Chapter Three: The Promise

"So what are you doing? Are you staying here for awhile?" I asked Nicole. She had come to see me just two days after she left again. I ruffled my shaggy jet-black hair with my hair, nervously. "I mean, if you're taking care of me, then who's out there fighting?"

"I told the Headmaster that I needed to take a vacation to help a sick family member. So he gave me the time off. He knows though because he asked me how you were doing."

"Always the wise one, Ambrose." I laughed, shaking my head. Breakfast was ready downstairs, so Nicole was helping me get out of bed. I sat up and threw my legs over the side of the bed. I pulled the blanket back, not remembering that I was still only in my boxers. "Oops."

"Just forget about it." She took my hand and put the other on my back to support my weight. The touch of her skin on mine made me flush red. "Alright, now try to get up."

I stood slowly and at first, I started to topple over, but Nicole caught me and sat on the bed, sitting me on her lap. At this point, my eyes closed and my head spun like crazy.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I opened my eyes and looked right into hers to see that she was only an inch away from my face. "Oh..." I said, trailing off. Nicole's eyes widen and she pulled her face away from me. "No, wait," I said. I put my free hand under her chin. I pulled her close to me and whispered, "I like it."

We leaned toward each other, both of us feeling the heat of the other just inches apart. But as I was about to close the space between us, she pulled back and looked away from me. My heart sank and I turned red from embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. I'm... I'm just not ready for this yet." She shook her head. "I really like you... I do. But... I'm not ready for this yet." she stammered.

My chest tightened. "It's alright. I understand." I said as calmly as I could. And it was…. I was just really disappointed.

"I'll get you your breakfast." She hurried downstairs and was out of sight. I face-palmed and laid back down.

I'm such a moron! How could I be so stupid! Of course she isn't ready! I'm fifteen and she's twelve!

*Three days later...*

Nicole and I have barely spoken to each other. She only brings me my food and helps me when I need to do something, but ever since our almost-kiss, she's been so nervous around me...

I hate it.

But for one reason or another, she hadn't left the care to my mom. She still stayed to take care of me.

Nicole was sitting next to me with the food on my bed, letting me eat.

"I'm gonna go back downstairs now." She stood and was about to leave when I stopped her.

"Nicole, I-" She turned all-too fast and I realized what I was about to let slip out of my mouth. I mentally slapped myself. "Wait…." I said, exhausted. I sighed. "This is stupid. I miss you. Could we just forget about what happened?"

She looked at me and sighed too. "Yeah. I'd feel a lot better if we did." She gave me a weak smile.

I stood from the bed, slightly wobbling at first, but then I was steady. I strode across the room and stood close to her.

"Nicole, listen to me. I would never make you do something you don't want to do. I owe you that much. If someday... you are ready... then I'll be here, waiting for you." I bent down slightly to meet her level and kissed her lightly on the cheek. She turned red and hurried down the stairs, but I did see the smile on her face this time.

*Six months later...*

I made a full recovery and all that crap in case you were wondering. But my heart didn't.

After I was better – about three weeks from when I kissed her cheek – a few days later, Nicole went missing. I haven't seen her since that last day.

*Flashback*

We were standing outside of my house on the bridge overlooking the river.

"So... this is goodbye again?" I asked her.

"Only for a short while. I'll be back to get my new spells before you know it." She gave me a half smile.

"Yeah... I guess so." We stayed quiet for a few seconds before she spoke up.

"I'll miss you." I looked up and saw the small tears in her eyes, threatening to fall. I hugged her close to me, and she hugged me back, neither of us wanting to let go.

"I'll miss you too." I kissed her on the cheek, letting my lips linger on her skin for a moment too long. I let my lips brush her face as I spoke. "I'll be waiting."

"I know you will," she replied with a smile.

"You know, every time you leave, it's another chance I take of letting you go." I took a shaky breath. Then I whispered, "You could die out there…."

"I know I can. But it's my job to protect the Spiral. Hey, someone's gotta do it." she joked with a shrug.

"I know, but-" she cut me off with a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be careful. I promise." I felt the same warmth I had when I'd first met her. "Take care of yourself."

"I will." She stepped back and waved to me. "Goodbye, Malorn."

"Goodbye, Nicole."

And in a burst of flames... she was gone.

*End Flashback*

After she disappeared, I took the ashes from the flames and put them into a crystal vial. I tied string around it, and I've been wearing the necklace ever since.

But I worry about her so much.

Not even the Headmaster can find her.

We've had search parties go across every world in the Spiral, even ones we know she wasn't stationed at yet. My job was to go to Grizzleheim to see if she'd been there.

Her letters stopped coming after about a month. I read them over and over to see if there's something hidden in her words that could possibly give me a clue as to where she could be.

I will find her. I have to.

I promise.

But what does it matter? I can't be with her. She'll never want to be with someone like me... someone marked as the kid of the worst wizard in the universe...

But I can't help myself with her.

My dad killed my mom. I'm stuck being a stupid teacher, and I have no friends because I hate everyone. Why would this stupid Pyromancer be interested in me? I have nothing to offer her.

But...

And then everything clicked into place for me.

I think I'm in love with her.