I have no idea how I came up with any ideas for this chapter. My whole life is in a daze, between school, schoolwork, church, and clarinet lessons, I don't know where I am or what I'm doing. I feel like I need summer vacation right now. Anyway, on with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Alex, Jen, Lucas, or Ransik. They are property of Saban/Disney. I do own Christy and Chris Collins, Dr. Stein, Commander Steinback, both of Alex's grandmothers, Alex's grandpa, Jesse, Jerry, and Jessica. Also, in case anyone notices this in this chapter, I do not own Lord of the Rings either. I kind of imply it.

Summer Break

* * *

Alex walked through the hall, searching for Jen, Jesse – anyone he knew. It was the last day of the schoolyear. Three years had gone by since he had started the Academy and a few months since his run-in with Ransik. Finally, he spotted Jen coming out of the girl's restroom, and he went up to her. "Hey, happy birthday!"

Jen looked startled, but recovered quickly with a smile when she realized who it was. "Hey, Alex. Thank you." Alex shuffled the small package in his hands.

"Here, Jen. This is for you." The thin wrapping paper had moving clouds on a blue background on it. She received it happily.

"I like the paper. Now, let's see, what is it?" Trying to be funny, she shook the package.

Alex played along. "Be careful now, it's breakable!"

"Really?" Jen said slyly.

"No. I'm just kidding." Jen giggled softly and began to unwrap the gift. Her eyes widened when she saw what it was.

"Thanks, Alex!" she hugged him tightly around the neck. Pulling away, she continued to ask, "How'd you find this? I mean, old DVD in SDVD format is hard to find. And, how'd you afford it? The trilogy is old…"

"Don't worry, Jen. I have my ways. Besides, I wanted to get you something good like you got me."

Jen smiled widely. Again, she hugged him. This time, he hugged back. "So, eleven now, eh?"

"Yes, Alex." She stood up. "I'm going to miss you this summer. I'm not staying at the dorm. I'm going home for the summer. My mom doesn't even know about you. You have to come visit so she can meet you. She'll change her mind, and so will my dad, when they meet you."

Alex's eyes widened in shock. "Um…okay, I guess," was all he could get out.

"Great! Now, I need to go get a taxi so I can get back. Bye." She kissed him on the cheek, and he bid her good-bye, as well. He watched her small, thin form grow smaller as she ran to the sidewalk and hailed a taxi.

I'm going to miss her a lot. he thought. Is she crazy though? Meeting her parents?! I'm not ready for that! I'm thirteen, and she's ONLY eleven. It's not like we're that serious. But, how could I say no to her and make her smile fade? She was so happy. He walked to his room and lay on his back. Jesse tried to talk to him, but Alex was oblivious to the world around him as he worried about meeting Jen's parents. Jesse rolled his eyes and walked away.

* * *

Alex sat on his bed with his chin in his hands, elbows against his knees. It had been nearly a week since he had last seen or heard from Jennifer. He hoped that she had forgotten about her "bright" idea, but at the same time he missed her and would be willing to do just about anything to see her smiling face, or even a serious face. He had been more silent than usual the past week, refusing to talk to anyone. Quite frankly, Jesse was worried about his friend, but he had no time to worry with his busy work schedule and pushed it aside. Jerry was no longer staying in a dorm; he had gotten married to a girl and moved out. Lucas was too caught up with the cute, "popular" girls in the school to take any notice of Alex. Alex summoned the newspaper on his computer screen and went directly to the want adds. He was being driven crazy, missing Jen as he was, and he wanted a summer job to help him keep his mind off her. He looked up and down the column until he found an add that interested him:

Wanted: A young person, 12 or older,

to take care of the Scotts' place daily.

Included in the job is gardening,

organizing books in the study, and

helping with anything requested of

you. Call 223-1982 for more information

or go to 123 Sun Circle, Silver Hills.

Alex could not believe it. His eyes were immediately drawn to it, like a magnet to a metal surface. As soon as he saw the name, the phone number, and the address, he knew that he had to get the job. He thought it was the perfect solution to a difficult situation. Perhaps, he would get to see Jen daily, and Jen's desire for him to meet her parents would be satisfied. Perhaps, he could get her parents to like him before they found out that he was her boyfriend. His eyes remained fixed on the screen. He jumped when he heard Jesse enter and close the door behind him.

"Hi, Alex." Jesse managed to say while laughing. "What's got you so uptight? Wait, I might as well not say anything. You haven't said more than one word to me in a week."

"Hi, Jesse. And, nothing's the matter. Just busy thinking about something that Jen said last week before she left."

"And that was…?" Jesse's voice trailed off.

"She wants me to meet her parents." Alex replied flatly.

"And that bothers you because…?"

"We aren't that serious. I mean, come on, she's only eleven and I'm thirteen. It's not like we're in our late teens or something."

Jesse chuckled. "Man, this is something else."

"What is?"

"The way Jen's got you wrapped around her finger in so little time."

"She does not!" Alex stood up and stomped to his bed. She doesn't. Jesse's wrong. I – Nothing annoyed him more than someone saying that he was that close to Jen even though he had admitted to liking her.

"Hey, you done with this here computer?"

"Yes." Alex said agitatedly.

Jesse burst out in laughter when he saw the article Alex had up on the screen. "Yes, she does, big time, Alex. Let me guess, you're missing her a lot and want to see her, and at the same time, this will make her happy…right?"

"Ugh. Yes, Jesse." Alex sighed, feeling extremely upset. Whether it was worrying about Jen and meeting her parents or him thinking about how she would never get to meet his parents, he knew not. "Now, I've told you more than I intended to. Leave me alone, please." Jesse shrugged his shoulders and turned around as Alex pulled the curtain around his bed and pulled out a picture of Jen. He fingered it gently. I miss you, Jen. Later today, I'll see you.

***

Around four in the afternoon, Alex slipped into his uniform jacket, hailed a cab, and headed toward Jen's place. He had his hair neatly slicked back with gel. He wanted to make a good first impression. As to why, he did not know. The cab glided slowly to a stop, and Alex paid the drive, stepped out, fixed his hair and jacket, and went toward the front door.

As Alex walked to the door, he began to wonder if he was at the right house. He blinked, looked at the paper, looked at the address on the house, and blinked again. The house had been added on to drastically since he had been there last summer, throwing small rocks at Jen's window. He now stood before a two story house with a protruding porch roof, a white, marble porch floor with steps leading up to it, and double doors with shiny brass handles. The house was painted a whitewash yellow color over stucco. There were shutters on all the windows. Also, there were gardenia bushes in front of it on either side of the porch. Before, he would have stood before a simple one-story house with a door with a dull brass doorknob, and no flowers or any décor around it.

Alex knocked on the door nervously. A moment later, a woman dressed in a black dress with a white apron around her waist opened the door. "Hello?"

"Hello, ma'am. I'm Alexander Kenneth Collins." The woman looked at him blankly. "I'm here in response to the ad in the newspaper."

"Alright. Come inside. I'll get Mr. and Mrs. Scotts in a minute."

"Thank you." he stepped inside, and was amazed at how much the place had changed since he had last been there a little over a year ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Scotts soon appeared at the top of the stairway, arm in arm. The descended the stairs together and stopped a few feet away from Alex. Not knowing what to do, Alex stood at attention and saluted them since Mr. Scotts was wearing a Time Force uniform. "Hello, I'm Mr. Scotts."

"And I'm Mrs. Scotts. It's nice to meet you…?"

"My name is Alex." he shook the extended hand. "I'm here in regard to the ad in the newspaper."

Mr. Scotts motioned Alex to follow them into the office and have a seat. "So, why do you want this job?"

"Well, as a student at the Academy, I like to keep my life busy and I figured this would be a constructive use of time, sir."

"What makes you qualified for the job?"

Alex stuttered, "Well, I-I helped my grandma in her garden several times. I've helped around the house. I can do pretty much anything once you teach me. I'm a fast learner."

"Well, you seem to be the best we've interviewed. Consider yourself hired. You can start tomorrow at seven."

"Thank you, sir."

"You may leave now. Bye."

"Good-bye." Alex saluted and walked out of the room, leaving the husband and wife to talk. As he entered the entryway, Jen walked around the corner.

"Hey, Alex. What are you doing here?" Jen asked, looking very shocked.

"Well, I've met your parents. I got the job, too."

"Really? That's great!" Jen looked to make sure no one was around, and hugged him.

"Well, I'd better go. See you tomorrow."

"Later." Jen continued to her room, and Alex walked out the door.

Once outside, Alex let a smile come onto his face, though part of him wondered why it had been so easy for him to get the job. O well, he thought. I'll find out tomorrow.