A/N: This is the last chapter, guys. It's been a nice ride. *cries*

Expect a big Author's Note chapter after this!

Tyler

On Thursday night, my dad sat me down and apologized for his behavior towards me when I told him about college. He said that he would support me in my decision, but he still wants at least one year of college experience and education under my belt. Therefore, we came to the agreement that I go to college for one year. He even offered to pay for it.

That same night, Spencer called me with good news. I got the job at the music store! I start on Monday.

I turn into Jenna's driveway and park, going through the usual habit of getting out and walking to her front door. She answers when I ring the doorbell, her green sundress rippling in the warm gust of wind that pushed its way inside. She smiles that beautiful smile of hers.

"Ready for our date?"

She nods. "Of course." I take her arm and lead her to my car. It's off to the park from there.

"How have you already got to Princess Frostline!?" I exclaim.

Jenna smirks. "Magic. I can't believe that we're actually playing Candy Land."

"Hey now, this game was my childhood. Don't disrespect it."

She laughs.

I decided that a picnic and game at the park pavilion would be a good date for a lazy summer day. We're away from all the people in the main area, which is nice.

"So...I have some news," I begin.

She smiles. "I do, too."

"You first," I offer.

"No, you."

I sigh playfully. "Fine. Well, I told my parents my decision about college the other day."

She raises an eyebrow. "And?"

"I told them that I was going to pursue a career in music and not go to college."

"Really!? How did that go?"

"Not so good," I reply. "My dad wasn't too happy. But, he's simmered down a little bit. We've now reached an agreement. He's going to support me in my music career, but he still wants me to go to college, so I'll only be going for one year, then I can drop out or continue with it if I choose to."

She smiles. "That's wonderful that you have their support. You have mine, too."

I grin. "And that's not the only thing, either. After my dad got mad at me, I walked over to the music store to clear my mind. The guy that was in the store the day that we played Fall Away--Spencer--recognized me and offered me a job! Well, he called me on Thursday night and said that I got it!"

Jenna's eyes widen, and she grabs my hands. "Oh my gosh, Ty, that's great!"

I smile. "I start on Monday." I draw a card with a single orange square and move my blue piece. "So, what's your news?"

She grins and jumps around in her seat, then places both palms down on the concrete picnic table, taking a deep breath. "Okay. So, I got a letter in the mail this past week, and...it was an acceptance letter...for California College of the Arts! Gah!!! I'm so excited!" She jumps in her seat once more, then starts talking about when her semester starts and what kind of housing she's going to get. All the while, a pit settles in my stomach. California? How will this affect our relationship!? I can hardly go a week without seeing her in person, let alone a semester or more!

"Ty? Are you okay? Are you happy?"

I come back down to earth to see Jenna looking at me expectantly, but with a concerned expression.

"Uh...yeah, yeah. But, California. That's quite a ways away from Columbus." I let out a deep breath.

"Well, I mean, we'll still keep in touch and everything, and I'll come back to visit when I get breaks."

"Right." I run my hand through my hair. "I just...I just don't know how I feel about all of this. I mean, I should've seen it coming. You deserved that scholarship more than anyone, but...California."

She smiles, but her eyes show specks of sadness. "I know it's a big change, but we have to trust that this is the right thing. Maybe God planned this."

I return her smile. "Maybe," I murmur. "Oh! I have something to give you!" I pull my wallet out of my pocket, then remove a picture from behind my driver's license. I hand it to her.

Jenna gasps. "It's our picture from prom! Thank you so much!" She looks down at the picture of us in her foyer. She's blushing cutely while I kiss her on the cheek. "Wait...didn't my mom take this picture? How did you get it?"

I smirk. "I have my ways."

She grins. "You will never cease to amaze me."

I smile. "You won't, either. It's your turn."

She laughs as she draws a card. I look past her into the parking lot, where gray clouds have gathered overhead and blocked out the sun. A cool breeze blows toward us.

"Yeah, I figured you could put the picture on your mirror or something."

"I'll actually cut it down a little bit and put it in my locket, which will be even better," she says, smiling. "It will always be with me then."

I smile. "Good idea." I draw a card and move two green spaces. "I'm catching up."

"Oh yeah, I'm so scared." Jenna jokes. A few people run past our pavilion to the parking lot. That's when rain suddenly pours down, the patters against the metal roof quickly turning into a droning white noise. More people run past, and pretty soon the parking lot is empty of all cars except mine.

"I guess we'll just wait it out since we'll get soaked if we try to run to the car," I say.

She silent for a moment. The next thing I know, she's swinging her legs out from under the table and standing up.

"Jen? What are you--"

She takes off running into the rain, then stops in the middle of the parking lot. That's when she starts dancing, holding hands with an invisible partner.

I stand up and lean against one of the pavilion poles, watching as she twirls in the puddles with her eyes closed and her head tilted up toward the sky, crystal raindrops running through her hair.

This is a moment that will stay with both of you for a long time. Go dance with her, a voice in my head tells me.

"Okay." I smile and run out into the rain to join her, filling the shoes of her invisible partner.

She still has her eyes closed when I reach her. I take one of her hands and grab her waist, causing her to open her eyes and gasp in surprise. I grin as we waltz through the parking lot without a care in the world. The only people in the world at this moment are the two of us.

The corners of her rain-reflecting eyes crinkle as she laughs with glee. Her mascara streaming down her face from the rain makes her look ten times prettier. It's proof that she's living.

We slow with the rhythm of the rain as it slightly eases. Our shoes squelch against the pavement as we rock back and forth together. I lean down and kiss Jenna's lips, which are slick from the rain. She giggles again as I look into her eyes, her lashes coated with beads of water, making them look like drops of dew on a spider web in the early morning.

What did I ever do to deserve her??? She saved my life! I can never repay that debt. Oh, how crazy and hectic this past year has been. What if I never saw her in the music store? What if she never lost her locket in the treehouse? What if she never moved here??? How different would my life be???

"I love you so much," I blurt.

A concerned look crosses Jenna's face. "Are you okay?"

I laugh. "Yes, I'm more than okay. It's okay for me to say 'I love you' at random without raising concern, isn't it?"

She grins. "I guess so. I love you, too. No matter what the future brings us."

We continue to dance in silence, which isn't really silent with the rain and everything.

Life has taught me a lot these past few months. Like how it's okay to not be okay, but it's not okay to act on the feelings of not being okay. I've also learned that none of us are perfect and that we probably have as many enemies as we do friends, even if we're not aware of it. But to keep that from getting to my head, I've learned something, and that is to keep your friends close and your enemies on the guest list. People can always change.

I've learned that the person that stays with you and supports you at your worst will be the person you'll want to celebrate your best moments with.

My demons have been quiet for a record amount of time now. Sure, I still hear them murmuring at the back of my mind, but it's out of earshot. I know they won't be gone forever, but I'm going to try to make the best of life while they're gone and prepare for their next visit.

I've now realized why I'm turning to music. Music has this ability to it. And that's the ability to understand you. Music can be there when no one else can. I've realized that I want to be an inspiration to other people. I want to help them fight their demons. I want to take away their burdens and struggles.

"Tyler? Are you okay? You're quiet." Jenna's sweet voice derails my train of thought.

I smile. "Yes. Just thinking."

She leans her head on my chest, my rain-soaked shirt plastering against my skin. "We're something else, aren't we?" she whispers.

I nod and kiss the top of her head, looking out through the parking lot and into the trees beyond. "Yes, we are," I murmur. "Yes, we are."

                          The End