Chapter 1: The promise

Amari POV:

I must have dozed off because I felt a pair of hands wearing cold metallic rings touch my shoulder tenderly. Looking up I find myself staring at his silhouette 

"Hey sweetheart" I can't see his face but I know his smiling

"Ahhh you touched me," I say almost screaming but I close my mouth shut. He places his finger against his face as he peels back to stand straight

"Sorry, I'm just so excited you've never done that," I say softly. Shadow is a boy I met a couple of months ago every since then he's been coming over and reading me stories. He doesn't know it yet but in the future, he's going to be my boyfriend 

"And I'll never do it again but I know how much you wanted to talk so I woke you," he says his voice suddenly deep. He must also be growing up too

"Your voice is getting deeper," I say smiling and he grunts 

"Yeah, I guess," he says nodding his head. Today for some reason he smells like the way my mother's car smells when something is broken and there's just smoke coming out of it 

"Hey uhm sir can I ask you something," I ask shyly. Playing with my bedding I try to stop the anxiety climbing out of me. Shadow doesn't like it when I ask questions but I'm just too curious now 

"Sure," he says sitting on the pink plush couch that faces my bed 

"Promise you won't get mad," I say gripping onto the comforter. He nods urging me to ask my question

"I've known you for a while now is it possible for me to know your name "I hid my face from him and I wait for his reaction

"Calm down sweetheart I won't yell okay " he says and I pull the comforter away from my face and he sighs clearing his throat

"Sweetheart, look I can't exactly do that," he says sternly shifting in his seat 

"Why not " I squeak out

"Well sweetheart today will be the last day I can come to visit you," he says and my heart breaks. He can't- he can't leave me

"No" I almost yell but I try to calm myself down so my parents don't wake up 

"Sweethe-" I cut him off hitting my bed in frustration 

"No, you can't" I sob I hate ugly crying but he can't leave me 

"Sweetheart loo-"

"No, I refuse you can't leave me you said we'll be together forever" I sniffle wiping my tears and nose

"And we will sweetheart I just need to take care of some business," he says trying to calm me down but I can't be calm. He is my boyfriend he promised me forever like the princes in my bedtime books

"But you can't leave me" I sob wiping my tears and trying to blink away the blurriness

"Let's make a promise," he says leaning forward and I nod wanting him to carry on

"How about this? I'll come back if you haven't had a boyfriend, haven't kissed anyone, and haven't lost your virginity by the age of 18 and if you've kept your end of the bargain. I'll be back. Just know I'll always be looking after you" he says softly

"You promise" I sniffle

"I promise," he says leaning back into the couch

"Uhm sir what's virginity, " I ask and he chuckles

"Uhm sweetheart you'll find out after some time," he said and I just nodded. Whatever it is he must take it seriously 

"Uhm can you at least watch me sleep tonight" I say yawning. I have school tomorrow and I guess my sugar high is getting to me 

"Anything for you" With that I smile sweetly staring at his silhouette. My eyes start getting heavy and I fall asleep instantly. Today is my last day seeing him but all I have to do is keep the promise 

Shadow POV:

Flashback

"Fuck man I got shot" Daniel grunts holding the bloody wound on his abdomen.

"Shit dude, okay fine we will need to spilt up to distract them lay low for a while I'll do the same " Before he could say something we hear the guys chasing us come our way, we give each other a look we know all to well

"See you on the other side brother "

"See you on the other side " Quickly nodding we head our separate ways. One of the men hot on my tail, I run down a neighborhood. A window is open, giving it no thought I run towards it jumping through and closing it shut. Breathing heavily I sigh looking around my gaze stops at a little girl, her mouth starts to part

"Shhhh don't scream, please" I try to consult her in the dark.

"What are you doing in my room" she whispers

"I uhm well I wanted to keep you safe from bad men that might want to come into your room during the night" I sigh sitting down on the couch

"Oh okay "she nods sweetly

"Well I have school in the morning," she says refusing to let silence take over

"How old are you " I quiz

"I'm 8 and a half," she says proudly I can't help but smile

"Well can I stay here and I'll leave later," I ask I hope she says yes, or else I'm screwed

"On one condition," she says smiling

"You become my boyfriend", If I were drinking water right now I would have spat it out

"I'm sorry what " I gap

"Most of the girls in my class have boyfriends but no one seems to like me in that way " she pouts

"Well I'm sorry to hear that you seem like a great girl," I say looking around her dark room for any other little girl or boy I need to worry about

"So that's a yes," she asked

"Well uhm I-" but she cuts me off jumping up and down her bed

"Be careful it's dark You might fall and hurt yourself" she starts getting down and she covers herself with her comforter. She rests her head on the pillow and then she yawns

"Goodnight Shadow" she softly says. My heart warms at her nickname

"Goodnight, tsvetok" I smile

End of flashback

I knew then that what I was doing was wrong 

That's why I decided to walk away from her today and wait until she's old enough for me to be with her. As much as she thinks I'm hers...she's mine.

Watching her sleep I find myself smiling I'm going to miss her. I head out the window and I walk down the street towards my car. Starting the engine I head home

Bye Amari