(Promise from Ten Years Ago)

*May 16th, 1933*

*11:36 am*

*Johnson Elementary School*

It was a sunny day as a young seven-year-old Anya was sitting on the grass, singing a nursery rhyme as she looked up to see a boy approaching her, chocolate in hand.

"My name is Theodore, what's your name.." Theodore greeted the girl while eating the chocolate, the small chunks falling on his shirt made Anya look at him.

"My name is Anya, do you wanna play?" Anya responded to the boy, her innocent childish eyes staring back as she waited for an answer.

Of course, Theodore nodded before speaking once more as he finished eating his chocolate.

"If you promise to marry me in ten years, deal?" Theodore proposed to Anya, hoping she'd accept his offer.

Unfortunately, Anya assumed he was just playing around so she quickly accepted the offer.

"Okay, but only if you give me snacks." Anya responded, accepting the proposal as she grabbed the boy's hand, and made her way toward the playgrounds.

Ten years later in the present day, that small exchange will come Back to Anya.

*May 17th, 1943*

*12:20pm*

*Highlands High School*

Anya sat on the bench, writing a letter to Calvin as she thought about her upcoming eighteenth birthday.

"Dear Calvin. I hope you're doing well. Just know that I love you so much and that I'm praying for your health.." Anya continued to write her letter, but this was interrupted by someone approaching her.

"Who's there!?" Anya uttered as she saw a boy approaching her, flowers in hand.

The boy was Theodore himself, and he wore a beautiful suit, his short hair was combed out nicely and he was now eighteen years old.

Theodore also had beautiful brown eyes that matched his beautiful face, he was quite handsome.

"Anya, you're as beautiful as I remembered. I've come to marry you, just as we promised…" Theodore greeted Anya in a cheerful voice as he approached Anya, handing her the banquet of flowers.

This event made Anya confused as she looked at the man, her expression being confused.

"Who are you? And I have a boyfriend, sorry but I appreciate the gesture.." Anya responded kindly with a smile, hoping he'd accept the reason; however, Theodore shook his head in denial.

"No way. Do you have a man? You promised that you'd marry me, remember? We were kids. I'm Theodore." Theodore responded once more in a pleading voice, hoping that Anya would see reason.

After listening to those words, Anya stared back at the young man, trying to remember who he was and after a few seconds, she remembered, her expression being surprised.

"T-Theodore? The chocolate eating boy? I-I remember you now but we were kids when I did that.." Anya responded yet again, finally remembering the boy from her childhood as continued to speak to him.

"I apologize if I didn't make it clear but I hope you find that special someone, okay?" Anya continued to reassure Theodore in a comforting voice, hoping that her words would reach Theodore.

After listening to Anya's words, Theodore nodded understandably as he began to speak once more.

"At least, could I take you out on an outing, just me and you? I just want to experience what it's like being your boyfriend.." Theodore suggested to Anya, his tone being understanding yet longing as he waited for a response from her.

"W-We can hang out but only as friends, okay? You can pay for everything if it makes you happy.." Anya responded with a smile as she accepted the flowers, holding them in her hands.

The response and acceptance of the gift made Theodore smile warmly.

"T-Thank you. How does tomorrow sound? Are you available by then?" Theodore thanked Anya in a warm voice as he hoped that their schedules would align.

To his luck, Anya nodded, making the young man smile.

"Yes. I don't have school tomorrow since I'm a student at a hospital school and I go on certain days of the week; however, I have the day off so I can hang out with you, what time works for you?" Anya responded with a smile while Theodore quickly answered with great enthusiasm.

"How does noon sound?" Theodore responded with a warm smile as he was met with Anya nodding in agreement.

"Noon sounds good. I'll be seeing you tomorrow, and remember, we're only hanging out as friends, okay?" Anya responded once more while also reminding him of the circumstances while Theodore nodded.

"Of course, and I'll be seeing you." Theodore responded to Anya for the final time before turning around to leave the scene altogether.

Anya waved Theodore goodbye as she stood in the track and field, the wind gently blowing through her.

"What a guy. I guess I have to play along with his game.." Anya thought to herself as she continued to think about the previous interaction with Theodore.

Soon after, Anya looked over to see Charlotte and Nancy approaching her.

"Anya, we saw you talking to some guy right when we got here, was he messing with you?" Nancy asked her friend while observing the flowers she received, the main bulk of her concern.

"Hello Nancy, and he wasn't messing with me. Just someone from my childhood who had a crush on me. He gave me those flowers as well…" Anya responded to Nancy in a calm voice while Nancy nodded understandably.

"I see, and I'm glad he wasn't being pushy, unlike a certain annoying boy. He was pretty handsome but does he know you already have a boyfriend?" Nancy continued to speak to Anya as her friend nodded in confirmation.

"I did and he was pretty accepting. We're just going to hang out tomorrow, I feel like that would make him happy." Anya responded once more with a smile on her face while Nancy nodded.

"That's nice of you. As long as it's just a friendly hangout then surely there'll be no misunderstandings between the both of you." Nancy responded once more to Anya while her friend nodded in agreement.

"You're right. I love Calvin with all of my heart so I'll treat this like a friendly hangout." Anya spoke to Nancy once more as she thought about Theodore and their upcoming outing.

"Wait, he forgot to tell me where to meet him. I guess he wants me to meet him in front of the school or something.." Anya thought to herself while looking at the banquet of flowers that was given to her.

*8:23pm*

*Anya's Room*

Later that night, Anya sat on her bed, thinking about her encounter with Theodore earlier in the day.

"I can't really escape having boys crushing on me, can't I? At least Theodore is nice, unlike Neville." Anya spoke softly to herself as she sighed, lying on her bed while she stared up at the ceiling.

The sound of her room was calm and quiet as Anya continued to think about Theodore.

"Maybe the outing won't be so bad. It's just a friendly outing so I shouldn't be worried about my relationship with Calvin." Anya spoke to herself once more as she continued to be stuck in her thoughts regarding the situation.

For the rest of the night, Anya got ready for her big day tomorrow. Will the friendly outing go well for her and Theodore?