“That was real fun, Reg," Jules said as she tied her hair back up before heading out the door.

“Does that mean we can see each other again?" Reg asked eagerly.

“Let's not get ahead of ourselves, sweetie," Jules replied, and kissed his cheek before departing with a giggle. “‘See each other again.' I almost feel sorry for him."

As Jules made her way back to her house, she noticed a familiar, purple-haired Troll holding a surfboard up in front of him. Curious, she snuck up to him to figure out what was going on.

“I don't want to sell you either, Princess," Spruce said to his surfboard, “but I gotta get the heck off this island. I know. I'll miss you, too. But who knows? Maybe you'll find someone better than me. A professional surfer. Someone who actually has their life figured out."

“Are you talking to yourself?" Jules interrupted.

“Go away, Jules," Spruce said, ignoring her. Jules refused to leave, and, instead, noticed words carved into the board's fin.

“‘If found, please return to...'" she read quietly, before her eyes widened in realization. “Hey! You are Spruce from BroZone!"

Spruce sighed. “No. Or, at least, not anymore."

Jules scoffed. “I can't believe Brandy would lie to me! She's the only friend I don't trash talk to my other friends. Mostly because I could never find anything wrong with her."

“You could say she dated a former heartthrob who let himself go," Spruce suggested miserably.

“I could," she said, “but that just makes you look bad."

“You may as well. We broke up last night."

“What?! Why?!" Jules exclaimed in disbelief.

“Now, don't get me wrong," he explained. “I love Brandy. Hair, I loved her since the moment I met her. But I think we were just fooling each other. I made her think she could have a cooking career, and I thought she saw me as more than the Heartthrob. Besides, even if we tried to... Well, you know... there's no way it would've worked."

Jules thought about this for a moment and said, “Why did you leave BroZone in the first place?"

“Because I hated how I was treated," Spruce answered. “By the media... the fans... John Dory... All the exploitation, all those Trolls constantly fawning over me... It was all too much for me. I hoped if I left home for a while, things would be different."

“Well, aren't things different here?"

“Not really" he admitted. “That concierge at the hotel stares at me like a basket of fruit, and everyone else still thinks I'm Bruce. If they knew the truth, I would never hear the end of it."

“Brandy knows who you are and doesn't treat you that way," Jules pointed out. “You listen to me, pal. In all the years I've known her, I have never in my life seen Brandy as happy as she had been for the past month, and she made you happy, too. Most people may never be that happy. I'll never be that happy! And it wasn't Spruce the Heartthrob who made her that happy. It was Bruce, the guy who gave her something to look forward to."

Spruce thought about this for a moment, then said, “Maybe you're right. She's the only person I've met who knows I'm Spruce... or, at least, I used to be... but hasn't made a big deal about it."

“Exactly," Jules replied. “Brandy loves you for who you are, whoever that is. So, if I were you, I'd consider myself extremely lucky to have someone like her in my life."

Spruce looked down in thought, and finally made a decision. He picked up his surfboard, and headed for the surf shop.

🌊🏝️🌺🍹🦩🍍🌊🏝️🌺🍹🦩🍍

“Well, Brenda, it's been nice working with you," Steffie said as Brandy returned her work uniform.

“For literally the last time, my name is not Brenda," she corrected her former coworker.

“I just wish Spruce didn't have to check out of the hotel," Steffie groaned. “He was so perfect and made my job so much more bearable."

“Yeah, too bad," Brandy muttered sarcastically with tears in her eyes. “I guess we'll just have to live with it."

“By the way, some guy named Bruce told me to give this to you," Steffie added, giving Brandy an envelope before walking away. Inside was a note and name tag with her name and a chef's hat doodled on it.

Brandy blinked in confusion. But then, she heard a familiar voice singing in the distance.

Moments... they've been everything

And just like magic, can make the whole world sing

That look in your eyes

Oh, the joy it brings

When I hold you... and you hold me

I know I'm not, not who I used to be

But we carry so much history

Put up my sails and I rode the wind

That led me here to you, I'd do it all again

As he sang, Spruce briefly peeked out from behind a palm tree to see if Brandy was still there. The moment she noticed him, he began walking away, silently hoping she would follow him.

I know it won't always be the same

Feelings don't change, they never fade away

When you're far from home, it's hard to know the way

But it's right there inside...

Just as Spruce had hoped, Brandy followed him all the way to the highest point of the sand castle. Once they both made it, he finally turned around to face the Islander he loved so much and was finally ready to pour out his heart and soul to her.

When you need direction

Look to the stars

If you don't know where you're heading

Follow your heart

When you're lost I will guide you

I'm right there beside you

Like a map of your memories

And just like a compass

That leads the way

We may take the long road

But I'll never fade

When you're lost I will guide you

Oh, tell me you'll try to

Remember on the darker days

Love is a compass...

Once he finished the song, Spruce took a deep breath and said, “I... I understand if you don't want me in your life anymore, but you will always be a part of mine. I admit, I there are things I regret saying when I left my brothers, and I'll probably never get a chance to fix it, but I don't want to make that mistake with you."

Brandy silently nodded as she carefully scooped him up off the ground and held him close to her face.

“I'll be honest with you," he continued. “You not understanding isn't the only reason we couldn't work. But there is one reason why we do. We've brought out the best in each other. I saw your potential, you saw a part of me I didn't know existed, and I could never be more grateful for that."

“You're welcome."

Spruce chuckled before gently placing his hand on her giant upper lip.

“Before I leave you be, there's one thing I need to know," he said. “Even if I wasn't a heartthrob with exquisitely chiseled rock-hard abs, if I told you to... never call me Spruce again... would you have still wanted me around? Would you have wanted Bruce?"

Brandy smiled at him. “Bruce, Spruce... I love you, whoever you are," she declared. “And if you decided not to leave the island... would you have taken me as I am? A socially awkward bartender who dreams too big for her own good?"

“Only if you took me as I am," Spruce answered, then rubbed his tummy with his free hand. “All of me."

Brandy giggled and the two of them lovingly gazed into each other's eyes. Spruce carefully grabbed the sides of Brandy's mouth and delicately placed his lips against hers. Her mouth was bigger than his body, but her lips were just the right amount of soft. Brandy pulled away gently and they stared at each other once again.

“Please don't leave me, Bruce," Brandy whispered as she held the Troll close to het chest.

“I won't," he promised, giving her a hug. And I am never calling myself Spruce again.

And that's how they fell in love. 💗

I almost wanna continue this, but what more can I do? I can't write the births of their thirteen kids, because I only know the names of six.

Leave your thoughts down below! 🌈