I'm sorry, I'm kind of making it a trend for me to take so long to update, what's stupid is that I had this chapter ready for months but since the sixth doesn't seem as eager to be written as this one I just didn't want to put this on up until I had at least a draft of that one. Weird, I know, I just like to be ahead of what I'm posting. Again, I'm sorry!

We're back to Catlin's POV, I hope you understood that last one was Ann's POV xD, I wanted a little change and this way you had an idea of how everything is around Catlin without having her describing everything.

There will be more chapters coming up with other characters POV, I just don't know when yet.

Go on, read it and enjoy. Just don't forget to review!

Nes

The Promise - IV Chapter

It was exactly five past four o'clock and Thomas was nowhere to been seen, he wasn't late, well he was five minutes late but there was no problem in waiting a little bit and since it was sunny outside I could seat a listen to some music while waiting.

Pulling out my Ipod I started to listen to 'Whisper' by Evanescence and closing my eyes I let my thoughts wander off.

The first thing I remembered was Thomas when he was only fourteen. He was taller than me but very skinny, the curly brown, almost black, hair and the big brown eyes were his most distinct feature. All this years I had never questioned how he could have changed but since that phone conversation my curious side was bubbling with excitement, even if I didn't understand why.

Someone tapped my shoulder and I was taken off my thoughts, after opening my eyes I was met with the same eyes I had been thinking about just moments before. The only difference was perhaps the body attached to it.

Thomas was no longer the tall skinny guy I remembered, he was still tall of course, but there wasn't anything skinny about him. He was very well built and his hair was looking lighter because of the sun.

Only after looking at him did I understood that he had been talking to me all this time and with 'My Immortal' playing I hadn't heard a word. I switched off the Ipod and his amazing voice filled my ears, he was cute and his voice could melt icebergs. God!

"I hope that I haven't kept you waiting." His smile was amazing and I could stare to those chocolate eyes all day.

From where did this thoughts came from? Really, the guy was cute but he was also helping me and I had, first of all, to concentrate in that. That was that, looking at him I remembered that I still needed to answer. I'm making a total idiot of myself!

"No you haven't I just got here." There' that smile again, it's strange, he wasn't such a cute guy then, why did he had to be one now? I really had to stop thinking about these things.

"I can see that four years changed a lot in you." After this last remark I had to smile and when he grinned all my senses were turned right into mush. Okay I can't stop thinking about it. Maybe I can at least make space so that I can think about normal answers too.

"Well you've changed a lot also." I still don't know how I could even utter a sound. My eyes were almost glued to the floor, I was completely embarrassed.

"Maybe, but you, god, you're beautiful!" Ok strike that last remark. My senses were, now, in total mush. Unaware of the tumult of feelings he was building up inside of me he continued.

"Do you mind if I call you Cat? I used to, you know, and I'm kind of used to it." That brought my senses working again in a second. For a long time people used to call me 'Cat', but I had changed that. It brought to many painful memories back. But what could I do? I couldn't tell him not to. The guy was helping me after all. I got up and packed my Ipod away. I even managed a smile when I said.

"Ok, I guess you can."

If he noticed my change of demeanour he didn't say anything about it and still smiling he pointed toward the shop. "I think it's better if we book a Layer and start working. Ok?" I nodded and we both entered the shop.

The first day I had come here my only interest was buying Mayu as quickly as possible, so I didn't even looked around, I still remembered the shelves with the eggs and the clothes section, but I didn't even knew the part to where Thomas was leading me into to.

This other section of the shop was the complete opposite of the other, all in shades of pink and gold the main room had, at least, ten Layers hanging around the room. There where pictures of different Angels and even of some Deus hanged in the walls and-

"Cat I'm going to book a private room ok? I think all this Layers here are all full."

"Alright, I'll wait here." After Thomas left I looked around again, this time a huge poster, hanging over a door, was able to catch my attention. It featured an Angel, all in shades of white and silver with a little crown and grabbing what it seemed a sceptre. In the background the shade of her Deus could be seen. Over this image it said 'Enter the National Angelic Layer Championship and represent your town in the most spectacular event that happens only once a year. Win in one of the three main contests your town offers and you'll be able to enter the NALC! We will be waiting for you! Don't waste this chance to become a true champion. For more information visit a Piffle Princess shop near you.'

I knew I had to take this chance, I would just wait for Thomas and then I could ask him for more information about what I had just read.

Not a moment later Thomas was by my side swinging a key with the number '12' on my face.

"What's that?"

"Didn't I tell you that I would book a private room?"

"Oh, that's right, but I was never in this part of the shop, so you have to lead the way."

As Thomas made me go trough the same door where the post was hanging over I took my chance and started to ask him.

"Hey, have you heard about the NALC?"

"Of course, it's the National Angelic Layer Championship, why?"

"I was thinking that it would be fun for me to enter it."

"Have you ever played Angelic Layer?"

"Not really, but I could at least enter one of those three main contest and try, right?"

"Well, yes, but I think that you have to win a, what do they call it? That's right pre-contest to be able to enter one of those."
"A pre-contest? The poster doesn't say anything about it…"

We stopped right in front of another door that had the number '12' hanging, just like our key.

"This is the room." As Thomas open the door and after mentioning for me to go on he continued. "I guess it doesn't but if you really want to try and enter one of the three main contests there is one of those pre-things next Sunday, I think."

"Sunday? Ah, ok, and where do I sign up?"

"I guess we can do it on the way out, let's start, its better if we don't loose any more time."

Only when he said that did I looked around to find myself in a room of only pink and gold with this amazingly huge Layer in the centre.

Two egg shaped chairs were placed opposite to each and after Thomas choose one and sat I did the same.

"Now, this is the head set, just put it on and throw your Angel inside."

I smiled as he told me exactly what to do, didn't he remember that I used to see them play? Maybe he thought that I had forgotten that. So I let him continue, there was no need to bring old things up.

"Hey, Cat? Just put the headset on, we're going to start."

"Alright." Doing as I was told I also took Mayu out and left her hidden under the table, I wanted to surprise Thomas. And already waiting to see the well known Angel I almost gasped when I saw his new Angel.

"What did you do to Lillian?" I couldn't believe he had switched Angels! Lillian his first Angel was adorable. I still remembered the flowing white gown, the short blond hair and the piercing blue eyes. The Angel in his hands had long brown hair, tide up in a ponytail and remembered me of a skater girl, with baggy clothes and all, with those green eyes she couldn't possibly be Lillian.

"This is Gabi. She's kind of my second Angel." After looking at my, probably shocked, face he added. "Don't worry, I still have Lillian but she's too important to me to use nowadays. She already has a few years on top of her and I want to keep her in the best shape possible."

"Yeah, I understand. Hey, maybe we could fight a little in the end right? How much time do we have?"

"I booked the room for an hour, but let's see how you control her before we decide anything, ok? Just take out your Angel while I throw Gabi in, just see how I do it and try to copy it."

As an after thought he added. "What's your Angel's name?"

I smiled and answered. "Mayu"

He looked at me funnily but didn't lose any more time and throwing his Angel inside he said.

"Even if the second, never the worse. Go Gabi." To anyone who didn't know him they would think that he was already preparing himself if he lost, but for me, the second meaning of the words was very well chosen.

Thomas's Angel after thrown entered the Layer like she was diving and seconds before she touched the floor she stopped and landed perfectly. I was sure that this was the type of entering that was always a blast for the audience to see. After Gabi's landing Thomas just nodded, telling me to go on.

I didn't thought about an entering phrase so I just took Mayu out of her hiding place under the table and threw her in, concentrating and closing my eyes I imagined her entering just like Gabi did, but stopping sooner so that she could first roll into a ball and then landing just like Gabi had done before.

After I opening my eyes and seeing Mayu standing just like I imagined it I looked at Thomas, he seemed completely shocked and his eyes were still set on Mayu.

"That was amazing Cat, when I said that you had to copy me I didn't really mean it but you even added something. Great job, well let's see how you manage some random exercises, just try to do it with your eyes open, it's fairly easier."

I nodded and waited for him to start showing me the moves with his Angel, Gabi.

The next minutes passed on a blur, Mayu was jumping, running and when I felt confident enough I started to practise fighting, kicks and punches were thrown against an imaginary enemy in front of Mayu. I was so immersed that I could only see Mayu and her moves.

"Have you ever done this Cat?" When he spoke I almost jumped, literally, I had completely forgotten that he was there, probably because after the first moves he had shown me, I had take it from there and had been training alone for almost fifteen minutes.

"Well, no, I bought Mayu this Friday so this is really my first training session." Didn't he remember? Maybe he did and was testing me. Anyway what I said wasn't entirely a lie.

"Hey, do you think we can fight?" Thomas was still looking at me with suspicion. I guess, but he seemed to wake up when I asked him about the fight.

"Sure, so are you ready for your first Angelic Layer fight?" His goofy mood was back and I was happy that the air was clear around us again, so smiling I just nodded.

"Okay then, get ready." As he spoke Gabi was moving into position and facing Mayu she seemed almost eager to start.

"Let's start this on the count of three. One, two, three!"

In a matter of seconds Gabi was attacking Mayu with punches and kicks. It took me a moment to react but soon Mayu was blocking Gabi's attacks while I waited for a chance to attack. Thomas angel wasn't that fast, but it wasn't that strong either, Gabi probably had an emphasis on balance and it would be very hard for me to throw her out of the Layer.

Then it hit me, the first thing I needed was some space. Imaging Mayu jumping back I saw her doing exactly that, it was almost a conversation between us, I just had to picture it, almost tell her what to do and she would repeat it as quickly as possible. They where now facing each other, waiting, I didn't know what to do, but maybe just maybe he still responded to a front attack as he used to, years ago.

After my command Mayu started running towards Gabi and when she was at Gabi's range, Thomas ordered Gabi to do exactly what I wished. And as she tried to kick Mayu, seconds before the foot hit Mayu, she jumped and landed, momentarily, on Gabi's leg with the right foot and, with the left, kicked Gabi on the face sending her flying trough the Layer. Mayu landed in an almost seated position, I guess I forgot to think about the landing.

"Wow." Gabi wasn't thrown out of the Layer, but I was so proud of Mayu that I couldn't stop my own amazement.

As they were both on their feet, ready to start another attack the Layer's light went off and the Angels were down on the Layer again.

"Please leave the room, the hour you've requested it's over, for extensions of time please visit the booking desk again. Thank you."

I looked at Thomas with a big smile plastered all over my face as I picked Mayu, he seemed deep in thought.

"Hey Thomas, are you listening?" At the sound of my voice his eyes left Gabi, who was already on his hand and shaking his head a little he finally said something.

"That was amazing Cat. Pulling an attack like that off…" There he was again, lost in thought. I was almost ready to say goodbye and head home when he suddenly grabbed my arm, just outside the door that lead to the big corridor.

"You didn't say the truth back then did you?" So he did remember!

"I never played with Mayu, really."

"Cat, I've only seen another person pulling an attack like that, you and yo-" I wouldn't listen, there was no need for him to finish the sentence, I knew what he meant. So I cut him off by saying.

"I know, you're right, but I didn't really lie. I, uh, let's just forget the past, please? I need a fresh start. No more memories." I didn't know if he understood what I meant but he was quiet after that and the subject was changed.

I was glad I put that out. Maybe if I pressed them really deep I will just forget all about it.

By the way I decided that I need a beta, it's easier for me if I have a second opinion on the matter. Anyone up to it? Just email me!