Summer Letters

Chapter 30

They made a deal that break to try something new every day. They rode in a hot air balloon. They went zip lining. They went on a long hike. They went rock climbing. They jumped off a waterfall. They explored everything that made that island unique. None of them wanted to leave. Taking risks made Lena feel alive again. It helped Lena and Jensen get through their grief of Luna. It helped Lena and Peyton get closer again. For the first time since she met them, Roxanne felt part of their group.

When it came time to return to Burmingham, Lena did not want to go. She could not remember ever hating the idea of going to school. Lena did not pack her suitcase. She did not go back to the room. Jensen started getting worried. He knew she loved being on the island, but she did not prepare to face Marlene, Sebastian, and Alfonso again. She did not deal with the feelings she would get by going back. Jensen told Lena he needed to go to the bathroom and went into the resort to find Peyton and Roxanne.

"Pey, Rox, I think Lena and I need to stay another day," Jensen explained.

"Why?" Peyton replied. "She still hasn't packed?"

"She hasn't returned to her room all night either," Roxanne added.

"Give me a day," Jensen told them. "This vacation may have helped Lena grieve Luna, but she didn't prepare for the memories that go with returning to Burmingham. I need some alone time with her. I can get through to her."

"Okay," Peyton said, "I'll talk to mom and dad and arrange for us to stay another day or two. I'm sure they won't mind returning our plane tickets and getting new ones for a different day. Roxanne and I can change rooms and we will leave you alone until you need us."

Jensen smiled and replied, "Thank you."

"But Jensen, why haven't you asked her yet?" Peyton asked. "You said you wanted to ask days ago."

"I know," Jensen groaned, "But she's been so happy and everything's been perfect and I'm worried she won't take it well."

"Of course she will," Peyton chuckled. "Lena loves you. Tell her how you feel, tell her everything you've been thinking, and you will have nothing to worry about."

"I'll do it today," Jensen said and nodded.

"Keep me updated," Peyton told him. "I'm worried about her."

"Me too," Jensen said as he walked back out to find Lena.

Lena wandered from the beach to the small area of town where locals sold handmade clothes and jewelry. It took 15 minutes for Jensen to figure out where Lena had gone. He smiled when he saw her holding up a dress in front of a mirror. He kept his distance for a second to watch. She smiled and swayed back and forth before hanging the dress back up and holding a second one in front of her. The second smile was bigger than the first, making Jensen smile wider in return. She looked happy and care free when she wasn't focused on Burmingham. He wished he could keep her that way all the time because he hated how stressed she felt.

Lena eventually spotted Jensen watching her. She felt her face heat up and she laughed at herself when she realized how much he saw.

"How long have you been there?" Lena asked him.

"Long enough to know that you have to buy that dress," Jensen answered.

Lena laughed, "I didn't know you were there. I wanted to see how they would look on me."

"They would look beautiful," he told her, "so buy it."

"Really?" she grinned.

He nodded and held her hand. "I can even take you back to the resort so you can change into it and wear it today."

"What's today?" she asked.

"We have a day to ourselves," he told her.

She replied, "What about the flight?"

"It's been put off for a day or two, but you do have to go back."

"Why?" Lena asked, "Burmingham is only bad memories."

"Because it's your school. Every goal you have set for your life depends on you graduating."

"I know," Lena sighed, "but I'm not ready to go back."

Jensen put his arm around Lena. "That is why we have the day," he said. "We have a lot of talking to do."

Lena bought the dress and they returned to the resort. After a change of clothes, they started a hike through a new trail one of the locals told them about. The trail led them higher and higher in the mountains and they kept walking as long as they still had something to talk about. Lena eventually wondered what Jensen's plan could be. He acted weird on their walk and she noticed him acting weird the last couple weeks. Jensen found the perfect place for them to sit down and when Jensen stepped away for a minute to do something, she noticed a box fall out of his pocket. Instead of letting him know he dropped it, Lena picked it up and opened it. The clues added up when Lena saw what sat inside the box.

She remembered everything she went through in the last year and she had no doubts about what answer she would give Jensen. He stood by her even when she did not want him to and when she did want him to he stood even closer. If they could handle the last year together and still end up stronger, they could handle anything. Lena felt more sure of herself now than she ever had and she realized Jensen was right. She did need to return to Burmingham. The rest of her life waited for her at Burmingham. She would never accomplish any of her goals hiding out on a tropical island.