Chapter 237
"I'm not telling this to make you feel bad," he reassured me, noticing my entire body stiffen, "In fact, I didn't want to tell you at all. Axel pushed me to, but I thought that if I did, it would make you feel bad."
"You cancelled the plans because of our fight?" I asked, saddened by that thought.
"It didn't feel right to take you there crying," he answered, looking down, "I'd messed up and the tone wasn't right."
I didn't want to relive that night, but it hurt even more knowing that he had faced an argument with me with a surprise reserved in his back pocket. He must've been so excited for that night and I unwittingly destroyed it.
"Sorry," I whispered, looking down just as his blue eyes raised to meet mine.
"I realize now that I want to show you how much you mean to me. Time goes by and I do want to make romantic gestures. I want you to know that. I can change and I have."
"You don't need to change."
"I know," he answered, resting his hand on the cape of my neck and gently brushing a loose strand of hair. "We change for ourselves but we can support each other through the change."
Change together, instead of change apart.
"We haven't had time alone on this trip," Zenon added, "But that'll change when we're home."
"It'll be your senior spring," I pointed out the obvious. I was thinking about the future, but so many changes were in store for us. "It'll be your last few months before you leave. We've been neighbors for so long, but I feel like you're moving out too soon."
There wasn't enough time. We had only just met. Really met.
Where would he be when I had my senior prom a year later?
"Before we get on that plane," Zenon said, "I make a promise to relive this experience when we land on the other side. I want to show you how much I care."
"I promise to show you how much I care too," I said.
The minutes crawled by with the monotonous hum of the plane's engine. We were flying above the clouds on a red eye home. The cabin lights were dimmed, and I was watching a movie with the plane's headphones on. I was getting drowsy and my mind started to wander.
I thought of Lara on her yacht and then of Bryce's villa now empty.
I thought of Cynthia and Axel and how this trip hadn't materialized in the way she had hoped it would. She hadn't given up though #Austerra
I thought of life back home and my dreams for this year. For the first time ever, my new year's wishes were not just for me – they were also for Zenon. I hoped that he would step closer to achieving his dreams. I hoped that he would stay safe and not get injured again.
I hoped that he would be happy.
Isn't that all we could hope for?
"Candy," Zenon whispered, sleeping next to me. His voice was faint as he slowly stirred, "Why are you awake?"
I rested my head on his as he leaned against the seat. His hand reached out for mine while he slept and we held each other. The hum of the engine faded in the background and I took my headphones off. I slowly closed my eyes.
My memory cast back to last night, when we arrived back to Bryce's villa on New Year's day. We had been so far away from home and yet I never felt home sick. With Zenon, I felt like I was right where I needed to be.
I think I grew on this trip. It made me come to terms with my insecurities and social fears. Zenon and I had a real argument, but I felt like the way we handled it made our relationship more real.
It wasn't the way I thought this trip would go, but when does life go the way we think it will?
~Several hours later, at baggage claim~
Bryce was sitting on his baggage, with his hoodie hiding his face as he slept. Axel picked up Oma's heavy suitcase for her as it appeared on the conveyer belt.
"Before everyone goes home," Bryce's father told us, "I've arranged for one more event."
He didn't tell us more. His passport was in a leather cover that he slipped into his jacket's breast pocket. We asked questions but he refused to answer them.
"I told you that your punishment for behaving like spoilt kids at dinner isn't over," he said cryptically, "I saved the best for last."
We were so tired. We had just flown halfway across the world on a red eye and we were jet lagged.
I wanted to shower.
But here we were, driving far out into the wilderness to... an obstacle course.
Bryce's father had dipped into his own private car and was pleasantly driving in the opposite direction, home. He wasn't even going to observe our punishment, and he had left someone else in charge.
"Everyone, out!" a woman blared a whistle that practically popped an eardrum. "Phones off and attention on! You will be running through an obstacle course this afternoon and there won't be delays. Here are very fashionable clothes for you to change into."
She dumped green-brown shirts and pants on the grass for us to collect.
We were all slowly coming to our senses, confused as we got out of the cars. Bianca put on her oversized sunglasses, though the sky was cloudy. We stared at the green environment around us. After a week in Dubai, I was used to seeing more sand than grass.
It was way colder here.
I started to shiver as my hand reached out for the androgynous outfits.
"Here." Warmer hands rested around my shoulder as Zenon wrapped his jacket around me.