "No, I do know... I shouldn't have said that cause I love her, Jay... But I can't figure out what it is with her! Every time I try to get close to her she just... moves away..."

"How so? And what exactly do you mean by 'get close to her?'" Jay was hoping he didn't mean sexually but knew he very well could.

"Well... I told her everything. Everything. Stuff I've never told anyone else and doubt if I ever will... I mean, God, if she ever got mad she'd sure have so much dirt on me! But that's not what I mean, I mean... when I try to get her to talk to me she just... moves away."

"Oh... you know, maybe she wants you to hang out with her more often or..." Jay was trying to get to what Teresa had said, how Bradin didn't ask her to hang out anymore.

"Huh? I do hang out with her..."

Jay sighed, he was going to have to admit why he was asking him all this. "Honestly, Bradin... Teresa came to me today and asked me why you didn't want to be around her. You sure this isn't you who's not getting close?"

"No! I mean... it wasn't." Bradin looked down, "Yes, I've been neglecting her lately and I hate that... But I feel like she's not there when she's with me... I don't know..."

"I see... you know what?"

"What?" Bradin looked up at the older man.

"I think you two just need to talk this out. I think you're both feeling the same thing and need to see that you both love the heck out of each other and want the other to just be there. Always. If that made any sense..."

"I think it did... I think you're right... Say, Jay?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you possibly have Teresa meet me down at Spanish Cove tomorrow?"

"Well.. I mean, what makes you think I'd be talking to Teresa-"

"Because, you were talking to her today and I'm pretty sure you offered to talk to me so she'll be back to see what you found out." Bradin smirked.

"You know you're something else, you know that right?" Jay laughed.

"Yeah, yeah... could you? Say, ask her to meet me there whenever she comes in to ask you?"

"Will do, what are you just gonna wait there all day or something?"

"No, you're going to call me the second she leaves." Bradin smiled.

"Ooh. Aye, aye, sir!" Jay saluted, Bradin rolled his eyes and they both headed back to the house.

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"Teresa!" Jay exclaimed as the pretty, naturally tanned, red/blonde entered his shop.

"Hey, Jay! Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah... I did... he wants you to meet him down at Spanish Cove." Jay said, smiling.

"He does? Well, what did he say?"

"Oh... nothing."

"Huh?"

"He said he loves you and that he just feels like you don't want to be around him." Jay grinned, "Sound like someone else we know?"

"Me..." Teresa smiled meekly but then became excited, "You mean we're feeling the same way!? And just don't know it?"

"That's what I told him. He seemed to agree." Jay laughed, "Young lovers! You guys are so confusing!"

Teresa couldn't help but laugh at this, "You think!?"

Jay kept laughing then stopped, "Well, guess you want to go see what Bradin wants now, huh?"

"Yeah..." Teresa smiled, and headed out the front door waving and calling over her shoulder, "See you later!"

"Jay waited till the door clicked shut then whipped out his cell and sent the text message he had prepared for Bradin earlier. It read, "She just left, she's on her way."

­----------

Teresa walked along the beach, not really seeing anyone else. It was 2:00pm on a Saturday but she didn't seem to notice the crowds on the beach as she made her way to the place she and Bradin had first talked. What did he want? Did he just want to talk or something else? Her mind filled with questions all the way there. When she arrived no one was there. She looked around again... where was he?"

"Baby?"

Teresa jumped, "Oh, Bradin!" she turned around to find him standing a few feet behind her, a funny grin covering his face. His hair was wet and he was wearing a wet suit and carrying a surf board under one arm. "How's the surf?" she asked, lightly laughing.

"Great... and you're coming in!" he exclaimed.

"What!? No way, Bradin Westerly!"

"Yes, way, Teresa Coleman!" Bradin mimicked her pitch.

"Bradin, it's probably freezing in that water! My God, it's December 14th for goodness sake!"

"Not a chance, it's fine, now come on back to my house and you can use my aunt's wet suit. She won't mind." Bradin grabbed her hand and started to pull her along but she held back.

"Bradin, wait. I need to talk to you."

"Okay..." Bradin broke the word into two distinct syllables with a touch of puzzlement to them both.

"Can we sit here or... um..."

"Look, if you'll come to the house with me now and then back here and let me give you a surfing lesson then I'll take you out to dinner and we can talk. How's that sound?" Bradin smiled at her making her smile back.

"That sounds just alright, Westerly!" Teresa laughed, "But you better keep that promise about the water not being freezing!" she added as he pulled her along.

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"You are amazing! Why do I even try!" Erica Spalding called to the teenage boy who was laying on his back half laughing, half panting. He had just been swept off his board and pulled er, pushed back to the shore all on one quick wave and now lay at the shoreline catching his breath. He sat upright and turned to find the dark haired girl heading his way. Teresa was sitting in the sand a little ways behind him laughing at how ridiculous the whole thing had looked.

"So, Kansas... is that how you're teaching her to surf?" she gave a sideways look at Teresa as Bradin stood, grabbed his board and headed over to the two females.

"No... not quite," he laughed again, that hadn't gone as planned had it?

"Well, okay, cause I was gonna say..." Erica snickered, "Anyway, what are you two up to?"

"He's teaching me to surf! Or trying anyway!" Teresa laughed, "I'm afraid I'm not a very good learner..."

"You're doing great!" Bradin said.

"I have to agree with him, I was watching you guys and you're doing really well for a beginner!" Erica smiled then sat down beside the teenage girl, "And hey, don't feel bad! When I first started I made all kinds of mistakes! Oh, and when your 'teacher,'" she grinned mischievously up at Bradin, "first started... well..."

Bradin groaned, "Erica!"

Erica ignored this and continued on, "Yeah, so he..." she began a tale of Bradin's "bad surfing" from when he first started and Bradin groaned again then headed back into the water to pass the rest of the afternoon as his surfing instructor had just stolen, both, his student and his girlfriend, so to speak. Well, for the afternoon anyway...

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"How do I look?" Teresa Coleman asker her mother and aunt as she walked down the stairs into the living room. She got "ahs" from both.

"You look beautiful, honey! Man, he's gonna be after you tonight! Mmph..." Rachel Steller said with emphasis.

"Oh., Rach, stop that!" Teresa's mother scolded her sister, "You look lovely, dear! Have a good time!" She kissed her daughter's cheek, the ribbon in her hair and pushed her towards the door just as the doorbell sounded through the house.

Bradin felt his breath leave his body as Karen Coleman opened the door revealing a stunning, to him at least, which is all that really mattered, Teresa Coleman.

"Hey, Brae..." she said shyly, stepping outside. Though only dressed in a simple red wintery dress and white sandals the teen looked stunning. Her red blonde hair was brushed till it shone and was pulled into a half tail and tied with a red ribbon. She wore little makeup and carried a small white purse.

"Hey..." Bradin grinned, "You look amazing!" he added, wanting her to know how good he thought she looked right then. He always thought she did though.

"Thank you," Teresa smiled and blushed. "You don't look so bad yourself!" Bradin was wearing a green polo shirt, a nice pair of blue jeans and converse shoes.

"Thanks," he smiled, his blue/green eyes sparkling.

"Have a wonderful time, you two. Oh, and, Bradin," Mrs. Coleman said, making the teenage boy look at her, "Have her home by 10:30 sharp, okay?"

"Yes, Ma'am!" Bradin smiled. He turned as she shut the door and took Teresa's hand, "Let's go!"

The two dined at a outdoor restaurant and then went for a walk on the beach. Teresa took off her sandals and walked into the water facing the wind and smiled. "Bradin..." she said softly as he came up behind her.

"Yeah?" he asked standing just out of the water so as not to get his shoes wet.

"Do you..." Teresa turned and walked out of the water realizing he couldn't come in, she licked her lips and began again, "Do you... love me?"

"I do... and do you love me?" Bradin asked, trying not to meet her eyes.

"Oh, Brae! I do love you! So much!" Teresa threw her arms around his neck, "So, so much!" Tears ran down her cheeks and she smiled through them, "I was so afraid you didn't... because you just... seemed so distant, I... I don't know..." she pulled away from him.

"I'm really sorry, Babe... I've had some things on my mind and I guess I've just been neglecting a lot of stuff lately... But you shouldn't have been one of them... I'm so sorry if I made you feel like I didn't love you. I do." He pulled her back and hugged her tightly as he whispered into her ear, "I'm so sorry... I do love you. I always will."

"I know, I'm sorry I thought you might be seeing someone else..." Teresa gasped then laughed nervously, knowing she probably shouldn't have said that.

But Bradin didn't take it wrong, instead he laughed with her and said, "Was I that gone? God, I'm sorry!"

"It's okay... you weren't really... until the other day I guess..."

"What'd I do the other day?" Bradin pulled away from his girlfriend enough to see her face.

"Well... I passed you a note in 4th block and you didn't read it then and I guess you didn't read it later cause you never mentioned it..." Teresa looked down.

"I'm sorry. I didn't read it then cause Tommy the blockhead was watching my every move and I knew he'd tell Ms. Barnes. Then, later, I guess I forgot about it cause... my aunt found it in the wash but it was too messed up to read. I didn't tell you cause I felt really bad for not having remembered it and thought you might get upset. I'm sorry, I should have told you." Bradin admitted.

"Is that all!? Gosh, was I upset for nothing..." Teresa couldn't help but laugh, "Don't worry about it, it just said that I wanted to talk to you but... I guess we're doing that right now!" She smiled, her eyes shining.

"We are," Bradin laughed, "God, do I love you!"

Teresa smiled wider, "I love you too!" she laughed suddenly.

"What?" Bradin frowned, "Did I say something?"

"No, I was just thinking how Jay was so right... and that it was so funny we both went to him asking him if we loved each other-"

"Instead of just coming to the each other!" Bradin finished and laughed with her, "We're so stupid!"

Teresa stopped laughing and frowned, "You calling me stupid!?"

"No! I-" Bradin narrowed his eyes as he realized she was joking, "Oh, now you've done it!" He grabbed her around the waste and turned her so that her back was against his chest. Then, he picked her up, ignoring her protests, and spun her around. All the while she half laughed, half screamed and kicked her legs yelling, "Put me down, Bradin Westerly!!"

When he didn't respond she took to whining, "Bradin... please!" she begged, but she was really having fun.

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"Thanks for a wonderful time, Bradin... I really enjoyed myself." Teresa smiled at her boyfriend. She was standing on her front doorstep, her back to the door, saying goodbye to Bradin. "And I'm so glad we worked everything out between us!" she added, her smile growing wider.

"You're welcome!" Bradin smiled back, "So am I."

"Well, I better get to bed, see you tomorrow?"

"For sure." Bradin guaranteed her.

"Well... bye..." Teresa found herself feeling shy all of a sudden. She turned her back to him and put her hand to the doorknob when he touched her shoulder saying, "Reese?"

"Hmm?" she turned back around only to have his lips meet hers. She got lost in the kiss and would've stayed that way but heard the door being unlocked from the inside. She pulled away and smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow!"

Bradin nodded and hurried down the beach in the direction of his house just as Mrs. Coleman opened the door for her daughter.

Okay, another chapter down, about 4 more to go! Review, review!!! Thank you!!!!!!

Anna Christie AKA SecondStarToTheRight15