A Year Off

Part III

Post Flashpoint

Amy reached the summit first, winded, but recovering quickly. Jake was 8 seconds behind her at this point. He was determined to make it, but he was surprised at how hard it was to keep up with his girlfriend. He hadn't anticipated losing this race to her.

He stopped next to her, resting his hands on his knees and breathing heavy. Amy rubbed his back, "You okay?"

Jake just nodded, unable to say any more. Te Pare Point was beautiful at sunrise. This high point overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the pristine Hahei Beach below was worth the early rise. The only surprising thing about it was Amy's decision to sprint the 1 kilometer to the top instead of a leisurely jog like he had planned.

He straightened up, taking in the rising sun casting pinks and oranges across the water. New Zealand was beautiful in the summertime. As Europe braced for some of the coldest temperatures on record, the Rosenbloom brothers along with Amy and Dan had decided to head to warmer waters for their next meet up.

"Isn't this gorgeous?" Amy asked, staring at the sight. At this early hour, they were the only visitors to this local.

Jake slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

"Ames," Jake whispered, "I love you, but you have to give me warning the next time you decide to sprint up a long hill."

Amy shook her head, smiling flirtatiously, "No I don't. You didn't have to join me."

"Are you kidding?" Jake said, protesting.

"Well, then, how about this: When you decide to come back home to Boston, we can start working out together. 5 am. We'll both get in the best shape of our lives." Amy said, wrapping her free hand around his waist in return.

"Then I'll be able to keep up with you," Jake said with a wink and his Hollywood smile. "We can work out, then you can read Tolstoy or Tolkien all day, whichever you prefer."

Amy smiled, pulled away from Jake and made to sit on the curb overlooking the bay. "That was always Evan's favorite."

Jake blanched, Evan? She hadn't brought his name up in a long time. Idiot. "Which one, Tolstoy or Tolkien?" he said without skipping a beat.

Amy sighed deeply and wrapped her arms around her knees, staring out at the water. "Tolkien. He had such a creative mind." Then she fell silent, remembering her first boyfriend who had tragically been killed by the Vespers 17 months earlier.

Jake's brow furrowed. He sat on the curb next to her and studied her face intently. What is she thinking? Clearly, she's thinking about Evan, remembering him. Does she miss him? Does she-, did she prefer him? She's told me she loves me, but, I've never really asked her if- His face was turning red. No more wondering. Resolve this, now, once and for all.

"Ames," Jake started. Quietly, he put his hand on her arm, "I have to ask,"

Amy turned and looked at him.

Jake steeled himself and blurted it out, "If Evan had lived, would we be dating?"

Each of the eight words Jake had spoken hit Amy like rain in a hurricane. She mentally slowed down his voice and repeated those important words again to herself.

If Evan Had Lived, Would We Be Dating?

They sounded strange rattling around in her head. The answer came to her quick. Yes. Of course. How could you not know that? She thought back to their talk after defeating Pierce in the garden at Attleboro. She hadn't held back. She'd told Jake that she needed him, that he was the strength she relied on. He was the Yin to her Yang.

Amy frowned, "Jake, I thought you knew. Of course. It's always you."

Jake looked a little more relaxed, but his brow still had a crease.

Sighing, "I thought so, I just—" he stopped and looked back out at the rising sun. "Sometimes, when you talk about Evan, I guess I'm not sure."

Amy could tell he wanted more of an answer.

"Evan was—" Amy started, but then stopped. How to explain the difference between Jake and Evan?

"How do I say this?" Amy started again. "I guess it really starts after the clue hunt. Before then, I was a completely different girl. The thought of traveling the globe trying to outwit some of the most ruthless, conniving, deadly members of my own family would have paralyzed me. But we did it. I mean, honestly, Dan and I should have died, many times over! We were only 11 and 14 for God's sake!" At this, she shook her head in disbelief. Jake just gave a small smile.

"After we returned, I tried going back to my normal life, but, it just didn't work. I had become two different individuals occupying the same body. Safe Amy wanted a normal life, a life with a boyfriend and plenty of time to disappear into the crowd. But this other side of me, Brave Amy secretly knew that wasn't ever going to be possible. I was at odds with myself. In a way, I saw Evan as a way to tether myself to the normal life I wanted. Or, at least, I thought I wanted."

Jake took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. He knew all too well the PTSD Amy had suffered in the last three years.

Amy looked at their clasped hands. "It turns out, what I really needed wasn't a tether, but a North Star."

Jake looked at her, a small smile breaking.

"I wish he had lived, he deserved that, but he died knowing that I loved him. He never suspected I was going to break up with him."

Jake wasn't so sure about that last statement. Things were tense any time Jake was around Evan and he caught a few looks on his face in their brief encounters, but he would never voice that to Amy. Never.

Jake stood. Extending his hand to Amy. "Come on, let's get some breakfast. I'm sure the food trucks are setting up by now."

Amy had one more thought as she stood. "Jake, it was you. You were there the whole time. You saw what the Vespers did. I will always hate them, but, if it hadn't been for them, I wouldn't be who I am today, and, in case you ever doubt, I'm grateful for you."

Jake wrapped his arms around her neck and pulled her close. Amy returned the hug. Then, without warning, Jake bent down, quickly untied both of Amy's laces and sprinted off down the trail.

"See you at the bottom!" he cried over his shoulder.

Amy just stood there, shaking her head watching him retreat down the way they came. He was adorable. She bent, retied her shoelaces, silently counting to 30 in her head.

He deserved that much of a head start.