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Venice Beach
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Richard looked through the many stores close to the beach. He was looking for a good book to calm him before the homecoming game. He sighed as he went threw store and store not finding anything. His kakai shorts starting to get hot and his shirt getting sweaty. He moved off the pavement unto the sand. He took of his flip-flops as he reached the water. The water was ice cold.

Brenna walked around, enjoying the many scenes that Venice Beach provided. She had her old fashioned, 50s looking poloroid camera. She had to do an assignemt for her photography class that was due the next day. She gave up trying to get a cool picture based on the store signs, and walked over to the water, taking off her socks and converse, dipping her toes in as she tried to position her shoes and socks to make a cool picture.

Richard moved his feet around moving deeper and deeper into the cold water. He tossed his shirt by his flip-flops. He moved deep enough that only his eyes would show above the water. He saw a girl positioning her shoes and socks near the water. He watched her for a while. As the water warmed a little as a kid peed in the water near Richard, he swam away quickly to stay in the cold water.

Brenna looked up, startled as she heard a bunch of splashing, until she saw a little kid, and a guy swimming away. She giggled, and went back to her assignment. "And then Volia!" She said, looking at the seriously cool way she positioned her shoes. To her, this screamed summer. She tilited the camera a bit, trying to get just the right angle. Finally, she snapped the picture, and admired the product. "This one is a keeper." She said to herself, running her fingers through her dark black hair, feeling satisfied. She was so going to get an A.

Richard swam closer to the shore now. He felt his feet touch the many rocks and the moving sand. He sighed and got out if the ocean. He started walking towards his belongings to go look for a book again. Thinking about books he ran unto the furl he was looking at before ( Brenna ). (( Should her camera fall? ))

((Yes!))

Brenna had her camera in hand and was trying to decide what else was summery, when she felt something...or ssomeone collide with her. She fell backwards, her camera falling out of her hands. As Brenna tried to regain her balance, she heard aa sicking crunch as she stepped on her camera. "Oh my gosh..." She gasped, looking down at her camera. She looked up at the guy, her eyes wide. If she wwas her brother, that guy would be getting chewed out. But since she was quiet, shy Brenna, she didnt say much...her face did all the talking.

" I'm so sorry. " Richard said he reached down and dug through the pieces to find the film still good and intact. He stood up and handed her the film. " Sorry about that I was just thinking about where to get a goid book. " He said. He looked at the expression on her face. Hurt, mad, sad. He couldn't tell. Maybe all three combined. He stepped back not wanting to do anything else stupid, or hurt her.

Brenna felt like she was going into shock..That camera was her life. Her sticking life. And it just shattered before her eyes. That's it! She's going to go hide in a whole for the rest of her excistance. Her life was over, it just shattered before her eyes. "Its fine...its fine." She muttered softly, bending down to help him clean up the pieces of her life. One by one. She felt her photography grade slipping through the alphabet. She was so dead. "Thanks." She muttered, taking the film from him. At least she still had that.

" Want me to buy you another camera. " He asked generously. His heart skipped a couple of beats every so often. This was on of those times. He pulled a $200 bill out of his wallet. He went to hand it to her. " By the way, don't you go to LAHS? " He asked. He thought she looked vaguely familiar.... he just didn't know where.

((gtg))

Brenna shook her head, staring at her broken camera, before looking at him. "No no no no. I don't need your money..I'm fine. My dad can cover it." He works more than enough hours to avoid his kids. Brenna hasn't had an actual conversation with him since they moved here...three years ago. Brenna nodded when he asked her if she went to LAHS. "Yeah. Do you?" She asked. Now that she thought about it, he looked familiar. Like a lot familiar.

(( Bye, continue tomorrow? ))
" Okay. " He said putting his wallet away. His prediction was correct. He had seen her before at school. " Ummm, yea. I'm a junior, " he said. He smiled a bright smile to the girl. " I think your in my math class he said trying to remember. He then realized she did. She didn't sit near Richard but, she was in the class.

Brenna was surprised. She looked up from her shoe laces and realized that yeah, he was in her math class. "Oh yeah! You are! I sit way in the back corner...alone." In that class there was assigned seating, and everyone had a partner, but her. She was stuck on her own. Which was alright. Brenna didn't like talking to new people very much.

" I sit closer to the front. " He said moving his feet into the sand. His feet starting to burn again. He and his partner were one of the best in the class. He remembered the teacher not picking anyone to be Brenna's partner. " Know any good books? " He asked absently. Curious to what she would say he thoughtcuriosity killed the cat.

Brenna nodded. "I remember you. Richard right? I'm Brenna." She introduced herself, still surprised he even recognized her. No one did. She was too quiet and shy for anyone to notice. "Uh Harry Potter...and my brother likes a book called Leviathan. He says it's super good. I just haven't read it yet." She shrugged. Everyone knew her brother, Mason. He was outgoing and super giving and friendly. While Brenna was shy, sweet, and innocent. It was hard not to ignore her.

" Yep Richard Carlston. " He said with a sigh. He was actually surprised she had actually remember his name. Let alone to recognize his face. He smiled " I've read all of the Harry Potter Series. I will try to look for that book Mason said was good. " He said looking down at his feet.

Brenna bit her lip. Yup. He's heard of Mason. Everyone has. "Yeah. He's got good taste in uh books." She said softly, fingering what was left of her camera. She pulled out the pictures she had taken that day and looked through them, admiring her talent because no one but her photography teacher would see it.

(( How should they start a friendship or something, right now its just a bunch of teenagers acting weird and akward... ))

Richard nodded. Everyone knew Mason, popular Mason. He looked out of the ocean to see some sword fish and dolphins jumping in and out of the water. " Wow look at that " He said pointing at the attraction.

((Idk...common interest maybe? Brenna loves football...and basketball...and rugby. Idk...books?))

Brenna's eyes widened as she saw the fish. "Woah. That's so cool." She gasped, walking closer to the water. She hadn't seen that before, and thought it was totally boss. It also made her wish she had her camera.

" Are you coming to the homecoming game? " Richard asked still looking at the dolphins. He really wishes he hadn't bumped into her. He felt sorry but didn't want to show it. He watched respecting Brenna's space and sat down in the sand.

Brenna nodded, smiling. "Yeah. Mason is helping out the coach by taking days in the stands. Plus, I love football." She said with a shrug. She adored football. If there was a girls league, she would join it in a heartbeat. But there wasn't. So she didn't. She settled for going to games instead.

" You have a date yet? " He asked interested. He thought about asking her to the homecoming dance after the game. She'll probally say no. He did bump into her causing her camera to break. " I'm play football, #25 on defense. " He said.

Brenna shook her head. She wasn't planning on going to homecoming. It just seemed overrated...and no one was going to ask her anyway. "No. I wasn't planning on it." She said with a shrug. "Are you?" She perked up with interest as he said he played on the team. "Really? That's so cool! You're pretty good too." She admitted. She watched him a lot during games. Well him and Crew Johnson. And she only watched tthem because Mason needed her too...but other than that, she thought they were good.

" What would you do of someone were to ask you to the homecoming. " He asked curiously. He wondered if she was going to change her opinion and go to the dance afterward. He also wondered what would happen if he asked her. Curiosity Killed the Cat.

Brenna shrugged. "Probably make sure that person was real, and I wasn't asleep." She admitted. Guys didn't know she was even there. Except for the times they used her to get in with her brother. Which was dumb. But yeah, Brenna would probably die of a heart attack if someone asked her to a dance.

" Anyways... " He said slurring on. " Would you like to go to the dance with me. " He said quickly and quietly. He felt embarrassed. He had stayed strong his whole entire life but this was the day his shell cracked in half. A whole new emotions came in replacing the old him. He had never felt this before, some people called it love. He had never felt it and always dreamed about having someone to love. He sighed and said it correctly using all of his courage. " Would you like to go to homecoming with me? " He said looking away and sighing.

Brenna's mouth slipped open. No way. Like he would ask her because he ment it. It was probably some ploy to.get in with her brother...right? Brenna shrugged. "Ok." She whispered. "I'll go with you." She'll just use the dress she got last dance but never wore because her date never showed up. Yeah. It was lame. Hopefully Ricard would.

" Really?! " He said. He couldn't believe it an actual date. He remembered last year . He came in a wheel chair. That year it was a tough game. His feet were roasting. So he brought a wheelchair.

Brenna shrugged. "Sure." She smiled and threw a small pebble into the water, watching it skip four times before sinking. "It sounds like fun." Sure, she would have to go but some shows, and actually do her hair. But it would be worth it. She brushed her long brown hair off of her shoulder, smiling. Yeah. It sounded like fun.

" Where should we meet after the game? " He asked. He watched her throw the rock as it bouched a few times. He thought about Mason. " Could you also tell Mason to leave us alone? " He said. He really didn't want Mason to bother him or Brenna.

Brenna shrugged. "You can just come pick me up. You'll probably want to change...and shower first. And I'll have to change." She raised an eyebrow however. "Why would he need to stay away? Mason generally does stay away." She said with a shrug, but was still slightly confused. Why? Why would he want her to.make Mason stay away? He's graduated.from high school. He didn't want to.go to homecoming. Just the game.

(( Back ))

Richard smiled and said " Of course I'm going to shower. " He laughed. Wouldn't want to come to the homecoming without smelling like his cool combination of Old Spice and Axe. He used it tor special occasions as homecomings. He moved his hand closer to her hand.

Brenna laughed slightly, blowing a bubble with her piece of gum. "Oh good, I'm glad. Mason doesn't believe in showering until after he's hugged me, and gotten his sweat, all over me. It's gross." She shuddered, thinking about it. Last time, Brenna was getting ready to go to the movies with her cousins, and then bam! She smelled like a pig. It was nasty! She honestly, couldn't stand sweat. It was just....gross.

" Can't walk around super sweaty and smelly you know. " Richard said throwing a couple of rocks across the water. Out of the corner of his eye a football came flying almost hitting Brenna in the head. Catching it before it touched her coat.

Brenna smiled. "Oh I know." She didn't notice the football come right towards her, until Richard caught it. Her breathing was heavy. "Oh wow. Thanks." She said softly, staring at the football, and then Richard. And then the football, and back to Richard. Back and forth her eyes wandered, not sure where to look.

Richard tossed the ball to the kid who was coming. " Tell that other team to get a new quarterback " He said to the kid. He then saw Brenna was staring at him and the football. " Something unusual? " He asked her still curious to what she was thinking. He stared at her awaiting a response.

Brenna watched as the kid took the football and ran back to his game. She shook her head, leaning back on her hands. She didn't know what was weird, or why she didn't know what was going in her brain...but she didn't. "Nope. I just uh didn't know that was going to hit me. So..thank you." She said with a soft smile, looking at him. Her voice was soft, as usual, and you had to really listen to hear her. In fact, she was surprised she was still talking to this kid.

" Your welcome. " He said. He smiled watching the kids play football on the beach. He chuckled a little bit when a kid got an interception. He imagined himself there during the game getting the game winning intersection. He sighed and looked at Brenna and whispered " Tell me a secret. " He had nothing to say so he just thought about that and said it.

Brenna looked up in surprise. "A secret?" She asked softly, raising her eyebrow. "Um...My mom died when I was seven, and because I look so much like her, my dad avoids me." She muttered, barley audible. Hopefully that was secret enough for him. If not, she wasn't sure what else to say.

" Sorry, for that. My Dad died from a heart attack when he was driving home. " He said still remembering the exact day,time,year everything. While he slept he dreamed about if his dad never had a heart attack. He had always hated remembering it but could get it out of his head.

Brenna looked up at him. "At least your mom stayed with you when you needed her..right? My dad couldn't even look at me without bursting into tears. I haven't had an actual conversation with him in there years...and his room is across from mine." She said softly, remembering how badly it hurt to know that he dad couldn't stand to look at her. She was pretty much disowned, for looking like her mom.

" No she turned into my depressed mom for 8 months. " He said feeling bad for Brenna. He watched as the sun started to set over the horizon. He stayed silent for a moment. " She didn't do anything when she was depressed. All she did was sit at home and cry, she told me one day to find something I love cherish it forever and ever. That's when I tried out for football. I beated the depression right out of me. " he said in a motor tone voice.

Brenna nodded, shrugging. "I'm sorry. Its hard." She skipped another pebble, watching it skip five times this time, and then sink. "Masons not just my brother...but he's the closest thing to a dad I've got." She said softly, running her fingers through her hair. Her life was hard. She didn't have very many friends, her dad cant stand to look at her, and yet, Brenna is mostly happy. She's happy because she knows that that's what life's about. Being happy.

" I'm feel for you. " He said sighing. He looked at the beautiful sunaet. As people piled out of the beach only a couple were left. Richard looked out and saw a fin from a shark. He took out his phone quickly. He stood up git close to the water then took a beautiful shot of the sharks teared up fin.

Brenna gasped, looking at the shark. "Woah...glad I'm not swimming." She turned to Richard. "Have you seen jaws? Holy crap. After I saw that I wouldn't go near the water for weeks." She admitted, standing and walking over to him. Her long hair blowers behind her as the wind started to pick up. Brenna grinned. She loved the feel of the wind on her face...it felt amazing.

" I've seen it when they tried to catch it for the first time.. I almost peed my pants. " He laughed. He watched as the sharks fin bobbed up and down as it stayed close to the shore. He let the wind push him back a little bit. He watched as the shark got closer and closer to shore.

Brenna laughed, but when she saw the shark getting closer, she backed up a little. She didn't think the shark would come onto shore....but you know, just to be safe...she backed up. "Are you gonna back up? Because that sharks coming closer." She asked, looking at him, a questioning look on her face.

" No, I don't think it will to get onto shore . " He said. " But if he gets closer definitely. " He watched the shark get closer to shore. Richard backed up a couple spaces. He watched as the shark quickly turned away.

Brenna's eyes widened. She was going to die. There was no doubt about it. She was that one lady that died first in Jaws. And the sshark was a 25 feet long white one. And she was going to die. When Richard backed up, she didn't notice, her eyes llocked on the shark, waiting for her impending death. But when the shaft swam away, she let out a sigh of relief. "Thank heavens."

" That felt like Jaws. " He said letting out a little laugh. He watched as the sharks fin go down into the water. He moved in front of Brenna. He leaned in and kissed her.