Winston was hungry. Since Brooke was in New York and Todd was busy and couldn't come to the beach with him, Winston figured he might as well come to surf. He waved at Denny Jacobson and his wife, Kimberly (Haver) Jacobson. Kimberly was wearing a bikini, she obviously didn't give two shits about her swollen belly. According to her socials, she was five months along with their second child. Their son, five year old Mason was building a sand castle.
Winston went to order a hotdog and a large OJ. He was starving. Mmm mmmh. Best hot dogs in Sweet Valley. He polished it off in thirty seconds. Damn. He was still hungry. He decided to order some onion rings as well as a second dog. After he got his order he sat down.
"Is this seat taken?"
Winston looks up.
"Don't need to ask. Grace! How's the lifeguard career doing?"
He smiled at his old "girlfriend." They "dated" in sixth grade, but it was just puppy love. They remained friends though. Grace Oliver looked amazing. She always was a water child. She practically lived on the Sweet Valley Beaches growing up. Being a lifeguard is something she always dreamed of.
"Amazing. I heard about you and Brooke. Congrats! So how's the wedding planning?"
"Still planning. Brooke's in New York with the twins as well as Billie, Lila and Cara."
"I heard about Cara. Poor girl. How's she taking the upcoming trail?"
Winston shook his head. "She's terrified. She isn't the only one. I heard Clay DiPalma is out on parole. You heard of Isabella Ricci?"
"Jessica's college roommate? What about her?"
"She thinks she being stalked."
Grace shook her head. "Poor girl. Here I thought I had it bad."
Winston nods sympathetically. "Devin Whitelaw. Is he still bothering you?"
"Not anymore. Ugh. He was bad news in high school. He almost ruined Enid's life. Plus Jessica's in college. The hell was I thinking going out with him? He's nothing but a coward." Grace shuddered.
Grace attended community college, she couldn't afford attending SVU. Luckily she got a partial scholarship for the degree of her choice in Marine Biology. She always wanted to have a career about the ocean, and SVCC had a good program. After she graduated, she couldn't find a job in her field of choice so she decided to be a lifeguard during the summer months.
She loved being a lifeguard. Every summer she worked on the Sweet Valley Beaches, since junior year at SVH. When she wasn't working she was working at the local aquarium as a tour guide. It paid pretty well, especially when she got her promotion to evening manager. She didn't want to give up her job as a lifeguard, so she made arrangements for her hours to start at six instead of five.
She met Devin a few summers ago. When she saw him walking in the ocean with all of his clothes on, Grace immediately ran into the ocean and carried him out of the waves. He was drunk, Grace could see that, so she called for a ambulance. When the ambulance came, she gave the paramedics his name, just in case. She couldn't come, she was already late for her second job.
When she arrived at her lifeguard post the next week for her morning shift, she was surprised to see a bouquet of red roses. When she saw who gave them to her, she was surprised to see who it was from. Her old classmate, Devin.
The flowers continued to come, different colours each time. She wondered why Devin didn't just talk to her. According to the cards, he wanted to thank her for saving his life. She decided to come two hours early to catch Devin. Her shift on Saturdays didn't start till ten, but already there was some surfers. She was keeping an eye on them, till she saw Devin, carrying some lilies.
She drove her lifeguard truck to her tower and beeped the horn. Poor Devin looked so embarrassed. But she was flattered at the attention. They immediately started dating.
The relationship only lasted a few months. Grace was feeling suffocated by Devin. He was clingy. He always wanted to know what she was doing, why she couldn't call him back everytime he called. Grace tried telling him she was always busy. Her jobs kept her busy. He was also jealous and possessive. He demanded who she was talking to every time, anywhere. Even if it was a drowning victim or a guest at the aquarium.
Grace finally got fed up and threw him out. She knew she was making a mistake letting Devin move in. It was way too early, and too fast. She told Devin she needed her space. She should have seen the signs. Too clingy, love bombing, too possessive, and that was the start of it. He was pressuring her for marriage and a baby. That was way too fast for her. She told him it was over and gave him a month to move out.
Of course Devin kept dragging his feet. He kept trying to win her back. Buying her jewelry, flowers, designer purses, Grace rejected them all. She was relieved he moved out after his tactics didn't work. But that was only the beginning. He then started stalking her.
First the phone calls. Then emails, then gifts of flowers and cutesy stuffed animals. Grace sent them back. She wondered why Devin was like that. In high school he was Mr Cool. She asked around and found out the truth. Devin was a ex con. He was just released on hit and run charges. He served his time after hitting a innocent man and fleeing the scene. Her old friend Jessica was there as a witness. Thank god she stayed behind. She saved his life.
Devin was caught in Corvina hiding in his ex nanny's house. He was arrested and pleased guilty. He was supposed to be charged for leaving the scene of a crime, plus being under the influence. He was high on PCP. He was still high when he was arrested.
His rich uncle in Vegas hired a expensive attorney. He made a deal. The drug charges didn't stick, although he was charged with possession. He served his six months for the misdemeanor, plus another year for the pills. Plus he was facing a lawsuit from his relatives back east. The lawsuit was dropped though since Devin was underage when they expanded their house on credit. They were lucky, their Vegas relative paid off their debts.
Grace wasn't afraid of Devin, but she was starting to get annoyed. The phone calls and presents were annoying, but when Devin started following her around, plus hiring a private detective, she got fed up. She filed a restraining order against him. He left her alone. Last she heard, he moved to Florida.
"Well, he's long gone. I don't want to see that jerk again as long as I live."
"Good. Wonder what changed. Elizabeth was crazy about him."
"People change. Elizabeth and Jessica fought over Todd. According to Jessica, Devin was still hung up over Elizabeth. Two years later."
Winston shook his head. He never liked Devin. Found him too slick. But he was a million times better than William White. Ugh. That guy was a psychopath. He hated to admit it, he was glad he was dead. He was a killer.
He finishes up his food.
"Grace, I gotta go. I need to head back. My shift at the station will start in a hour."
"Yeah, I gotta go too. My break is done. I'm sure Ryan is getting tired of keeping an eye on both his tower and mine."
"Tell Taylor to take it easy. Wendy and I worry about him." Winston tells her. Him and his old summer buddy, Wendy from Sweet Valley Shores were still close. He already asked her to be is best woman, along with Todd who was his best man.
Winston waved goodbye. Grace Oliver was still as cute as she was in SVMS. He hoped she found happiness too, she deserved it.