𝓖𝓱𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓟𝓪𝓼𝓽 ║continuation

26

In front of her was the treehouse. The one where it all started. Jesse didn't even realize she was being taken outside when she had the blindfold on. Perhaps it was because she was too busy thinking about a certain blonde-haired boy. The treehouse was exactly as she remembered. Except now, decorations filled it from top to bottom. So this is what they were doing this whole time.

"Surprise!" Her friends popped into vision from up in the treehouse.

Jesse couldn't speak. She wasn't a sensitive person, but now, she was an emotional wreck. She tried her best to blink away the tears forming in her eyes. Jesse was so grateful to have amazing friends.

"So, what do you think?" Petra asked from above, eager to know if she liked it.

"It looks fantastic! You guys did such a good job fixing it up." Jesse replied.

She made her way up the ladder, Lukas trailing behind her. When she reached the top, she was able to get a better view of the place. She looked around, remembering all those days she, Olivia, and Axel had spent hanging out in here. Her friends really knew how to get to her soft spot.

Axel pulled everyone into a group hug. "You deserve this, Jesse."

"I don't know what we are going to do without you," Olivia whispered.

Jesse's smile fell, suddenly remembering why they put all this together.

"Can we try to forget about that for now? Tonight let's just try to relax." Lukas said, sensing Jesse's heartache.

"Yeah, we didn't just spend all that time up here so we could mourn all night," Petra said, squeezing out of the tight hug she was still stuck in.

Jesse managed to get out a laugh. Even through all this chaos, she found it somewhat comforting to hear Petra's sarcastic remarks. She knew this would be the last time she would be having fun like this with her friends. There was no point denying it anymore. So maybe it's time she just accept it.

...

Everyone had a great time. The friends played games, cracked jokes, and ate food. It was weird doing normal things for a change, but Jesse appreciated it greatly. She wished the night could last forever and was hit with the cold, hard truth when it ended. They kept the party going as long as they could, almost staying up until midnight. But with defeating Herobrine tomorrow, it would be realistic to get a decent night's rest. One by one, her friends left, exhausted and ready for sleep. The last remaining three were Jesse, Petra, and Lukas.

"No, remember, you started crying as soon as you saw it!" Petra teased Lukas, about the time when he first laid eyes on the swarm of endermen in the end all those years ago.

"Uh, no," Lukas said, running his fingers through his hair. "I'm pretty sure that was you." He finished, knowing damn well it was him.

Jesse burst out into laughter. "It's okay bud, let it out." She said, mimicking the exact words that she had spoken that same day to him.

Petra joined Jesse in her laughing fit. Lukas flushed with embarrassment but found it hard to hold back from laughing himself.

After about a minute, Petra spoke up, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. "Okay guys, I hate to put a damper on the party, but I'm wiped. I've gotta get some sleep, or I might not be able to wake up in the morning." She joked.

"Alright. Thanks for making tonight so amazing." Jesse said.

"Hah, yeah, it was, wasn't it?" She smiled to herself. "Make sure to not stay up too late."

The three of them said their goodnights, leaving Jesse and Lukas by themselves. The two remained quiet for a couple of minutes, staring off into the dark night sky as their feet hung from the edge of the treehouse. Jesse inhaled deeply, breathing in the cold air that blew against her. It was heartbreaking to think that this would be the last moment they might spend together. He couldn't lose her. But who was he to go against Jesse? Lukas snapped out of whatever daze he was in, the moonlight highlighting the shine of tears in his eyes.