People tend to ask me how everything began. I can answer with that gorgeous morning on the beach in Malibu when I first saw him or I could answer with the first surfing lesson he gave me a few weeks later, but people are surprised with the answer that I actually give. That everything began on a rainy Sunday afternoon when I was fourteen years old and knew nothing about what love really was.
Growing up, I spent a lot of time watching TV. I had friends and I had a wonderful family, but there was something about television that real life just couldn’t give me. Like when I was twelve and I wanted to go to Disney World but my twin sister, Samantha, got sick. I was so angry and so upset that I spent hours in front of the television watching the episode of Full House where the family went to Disney, hoping to forget about my foiled plans. I did forget and so I began to watch TV more and more. When I was thirteen, I was spending the night at my best friends house and she told me that we had to watch this soap opera because something really big was about to happen. My parents were a little strict and I had never been allowed to watch one before. So we sat down in her living room and I became obsessed. It was called Sanibel Island and looking back, I know now how bad the show actually was. But for so long, it was home. There was an older actor on the show, maybe in his mid forties, named Brady Black. He was gorgeous, even to a young teenager like I was at the time. He was so romantic on the show and so perfect, I yearned to marry him. But Hope, my best friend, claimed him. She told me I was allowed to have his son in real life, John. I didn’t know anything about him, but he was Brady’s son and that was good enough for me. It was only a game, but to me it ended up being so much more.
As we entered High School, Hope got her first real boyfriend, Bo. Things became serious while I remained in my shell, not so much because I was shy, but because no guys ever approached me or asked me out. The joke of marrying John always remained in my mind, but I never took it all that seriously.
In fact I had even met his father a few times at stupid little fan get togethers and the last time I saw him, I was walking away and he called me back. I turned around, the sun in my eyes, my hand shielding the view and he smiled this perfect smile. He then called out and told me he loved me. At the moment, I was thrilled that Brady Black said those words to me, even if he probably told all his fans that. But as the years went on and I began to think of John more, I realized maybe it was more than that. Maybe deep down Brady knew I was going to be someone special to him someday.
In high school, I began to meet more people in school and I developed a huge crush on someone I didn’t have a chance of getting. But I thought I loved him and so I spent most of my high school years lusting after him. It wasn’t until I got over this guy, that I suddenly remembered John. I never told anyone I felt like this; surely they’d think I was insane. So I continued on with my life, graduating from high school and entering into college. I guess I was a late bloomer because it was finally in the first few weeks of freshman year that I got my first serious boyfriend. We dated for a while, with complex issues mixed in between, and somewhere among this crazed relationship, I began to think about John once more. It wasn’t like last time, however. The feelings were stronger now and I can’t even begin to explain where they came from. I began to think of him, more than I ever thought possible. After my boyfriend and I broke up, I didn’t date. Not because there weren’t offers, because suddenly there were, but because John was the only one in my mind. I didn’t tell many people this, but a few understood, or at least said they did. But how could they when even I didn’t fully understand?
She walked along the shore, her feet melting into the remains of wet sand left by the waves. Her shoulder length blonde hair blew past her face in the wind and she inhaled the sweet smell of morning that can only come from living on the beach. It was only six in the morning, but for Marlena Evans, the morning brought about peace, the time when the rest of the world was asleep, especially on a Saturday morning.
She sat down, dropping her feet into the water as she closed her eyes. There were things she missed about her former home in Salem, especially her closest friends, but the beaches there were non-existent, one of the reasons she tried to push her homesickness aside, at least a little bit. She was so lost in thought that when a hand touched her back she looked up startled. Looking up, she saw the mirror image of herself and smiled, patting the patch of sand beside her. Without a word, Samantha Evans sat down beside her sister, leaning her head on Marlena’s shoulder. Marlena ran her hand through Samantha’s hair, playing with each strand gently.
“What are you doing up?” Marlena asked, curiously. “You do realize it’s six right?”
Samantha yawned, digging a hole in the sand with her feet. “I know. I heard mom and dad leave around five-thirty this morning for San Francisco. I couldn’t fall back asleep. What are you doing out here so early?”
Marlena didn’t answer right away and Samantha sat up, turning towards her sister. “Are you thinking about Roman again?”
She had never told Samantha about her feelings for John Black, even though Sam was the person she was closest to in the world. However, her sister was a realist and didn’t believe in anything that wasn’t plausible, that wasn’t common. So Marlena cleared her throat and lied, knowing it was easier than telling Sam all about John.
“Honey, I know you miss him,” Sam began, “but maybe moving out here was good for you. You might have to go back to school in the fall, but at least he graduated.”
“Yeah,” Marlena said, softly, not wanting to discuss Roman Brady. “So, what’s on the agenda today?” She asked, changing the subject.
Samantha smiled, knowing her sister all too well. “Maybe some shopping. I still haven’t checked out the Beverly Center and I’d really love too. Maybe go down to Melrose too. What about you?”
“I’m just going to lay around here for the day. Get some sun, read a book, maybe see a movie. I have some summer assignments I need to take care of as well.”
Sam kissed her sister’s forehead and stood up, stretching. “Mar, it’s the beginning of June. Hold off on the school work for a little while, Brainiac.”
Marlena laughed and watched Samantha walk back into the large beach house her parents had bought only a month before. She laid back on her hands, watching the waves roll onto the shore and couldn’t help but let her mind wander to John Black and what he was doing at this very moment.
**
Guitar music from the house next door wafted through the wind to where John Black sat in back of his house. The sun had just begun to come up and he squinted through the light determining the weather for the morning. He had plans to surf with his father sometime within the next few hours but because of the way the waves were moving, he figured it would rain before that even happened.
John heard the patio door open and he turned to see his father walking towards him, obviously having been woken from sleep, his hair disheveled, his eyes barely open.
“Is Sambora playing again?” Brady Black yawned, sitting down next to his son.
John laughed, nodding his head. “That’s what you get for moving next door to the guitarist of Bon Jovi. You have to admit, he does play beautifully.”
“He’d play even more beautifully at noon,” Brady muttered. “I was working until midnight last night. Didn’t get back here until around one. Not to mention, your mother got up at four-thirty this morning to go running with Heather. She’s insane.”
“Why were you working so late?”
“Jordan and I were filming this ridiculously long scene and neither of us could keep a straight face because the material is absolutely stupid.”
John laughed. “You choose to be a soap actor, what did you expect?”
“Good point,” Brady smiled.
When Brady Black decided to be a soap actor, he had only planned on doing it for a couple of years. He had come to California from Nebraska, wanting a new life from the one he was tired of living. He had originally planned on being a writer, but there was no money in that, not right away. So he auditioned for a soap opera and got the part within days and for the past twenty-five years, he was unable to give it up. The schedule was perfect, allowing him time to go surfing with John or spending the day shopping with his daughter, Courtney, and having all the time in the world with his wife, Caitlyn. As much as he complained, Brady Black loved his job and the world it provided for his family.
He leaned back against his elbows on the sand, squinting in the early morning light. “You’re quiet this morning,” Brady commented, turning his head towards his son.
“Just thinking.”
“About?”
John turned to look at his father, sighing lightly. “Natasha. I’m usually good about it, but in the early morning hours, memories just come back. Not to mention the romantic guitar music coming from next door, it just depresses me a little.”
Brady put an arm around his son’s shoulders, knowing all to well the pain of lost love. “All I’m going to tell you is that if she got away, she wasn’t meant to be.”
“Didn’t your character say the same line yesterday?” John teased.
“Oh, so you do watch my show!”
John grinned. “I wanted to see if you and Jordan would find the magical diamond on the island.”
“They didn’t!”
Brady and John turned around to find Caitlyn Black standing behind them. Caitlyn herself could have been an actress if she desired. With long auburn hair and startling green eyes, she had the body of twenty year old, the desire of most of John’s male friends. She walked over to them and sat down in Brady’s lap, ruffling his hair just a little bit.
“I’m glad the whole family watches my show,” Brady laughed. “How was the jog?”
Caitlyn shrugged her shoulders. “Three miles. I think I’m beginning to feel like an old woman. So what do you boys have on the agenda today?”
“Surfing,” both men answered simultaneously and Caitlyn laughed.
“Where?”
“Here probably,” John replied. “I’m at Manhattan Beach enough teaching.”
“So surf in Malibu today,” Caitlyn suggested. “I was going to take Courtney to my mother’s, why don’t we all go?”
“Is Grandma cooking?” John asked, his blue eyes twinkling.
“Yes.”
“Then Malibu it is! Is that okay, Dad?”
“Sure. When did you want to leave, honey?”
Caitlyn thought about it for a moment, checking her watch. “An hour or so. I need to shower.”
“Me too,” Brady grinned, “mind if I join you?”
John scowled, standing up. “I’m out of here. Call me when you’re ready.”
John stood up, walking back towards the house. And as he reached the back steps, he turned around to take another look at his parents. Caitlyn still sat in Brady’s lap, her lips nuzzled somewhere between his ear and his neck. Their laughter floated down the beach and John couldn’t help but smile, hoping someday he’d find a love like theirs.
Marlena lay out on a towel, the afternoon sun casting light upon her already tanned body. She had been outside for a few hours now, enjoying the relaxation she barely got to partake in lately. She rolled over onto her stomach, putting a Richie Sambora CD into her Discman when she noticed Samantha coming towards her, loads of shopping bags in her arms. Marlena sat up grinning, lowering her headphones.
“Looks like you maxed out Dad’s credit card.” Marlena laughed. “What did you get?”
“Well you’ll be happy to know that not all of this stuff is for myself. I bought dad some stuff for Father’s Day and I bought mom perfume from Sephora since she’d never buy it for herself. And,” Sam said opening a bag from Abercrombie and Fitch, “I bought you this.” Sam lifted up a green t-shirt with the words ‘Flattery Will Get You Everywhere’ in white.
Marlena rolled her eyes, taking the shirt from Sam. “Honey, you know I wouldn’t wear this. Are you sure this isn’t for you?”
Sam took the shirt from Marlena and turned it around to look at it. “Whoops! That is mine.” She reached into the bag again, pulling out an almost identical green shirt. Marlena looked at it and grinned, nodding her head.
“Life’s a bitch. Now that’s more like it!” She leaned across her blanket and kissed Sam on the cheek. “Thank you darling.” Marlena glanced at the remaining bags. “So you bought dad presents with his own money? Smart.”
“I know. But I’m a poor college student,” Sam pouted.
“You’re almost 21. I’m pretty sure you could hold down a job, Princess.”
“Could, but won’t. Now move over, I want to sit.”
Marlena scooted over on her towel, happy to just have the company at the moment. She had spent the morning thinking of both John and Roman, conflicting thoughts on both men she loved. She had begun to miss Roman the higher the sun rose, visions of their last days together. He had suddenly gotten weird around her, almost as if he was mad at her for some unexplainable reason. Many had tried to tell her it was because he was afraid of goodbyes, having just graduated college. But she didn’t believe that, she couldn’t. After all he’d still be around next year so surely she must have done something to make him angry. And then she began to wonder if she even cared. John Black was the only one that truly mattered to her. She had to believe that, although that didn’t provide much sanity these days either.
Shaking the thoughts from her head, Marlena gazed into the ocean where she could make out a couple of people surfing the waves.
“Looks like fun, doesn’t it?” Sam asked, reading her sister’s mind.
“Yeah. I could never do it though. Do you know how many bones I would break in about a minute?”
“I don’t know, I bet we’d have a lot of fun.” Sam looked down the beach, shading her eyes from the sun. “Hey,” she said, tapping Marlena. “Look over there,” she pointed. “Isn’t that the dude from your soap opera? Brody something?”
Marlena’s head snapped towards where Samantha was looking. And in that moment she saw him. Sam was right, Brady Black was there, but her attention was drawn to the tall handsome male next to him. John. Marlena’s breath caught, unable to speak. Sam looked at her in question and Marlena slowly nodded.
“Yeah.”
“Who’s the hot guy next to him?”
If only she knew.
**
“Okay, so it’s nearly two and we’ve been surfing for hours and you’re still bummed. What’s up?” Brady asked, walking across the sand with his son. “Still Tash?”
“I was watching you and mom this morning. You know out on the beach after she came back from her jog? Well, I realized that I’ve never had that. Not with Tash, not with Shannon, not with Kelly, not with Jamey, not even with Cassie who I thought was my first love and I’d die without.”
Brady laughed and John looked at him, eyebrow raised in question. Brady threw his hands up. “I’m sorry. But you have had a lot of women.”
John gave his father a small smile. “Like father, like son. Anyway, I guess it’s just that I’ve had all these girls and I’ve never truly felt like it was worth the world. So that’s what was making me sad. Not missing Tash, but missing what maybe could have been.”
Brady wrapped an arm around John. “If you didn’t feel it from the first moment you saw her, it wasn’t something that needed time. It just didn’t exist.”
John nodded, turning his head towards the waves. And as he did, he saw two of the most beautiful blondes he had ever seen. Although identical, only one happened to catch his eye. She seemed lost looking out into the water as if she expected every answer to be written somewhere in the waves. He didn’t capture her eye in that moment, but he finally felt what his father was talking about, only he didn’t realize it at the moment. Instead he turned in the other direction, followed by Brady as they began to walk back to the house, not realizing that his fate was about to begin
Only weeks after moving to California, the beach had become boring, spending time at home watching Sanibel Island was only a small part of the day, Samantha had quickly found herself a boy toy and Marlena knew that what she needed more than anything was to get out of the house…and make a little money. She had gotten a job at an editing firm in Los Angeles and spent her days answering the phone and entertaining future authors while they sat and waited for the final verdict of their novel.
It had only been a week since she had started but she quickly picked up the motion of the fast paced office. On what seemed to be a fairly slow day, Marlena flipped through the latest issue of People Magazine. She was in the middle of an article about the Olsen twins when the phone beside her rang.
“Hello?”
“Marlena, it’s Jeff.” Marlena spun around on her chair and gazed down the hallway, unable to suppress a few small giggles.
“You know, your office is like four doors away.”
“I’m quite lazy,” Marlena’s boss laughed. “Listen, my twelve o’clock is on his way in, but I have a conference call with New York I need to take care of. Tell him it will only be a few minutes.”
“Sure thing.”
Marlena hung up the phone, closing the magazine. She picked up the remote next to her, flipping on the television. The office was usually dull around this time and she spent her time watching Sanibel Island, realizing she truly did have the perfect job. She leaned back in her chair hoping that Jeff’s twelve o’clock appointment liked soap operas and made the television a little louder. She heard the door to the office open but she was so immersed in whether or not Brady’s character would find this magical diamond that she didn’t seem to notice.
“He’ll find it in a couple of weeks. I think it’s evil though.”
Marlena’s head shot up and when it did, she realized she was staring into the deep blue eyes of John Black. Nearly choking from the dryness of her mouth, millions of thoughts flew through Marlena?s mind. Taking a deep breath and trying not to show just how nervous she was, Marlena laughed.
“It usually is. You’re John right?”
He looked at her, his eyebrow raised. “How do you know?”
Marlena froze, realizing he had never told her his name. She thought for a moment and pointed towards Jeff’s office.. “You have a twelve o’clock appointment. Mr. Dowling will be out in a few minutes, he just had a business call to take care of. You can take a seat.”
John sat down unable to help himself from staring at the blonde before him. She looked so familiar to him but he couldn’t place where he had seen her before. She looked up at him and smiled, hiding her head in embarrassment.
“You’re staring.”
“I’m sorry,” John blushed, “it’s just…have we met before?”
Marlena’s heart skipped a beat. “No. We haven’t.”
“I haven’t seen you in here before. Just start?”
“Yeah.” Marlena wanted to keep the conversation going, so she thought of the most common ground she could think of. “You’re writing a book?”
She had never known John Black wrote. In fact she didn’t know much about him, only what she had heard through some of his father’s interviews. She knew he was an excellent surfer and played a little bit of baseball and basketball, but she had never known he had loved to write. Just like her.
John laughed, shaking his head. “No. I mean I write but I haven’t written a book. Jeff is my father’s best friend. I just came to have lunch with him.”
Marlena sat back in her chair surprised. It felt like fate to her. She had taken a job with a man who happened to be best friends with Brady Black. She liked to pretend that everything happened for a reason but she truly believed that now. She took a deep breath and almost had to laugh when Brady Black came back onto the television screen. The resemblance was quite similar. John looked up and couldn’t help but smile himself.
“So you like the show?” He asked, casually.
Marlena nodded. “Sure, why not. I watched it a lot when I was younger, but when I got to college it was a little harder.”
“Where do you go to school? Pepperdine?”
“No, my family just moved here, but I’m from–“
“John?”
Both John and Marlena turned around to find Jeff Dowling standing there, a twinkle in his eyes. John ignored the look and stood, walking towards Jeff.
“It’s about time, man.” He turned to Marlena, grinning. “Jeff is a wonder with his clients but when it comes to personal friends he really has no concept with time.”
Jeff rolled his eyes, looking down at his watch. “I’m not that late.” He turned towards Marlena. “You know, I have no more clients for the day, if you want you can head on home.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Come on John, I’m starving.”
John turned towards Marlena, smiling. “It was really nice meeting you–“
“Marlena.”
“Marlena.” He extended his hand and she took it. They shook hands and she took a step back, feeling something she didn?t even want to believe was a spark. She bit down on her lower lip and smiled.
“Bye John.”
“Bye.”
**
“So Jeff,” John said, spooning a mouthful of potato salad into his mouth, “what can you tell me about Marlena?”
Jeff grinned. “I knew you liked her.”
John rolled his eyes, like Jeff had to him only an hour ago. “I don’t like her. I don’t even know her. I just want to know what her deal is.”
“No idea. She just started last week. All I really know is that she just moved to Malibu with her family from somewhere.”
“Malibu!” John exclaimed. “That’s where I saw her. We were at my grandmother’s and she was out on the beach.”
“John and Marlena sitting in a tree k-I-s-s-I-n-g–”
John threw a fry at Jeff. “Shut up. It’s a wonder my father is friends with you.”
“I know. I’m so much cooler than him.”
“Yeah right. Do you find magical diamonds on islands?”
Jeff laughed. He looked up at John, curiously. “Do you want her number?”
“I don?t know if I’m ready for a relationship right now.”
“Who ever said anything about a relationship? Just call her and see if she wants to get a cup of coffee or something. Contrary to popular belief John, men and women can be just friends.”
John held a fry in his hand, swirling it around in his ketchup. “The thing is, if I called her, I don’t think I could just be friends with her…”
Marlena sat outside after dinner, leafing through one of her textbooks. Although she had been out of school for a couple of months, she had decided to take a couple of summer classes so she could hopefully graduate in December. Although she loved Salem University and the friends she had made in her three years there thus far, she was ready for her life to begin. She had always been an early bloomer; the first one to walk, the one who spoke first and the one who had ventured out at fifteen to find a job the day she legally could. She loved being responsible as strange as that may have sounded to some and she took pride in knowing that while she allowed herself fun, she concentrated in her studies as well.
The back door opened and Marlena turned around to find Samantha holding the phone out to her.
“Ash, phone for you.”
Marlena shot her a glare and took the phone. “Stop calling me that.” Samantha just smiled and walked back inside while Marlena lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
“Ash? I’m intrigued. I know that’s not your name.”
“Who is this?”
“Tell me about the nickname and then I’ll tell you who this is.”
For some reason Marlena felt herself give in. The voice on the other line sounded familiar but she couldn?t quite place it. On instinct, she decided to tell him the story of her childhood before finding out who her mystery caller was.
“I’m a twin. I grew up with the Olsen sisters on television. No one could tell my sister and me apart so people started to call us Mary Kate and Ashley. It’s an annoying nickname that sometimes my sister still likes to taunt me with. Now who is this?”
“It’s John. From the office.”
Marlena stopped all movement and sat up straighter. She tried to open her mouth to speak, but no words would come out. This was actually happening and now that it was she was completely lost.
“Hello?”
“I’m, I’m sorry,” Marlena stammered, “I, I just swallowed something and it went down the wrong pipe.” Marlena smacked her forehead at her pathetic excuse. She took a deep breath. “Hi John.”
“I hope you don’t mind that Jeff gave me your number.”
“Of course not. How are you?”
“I’m good. Look, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to grab a cup of coffee or something. I could come out to Malibu if you want.”
Marlena raised her eyebrow in confusion. “How did you know I lived in Malibu?”
“Jeff mentioned it.” John stopped for a moment, debating whether or not to finish his sentence. He took a gulp of the beer that was sitting in front of him and swallowed. “I also happened to see you on the beach the other day. My grandmother lives on Malibu Colony Road.”
“Really?” Marlena asked, surprised. “So do I. Um, coffee sounds good. Did you want to do this tonight?”
“If you’re not busy. I live about an hour away so how about we meet at Starbucks on PCH in about an hour and a half?”
“What if I was busy?” Marlena questioned.
“Are you?”
Marlena couldn’t help but smile. “No, actually. I’m not.”
“Okay, then I’ll see you soon.”
When she heard the other end of the line go silent, Marlena hung up the phone biting down on her lower lip. She broke out into a smile, laying her head back against the headrest of her chair.
“Holy shit!” She squealed.
——————————————–
After telling Samantha that she was running to the library to do some research, Marlena drove along the Pacific Coast Highway blasting music from inside of her car. She knew Sam would ask too many questions about her impromptu date and she wasn’t ready to talk about it. It was hard enough for Marlena to believe this was actually happening and if she didn’t speak of it, she wouldn’t be jinxing herself. She would tell Sam; when the time was right.
Marlena pulled into the parking lot of Starbucks and scanned the parking lot, although she realized she didn’t know what kind of car John drove. She checked herself out in the mirror and shut off her car. The cool breezes from the Malibu waters wafted past her as she walked into the caf? It took her a moment but she spotted John in the far corner of the room. She walked to the counter first and ordered a drink before walking towards where he was sitting.
“Hi,” she said, standing in front of his table. Damn, he looked good.
“Hi.” He smiled and pulled out her chair for her. “Thanks for meeting me here. I didn’t know whether you liked Coffee Bean or Starbucks better but I figure if you’re from the East, you only know Starbucks.”
“I’m from the Midwest actually. But you’re right. There still are no Coffee Beans and I am a huge fan of Starbucks.”
“Venti white chocolate mocha!”
Marlena looked towards the counter and stood holding her finger up to John. “One sec, let me just get my drink.”
John watched Marlena walk off, trying to figure out what seemed so familiar to him. Sure, he had seen her on the beach that one morning and the encounter at Jeff’s office but there was something else. Something he had known all his life. Before he could think about it anymore, Marlena sat back down.
“So Marlena, you’re still in college?”
“Yup,” she answered, taking a sip of her coffee, “one more year. You?”
“No, I graduated two years ago. I’ve been kind of a bum since. I’m just not totally sure what I want to do with my life. What about you? What are you majoring in?”
“Psychology. I have a minor in English Lit, but I think I want to go to grad school for writing. Sometimes I’m not so sure if I want to be a shrink, it’s just kind of what’s expected of me.”
“Are your parents rough on you?” He asked intently.
“Not especially. They just think that between my sister and myself, I’m the one who’s actually going to become something. My sister is lazy so to speak.”
John laughed. “I know the feeling. I think my parents think my younger sister will become the doctor or the lawyer. I think my dad almost expects me to follow after him and become an actor.”
Marlena took a sip of her drink, wondering if she should mention that she knew just who his father was. But before she could say a word, John did it for her.
“He’s on that soap you were watching the other day, actually.”
“I know,” Marlena grinned, sheepishly. “I knew who you were when you walked into the office that morning. I would have mentioned it, I just didn?t really want you to think that I was some crazy fan.”
John laughed. “So you knew me, did you?”
“I guess I did.”
“I remember you saying you used to be a huge fan…”
Marlena blushed. “I used to be. I started to watch it before I went into High School. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Unlike other soap operas, this one was more inventive and a lot more fun. I guess the busier I got, the less I was able to watch it. I used to be a really big fan though. I actually wrote fan fiction about it.”
“What the hell is that?”
“I can’t believe I am even explaining this to you,” Marlena smiled, “it’s really embarrassing.”
“Well you’re cute when you get embarrassed.” His statement caused Marlena to blush a little more and he touched her lightly on the arm. “See. Now come on, tell me.”
“Okay, it’s stories based on the show. The characters get put into different situations and you take them in any direction you want them to go in. I haven’t written one in forever though.”
“Can I read it?”
Marlena nearly choked on the coffee in her mouth. She cleared her throat, her eyes wide. “You’re kidding right?”
“Was it about my dad?”
“Yeah. It’s mostly Scott and Marissa stuff.”
“So let me see it.”
“You must think I’m criminally insane, why would you want to read it?” Marlena’s eyes narrowed.
“Because I’m curious! I’ve never heard of it before. Come on, we can go back to your house and I can read it.”
“Are you inviting yourself into my home?” Marlena’s eyes twinkled.
“I’m asking,” John grinned, “to see your fan fiction.”
Marlena thought about it for a moment and glanced down at her watch. “Fine. If I can find any of it. Besides, after you read it, you probably won’t ask me out for coffee again so I might as well take advantage of your time now.”
John stood up, picking up his keys. “You lead the way.”
Marlena started out the door, wondering what the hell she had just gotten herself into.
John pulled into Marlena’s driveway seconds after her and couldn’t help but be in awe of her home. He had seen big houses before, in fact he had lived in one for all of his life, but this particular beach house amazed him for some reason. It told him a lot about her in his opinion. She didn’t seem like she came from money, far from it actually, and he liked that about her. It was what he had always hated about the girls in Laguna Beach and most of the surrounding areas in Los Angeles. All they cared about was clothes, cars, and expensive restaurants.
Turning off his ignition, John stepped out of his car, inhaling the ocean air. Although he himself lived on the beach, the smell never got old and he couldn’t help but smile. He walked towards Marlena’s car where she herself had just gotten out, putting his keys into his back pocket.
“You have a gorgeous house.”
She blushed a little. “Thanks.” She scanned the open garage and the street, shrugging her shoulders. “I guess no one’s home. My sister must have gone out.”
“So you’re a twin?”
“Yeah,” Marlena replied, walking towards the front door. “She’s a little insane sometimes but I’d die without her.”
“I feel the way about my sister. She’s a little younger than I am, but she’s awesome. I’d never let her know that though,” John winked.
Marlena opened the front door to the house, holding it open for John. She stepped in behind him, taking the lead as she walked up the stairs to her bedroom. It suddenly hit her on the walk upstairs that John Black was inside of her home, about to step foot into her room. She had dreamed of a first meeting so many times that in her mind she almost had to believe this was just one of those fantasies. But as she heard his breathing behind her, she knew it was anything but.
Walking into her room, she turned on the light, turning around to face John.
“I think some of my stuff is on the internet somewhere. Now are you sure you want to see this? It’s really not good at all.”
“Would you stop. I’m sure it’s fine and besides I’ve never read one of these things before, I’m interested.”
“If you say so.”
Marlena sat down in her computer chair, opening up her internet explorer. When entering into the Google website, she typed in her name and John laughed.
“That’s awesome your name comes up when you Google yourself. I mean mine does, but only because of my father. He tends to babble about his family sometimes in interviews.”
“It’s cute. Shows he’s a family man.”
She searched through some listings and finally found the right one, clicking on the link. “Here it is,” she replied standing so John could sit. “I wrote this about two years ago. I’ve gotten a lot better since then, but it’s probably one of the best pieces I’ve written. I guess there’s just a lot of emotion in it.”
“Stop stalling,” John teased, “and let me read.”
——————————-
Moments later, John looked up at Marlena, tender emotion in his eyes. Marlena, who was immersed in the newest issue of US Weekly didn’t realize he was done until she felt his hand on her knee. She looked up at him and smiled, almost nervously.
“Uh oh, the verdict is in.”
“You want my honest opinion?”
“I’d expect nothing less.”
“I think it was probably the most beautiful thing I have ever read. You were right when you said it was emotional, but it was more than that. The truth is, the character my father plays is very similar to who he is so it wasn’t Scott’s anguish in that story, it was my father’s. It was my mother who he had lost and not Marissa. You just paint the most beautiful picture and you should know how extremely talented you are.”
“Thank you,” Marlena replied, sincerely, “that means a lot coming from you.”
“In fact, I want my father to read it.”
Marlena looked at him, her eyes wide. “What?”
“If it hit me this way, it’s really going to affect him. Would you mind? I know this is probably personal and I know you’re a little embarrassed about it, but Marlena, it’s seriously poetic and beautiful.”
“I don’t know, John, it’s a little strange.”
“I know, but come on. I promise you, he’ll love it.” John pouted, eliciting a laugh from Marlena.
“Fine. You can show it to him.”
“You’re coming with me.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now. I know it’s late but my parents were out tonight anyway. By the time we get to Laguna Beach they’ll be home. We’ll take my car, I’ll just drive you back when we’re done.”
Although not giving in completely, Marlena sighed. “Wouldn’t it make sense to just take separate cars?”
“Yeah, but I hate traveling far in different cars. People always get separated and it’s annoying. I really don’t mind.”
Marlena thought about it for a moment, wanting desperately to say no. But she couldn’t, not after all the time she had spent praying and hoping this very moment would happen. Grabbing her purse off the table, she started out of her room, John following on her heels.
“Fine. But would you mind listening to my music in the car?”
John smiled. “Whatever you want.”
——————————
Getting comfortable in the passenger seat of John’s Jaguar convertible, Marlena slipped her CD in its slot. She didn’t know why she had requested her own music in his car, maybe because this particular artist could soothe her in times of nervousness; and now was definitely one of those times.
As Richie Sambora began to play on the sound system, John turned to her surprised. “Sambora. I’m impressed.”
“You know of him?”
John smirked. While Marlena Evans might have known some things about him, there seemed to be things she didn’t, like the fact that he had lived next to the guitarist for several years. Still wanting some surprises, John just nodded.
“Sure. My next-door neighbor plays Bon Jovi a lot and it always travels to our yard. They play his solo stuff sometimes too, I’ve gotten quite used to it.”
“That’s awesome. I love Bon Jovi but his solo stuff just moves me. He’s really talented. Speaking of, what kind of music do you listen to?”
“A bunch of things. Classic rock, rock, a little rap, whatever I’m in the mood for really. How about you? Aside from Bon Jovi and Richie of course.”
“Classic rock mostly, however it just depends. Sometimes I have these moments where I just want to listen to Sarah McLachlan for a few hours and just drown my sorrows or whatever I’m feeling into my writing. I did that a few months ago when my boyfriend and I broke up and I have to admit it really did help.”
“Must have been depressing if you were listening to that.”
“It was,” Marlena shrugged, “but what can you do.”
“I think during my breakups I tend to listen to rap. It’s a little more angry.”
“And that’s good?” Marlena laughed.
“Well it’s not bad.” John thought about it for a moment, realizing he didn’t know anything about the beautiful blonde next to him. He knew her music taste and the fact that she was an excellent writer, but there were other basic details he was interested in knowing. “So favorite TV show? Aside from my father’s of course.”
“That’s not even my favorite show! But okay, let’s see…I am definitely an OC girl. I have the biggest crush ever on Peter Gallagher. I like Will and Grace although it has kinda sucked these past couple seasons, but my all time favorite would be Nip/Tuck. I think it’s amazing. You?”
“Love Nip/Tuck. My dad is friends with the guy who plays Sean so it’s a big thing in our house. Every Tuesday night we all must be home to watch it. I like The Simpsons a lot. I don’t watch much TV though. Movies?”
“I have about fifty favorite movies, but all time would have to be The Graduate. Obsessed with it. I watch it like three times a week.”
“Wow, that’s a little crazy,” John teased.
“Shut up. I’m sure you have some big macho movie, huh?”
“If E.T. is macho.”
Marlena laughed. “You’re joking. That demon scares the crap out of me.”
“Are you serious? I’m going to make you watch it sometime.”
And in those promising words, John pulled up to his house. Unable to stop the jitters she felt inside, Marlena took a deep breath hoping that Brady Black wouldn’t remember her, at least not yet.
He had never really understood the concept of love at first sight. His father, the eternal romantic, claimed that once he had first laid eyes on his wife, he knew she was the one. To him, it was unrealisitic. He didn’t believe it was possible to love somebody you had never met simply because of their physical appearance. Sure, he had judged girls by their looks, dated according to body, but he had never truly been in love. He had thought so, yes, but in his heart he knew it wasn’t the case. Lust and love were two very different things. But with her … with her it was different. He didn’t love her. He barely knew her. But he knew there was something about her that was special. Something he had known all his life without ever realizing it.
He watched her now, standing in the foyer of his home, and couldn’t help but pick up on how beautiful she was. Her golden hair hung a little past her shoulders, wild from the wind, but soft with life. She looked lost in thought and he quietly walked up beside her, wrapping his arm around her waist. She jumped slightly underneath his touch and he leaned in, his lips hot against her ear.
“Nervous to meet my father?”
She turned around, slapping him on the wrist. “Oh shut up.” She laughed. “I’m nervous that he’s going to read this story, however, and think I am criminally insane. Why am I even here?”
John smiled. “Because I wanted him to read it. He’s really not scary.”
Marlena of course knew this. But tonight she wanted to keep her meetings with Brady Black a secret. Tonight she wanted to be a new friend, a new prospect. Not a fan.
“I didn’t really think he’d be scary. I’m just not really into sharing my writing. But whatever, I’ll make the best of it,” she teased. “Where is he anyway?”
At that moment, both John and Marlena heard feet on the long winding staircase. She sent a small prayer up to God hoping beyond hope that Brady Black would not remember her. A second or two later, she was face to face with Brady, clad only in a pair of pajama pants. He blushed when he realized that his son was not alone.
“I’m sorry! If I had known you had company John, I would have actually been dressed.”
“She’s seen you without your shirt on. She watches the show. Dad, this is Marlena. Marlena, this is my father, Brady.”
Brady extended his hand towards Marlena and she shook it. He took this young woman in and knew there was something familiar about her.
“Have we met?”
“No,” Marlena covered, “we haven’t. But it’s really nice to meet you.”
“You too. What are you two up too?”
“We actually came from Malibu. Is Court home? I need to borrow her computer to show you something.”
“No, she’s out. With Brad,” Brady replied through gritted teeth.
“Brad is Courtney’s boyfriend,” John explained. “Dad hates that she has a boyfriend. He still likes to believe she’s six.”
“I do not. I just don’t think she should date until she’s forty.” Marlena laughed. “So what do you have to show me on Courtney’s computer?”
“Marlena here writes fan fiction.”
“Cool.” Brady smiled. “Okay, what the hell is that?”
Marlena swiped her hand across her forehead, groaning softly. “It’s stories written about the show by the fans. I wrote a story a few years ago about your character and showed it to John. He drove me here so we could show it to you.”
“Sweetheart, what are you doing down there?”
Without any of them hearing the approaching footsteps, they all looked behind Brady to find John’s mother, Caitlyn behind him. Clad only in a man’s shirt, John groaned and Caitlyn quickly stood behind her husband, blushing.
“Okay, I was not expecting company.”
Never having seen Caitlyn Black in person, Marlena couldn’t help but be in awe. She had seen pictures of her, but the camera did nothing for her. Her red hair was straightened to perfection and her cheeks burned with a rosey gloss, no doubt from the tryst she had just shared with her husband. She was the epitome of beauty and Marlena felt a bit of nervousness around her.
Breaking from her thoughts, Marlena held out her hand to Caitlyn. “I guess not,” Marlena smiled. “I’m Marlena.”
“Caitlyn,” she replied, taking her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Again I apologize for my outfit. You should have at least warned me.” She hit Brady on the arm, much like Marlena had done to John earlier.
“I actually think it’s kind of funny that you walked down here in a man’s shirt while our son has a date here.”
Marlena looked to John and quickly bit her lip. This wasn’t a date. Was it? “Well actually, we’re not–“
“We’re not going to be here for long,” John finished. “I just have to show Dad something quickly.”
“Sure. Let me run upstairs and change and then I’ll heat up some food if you’d like.”
Caitlyn jogged up the stairs and John smiled at his father. “Sorry. If I had known …” John trailed off. “You should have called and told me to stay out for a while longer. So dinner went well?”
Brady shrugged, sitting down on the staircase. “Yeah. Dylan and I got into an argument on who knew more about plastic surgery.” Brady turned to Marlena. “My best friend is on Nip/Tuck and since I play a plastic surgeon on TV as well, we tend to get into arguments.”
“May I give my opinion?” Marlena asked. “On who knows more, I mean.”
“Of course.”
With gleaming eyes, Marlena smiled. “I’d have to go with Dylan. I mean you watch Nip/Tuck right? Sanibel Island doesn’t do nearly as much with surgeries as that show does. I think the last time you did surgery on the show, you replaced a woman’s breast with her husband’s ass tissue or something, didn’t you?”
Brady looked to John, impressed with his new friend. “You have spunk. I like that.”
Before Marlena could respond, Caitlyn walked back down the stairs, this time in a pair of sweatpants and a tank top.
“I’m starving, I’m going to heat up dinner, you guys want anything?” Brady and John both shook their head. “How about you, Marlena?”
“I could use a glass of water or something, if you wouldn’t mind.”
“Of course not.”
Caitlyn walked into the kitchen and John turned towards Marlena. “You ready?”
Marlena scowled. “How about you show your dad and I’ll go get my water. Just google me and you’ll find the story.”
“Ha, I’ve totally done that to myself,” Brady mused.
Marlena laughed. “It’s great, isn’t it? Enjoy the story. Be gentle with critisism.”
And with that she walked into the kitchen, feeling as if she’d been at home all along.
**
“So, Marlena,” Caitlyn said, sitting down at the table beside Marlena, “how did you and John meet?”
“At work. Jeff Dowling is my boss.”
Caitlyn looked at her surprised. “Really? I had no idea. Jeff is a good friend of ours. He was actually my high school sweetheart.”
“And Brady is such good friends with him?”
“Oh honey, don’t you watch The OC? It’s hip to be friends with your spouses ex. Welcome to California, where everyone is a little too related. Are you from here?”
Marlena laughed. “No. I just moved here with my parents and sister. I’m originally from a small town in the mid west. I’m starting to really like it out here though.”
In those words, Caitlyn heard her hidden meaning. She had known all of John’s girlfriends in the past and had liked the majority of them, but with Marlena she knew things were different. With Marlena, she could see the looks John would give her, the same looks Brady gave her when they had first met. The looks he still gave her. She knew she’d be seeing a lot more of Marlena and she wasn’t the least bit upset by that notion.
**
“So,” Brady said, as John sat at the computer, “she’s nice.”
“Yes, she is.”
“And?”
“And what?” John asked.
Brady looked at his son, a smile lingering on his lips. “You like her.”
“I do.”
Brady turned John’s chair towards him, so they were face to face. “So what aren’t you telling me?”
John sighed. He sometimes hated the fact that his father knew him as well as he did. “I know she’s the real deal. I know that I could find myself seriously involved with her and maybe that’s what scares me. I barely know her, Dad. I spent one night with her and I find myself …” He paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. “I find myself not wanting the evening to end. I’m not ready to fall in love. I’m not ready to go through pain when all relationships end that way.”
“Not all,” Brady said, softly. “Not the ones that last.”
With those words. John sat back in his chair as his father began to read Marlena’s story. And as John began to read her words for the second time that night, he couldn’t help but want her. He also couldn’t help but want to run.
The Jarlena Journal 