You guys earned it :* ♥

-Chapter Fifty-

          “Jake, where are we going?” I sighed and continued trudging through the knee-high length grass. We were walking on this long path that led to wherever Jake was taking me. The drive here had taken about an hour and thirty minutes. All I wanted to do was get there already. I wasn’t sure how long or how far we had been walking, but, I knew that I was beginning to get tired, and that my feet were starting to hurt.

          “You’ll see.”

          “How much longer?”

          “About ten minutes, give or take. We’re almost there,” he said, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Promise.”

          “But my feet hurt.” I know that I sounded like a cry baby, but I honestly didn’t care right now. I think it was about two thirty in the morning now.

          He stopped walking and handed me the bag that he had strapped on over his shoulders. “Get on my back. But you have to carry this on your back.”

          I didn’t even give it a second thought. After strapping the bag over my shoulders, I hopped on his back, wrapped my legs around his waist, and put my arms around his neck. I gave him a kiss on the cheek then let my chin rest at the crook of his neck. “I’m glad I have you. Even if you come up with crazy ideas. Including this one.”

          His arms held onto my legs firmly. “I’m glad I have you, too. More than you know it. Plus, you won’t regret this once it happens.”

          “Once what happens?”

          “It’s a surprise.”

          I groaned. “But I hate surprises.”

          “I know.” I saw him smile in the radiant light that the moon provided. I glared at him but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corners of my lips.

          God, I loved his smile. It was perfect. He was perfect. Every single thing about him. This was the boy I was in love with. Jake Carter was mine. He was the Californian surfer that I met accidentally. I remember the first time we ever talked like it was yesterday. And now I realized that that day was one of the best things that had happened to me in a long while. He was one of the nicest guys I knew. He was so sweet and thoughtful. He could light up my whole day with just one smile. And he was mine. No wonder I was in love with him.

          The grass cleared out into a slightly narrow, sandy pathway that was illuminated with lights. “We’re here,” he told me, suddenly coming to a stop at the end of the path. The path had opened up into a clearing, and the lights went all the way around its circular shape.

          “Is that an air mattress?” I asked, my mouth slightly agape. He only nodded. I slid down from his back and placed the back pack onto the blanket-covered, mini mattress. “Where are we?” The air smelled… salty.

           “At the beach. It’s a different one, though.”

          That’s when I heard the ocean lapping against the sand at a peaceful pace. We weren’t far away from the water at all. We were on this cliff-like thing, that wasn’t very far high up off the ground. It was about five feet up, and overlooked the harmonious water. “How did you find this place?”

          “Lily introduced me to it a few years ago. We used to come to in order to watch the sun set or watch it rise,” he said. “We would come out here really early in the morning sometimes, just to watch the sun come up. We’d bring snacks, our laptops, and anything else, and would just camp out here.”

          “That’s cool. Is that why you brought be here?” He nodded, setting everything up.

          “I brought some movies, too.” He pulled his laptop and few DVD cases out of his bag. I scanned them. The Hangover and The Hangover Part II. “Ever seen them?”

          “Yes. Both of them, actually. Twice. But why not make it a third time?”

          He smiled. “Alright.” 

          “Alex, wake up.” I stirred in my sleep, smacking the hand that had been prodding at my face for the past two minutes or so. “The sun’s rising.”

          My eyes opened slowly. They had to adjust to the bright scenery. “Where the he—” Then I remembered where Jake and I had sneaked out to at one in the morning. “Oh.” I sat up to get a better view. The waves licked the shore at a steady pace in the distance straight ahead of where we were. I was actually able to see the water now that it was light outside.

          I remembered everything that happened last night. Jake and I watched the movies that he brought, and man, I really needed those good laughs that I was able to get out of those two films. We snacked on fruit snacks throughout the movies. After the movies were over, we stayed up just talking, while watching the beautiful navy blue sky overhead that was filled with bright stars. We were even able to make out a few constellations.

          I would’ve been scared to stay outside—nowhere near my house, might I add—that late, but I had Jake with me. It was all a crazy idea, but it was worth it, especially after seeing the sunrise.

          The sun rose right above the water, creating a beautiful mirror effect as the sky was painted with various shades of blue, pink and yellow. It had to be at least six in the morning. I only got about two hours of sleep, possibly less, but I would be able to make up for that later. It didn’t really bother me that much.

          “Was the walk here worth it, now?” Jake questioned from beside me, slinging an arm over my shoulder. I nodded as I gazed at the sky in awe. I’ve never actually seen the sun rise. Well, at least not with a view like this. The view was amazing.

          “Definitely. It’s gorgeous.”

          “Not as gorgeous as you.”

          “Oh my God, you’re so corny.” I rolled my eyes as a smile came onto my face.

          “You totally set that up,” he stated, laughing. “I was just following along.”

          “Whatever.” I joined him, giggling. After out mini fit of laughter, I looked out at the sunset. It really was beautiful. “Thanks, Jake. For this.”

          “No problem.” He gently held my chin with his pointer finger and his thumb, and tilted my head so that I was looking at him. He kissed me lightly on the lips. The warm, fuzzy feeling came pooling back into the pit of my stomach, and my cheeks heated up. “Anything for you.” 

           The butterflies that were having babies in my stomach reminded me of the question that had been stuck in my mind for the past two days. “Hey, Jake?”

          “Yes, Alex?” he said, almost mockingly.

          “The other night… when you spent the night with me…”

          “Yeah?”

          “You mumbled something, and then I think you kissed my forehead. I-I don’t know what you said, but I remember you saying something. I couldn’t quite catch it because I was practically asleep.”

          It looked like his eyes seemed to widen a fraction at the new subject. He recovered quickly. “And you want to know what I said?” I bowed my head yes. He broke eye contact and focused ahead of him. “Uh, nothing important.” If I was correct, I saw a faint blush brush over his cheeks. “I can’t remember, really. I think I said sweet dreams.”

          “Oh,” I said, my voice laced with the slightest bit of disappointment. I tried not to show it too much, though. Danielle got that damned thought glued in my head. I had my hopes up too high in the sky. “Okay.”

          “Why?” he questioned, his eyebrows knitting together.

         “Nothing. It’s just that I was wondering,” I lied. I hummed and looked back to the sun rise, pulling my knees up to my chest. “We should probably get going, soon, you know? I don’t want my parents freaking out.”

          “Right. Your dad would probably kill me if he found out that I took you out,” Jake stated, standing up. He offered me his hand.

          I took it in my own—note the tingles that shot up my arm, and he hauled me up. I said with a chuckle, “He doesn’t hate you, for the last time, Jake.”

          “That’s what you think.”

          We made the twenty-five minute walk back to the car. My mind raced as we went back to Vicky’s house.

          He didn’t say that he loved me. He said sweet dreams. Nothing more than a simple, meaningless sweet dreams. I shouldn’t have let Danielle’s words get to me as much as they did. He didn’t love me.

          Just because he didn’t say it, doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you, I told myself. Just because he may not love me, didn’t make me love him any less.

           I looked rested my forehead on the window. The sun was up in the sky now, shining bright over Huntington Beach.

          We pulled into the drive fifteen minutes later. It was almost seven AM now. “Did you have a good time?” Jake asked. I nodded, forcing a smile. I think he noticed because the smile that he had on his face faltered just the tiniest bit and his brows came together in concern. “What’s wrong?”

          I bit my lip. “Nothing,” I brushed it off easily. I was really getting better at this lying thing. I think. “I’m just tired. We hardly got any sleep.”

          “Okay, you’re lying.”

          “No I’m not.”

          “Alex,” he said in a warning voice.

          “Jake,” I mocked him. “Nothing’s wrong. I promise. I’m just tired.”

          I think he knew I was lying because he looked a tad bit hurt. “Fine. You go and get some sleep, then. I’ll see you later.”

          “Bye.” I leaned in across the armrest that separated us and gave his a kiss. I pulled back, but we were still a few inches away from each other. There was this different emotion flashing through his eyes.

          “Bye, Alex.”

          I pulled away from him, unbuckled my seatbelt, and opened the car door. I sent him a small wave with an encouraging smile as I closed the passenger side door. He smiled back at me. He knew something was off. He undeniably knew something was off. I sighed and went through the side door that led into the kitchen. I heard his car leave.

          Right after his departure, I went down into my room, crawled into bed, and almost instantaneously fell asleep with a billion and one thoughts running through my poor little mind.

* * *

Jake’s POV

          “What is wrong with you?” Audrey yelled at me. “You are such an idiot, Jake, I swear. That would’ve been the perfect time. Idiot.”

          “I know! I just couldn’t. What if she didn’t say it back?” I sat back in my beanbag chair, and Audrey continued to pace my bedroom in front of me.

          “You’re an idiot. You, Jake Carter, are truly an idiot. Of course she would say it back!”

          It had been the perfect time to say it, she was right. I can’t believe I let that perfect chance just slip. Just like that.

          Audrey is so right, I’m an idiot.

          “Well,” I started. “Now, I need another plan to say it to her.”

          “Obviously. Because you screwed up our last one. And you had the nerve to wake me up at one in the freaking morning!”

          “Sorry, I just got scared.” I looked down. It was a lot harder than it seemed, for me to say something that big to Alex. Especially after we just got back together. Actually, I’m not even sure if that made a difference or not.

          “Scared? What’s there to be scared about?”

          “Uh, I don’t know,” I said sarcastically. “Rejection? Anything could happen.”

          “Don’t think about what could happen. Think about positive things. Like if you told her and she was just so happy that she planted a big, fat, wet kiss on you?”

          I gave her a weird look. “Ew.”

          Audrey laughed and plopped down on my bed. She pulled out her phone and typed something. “You have to tell her eventually. And before she leaves!”

          I didn’t think about that. A million thoughts ran through my mind. She’s leaving. Soon. No, Alex cannot leave. Especially not now. Not after we got back together.

          I looked at my phone and read the date. She has two weeks until she goes back to Florida. Two freaking weeks. Are you serious?  I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.

          “She leaves in two weeks.”

          “That soon?” I nodded. “Well, you said that her birthday is coming up soon, right?”

          “Yeah… why?”

          “When is it?”

          “August tenth.”

          “So we have a week to plan this.” She said and sat up. I could tell she was thinking by the way her eyebrows pulled together, and how she focused on her hands.

          “You’re going to help me again?”

          “Yes, and you better be thankful, because you wouldn’t be able to come up with anything brilliant by yourself.”

          “Ouch.” I jokingly placed a hand over my heart. “What are you even thinking?”

           “Shh, I’m thinking.” She waved me off then eventually said, “Call her.”

          “Why?”

          “Just call her. I have an idea.”

Author’s Note: So? What do you think she has up her sleeves this time? ;D I don’t even know yet. This will be a surprise for the both of us. Haha. Oh well. The goal for this one is. 230 comments and 300 votes. First person to comment gets a dedication!

        ~Storylover11~