promises

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or KH.

Hayner had never believed in fairy tale promises. Sure, they always worked out in the stories, but no way would that turn out right in real life. He had seen proof of it – Sora and Kairi. He remembered the redhead girl talking to Olette, telling her, "We made a promise. I don't remember it all...but I know it was important." Then that other guy showed up, Axel, and look what happened to Kairi's promise.

Hayner could never forget the look on Sora's face when he found out. And then Kairi had gotten into even more trouble. What had happened then, he didn't know, but knowing those two, it wouldn't be anything good.

Nothing good came out of fairy tale promises. That's why, when Olette had to leave, Hayner was dreading the goodbyes for more than one reason. Her parents were transferring, riding on the train to another town, he supposed (having never really been outside of town, himself, except to go to the beach). And Olette had to go with them.

It was the day of the goodbye party, the day that she would leave. Everybody stood around her; Pence, looking worried and trying to reassure her; Hayner, trying to act like he didn't care (but you can't fool Olette); and even Seifer's gang, standing there a little awkwardly. Olette was giving hugs to everybody.

She started off with Fuu, who looked surprised at the affection; the two hardly knew each other. After she released the violet-haired girl, she stooped down and hugged little Vivi. Next was Rai; the big, bulky guy looked surprised as petite Olette embraced him. Seifer was standing back even from his gang, but he earned a hug from her, too, whether he wanted it or not. Hayner could tell she was waiting for her friends at the end.

She walked over to Pence and hugged him fiercely, and Hayner noticed that she handed him a note. Then it was over to Hayner. He looked in the other direction while his best friend embraced him, and then she handed him a note, too. He looked down at it, but didn't read it. She came over to the train and nobody spoke.

"I'll miss you guys," Olette said finally, her green eyes a little watery. "But I'll come back for weekends and in the summer and as often as I can."

Fuu was looking down at her hands. "Good luck," she managed, before turning away. Vivi just nodded, apparently agreeing with the girl. Rai grunted. "See you then, ya know?" Seifer merely looked at her, as if trying to preserve the sight in his memory.

Pence snapped a dozen pictures as they waited for the train. When it was time to leave, Olette stood near the edge. "I'll come back! As often as I can!"
Hayner was staring straight ahead. Please don't let her say it, no, don't let her...

"I promise!" The conductor was looking at her impatiently. Her friend's brown eyes met her green orbs.

"'Bye," Hayner said gruffly, waving. She knew what he meant. As the train rode off into the distance, Pence looked down at his note.

"Aren't you going to read yours?" he asked, looking at Hayner with a sideways glance. But he just shook his head.

"I don't believe in fairy tale promises," he muttered, and walked away, leaving Olette's note falling into the dust behind him.

A/N: I bet you didn't expect a Haynette with the title being "promises", huh? I figured I'd try something different with the title.