The Promise

by BaNanaKittie

Max and Fang were best friends when they were little, and she made a promise to him that he didn't think she could keep. As the years passed, Fang started doing bad things, and their friendship was severed. But when Fang is in danger, will Max be able to keep her promise? And even if she does, will their friendship die or be reborn? Rated T for... well you'll know if you read.

1. Prologue

Prologue

Max

"Fang…" she said softly as they sat together in a tree. They were both 9 years old, neighbors and best friends. She took his hand in hers, smiling, and looked at the setting sun. He looked at her as the sun set and she looked at him. He was so… cute. He had long dark hair that was brushed neatly to one side. His eyes, if possible, were even darker, with flecks of gold and brown in them. He had lightly tanned skin and almost never smiled- which was what made Max feel so lucky to be his friend.

Whenever they were together, he smiled.

Max looked back at the sunset and leaned on his shoulder. "Fang," she said again, "I want to vow something to you." He looked at her. Max sighed. She knew he probably wasn't prepared for this. He probably thought it was a usual thing, like 'I promise to pay you back that nickel I owe you.' Taking a deep breath she continued. "I don't want to be the Damsel in Distress, like in princess stories. I want to promise you something I'm sure no other girl would ever promise. Whenever you're in trouble or danger, I promise I'll be there for you. I'll take a bullet for you."

Fang stared at her. What she just said was completely random, completely out of the blue. She knew it. She knew Fang knew. She heard his voice and could tell from the tone that he hadn't expected it- she didn't think he would expect it. "W-what do you mean? Max, for one thing, that was totally pointless, and for another, there's no way you can keep that promise."

"But it wasn't pointless." She replied. "You know how Gazzy di…"her voice trailed off and the words caught in her throat at the thought of another of her close friends who'd died in a fire a few months ago. Fang nodded, as though telling her that she needn't finish that thought. She nodded as well and said, "Well, I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I wasn't there for him. I can't let somebody die like that again, especially not you."

She felt heat rising to her cheeks as she spoke these words. She liked Fang a lot. He knew she liked him, but she still felt slightly nervous and embarrassed when she brought it up. "I just feel like I need to promise you this. I can't lose another friend and not be there to help." Fang nodded and said, "Same to you."

Fang

Fang nodded and said, "Same to you." It was only half-hearted though. They were only nine, and this was totally out of the blue. He didn't think there was any possible way she could keep that promise, and he didn't think she'd try. However, it sort of unnerved him at how serious she'd been when she said it. What if she really meant it?

He had looked away from her but he suddenly looked back at her. She was staring at where the sun had just set, tears silently streaming down her face. He was sure it was because of speaking about Gazzy. He put his arm around her shoulders, allowing her to lean against him, suppressing the urge to scream, "EW! SHE HAS COOTIES!"

He soon realized that she had fallen asleep, snuggled against his chest. Sighing, he gently shook her. She jumped and said, "Oh, um, sorry." Fang nodded and said, "I was just going to say we should go home. Our parents won't be happy with us being outside so late." Max nodded and jumped down from the tree with Fang following.

Fang waved to her as he went to the right to his house as she went to the left to hers. She waved back and he noticed that she wouldn't look him in the eye like she usually did. He assumed she was just tired and went inside, brushing off that night's events and falling asleep.