Promise Me (RLU #1)

by Carlie Jean

To all the girls that have been through some shit and want that soft kind of love, the one that feels like a cozy blanket on a fall night, this is for you.

“If you’re hungry, try a muffin. They’re delicious, but they keep reminding me of how stupid I am for baking them instead of writing this damn paper.”

I think that’s why he does stupid shit like this. He gets a kick out of it. “I was missing your beautiful face,” his eyes droop like a puppy, and I can’t contain my eye roll.

“Oh, so I’m your backup plan?” I quirk a brow at him. “You were my first choice if that helps.” He smiles while patting the seat next to him.

“Dad,” I groan. “Don’t blackmail me with Pickles. You know he’s my weakness, but I need to work.”

“Anything,” I say easily, knowing I’d give her the world if she’d ask for it.

He’s the first guy I’ve ever drawn. Every time I look at it, butterflies take flight in my stomach. It makes me nauseous. I have no idea why I’m so confident that my conversation with Cameron was honest, but I felt it regardless. There’s something about him.

“You can stay under two conditions.” “Proceed,” I motion, waving my hand in front of me for her to continue. Her body shifts on the log to angle herself toward me. “One, you have to tell me something about yourself-” “I like the color green?” I smile for the first time, not a full one, but it’s a start. Aurora freezes, her bottom lip parting from the top. Her eyes widen in awe like she’s just seen fireworks for the first time. “Is that a smile, Fields? You just fulfilled condition two.” I smile again at her request

“It wasn’t your fault. You have to forgive yourself.” Her hand squeezes mine. “Forgiveness is hard, but you know what else is?” “What?” I ask, my voice rawer than I’d like. “Believing that we have control over everything in our lives.”

“Ah, the superior Fields sibling, I see,” she teases, and I erupt into a full-blown laugh. Aurora’s face lights up at the sight, her eyes locked on me. “You’re not wrong,” I muse,

“Not a chance, let’s go.” “Where?” she asks from her spot on the log. “To get you some cake,” I state, bending to pick up her pink and gray backpack and slinging it over my shoulders.

“The deal was I had to tell you one thing. Don’t get carried away now,” he smirks.

“I’m not putting your life in the hands of a stranger, no thank you. Just get in my car, please?” he pleads, his tone full of concern.

No, no, no. This is not good. He can’t do this to my poor, secretly hopeless romantic heart. This man. This sweet, kind, caring man. He remembered my favorite food combination and got me a heated stuffed cupcake, which I told him is what my dad calls me. What a goddamn sweetheart.

“Cleaning up so that if you fall asleep, there’s nothing to worry about when you wake up,” he admits, his shoulder again bumping mine, sending a chill down my arm.

But before I drift off into my inevitable sleep, I whisper, “Thanks for being the best friend, Cam. I appreciate you.” “Shh,” he coos, “Get some rest.”

cut her off. “You. Call. Me. Got it?” I demand, my voice colder than I’d like it to be, fueled by the need to protect her. I soften my voice this time. “You know why Aurora.”

“Here, your pen,” I cough, breaking up the emotion clogging my throat. Aurora eyes the pen in her hand, a small smile on her lips. “This isn’t my pen, Fields.”

“Impossible,” I mutter. “What’s that?” she asks, stuffing the pen in her backpack. “Nothing. You’re just going to steal my pen, then?” She turns to me with a teasing smirk, a glint in her eyes. “Yup. I’ll think of it and remember the time my best friend missed me so much, he pretended I forgot a pen just to come and see me.”

“Wait, did you get the Oreo the day you read incorrectly?” “Nope,” he says, popping the p. “All that and no goddamn Oreo. The cherry on top? I found out they were for the kids who did well.”

“Sorry, looks like your time has run out.” We’ve reached my driveway now, the end of our time together. There’s this part deep within me that feels empty whenever we have to separate, but I try my best to ignore it. Pulling out his phone, he taps something, and my phone rings. He winks just as I answer the phone. “Nope, you wanted to talk on the phone, remember?” Then, he walks away. We not only end up staying on the phone for his entire walk home, but for an hour after that, too. We share embarrassing things, stories from our childhood, anything that’s easy and light.

“Since someone is a sore loser,” I tease, opening the container, “I got this for you.” Aurora’s eyes soften at the gesture, her pretty hazel eyes meeting mine with something I can’t name. “Cam, this is…going to make me cry.”

“And as your friend, I feel like you should know that I don’t think that defines you in any way. Your body, your choice. ”

“Tough shit, we know too much about each other now. She’s stuck with me.” Cameron tilts his head at me with a sly smile, dimples in full effect, then winks.

“Because I do. That is the softest blanket that I’ve ever been wrapped up in.” “We may be best friends, but it’s not going to happen,” he says, his brows set in determination, but I can see the glint of playfulness in his eyes. “You keep telling yourself that, Fields,” I chuckle, my eyes locked onto his, watching how they watch me.

“What are you doing?” I ask. “Walking you to your door,” he says nonchalantly. I peer at him through narrowed eyes, my lips scrunched up. “Stop being cute and just let me,” he smiles, those dimples pulling in at his cheeks.

Her uniform is on, the number 31 on her back evident as she bends over to tie her shoe. Jasmine’s birthday is July 31st, mine November 25th, and ever since we met in high school, all of my passwords that require numbers have been a combination of our birthdays—2531. She’s my platonic soulmate.

Cameron shifts to my bookshelf, filled with more trophies and awards than actual books. “Are you good at volleyball or something?” he teases, looking at me over his shoulder with a smirk.

Cameron watches me as I run toward him, his expression confused. I jump into his arms, and he catches me with ease. Hoisted up above him, with my hands resting at the back of his neck, I stare down into my favorite pair of eyes, feeling my breath catch in my throat. With my heart leading, I lean in and press my lips lightly against his. And then my world lights up.

I scrunch my nose at him while playfully narrowing my brows. “You can’t be with someone who likes Groot over Rocket?”

“I’m proud of you,” he whispers into my ear. “For what?” I ask, my voice choppy with emotion. “For being you.

“I also told you that I would if I found someone who was worth it and, love, you surpass that. It’s me who doesn’t feel worthy of you. But I’m willing to try.

“Promise me? Promise me that no matter what happens, we won’t lose sight of us, nor our dreams,”

“I promise you, Rory. I don’t break my promises.

He smiles proudly at me, his dimples pulling in, and the sight makes me smile just as big. My entire body lights up, knowing that he came, that he’s here for me. No one else came, but he did.

Cam pushes off the wall and scoops me up with one arm, yup, one, and I wrap my legs around his waist. “You made it,” I huff into his shoulder as he squeezes me tightly to him. “It started snowing, so I took the meeting on the go to come pick you up, and luckily enough, I got to see you play.”

“Not that I can think of, but I’m sure you’ll tell me what exactly it is.” I look at her pointedly, willing her to try and argue with me. She doesn’t. “That I will. So, why didn’t you tell me you were in love?” I pause mid-cut of the wrapping paper and do my best to fight the smile that wants to spread on my lips. I don’t deny it. “How did you figure it out?”

The urge to tell her that I love her is strong, but I ignore it because I won’t text it to her before telling her in person. Despite my weak attempt at keeping her at a distance, I love the hell out of Aurora Vallacourt.

“I love you,” the words come out quiet but confident.

“I love you, I love you, I love you,” I say between kissing him from his temple to his nose, jaw, neck, chest, and back up to his lips. His arms wrap around my back, holding me to him as he looks at me intently, “I love you, Rory.”

“Oh, I’m the one who’s not relaxed, huh? Says the guy who just called my dad ‘sir’ twice,” I bite down on my lip, trying to hide my smile and failing as my arms rest on his shoulders. Cameron pinches his eyes shut. “Fuck, I did. God, that was embarrassing.”

“I love you, Cameron. And I want you there with me through it all.” “Good, ‘cause I don’t break my promises,”

“If you say you broke up, I will sob uncontrollably. Just a warning,” Finn shrieks.

“You can’t get rid of me, ever. I love you, and there’s nothing in this fucking world that could keep me from you unless you asked.”

“I heard they have great hiking trails out that way, you know.” “So that’s the real reason you’re following me, huh?”

myself. “Nope,” I pop the p. “Stick with me, and I’ll give you all the Oreos you want,” I smile at him. I step forward, walking him backward until we’re inside.

“Your love,” he kisses my forehead. “Your smile,” another kiss to the tip of my nose. “Your laughter,” pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Your body safely wrapped in my arms,” his lips land on my other cheek. “I just need you, always,” he says softly, his voice like gravel as it drags across my skin, heating me from the inside out.

“Promise me?” he breathes, running his nose along mine. “I promise you, bub.”

It was simple yet meaningful because of our shared love for the hobby. A moment later, after his speech and my tears, he slid the gold band (because he was right, I am a gold girl through and through) with a circular diamond taking center stage and a ring of smaller diamonds around it.