"From This Day Forward (Part 3 to One Night Stand)"

"Birthday Tradition"

Walking drearily towards the cottage with tears blurring her vision, Summer slowly unlocked the front door to enter. Instead of walking straight to her room to wallow & binge Netflix like she had planned, a light in the back yard distracted & lured her outside. She heard rustling noises & grabbed a knife from the kitchen chop block before heading out. She lunged to the back & was surprised to see Dennis. He was pitching a tent. She looked all around & he had decorated the backyard with balloons & camping gear. She suddenly remembered the knife in her hand & quickly hid it behind her back.

Summer: Dennis? What are you still doing here? I thought you were on a plane heading back to Tennessee by now.
Dennis: Change of plans. Happy birthday!
Summer: Thank you... But what's all this?
Dennis: I wanted you to have your birthday camping trip. You know? The one with a tent, camp fire & fishing...

He pointed to a blow up pool with real live fish swimming around in it.

Summer: I can't believe you did all this. Wait! Are those real fish in there?
Dennis: Yup!

Summer was staring at the pool of fish while Dennis put down the tent pitching tools. He walked up to Summer & as he got up close to her, she froze & looked into his beautiful, kind & caring eyes. He paused & then reached behind her to grab the knife.
She smiled in embarrassment.

Summer: Sorry, I thought it was a home invasion or something...
Dennis: Come check out the tent.
Summer: Yeah!

For the rest of the afternoon & evening, Dennis taught Summer all the camp things. He showed her how to start a fire & how to fish. It was more than Summer could ever ask for. She couldn't remember the last time she had this much fun & to think it was all in Jack's backyard.

Dennis: Sorry if this "camping" experience was lame.
Summer: Why would you say that? This is incredible.
Dennis: I didn't know where they camping spots were here in Seattle. So, I brought camping here.
Summer: It's perfect.

They were finishing up their fire-cooked dinner & Summer began cleaning up. She was about to put the fire out, but Dennis quickly stopped her & whipped out the s'mores ingredients. Summer's face lit up as they started making s'mores. Summer opened up to Dennis about how this was her first birthday without her dad.

Dennis: I know what it's like losing someone you love. It's tough, but you'll get through it. We need to keep thriving & living our lives. I know it's easier said than done, but I'm sure it's what your dad would've wanted.

Summer smiled as she twisted her marshmallow stick around in the flame.

Summer: You're right. And thank you, Dennis, for today & for your words of encouragement.
Dennis: Summer, I want to let you know that I'm here for you. I know you have plenty of people in your life who are looking out for you & you can count me in.
Summer: Thank you...

Summer started to get a little chilly. Dennis grabbed a blanket nearby & out it around her. He stood up from the fire pit.

Summer: Where are you going?
Dennis: I'll be right back...

Dennis walked inside the house. Summer finished up roasting her s'more & then put it all together. She took a bite out of it. She looked around & looked towards the back door. "Where did Dennis go?", she wondered. Minutes later, the back door opened & out stepped Dennis with a cake in his hands. The candles were all lit & he was singing "Happy Birthday". Summer couldn't help but smile at his sweet surprise. Dennis held the cake as he sat down next to Summer. He finished his song & prompted Summer to make a wish. She smiled, closed her eyes for a few seconds & then opened them back up to blow out her candles.

Summer & Dennis ate a few slices of cake & then ate a few more s'mores. They were laying down on the grass looking up at the sky while trying to recover from the sugar coma. Dennis was pointing out several constellations to Summer.

Dennis: A birthday tradition I have is actually looking out into the sky at night & trying to find all the constellations. I know... Sounds geeky.
Summer: Not at all. It sounds fun.
Dennis: What about you? Do you have any birthday traditions?
Summer: Yeah, there's this adorable ice cream parlor downtown that my dad used to take me to every year on my birthday. Serena & I ate our share of ice cream earlier today.
Dennis: That's a fun tradition. Glad you & your sister got to share it today.

Summer sat up & leaned close to Dennis who was still laying down with his arms crossed under his head.

Summer: I do have one more birthday tradition...
Dennis: What's that?
Summer: So it started my freshman year in college by the girls in my sorority.
Dennis: Uh oh...
Summer: That whoever is with me at the end of my birthday has to go skinny dipping with me.

Summer stood up & started to strip down. Dennis watched as each item of clothing was removed from her body & fell to the ground. Summer stripped down to completely nothing & then slung the last item of clothing close to where Dennis was seated. Summer screamed right before jumping in. Dennis was speechless.

Summer poked her head above the water, wiped the water from her face & swam to the edge of the pool.
She was laughing & smiling. She pleaded with Dennis to join her.

Summer: What are you waiting for?

Dennis nervously smiled & then started removing his clothes. He paused when he got down to his boxers.

Summer: I'll turn around if you're shy.
Dennis: Yeah, I'm not as... confident as you are.
Summer: Ok.

Summer turned around & the next thing she knew, she heard Dennis yell & felt the splash from his dive into the pool. Soon Dennis came up to the surface.

Dennis: Whoa! I can't believe I just did that.

Summer swam up to Dennis. There was no denying the chemistry & the attraction they had for each other. They were both alone & naked in the pool together. Dennis was in the corner of the pool & Summer was in front of him. She put her arms around his neck. He looked at Summer's naked body. The water from their heads started to drip onto them. Dennis wanted so much to tell Summer how he felt & he wanted to show her what he felt for her, but he knew it'd be wrong. He gently removed her arms from around his neck & held her hand.

Dennis: Summer, we can't do this.
Summer: You're right. I'm... sorry. I don't know what I'm doing.

Dennis gently lifted Summer's chin up.

Dennis: Summer, you're very beautiful & really hot. We shouldn't do anything that we'll both regret.

Summer smiled.

Dennis: It wouldn't be right.

Dennis kissed Summer on the forehead & wished her a happy birthday one more time before he grabbed his clothes & walked in the house.