Disclaimer: I do not own any character of (The Last of Us) TLOU is owned by Naughty Dog and its creators.

A/N: Sometimes we get sad when good things get to an end. I just want to thank all the people to read this story and I hope you like it. As I said in the preview chapter this will be my last long story for a while. I working on another one in the TLOU Universe, but it will take me a while to finish it. In the meantime, I will try to do someone shot or at least some short one if one comes to my head. also thanks to the people who leave comments on the stories and not just on mine. Is great and an honor for a writer to know what people think about what we write and also that lets us know that people read it. I'm not a writer and my English and grammar are bad, but I enjoy writing these stories and it makes me happy if others like them too. For the ones that didn't understand the Spanish part, sorry I will try to add a translation in future stories. So thank you for understanding and I hope you get most of the story dialogue. Again thanks for reading the story and I wish you all a great Labor Day weekend. :D

Chapter 28: When The Good Things Ends

One hour Before the next round started, Robbie's uncle and his girlfriend showed up at the spot where the boys and the team were. The girls that the boys bring to the party show up with them.

"Hey… you came…" said Robbie while standing up and going to hug him. The rest of the boys stood up as soon they saw the girls behind Robbie's uncle.

"Sorry, we haven't come here before but we have some problem with the security. It was thanks to Robbie's uncle that we finally could get through." said one of the girls.

"Yeah, but we saw part of the first round and you all were great," said another.

"Thanks… I think you can stay here for the rest of the competition… if that was right for the coach," said Paul as soon as he got close to his girl.

"I don't mind… but you need to concentrate on the competition… okay?" said Joel after seeing what the girls were wearing.

"Sure… thank you coach." said the boys while attending to the girls and offering some snacks from the table.

Ellie moves closer to Joel and whispers in his ear. "You can't blame them… they're famous now."

Joel looks at them and smiles. "This is not over yet… but yeah they probably will get some after this.

xXx

Two hours into the competition started again and members of all the teams started to get into the water as they got called. One by one they surf and the score shows on the board after they finish. Joel was watching one of the boys from Team USA before he fell down on half of his surf and got a lower score. They are still in first place, but that gives Ellie and the boys a chance to get closer to them.

Joel calls all of them in a circle to talk to them. "Okay guys… we're closer to tying this for the first place," said Joel before turning his head to Paul and Ellie. "You two are the only ones left on this round… so it is after you to make those points. But you need to get high points to tie this up or a perfect score to pass them."

"No pressure then… that is great," said Ellie with a sarcastic tone.

"Sorry guys… I know that this is hard on all of you and you already have surpassed the expectations of everyone here. So you don't need to win this to get the respect you all deserve… because you're already winners."

"Joel is right… But we came here to win this competition so we will do our best to get to that goal," said Ellie while looking at all of them. "I know that we have the right to surf here no matter what those guys say… but we have the chance to demonstrate to all those people that think that we don't belong to this sport that they are wrong… so let's do all we can to win this."

"Yeah… let's win this… not only for us… but for all the women and guys that love this sport like us," said Robbie with a smile.

"Yeah!" yell the rest of the boys at the same time.

"Okay guys let's win this…" said Joel while putting one hand in the middle of the circle. Ellie and the rest of the boys put their hands on top of Joel's. "Okay… at the count of three… one… two…"

"TEAM MAVERICK." yell all of them while moving their hands up.

After a few more competitors, Paul's name was called, so he grabbed his board and after being encouraged by his friend and Joel, he walked toward the water. Soon he was ready and the perfect wave for him arrived. The boy does all he can to get some extra points. He rode the wave to the end in the best way he could so he was hoping to get the points they needed. Soon he got close to the shore and was received by boys and his probably new girlfriend. Joel and Ellie go to him a few minutes later to congratulate him.

As they walk away from the water, they look at the board and wait for the score. A few minutes later it showed up and Paul's scores were high enough to make the team closer to first place. Now the only competitors from Team USA and Team Maverick were Ellie and the blonde American guy that led his team.

"Que emocionante espectáculo damas y caballeros… El equipo de Team USA y El equipo de Maverick están compitiendo fuerte por el primer lugar. Solo quedan un participante por cada equipo para la puntuación final y al parecer la competencia será entre el líder del Team USA… Alex Jonson y por el Team Maverick… Ellie Willians."

The host of the event continues talking about the competition and the points the teams have already. People around the stage start to screen and cheer for the next round of surfers.

"Okay… this will be the final surf and they're ahead by only a few points," said Joel as soon as he pulled his team closer together. "You did a great job, Paul… Your score brings our team closer to first place. That will force them to do a perfect score to win and as I saw today of him… that boy is never going to get close to doing that."

"So now all is up to me?" said Ellie nervous.

Joel looked at her and put one hand on her shoulder. "No pressure… just do what you can."

"So, for us to win… we need Ellie to get a perfect score too… So how can she do that?" said Martin.

"If someone can do it… is Ellie. She learned from the legend himself longer than us… so she can do it," said Paul.

"Yeah… you're our only hope to win this… Ellie," added Matt.

"Okay… guys can you give me a few minutes with Ellie alone?" said Joel.

"Sure coach…" said Robbie while pulling his friends away from them.

"I know what you are going to say Joel… that we did our best and all that, and it is good, but I want us to win this and the only way to do it is by doing the special you show me." Ellie watched Joel's expression as soon as she said that.

"Ellie… I don't think that is a good idea… that move is dangerous… and you only try to do it a few times… so let's keep the ride simple."

"Simple is not going to make us win… if that guy does a perfect score and you know it.

"Ellie I know this is important for you and those boys… but I can't let you do that. You and your team already did your best… and being in second place with a short time to practice, it was more than great."

"I know Joel, but if I can make us win that will be better for us. We need to win not only for that stupid bet but for us. We can win this if I do that move Joel."

Joel moved closer to her and put his hand on her shoulders. "As I said… You already did great… and I'm proud of you and those boys, but you don't need to do that… just go there and do your best."

"Okay Joel… but I still think that is a good idea," Ellie looked into his eyes and saw that he was really proud of her, but there was another thing that she wanted to see and she was not sure if it was there. So it was better to tell him about her going back to the USA tomorrow. "Joel… there is something I need to tell you," she said with a sad tone.

"You can tell me later when this is all over… okay? Now go out there and finish what you started… I know that you can do this… wining or not you should be proud of yourself."

Ellie doesn't know what more she can do about them. She didn't see any sign of Joel changing his mind about them. But her time here was going to end soon and even though all this was a great experience for her, it was time to go back to her normal life. But she loves it, including falling in love with Joel. Now was time to finish with this part of her story here. "Yeah… it can wait… now it's time to finish this." She really wanted to kiss him to help her with all this, but she knew that she couldn't.

Joel moves away from her and wants to kiss her and hug her, but with all the people there, he knows that he can't. So he just smiles at her. "Just put your mind on this and act with your heart and everything will be okay." he finally said.

"Thank you Joel…" she said with a smile. A few minutes later the leader of Team USA finishes his wave and the score shows up on the board. He gets a high score and puts his team in a winning position since now he is forcing Ellie to get a perfect score just too tight for them in the first place.

"Shit… he got a high score…" said Robbie as soon he and the boys got closer to Ellie and Joel.

"Is it going to be impossible to win now…" added Paul, a little disappointed.

"Never mind that… you did your best guys… be proud of yourself," said Joel before passing the board toward Ellie as her name was called to go next. "Just do your best… Ellie and have fun, because that is the meaning of all this."

"We can still win this…" she said while looking at the boys and grabbing the board. "Wish me luck… I will need it."

"Good luck!... Ellie," said the boys as she started walking toward the water. "And kick their asses."

"Ellie… what you're going to- '' Joel started but only had time to see Ellie smile at him and then go cover for a group of women and girls that started to walk behind her.

Ellie smiles at Joel but he is quickly blocked. Some girls and women were cheering for her as she started to get into the water. Ellie can't see Joel and the boys, but she knows that they're there for her. As soon as she got far into the water, she got on top of her board and started to paddle. The people on the beach go crazy as she moves far and gets into position.

Ellie was now sitting on her board waiting for the wave she needed to ride. As Joel told her, she needs to feel it in her soul. She was surprised at how far this went. Yeah, she wanted to learn how to surf but ended up in a competition that was not part of her wish. But here she was waiting for a wave that would decide the fate for all surfers to be able to surf on this beach. That was stupid she knew that, because all people should be able to surf here if they wanted. It Was not like this was a private beach, but now it was not about that. It was about earning the respect of all the surfers here, local and no local.

Ellie tries not to think about Joel and what will happen to them. This will be her last day here as her vacation is over and she needs to go back to school. But she loves him, and she can't stop thinking about that. But Joel has not said anything, about them and even that last night they had a great and wonderful time that seems to change nothing about his problem with her age. But all that has to wait for later since another wave is coming and she feels that this will be the right one. So as soon as Ellie saw it coming, she lay on her board and started to paddle. This is for you Dad.

As the wave starts to form, Ellie gets up gets in her position on the board, and starts to ride the wave. She copied some of Joel's moves as she is not a professional and doesn't have a style of her own. Ellie keeps her balance with her hands and guides her board through the wave as this one starts to close and form the cone of water. This time things were more exciting, she could even touch the water around her and for a moment she closed her eyes and got lost in the wave. Joel was right, this was something incredible. You can feel all the water around you, even smell it as if it were part of you. But the ride was almost over, even if things looked like it was running in slow motion. Joel doesn't want her to do the jump, but she knows that that will give her some extra points.

So, before she gets out of the tunnel, she lowers herself grabs the board edge with one hand, and touches the water with the other as she moves side to side in a zigzag. Soon she got out of the tunnel, Ellie moved the board towards the top of the wave and made the jump. She never lands in the wave after the jump and if you do it wrong the water will hit you and push you under. But to her surprise… She made it. Ellie landed the board on the water without falling and finished the ride. As she surfed toward the shore, she raised her arm and smiled at Joel and the boys who were running toward her. Some of the people on the beach were crazy, as they started to scream and cheer at her. A lot of them start to run toward the shore, especially women.

Soon Ellie gets closer to the shore, she jumps off the board before she gets received by the crowd that was yelling Maverick and her name. Joel stopped in the sand for a few minutes not believing what she just did. He could not pass the crowd of women and people who got closer to Ellie to congratulate her. In one way he was proud of her, not only for her surfing but also for having the courage to do this even if she did not have any experience in this kind of sport. But even though he was proud of her, she did that move that was dangerous even for an experienced surfer. Joel wanted to get closer to her but she was surrendered by a lot of people that came to her.

Ellie was happy with the support of the people who came to congratulate her, but after a few minutes, Ellie started to look for Joel. She starts to move forward as many people let her and soon she sees him on the sand behind people, Ellie starts to walk toward him. "You did great." Said one of the boys as soon he managed to get closer to her.

Yeah… That was marvelous… and that jump at the end? wow!" Said Paul before going closer and giving her a hug. Also, the women around her start to say wonderful things about her surf. She thanked them as she was walking, but her mind and sigh were focused on Joel. Ellie smiles as soon as she gets closer to him.

"I thought you were going to be the first one to meet me in the water?" she said with a smile.

Joel doesn't know if he should be mad at her or not for what just did. But he was happy that all ended well. "I was going too, but I guess these people were faster than me," he said with a smile too. "But that doesn't mean that you did great," he said with a more serious tone. The boys start to help Ellie by telling people to give Ellie some time to be with her team.

Ellie looks at Joel's expression and knows that he is not totally happy. "I know what you're going to say… but I have to do it," she said while looking at his eyes.

"Did you see what she did… coach? It was great…just like you did in the Hawaii competition." Said, Robbie.

Joel looks toward the boys, then at Ellie. "I know that all of you wanted to win… but that was a dangerous move… something bad could happen," said Joel before moving closer to Ellie and putting one hand on her shoulder. "Never or lest… You did great…congratulations…" he said with a little smile. "I'm really proud of you," he said before turning his head and looking at the boys. "All of you… did a great job… no matter how this ends."

Ellie moved forward quickly and hugged him tight as if it was the last time she would do that. Ellie wanted to kiss him right there, but she knew that she couldn't do that there. As a lot of people were still around them yelling her name and Team Maverick all loud she moved away from Joel. Ellie looked toward the scoreboard, but nothing yet.

"Did you think… that I got enough points to… win?" she asked him.

"You did great out there… but no matter what happens with the score… You should be proud of yourself," he said before looking at the rest of the boys. "You too… You did a great job and did your best, so be proud of yourself."

"Thanks." said the boys before moving closer and getting into a group hug. A few minutes later the competition announcer started to speak again.

"¡Wow!... que emocionante competencia amigos… y felicitaciones para nuestra primera surfista en nuestra competencia anual por su fabulosa e increíble demostración de surf… Nunca había visto algo igual," Said the host of the event as he pointed toward Ellie 's team.

"Ahora… nuestros jueces darán sus puntos finales los cuales aparecerán en la pizarra en unos minutos." he said before turning around and look at the board. "No importa que pase… Quiero decirles que esta ha sido unas de las mejores competencias que hemos tenido."

Ellie and the rest of the people there turn and look at the board waiting for the score of the team to show up. And after a few minutes, the points start to appear.

while all the people there were waiting desperately for Ellie's points to show up. Joel moved closer to Ellie and put her jacket over her shoulder. "What do you think of your first competition?"

Ellie moves her head to the side and looks at him. "Thanks…" she said with a smile. Well, I think it was too exciting for me… but it feels good." She was going to tell Joel about her flight, but at that moment her points showed on the board.

"Aquí tienen amigos… la última puntuación de nuestros jueces." said the announcer while turning around and pointing at the electronic board. Ellie's points were high but not a perfect score and that meant that she didn't get the points they needed. After her points show up, the points from every team start to show up making Team USA end in the first position and Team Maverick in the second. The picture and name of Team USA show up on the board as the winners of the team's competition with just 2 points over them. "Aquí tienen amigos… los ganadores de este año en la categoría de grupos… Son Team USA." A lot of people there start to booo and yell toward the stage. While the members of Team USA start to celebrate.

"What the fuck?... Are you kidding?... That Girl was incredible… how she doesn't get a perfect score?" people start to yell toward the stage, especially the woman.

"What!" said Robbie while moving in front of the others. "How do they win? Ellie surfs better than all of them together."

"That is unfair… Ellie was way better… they just fuck her up because she is a girl…" said Paul with a furious voice.

"Is okay… guys… all of you did your best… and that was the important thing," said Joel while moving close to Ellie and putting his arm around her. "Are you okay… kiddo?" he asked in a lower voice.

"Yeah… I'm okay… we got the second position for the first time in a competition."

"This is all fuck up… we not only lost the competition… we lost the bet and now they're not going to let us surf here anymore," said Martin with a furious tone.

Joel looked at him. "Don't worry about all that kid, the beach is a public place… they can keep people out just because they do not want… no matter what happens with the bet. In the worst case, you can go to the other beaches, some of them are better than this one even if this is the most popular one."

"But that is not fair… With Ellie surfing we should win this thing, not them," said Matt while kicking the sand in a frustrated way. As he said that a lot of people, especially women moved closer to them and started to say things as they sported them.

All of them were warmed by people moving around them asking them questions and telling them that they should be the winner and how great they were. A few minutes later all the people around them start to yell their team name. Maverick… Maverick… Maverick… Maverick… Maverick…

On the stage, the announcers start to speak again as Team USA moves up there to receive their first-place trophy.

"Aquí tienen damas y caballeros… el coordinador y entrenador de Team USA… Mark Jonson." Some people start to cheer at them while others start to booo them, especially the women. After all the team members get up the stage a woman with a microphone moves closer to the man that was the coach of the team.

"Now that this year's competition has ended… How do you feel about your team winning?" asked the woman. The man moved closer to her and started to talk about how it was a team effort and all that. As the man continued talking, Joel put his arm around her shoulder.

"Don't feel bad… no matter how they point you… You were the best out there," he said in a lower tone. "People here saw you surf and how great you're no matter what the judges said."

"I know… I just wanted to win because I wanted people to see that women and people like the boys can be good surfers if they get the chance." Ellie turns around and looks at him. "Never cross my mind to surf in a competition… I just wanted things to change here."

"And you just did that…" he turned his head to the side. "Look at all those people still saying your name and your teammate. Do you think that things will be the same after this? Now that people here saw what the boys and you did… they will make things change."

"I hope so… even if we didn't win." Ellie looks into his eyes. She definitely is going to miss him. But like people said… You need to let the person you love go. If that person goes back to you, that love is meant to be, if not then it wasn't for you. So Ellie just decides that if Joel doesn't say anything before she goes, then she will leave without saying anything. Both of them stay looking at each other's eyes, before the boys and the other move closer to them.

"Okay… now what?" asked Martin.

"We wait for the second-place team to be called up to the stage to get the trophy," said Joel while looking toward the stage where Team USA was ending his interview. He makes a little smile when he hears some people still 'booo' them and say that they are not the real winners.

Soon the winning team moves off the stage, showing their trophies, the woman judge moves up on the stage and asks for the microphone. "Que espectáculo damas y caballeros… Solo quiero añadir que este año las competencias fueron increíbles… por lo que vi todos dieron lo mejor de sí," she said while people yell in cheers. "Pero quiero dejarles saber que estoy realmente sorprendida de una joven mujer que dio todo lo mejor de sí y aun siendo su primera competencia nos sorprendió a todos… Y a pesar de que su equipo sólo perdió por 2 puntos Su puntuación fue una de las mejores." The woman turn her head and look toward the Ellie 's team where standing. "So, I want to congratulate you in person… Ellie Williams and her team members… Please come to the stage." Ellie and the rest of the group look toward the stage as soon as they hear the woman say her name and mention the team.

"What did she say?" said Paul with a surprised voice.

"Did she say that your score was one of the best?" said Robbie.

Ellie… Ellie… Ellie… Ellie… the women around them start to yell and even a few men too.

"Congratulations Ellie Williams… Can you and your team come here? A lot of fans want to see you," said the woman while looking toward her.

Ellie turns her head again and looks at Joel. "I don't understand we lost."

"Maybe the competition, but hear the people around you… Sometimes things happen that are better than winning... besides, you need to go there with your team to get your second-place trophy," said Joel as people continued cheering. "Now, all of you go up there… and talk to your new fans," he said while pushing Ellie forward, but Ellie quickly grabbed his arm.

"Oh… you came with us… all this was your idea and this is your team, not mine."

"Yeah Coach… this is you team… Ellie was just the captain, but you were the one that trained us." said Robbie while he and the other boys moved behind Joel and started to push him forward.

But before they move far, the coach of Team USA walks toward them with his boys behind him and a few other local people. "I told you Maverick… that even if you were famous 10 years ago you are not going to perform a miracle," said the couch as soon as they got closer to them.

"Yeah, your team of losers…" added his nephew who was carrying the winning trophy and showed it to them. "You never had any chance to win this."

"Looser? Did you see the score?" said Paul while moving closer to the young man. "Your team only wins by two points and if you see well… Ellie got a score better than you."

"Yeah… Ellie beat you and this was her first time in a competition… So what makes you?" added Robbie while moving forward with the rest of the boys.

Joel moved in front of the boys as soon as he saw the heat situation. "Look, we don't want any trouble here… you win, so why you not take your boys and go elsewhere to celebrate?"

"Yeah… you're right old man. We win, and that means that we win the bet too… So since neither of you is welcome here, who is not starting to pack your things and go?" said the young man.

Joel looked at his uncle with a serious expression. "Yeah we have a bet on this, but neither of us owns this beach so they can surf here if they want to…"

The judged woman and a few people on the stage look toward the situation. "Ellie Miller and her team… can you come to the stage?" she said again before calling for the two security men who were on the stage. "Vayan allá abajo y vean que está pasando… rápido." she said quickly.

Some of the local surfers move closer. "Si él tiene razón… Esta no es una playa privada, pero esta es nuestra isla… nosotros vivimos aquí así que la apuesta fue con nosotros también." said one of the local surfer that was friend with the coach of team USA.

"No him again…" said two of the boys while rolling their eyes.

Joel quickly move closer to him. "Si… sé que ustedes surfean aquí y al parecer controlan esta playa… pero si quieren llevar esto a lo legal podemos hacerlo. Pero estos muchachos solo están de vacaciones y surfear aquí es bueno para el turismo. En realidad quieren que su isla pierda dinero solo porque quieren controlar esta playa?"

The American man moved forward. "A bet is a bet man… and we win… so stop whining and go to get your second place trophy and get out of here," said the man while pointing his finger toward Joel. "As I said before we don't want losers like you here-" the man stops when the local surfer moves in front of him.

"Yes Mark we made that bet … but this boy and that woman are not losers." he started while Joel and the boys were surprised that the man could speak English. "The bet was that they have to win the right and the respect to surfing here," The man turns around and looks at Joel and the boys. "And I think that they did that today… even if they don't win."

The American man put his hand on his shoulder and made him look at him. "Are you serious bro? Are you going to let those losers surf here?" said Mark. "That girl too? What happens to girls who don't belong to this sport? Or did you forget all that bro?" said Mark with a furious tone.

"Sí hermano… todavía creo que este deporte no debería ser para mujeres… pero después de lo que vi hoy… creo que merecen una oportunidad," the man turned his head toward the stage where people there were looking at them. "I think it is time for them to get up there and us to leave. And for what I saw that girl and those boys earned my respect."

"Really?" said Robbie with a smile. "So we can come here to surf without any problem?"

"Yes… You can… all of you. Now go up there and get your trophy," said the man while extending his hand toward Joel. "I was a big fan of you… Man… glad to see you in our tournament again," he said as soon Joel took his hand to shake it. "Todavía no puedo creer que estuviste viviendo aquí todo este tiempo." he said with a smile.

"Really man?" Let's get out of here… boys," said Mark while looking at the rest of his team. As they walk away some of the local surfers and other people get close to them.

"Es verdad? ¿Tu eres el verdadero Maverick the international surfer champion?" some of the men start to ask.

After a few minutes, two security guys came alone and asked them if there were any problems there. But by the time they arrived the other team was gone. The two security guards told them that they would escort them to the stage, so they started to follow them. While Joel, Ellie, and the boys walk toward the stage. People continue to cheer for their team name. Soon all of them were there and received the second-place trophy they were received with a loud ovation and cheers. The woman judge moves Ellie to the front and starts to ask questions about how she feels, when she became a surfer, and for how long. Ellie tries to answer the best she can without telling too much about her personal life. After a few minutes, she calls Joel closer to her and thanks him for helping her and making her dream come true. People there start to cheer and yell their names as they get the trophy. Finally, the woman thanked Ellie for being an example for all women around here and for opening a door for them. After that, the boys and the rest walk out of the stage thanking people for their support.

"So all of you made it, even if you do not officially win, you get the respect you all deserve. Now all the people here will have a better chance to surf and be treated better…" said Joel with a smile.

"Yeah… and all that was thanks to you," said Ellie while moving close to Joel and hugging him. The other girls run toward them and hug their respective companions.

"Woohoooooo!" start to yell the boys as they cheer and jump happily.

Robbie turns around and sees his uncle and his girlfriend. "Well, what do you think? Do we do a great job here or not?" He showed him his trophy and smiled.

"I think you all did great… congratulations," he said before moving forward and hugging his nephew.

After a few minutes, Joel looked at all of them. "I think all of you deserve a celebration… and I know the perfect place for that," said Joel with a smile. After the competition ended people stayed around and enjoyed the party that continued after. Joel, Ellie, and the boys go back to pick up their things and boards and get out of there before more fans of Maverick start to jump at him asking for autographs or asking questions about surfing and what happened to him. Joel finds Rodrigo waiting for them and happy about the outcome of the competition. Joel invites him to the celebration dinner they will have later at night.

The boys go back to their hotel to change and clean up. While Ellie and Joel do the same. Soon all of them got ready. He takes them to a restaurant on the other side of the Island for a celebration dinner. The boy brought the girls with them and all of them got ready for a great night of celebration.

After the dinner was brought to their table, Joel stood up and looked at them. "I want to congratulate all of you for your dedication and effort to this competition… All of you make me feel proud even if I only help you for just a week. I see great potential in all of you… so continue practicing and enjoy this sport," he said with all of them looking at him proudly. "I know that you wanted to win… but getting second place in this competition was great and for what you did, now many local kids and girls can practice and surf here, so be proud of yourself." Joel raced his glass with coke. "Cheers… and enjoy the rest of your vacation here…"

All of them raised their glass and said at the same time. "Cheers!"

Ellie and the boys said a few words after that, most of them thanking Joel. So after that, all of them start to eat. One hour later the boys start dancing with their girls and even Robbie's uncle gets up and makes some moves to the dance floor. A few minutes later Joel gets up and goes to the balcony of the restaurant and starts looking toward the black ocean and the light reflected on from the moon.

Ellie walked toward him after finishing her dance with Rodrigo. "What are you thinking?" she asked as soon she stood beside him.

"A lot of things… I guess," he said while looking at the ocean.

"I bet, this was a crazy week… but I'm happy that you get out of your retirement to help those kids," she said without looking at him.

"Yeah… who would think… I will be able to do that… but it feels good to get back to the water," Joel turns his head and looks at her. "I guess that they need to thank you… for that."

Ellie turns her head too and looks at him. "I don't think that it was all because of me. I think that deep inside, you wanted to help them as much as you did for me."

"Well, in your case it was different… Who could resist you in that surfer suit or those bikinis you put on?" he said grimly.

"You pervert…" said Ellie while slapping his shoulder. "I knew it… You only helped me up only to see me in my bikini," she said with a smile. Both of them start to laugh a little. And after a few minutes, they go back to looking at the ocean. "So… what now? Are you going to go back to teach?"

Joel stayed looking at the ocean for a minute. Then he turned his head and looked at her. "I don't know… help you and the boys feel good, but it was for a good reason. I don't know if I could do that again on a regular basis."

Ellie looks back at the ocean. "What about us? Did you think about what you're going to do?"

Joel looked at her. "I don't think much about it… but now that this is over, maybe-" Joel started but was interrupted.

"Hey…" said Rodrigo as soon as he saw them on the balcony. "Sorry… no sabia que estaban aqui… hablando," he added before moving close to them and putting his hands on their shoulders.

"Esta bien… solo estábamos charlando un poco," Said Joel while looking at him."

"Espero… que ya hayan arreglado las cosas… entre ustedes… because she is a great dancer," he said with a drunken tone. "Sorry… I missed half of the tournament… but I had to help a friend and I got there late… But I saw when your team got the second-place trophy… and even that it was unfair… You should be proud."

"Don't worry about it we're… besides things end up better for the boys and me… even if we don't win the first place," Ellie starts but Rodrigo moves away from them.

Rodrigo looks at Ellie with a smile on his face. "You did great, girl… You should win… I hear a lot of people cheer at you… Great job," he moved forward and hugged her. "Thank you… for helping my… friend here… se que es un terco… pero es buena persona." A few tiers got out as he hugged her.

"Okay… old man," said Joel while putting one hand on the man's shoulder. "Creo que es hora de llevarte a casa," Said Joel before the old man moved away from Ellie.

"Estoy bien… aun podemos seguir festejando…"

"Estás seguro que estabas ayudando a un amigo? Because it seems that you were drinking before you get to the beach."

The man looks at Joel. "Solo bebimos algunas cervezas…" he said with a smile.

"Okay… creo que ya bebiste lo suficiente… my friend," Joel moved to his side and put his arm over his shoulder. "Como… let go."

"No… no, ustedes necesitan hablar y… festejar," said the old man while looking at them a little confused.

"Don't worry the party is over for me. It has been a long day," said Joel before looking toward Ellie.

"Do you want to stay with the boys?" he said looking toward them.

"No…" he said before looking at Ellie. "Ellie tells them that we're going… but they can stay if they want… the food and drinks from the dinner are paid, but if they want something extra is on them."

"You're not going to say goodbye to them?" asked Ellie.

"I will as soon as I get Rodrigo to the car," he answers while walking toward the exit.

"Okay…" Ellie walked toward the table where two of the boys and the girl were sitting. She told them that they needed to take Rodrigo back home. So if they wanted to stay and continue with the celebration they could stay. Ellie didn't tell them either that she was going back to the US tomorrow morning, because she did not want Joel to know. So she said goodbye to all of them without making any suspicion. She asked for their phone number and gave them here to talk to later. A few minutes later Joel showed up and said goodbye too and invited them to come to his house later on the week.

Soon they get out of the restaurant, and Joel and Ellie take Rodrigo back to his house, Joel quickly takes him to his room. Ellie picks up a few things she left there when she was staying at his house. Soon they are ready and Joel walks out of the house, Ellie quickly goes to Rodrigo's room and says goodbye to him. She promised to write as soon as she got back to the US, but he was so drunk that he probably didn't remember anything in the morning. She hated to leave like that but it was the only way to do this. So she just kisses him on the cheek and thanks him for everything. After that, they got back to Joel's house.

"Are you okay? You haven't said much since we got out of the restaurant," he said as soon as they got inside the house.

Ellie put her things on the kitchen tables and turned around to look at him. She wants to tell him how much she loves him and asks him to come with her, but maybe it is better this way. After a few minutes of silence, she walked toward him and put her arm around his shoulder.

"Make love… to me," she said before moving her head forward and kissing him.

Joel moves his hand behind her and pulls her close as they kiss. "Are you sure about it? You're not tired?" asked Joel as soon as the kiss ended. "We can do it tomorrow… now that the competition is over we can have some time for ourselves."

"No… let's do it now…" she said before kissing him again.

"Okay…" Joel quickly moves his hands under her legs and picks her up. Ellie crosses her legs on his back and holds tight while Joel walks toward the bedroom.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Joel asked again before entering his room.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I will take this as an extra winning prize…" and as a goodbye too. She said the last part to herself.

"I think you deserve more than just sex…" said Joel while laying her on the bed.

"Just… make love to me… Joel," she said before pulling him toward her body and starting to kiss him again. They have sex for a few hours before Joel falls asleep. Ellie did not want to leave him like this, but it was better for both of them. Joel is not ready to have a relationship with a younger woman or leave this island and she has a life back in the USA so this will not work and it will end badly if they try.

A few hours later Ellie was seated on the edge of the bed looking at Joel's sleeping body. The room was dark, but the moon was still up and his light illuminated the room a little. A tear went down her cheek as she moved up from bed and started to get ready to go. She only needs to pack what she leaves in the kitchen and change. After that, she was ready to go.

After half an hour, Ellie called Robbie and asked him if he could take her to the small airport in the north part of the island. She explains to the boy that she has a flight back to the US and needs someone to take her there. Soon the boy asks why Joel doesn't take her there, and Ellie tells him that she did not want him to know. The boy quickly starts to argue with her, but after Ellie talks to him and asks for the favor he agrees to take her to the small airport. Soon all was ready Ellie went back to the room to see Joel one last time.

Ellie stands on the side of the bed looking down at him. More tears go down her cheeks as she watches him sleep. Going like this is breaking her heart, but it was better this way than to wake him up and start to be disgusted all this again. So after a few minutes, she bent down and kissed his cheek softly. Goodbye… Joel… thank you for everything… You made me change a few things on me and helped me to open my heart again. I hope I did the same for you… and I hope that someday you find peace and someone to love. Ellie slowly moves away from the bed and walks out of the room with tears in her eyes. Soon she gets to the living room, Ellie grabs her things and gets out of the house.

20 minutes later Robbie showed up in his rental car. Ellie told him to stop the car at the entrance of his property so Joel wouldn't wake up from the sound of the car. Soon Ellie saw the car in the distance, she walked toward him. Soon Ellie gets closer to the car passenger door, she looks at the boy.

"Thanks for doing this for me… I know it was a lot to ask… so thank you," Ellie walked to the back door and put her luggage on the back seat. Then she moved to the passenger door again and opened it. Soon Ellie goes inside and sits looking toward Joel's house.

The boy looked at her with sad eyes. "Are you sure about doing this? I mean… I know this is not my business, but I know that it was something between you two… So why do you stay and talk so you can resolve whatever happens between you two?"

Ellie stayed silent for a minute. "Sorry for putting you in the middle of this, but Joel and I… I don't think it will work… it has been too much in our past and… and I think it is better to leave this way," she said a little sadly.

The boy looks at her. "I don't think this is the right way to do this… but it is your decision." Robbie looks at the house before putting the car in reverse and starting to drive away.

"Thank you… and I will call him when I get back to the USA, but right now I need to go." Robbie noodle and continue driving. On the way to the airport. Ellie stays looking out of the car window imagining that this will probably be the last time she will enjoy the island view.

One hour later they arrived at the small airport. "Thanks for bringing me here… and helping me I really appreciated it," said Ellie before opening the door and going out. She got logged out and walked toward the boy who was now out of the car. "Thanks, Robbie… it was a pleasure to spend some time with you and your friends," she said before hugging him.

"Yeah… it was a pleasure for us too," he said while hugging her. "I wish you a good flight back… and thank you for helping us with the surfing… we should not have made it if it wasn't for you and Joel," he said before moving away from her.

"It was our pleasure… said goodbye to the other for me… okay? And promise me that you will not call Joel and tell him… I will talk to him as soon as I can… okay?" she said while looking at his eyes.

"I promise… but I still think that you are making a mistake… I saw you two for the past week and I know how good you're together… I know that all this probably is because of the age difference, but I think you two could work on that."

"Thank you… You're really sweet Robbie… But it is okay." she said sadly. "Anyway, I wish you the best for you and your friend. Have fun… and enjoy the rest of your stay here… this is a beautiful island."

"Yes… it is. Good luck."

"Thanks"

After giving the boy a little kiss on the cheek, Ellie starts walking toward the small terminal. The boy waved his hand before going to the car and driving away. Ellie looks at the small plane that will take her to the main island where she needs to get her flight back to the USA. soon she gets her papers ready, she gets in line with the group of passengers that are going out of the island too. Soon Ellie was in her seat and the plane was ready to take off. She looked out of the window and saw that the sun was starting to get up on the horizon. She looks outside, imagining Joel arriving there and stopping the plane, but as the plane starts to move faster and take off she knows that it is too late for that. A few minutes later the plane was in the air and over the ocean. Ellie gives it one last look at the island behind her letting out another tier.

"Goodbye Joel… Thank you for this Lovely Summer…"

The end…