Told you guys I would get it done soon! =) This chapter has been my favorite so far to write. Kinda made me teary writing the ending scene here.  By the way, I've had this song in my head all day, so I had to incorporate it. lol Hope you enjoy! =)

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"Oh my gosh, that was so much fun!" Marisa exclaimed, holding onto Rupert's arm tightly.

"Definitely got to do this again sometime," Rupert agreed.

Tom rolled his eyes. They were already so smitten it was ridiculous. Though he supposed it wasn't a bad thing Rupert and Marisa were getting along. It was just a shame that Matt was missing out on it. One of these days he was going to make sure Matt got someone, though for now he assumed Valarie would suffice.

When Adrianna's friends jumped out of the truck, he held her where she was. The girl looked up at him, confused for a moment. "I... err... had a surprise for you," Tom explained rather nervously for once. "I'll bring you home when it's over."

The girl gave him a look he had never seen on her before. He couldn't tell if she was scared or just unsure, but either way it was a look he really didn't like. "I'll be home in a bit guys," she called out to Valarie and Marisa. The two girls looked back at her and waved before heading into the apartment complex.

Matt joined Rupert in the front seat, leaving Tom and Adrianna in the back alone. "So am I dropping you two off at your place Tom?" Rupert asked.

"Yea, that's fine," Tom answered, looking over at Adrianna who was preoccupied with dumping sand out of her tennis shoes.

"Works for me," Rupert said. The ginger started driving before he continued talking. "So Adrianna, what do you think the chances are of me getting with Marisa?"

Tom looked at Adrianna, curious to know what the girl was going to say to that. "Well... honestly pretty high," she said quietly. "She always has kind of liked you."

"Yes!" Rupert celebrated with a fist pump, causing the vehicle to swerve slightly.

"Why don't you focus more on driving than on this girl?" Matt suggested, thankful he had on a seatbelt.

Everyone but Matt laughed. Although Tom had to agree with him, he did find it quite hilarious that Rupert had let this girl go to his head already. Not that he really had much room to talk, especially with what he had planned. He was just hoping that Adrianna liked it...

Only moments later, they pulled into a driveway. Home at last, he thought to himself. Once Rupert stopped the truck, Tom helped Adrianna out of the vehicle. The girl stood in the driveway silently, gazing up at the house before her. Tom briefly wondered if his house was really all that great.

Before Rupert pulled out of the driveway, he called out to Tom, "Good luck!"

Tom shook his head, though he smiled. Once his friends were gone he turned to Adrianna and said, "So... this is my house."

The girl was still looking at the building in front of her in awe. "It's so pretty!" she finally answered.

"I'm glad you like it," Tom said. "Do you want to go in?"

"Of course I do," Adrianna replied, a huge smile forming on her face.

"Let's go then," Tom suggested, taking her hand in his. "Warning: Timber might jump on you. She gets kind of excited when new people come over."

Adrianna smiled. "I don't mind. I love dogs! I'm sure Timber will be no different."

Tom returned the smile as he unlocked the door. "I sure hope so! The ladies in my life have to get along."

As soon as the door opened, they were greeted by a big brown dog. She immediately jumped on Tom, wanting attention. That was, at least until she spotted Adrianna. Timber turned and jumped on Adrianna, nearly knocking the petite brunette off the porch. The girl immediately pet the dog, already infatuated with her.

"Awwww! She's so cute!" Adrianna said, a huge smile on her face.

"Glad you like her," Tom replied, gently pulling his dog off of her. He led the dog into the house before gesturing for Adrianna to follow him inside, shutting the door behind them.

Only a few steps into the house, Tom began to feel his heart race. He was getting increasingly nervous as they approached the back of the house. As Adrianna slipped her hand into his, he realized just how nervous he was. His palms were sweating, something that hadn't happened to him on a regular basis; he just hoped she hadn't noticed. When they arrived at the sliding glass doors leading to the patio, Tom turned, blocking Adrianna's view of the outside.

"You've got to close your eyes," Tom said in almost a whisper.

"Whyyyyy?" the small girl protested.

"I told you I had a surprise for you," Tom reminded, sensing a slight tremble in his voice. Normally he wasn't this uneasy, this nervous, but right now he couldn't help it.

"Okay... fine," Adrianna giggled, closing her eyes.

Tom took a deep breath as he opened the sliding glass door. He immediately noticed everything had been set up like he had requested. Thank goodness for friends, he thought. The two approached a table sitting under a gazebo and Tom gently sat her down in a chair before he took his seat across from her. "You can open your eyes now," he assured her.

The girl opened her eyes, blinking a few times to make sure she was in fact seeing clearly. Tom watched her carefully as she gazed around the gazebo. It had been lit up perfectly with the use of dozens of tiny tea light candles, and a bouquet of flowers had made the perfect centerpiece for the table. Music played quietly in the background, setting the mood. Everything was just perfect.

Adrianna finally looked back at him. "Wow... Tom this is beautiful," she sighed. "How did you manage to set this up?"

Tom smiled slightly. "I'm glad you like it. I had a bit of help from Emma; she sat it up while we were all at the beach."

"She did a great job," Adrianna admitted. "But... why?"

And this is when Tom felt the nervousness surge over him. "Well... I've been thinking about some things recently..."

"...if only you saw what I can see, you'll understand why I want you so desperately..."

That song couldn't be more right, he thought. Tom took a deep breath before he continued. "Adrianna... the past few days with you have admittedly been the best days I've had in a long time. And I've found myself thinking about you nonstop ever since that night we danced at the club. You're honestly the best thing that could've happened to me right now."

"...you don't know you're beautiful..."

"You've brightened my life tremendously since that night," Tom tried to keep the song out of his head as he kept saying what had been weighing on his heart and mind. "Call me crazy... but all I know is that I want that to keep the ray of sunshine you've given me. So I was wondering... would you like to take the next step with me, Adrianna? Would you go out with me?" Tom looked into her eyes, waiting for an answer, but he didn't have to wait long for an answer.

Adrianna smiled, though Tom could tell there were tears forming in the girl's eyes. "Of course I will, Tom."

In what seemed like seconds, Tom stood up and immediately gave the girl sitting before him a tight hug. Adrianna hugged him back as he pulled her to her feet. The two stood there in comfortable silence for what seemed like ages. Tom never wanted to let go of her, that was for sure. She had no idea how happy she had just made him.

Adrianna pulled away slightly, just enough to look into his eyes. Tom looked back into hers as well, seemingly getting just as lost in her eyes as she did with his. He rested his forehead against hers for a moment before he gently pressed his lips to hers, kissing for what for the first time was his. Adrianna kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

When the two had finally pulled away from each other, a slower song was playing quietly on the radio. The newly formed couple stood there, slowly swaying to the music, foreheads resting comfortably on each other's with their eyes still gazing at the other. Tom was admittedly the happiest he had been in a long time. He felt like the luckiest person on the planet right now.

Little did he know, Adrianna felt the same way.