The Promise

Sitting on her creaky bed in the basement, Star stared down at her mother's necklace. It was a silver crescent moon that was given to her the day her mother died, and Star had not taken it off since. Whenever life was getting to her, or she started feeling anxious, she always grabbed the necklace with her hand. Almost like she was holding her mother's hand. And today, however weak it sounded to her, Star needed that touch.

"Wait! I wanna go to Camp Green Lake, too!" Star heard her words like they were yesterday; the words she spoke in that courtroom, all eyes on her. "With Stanley!"

"Ms. Sirius, I don't think you should be-"

"Excuse my rudeness, your honor, but I think this is the right call!"

There had not been many times in Star's life where she had raised her voice. But after learning who the boy she bumped into truly was - the boy she practically helped get sneakers dropped onto his head - she couldn't seem to stop herself.

"Okay… Go on, Star."

"W-Well, I helped Stanley steal the shoes. We're partners in crime here. A-And, personally, I believe that we shouldn't get different punishments for…for the same crime."

"Even though I respect your loyalty, I still don't see why you seem to want to stay with your 'partner in crime' so badly. Especially going to Camp Green Lake with him; that's an all-boys camp, you know."

"Yes, I… I do understand that, yet…" Star could still see Stanley's shocked and scared eyes staring into hers as she spoke her next words. "You see, your honor, I was the one who dragged Stanley into this mess. So, if anything, I'm more guilty than he is. This is my fault, and I would want nothing more than to receive the same punishment as him for my choices. I just feel it isn't right."

Because, honestly, it wasn't.

None of what Star and Stanley were going through was right.

But, at least, Star thought, they'd have each other.

"Your honor," Star looked back at the eyebrow-raised man, "please let me do this. I don't care how harsh the camp is, or how boy-filled it is. I just rightfully want the same treatment as Stanley… And, I mean, if it works for stubborn boys, why shouldn't it work for a stubborn girl too?"

And the rest was history.

Star was switched out of her girl's camp and into Camp Green Lake. Don't let her confident facade fool you, though: she was as nervous as a bunny standing there, being the center of everyone's attention. She was so frazzled by her own embarrassing actions that, immediately after signing her papers, she made a bee-line to the door before Stanley could say anything to her. So now, only Star was a mystery to Stanley. But to Star, Stanley was practically like an old friend.

She still couldn't believe that that boy was the Stanley Yelnats. Like, the Stanley Yelnats that she heard stories about from her mother - the one with a family curse like no other.

But yet… That story was exactly why Star chose this course.

Her great grandfather stole a treasure chest full of the Yelnant's gold, and she wanted nothing more than to possibly help him find it. More so, Camp Green Lake was situated right on the place that Kissing Kate Barlow's school used to be, and where the Warden's granddaughter still lived! It was like going to some ancient, beautiful, famous landmark or something! Star hated to admit it, but a third of her was excited to go. Kate may have even buried the treasure around there, so that was even better for her and Stanley's luck. Camp Green Lake may have been for troubled boys, but it held such rich history and lore in it that Star's optimistic attitude only strengthened.

Don't get her wrong again, however. She was worried for her and Stanley's future at that unknown camp; and even though she cared more about Stanley's well-being than anything, Star wouldn't let Stanley be alone

She would stay by his side, whatever the cost.

They would stick together.

For his sake.

"I guess it's time to go…" Star ultimately muttered as she dropped her necklace back to her chest. "The bus should be picking me up any- Fido! Oh, Jaq and Gus! Get outta there!"

Squeak! All three rodents protested instantly after Star picked them out from her backpack. They had been trying to sneak in all day, but Star wouldn't let them to their utter annoyance.

"It's very sweet of you to want to come, but Camp Green Lake is no place for you three," Star tried to reason with them. She cupped Fido the prairie-dog in her hands and showed him a sad look. "You belong here where your homes are. And don't you know what's out there in the desert? Rattlesnakes. Lizards. Animals that could hurt or even kill you… I couldn't live with myself if that happened."

Squeak, squeak! This time, only Jaq and Gus protested. But their squeaks were much softer. Kinder. They buried themselves within Star's neck, telling her through touch exactly what they were trying to say. Even Fido joined in by jumping up and licking her face, making the girl let out a bashful giggle.

"Oh, you three…" Star sighed with content. "You really wanna come with? Even if it's dangerous?"

Squeak!

"Even if it's hot and uncomfortable?"

Squeak!

"Even if I'm gonna have to hide you from everyone else?"

Squeak!

"Even if you don't get as much fresh food as here?"

Squeak, squeak! And with that final squeak, Star's walls of resistance finally fell down.

"Oh, fine…" Star brought over her backpack. "Get in, you three. Don't make too much noise."

Almost like to prove Star's correct decision, neither of the rodents made a single sound as they climbed into the backpack. WIthin, Star didn't have many things that stood out: a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb, a few hair ties, sunscreen, first-aid kit, and even a pill-bottle full of birth-control. Surprisingly, Mrs. Sirius had bought her it to combat her periods so Star wouldn't have to worry about it. No pads or tampons for her, which was honestly a great relief. She'd have to thank the woman again before she left.

Why Mrs. Sirius had done something so thoughtful, Star did not know.

All she knew was…it deserved her full appreciation.

"Star…! The bus is here!" she heard Mrs. Sirius yell from upstairs right after she zipped up her backpack, making a determined look form in her eyes.

"Okay…" She slipped on her backpack. "Let's do this."


There were only four people on the bus that afternoon: Stanley, Star, the bus driver, and a very scary sunglasses-man with a gun. The ride itself was awkward, quiet, and above all else, tense. Both of the newest "campers" had their backpacks situated on their laps, their arms hugging it to their chests. Their clothes, plus what was whatever in these backpacks, were the closest thing they had to home.

At the moment, these non-living items were their sanity.

The one thing that reminded them that not everything was new and scary.

Regardless of the anticipation, though, the innocent girl named Star could barely contain the smile on her face once they finally reached the desert. There was absolutely nothing for miles among miles, and just thinking that Stanley's buried treasure could be somewhere out there, only made her excitement grow. It had taken till she was a teenager, but Star Sirius was finally where all her childhood stories took place. And she could have even been in the place…where she would make some memorable stories for herself.

Ones with happy endings, though, hopefully.

"Hey…" Just then, Star abruptly heard a now familiar voice to her left. She turned her head away from the window to see Stanley sitting across from her, a small smile on his round face. This was the first time they had spoken the entire bus ride, and unbeknownst to Star, the reason being was that Stanley took that long to think of something to say to her. Heh, and 'hey' was what he came up with. "What's… What's your name?"

"Star Sirius," Star replied, totally not noticing his nervous attitude. She merely smiled her kind smile at him, acting completely oblivious to her current knowledge of him. "And what's your name?"

"S-Stanley… Stanley Yelnats," Stanley said, causing Star to smile even brighter and hold out her hand to him.

"Well, Stanley Yelnats, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"Mine too," Stanley muttered with a few stunned-blinks, but shook Star's hand nevertheless. It wasn't that she scared him, it was more like he had never met anyone like her. Ever since the day those shoes fell on them both, Stanley couldn't stop thinking about this girl he now knew was named Star. Of course, he was worried about the threat of jail-time, but…his infatuation with her was somehow more powerful than that fear. Especially when, three weeks later, she unexpectedly showed up at his court-meeting and declared that they'd stay together. Furthermore, her hand was soft yet rough; gentle yet firm; unknown yet…familiar. And after they had finished their handshake, the gun-man staring at them quizzically, Stanley finally had the courage to ask his question. "So, uhm… Can I ask you something, Star?"

"Of course!" Star chirped. "Ask away, Stanley."

W-Wow…

Stanley had barely ever talked to girls before.

Particularly ones that acted so cheerful in the face of him and their predicament.

"Why…did you do what you did?" Stanley ultimately asked, his skeptical eyes staring into Star's curious ones. "I-I mean, no offense, but you don't even know me. And why would you risk going to some all-boys camp for…for me?"

"Ah, yes… That is a very good question," Star remarked as a sheepish smile formed on her face. All that confidence Stanley saw in that courtroom vanished, leaving the truer, gentler Star behind. "Stanley, the truth is I… I feel very guilty about what happened."

Stanley blinked. "What…?"

"The shoes: me bumping into you, them falling onto our heads. I-I mean, if I hadn't so rudely bumped into you the way I did, you wouldn't have been in this predicament." Stanley's eyes widened at Star's very…selfless words. "What I said in that courtroom is the truth, Stanley. We deserve the same punishment, even if we didn't actually do it; and especially since we both didn't do it, and it's my fault you were sent to Camp Green Lake, it wouldn't be fair if I got sent to some girls camp. Whatever happens to you here, I… I deserve the same punishment - maybe even worse."

More so, Star couldn't help but feel guiltier at the fact of…her lineage. Her great grandfather stole the Yelnats' money, leaving him alone and poor. So again, if there was somehow she could help Stanley get it back, Star would do anything to do so.

"You… You, uh, don't have to blame yourself for this." But when Stanley stammered out these words, it was Star's turn for her eyes to widen. "Y'know, however weird it sounds, it's probably because of my weird family curse that those shoes were dropped on me."

Family curse.

The Yelnats' infamous Family Curse.

Oh, it would have probably been such a shock to Stanley how normal-sounding that Family Curse was to Star.

"Mommy, can you tell me a little bit more about the man Kate and great grandpa stole the treasure chest from?" Star had asked her mother only a few days after she had told her daughter who Stanley Yelnats was. "I wanna know how they knew so much about one another."

"Well, Star, let's just say that the thieves had a very long talk with Mr. Yelnants," her mother replied. "And they learned of the curse put on Stanley's head almost immediately after meeting him."

"Stanley…"Star eventually mumbled with curiosity now shimmering in her eyes once more. Star usually got this look as a child whenever a new story was about to be told. "What do you mean by 'curse'?"

"Heh, there's not much to know," Stanley chuckled depressingly. "I'm actually Stanley Yelnats the IV, and my great-great grandfather - Elya Yelnats - was the one who supposedly started it. My grandpa tells me a lot that it was his fault that our family was cursed with bad luck. I'm not even the superstitious type, either, but when you have as bad of luck as I do, always seeming to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, you start having to blame it on at least something. Makes you feel better, I guess."

"I see…" Star slowly nodded. "Well, regardless of whatever curse you may have, I'm still sorry about bumping into you. I wasn't watching where I was going, and even though it's not an excuse-"

"Don't worry about it," Stanley interrupted before Star could finish her second apology. "Seriously, it's fine. And if anything, I'm kinda happy it was you who bumped into me. I have a feeling that if it was anyone else, they would've left me high and dry; I would've been going to this camp alone."

"Well, Stanley Yelnats the IV, I happen to enjoy the company of people who understand how unlucky life can be," Star joked, making Stanley let out another snicker.

"Yeah, same. It's good to know at least one person in this world has as bad luck as my family."

"And that's why we need to stick together, right?" Star queried before reaching out her hand for him again. And this promise-handshake she was about to make, wasn't actually for her sake whatsoever. It was fully for Stanley's sake: the boy she deemed to be one of the most interesting boys she would ever meet. "How do you feel about us continuing being partners in crime, huh? What do you say to being friends, Stanley Yelnats?"

For a few moments, Stanley only stared into Star's brown eyes, flabbergasted by the look within them. There was no annoyance in them, no ill-mannered feelings at all; the only emotions he saw…was compassionate acceptance. Oddly, that look reminded of his mother back at home, who was probably crying her eyes out at his leave. Stanley felt guilty for that fact, but… Somehow, this girl made the feeling slowly wash away. Those eyes made him feel strangely okay. That, if Stanley had her, he'd be just fine.

So Stanley lifted his hand to shake Star's once more. "Yeah… Yeah, I'd like to be friends."

"Great!" Star beamed, causing yet another surge of feeling course through Stanley's body.

Innocence: that was what Stanley felt. This girl was so innocent and pure - someone who did not deserve to be sucked into his bad-luck-filled life. So, at that moment, Stanley made his own promise to himself. Keep this innocent girl safe. And he'd be damned if he ever let her be alone.

This was the start of Stanley Yelnats and Star Sirius' story.

"Okay, lovebirds!" Just then, the scary man with a gun in his hand spoke up gruffly. "We're finally here... Welcome to Camp Green Lake."