You Promised
By: Sally White

Imagine Person A is in a marching band and is performing in a holiday parade. Person B sadly states that they cannot make it to watch the parade but wishes Person A good luck. Near the end of the parade route Person A happens to scan the crowd, only to see Person B waving and smiling as Person A finishes the march.

"But you promised!"

Phineas sighed as he watched his neighbor's eyes fill up with tears that she tried desperately to hold back. But he knew better. Years of being her friend had gotten him to notice all of her different moods, the way her tone and body language changed whenever her moods switched. And this one did not go unnoticed by him.

"I'm sorry, Isabella…but I don't think I'll be able to make it."

He shoved his hands in his pockets, frowning deeply. He hated it when she was upset, and hated it even more when he was the one to make her upset.

"You promised," she said softly, looking away from him as her hands turned into fists at her side. "It's the last competition of the year, Phineas. We're going all the way to Mount Rushmore to play. All of the schools in our level are going to be there to compete for that trophy." She looked up at him, gulping to once again try to keep her tears back. "You promised that you would come…I really need the support."

The red-head bit his tongue to keep from protesting against her words. She was right, of course. She always was. She knew as well as he knew her, maybe even more so. So she knew how much this was hurting him too.

"I'm sorry…but I can't go."

Isabella took in a sharp breathe, her eyes narrowing as she fought against her emotions. "Fine, then." She stomped out of his backyard, slamming the gate as she left.

He winced when she did this, then leaned against the tree and slid down until he was sitting on the ground. He brought his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, burying his face in his sleeves.

He hated this. Hated letting anyone down, especially her. She was so special to him, probably the most important person in his life. He cared about her so deeply, and he knew how much this competition meant to her.

He and Isabella were only sophomores in high school and she had been promoted to vice captain of the flag girls that marched with their school's marching band. They had won every flag award this year, and she had been a big part in bringing home those trophies. He had been to every single parade they had marched in, no matter how far away. He had turned 16 and had his licence now, so he usually took one of his parents' cars to go. And tomorrow was the last, and biggest, competition.

And he couldn't go, despite promising that he would.

Candace just had to choose tomorrow to come visit from college. He would have been excited to see her if only tomorrow wasn't such a big day for his best friend. He felt like he was letting the ebony-haired girl down, and he could not stand it.

He sighed as he pulled his legs tighter into him. This was going to be a long night.

They were in the last lap of the parade and Isabella had never been so ready for something to end. She was cold, exhausted, and upset.

True to his word, Phineas hadn't been able to come. He usually came by before the parade to wish her luck when he did come to watch, but he hadn't been there this morning. And she hadn't seen him anywhere in the crowd as the parade went on.

Her heart sank as she caught the flag and tossed it up again to flip it around a few times. She had really been hoping that he would come anyways. They were best friends, had been since they were kids, and they always supported each other no matter what. But she hadn't even gotten so much as a text from him yet today. And that really hurt her.

As they came to the final lap of the parade, the band proudly playing out Barnum and Bailey as they went along, Isabella could see the banner that would signal the end of this. They got closer, and Isabella squinted her eyes. She gasped, her eyes suddenly going wide again.

There he was! It was Phineas, waving and grinning at her just beyond the last banner! And not just him, but Ferb and the Fireside girls and Buford and Baljeet—and Candace! Everyone was there for her, cheering her on. She felt happy tears coming to her eyes, and she finished the parade stronger than she ever had before.

After she and the rest of the flag squad had put their flags away she ran to find everyone. Phineas met her halfway, wrapping his arms tightly around her as she threw her arms around his neck. "You came!" she breathed, rapidly blinking away her tears.

"I promised, didn't I?" he murmured back to her, rubbing her back. He pulled away from him to smile warmly at her, reaching up to gently wipe away her tears. She gave him a warm smile in return right before everyone else pulled her away from him to give her congratulations and hugs.

But the eye contact between the two was never broken.

Nothing else had to be said.

He had promised.