The Promise

Chapter 36- The Color Festival Pt. 2

Max got bored of spying on Izumi and Violet. After he high-fived the children that threw them with powder, he started to walk through the stands and it was his lucky day. He found a rock collecting stand. He looked through the different kinds of stones when someone caught his eyes. A girl with glasses was staring at a blue sapphire stone.

"Do your like sapphires?" he asked her.

"Oh, yeah. They are my birthday stone. September." she said.

"Did you know that the word sapphire is derived from the Latin and Greek words for “blue”: sapphirus and sappheiros but sapphires aren't only blue? They can be any color!" he said.

"I didn't. Did you know that deep blue sapphire were worn by royalty? Medieval kings believed that the gemstones could protect them from their enemies." she said.

Marry me Max thought as he watched her look at the sapphire.

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Meanwhile, Maya and Jaxon walked through the stands. It was strange between them. She looked ahead and tried to take her mind off of the fact that Jaxon was staring at her.

"Do you need something?" she asked turning around.

"No, I was just thinking. Sorry." he said. They continued to walk.

"So how does the animal changing thing work? Can you do it on command?" she asked.

"Mhm," he said nodding. "We usually can control when we change but sometimes when our bodies are in serious pain or under pressure, we also transform as a way of protection."

"So you are a raven?" she asked. He gave a nod and followed closer to her when he saw some strange group following them.

"I'm thirsty. Let's get something to drink." she said. He hated crowds and the festival was his worst nightmare but if he wanted to know what he was feeling, he had to participate. They sat down at a small Cafe near a roller-coaster.

"I think I'm in love with you." he said. Maya choked on her drink.

He said it so casually. Is he a robot or something? she wondered.

"Is that so? Are you sure?" she asked sipping on her drink again.

"No. I don't know how to make sure how I feel." he said.

"How am I supposed to help?" she said. She didn't feel anything special between them and needed time to think about it. He stood and stared at her as he drank his Coke. She looked anywhere but in his eyes.

"Would you stop staring?" she said when she started to blush.

"No." he said.

"It's making me uncomfortable. So stop." she said. He didn't stop staring like expected. She sighed and smiled.

"You really are something else." she said.

"But I am?" he said referring to his unnatural ability.

"No not that-ugh. Nevermind. Come on, let's go ride that roller-coaster." she said. He nodded and followed behind her. He looked over his shoulder at the group that was still following them. He turned around and followed her before he could lose her in the crowd. As they strapped in, Maya started getting excited. As the ride twisted, threw, and shoved them, girls behind him shouted. Maya laughed as she had fun and even let out a couple of shouts when the ride spun them upside down.

"Aren't you scared?!" she shouted.

"This is just like flying." he said.

"You can do that?!" she shouted in surprise. He gave a nod as the ride came to a halt at a big hilltop. It slowly tipped over and went down at a big speed. His eyes widened. He's never flown this fast and he smiled as he enjoyed the ride. Maya peeked over at him and saw his bright smile. A blush formed on her cheeks but she focused her attention on the ride. When the ride stopped, the staff strapped them out.

"That was so fun." she laughed as they made their way to the exit.

"That was." he said. As they walked further, he noticed the group again. Maya spotted Violet and waved at her but the group of boys stepped in front of them.

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Izumi sighed as he was dragged by Violet. They walked through the crowds and Izumi saw a book stand. He finished his mystery book and even returned it to Rina.

"Wait." he said. Violet stopped and he showed her the stand. Violet watched the thick books and felt stupid. Izumi paid for the books he bought.

"Put it in my bag. Then you don't have to carry it." she said. He opened the zip and saw the cat key chain on the zip.

"I still need to tell you something important." he said.

"Yes?" she asked.

"I li-" he said and she waved at Maya before a group of guys walked up to Maya.

"Izumi. Can it wait? I think Maya and Jaxon are in trouble." Violet said. He sighed. It was like the universe was trying to stop him. Was it its way of showing him that he was going to get rejected?

"Alright. Come on." he said as they headed in Maya's direction.

"Is there a problem here?" Izumi asked looking at Jaxon who was glaring at the guys.

"It's my brother's stupid friends. What do you want?" she asked.

"Where's your brother? He owes us money." a guy said.

"He owes you nothing after what you all did." Maya said. Violet remembered Maya telling her about it. They all pushed her brother in front of a train. Luckily, he wasn't injured too badly. A man pulled him away in time. The guy grabbed her wrist tightly.

"Give us the money." he fumed. Jaxon grabbed the guy's shoulder.

"Don't touch her." he threatened.

"You think you're going to scare me?" the guy said.

"Why does it feel like you all are always starting a fight?" Violet asked sighing. Izumi loosened the fabric on his wrist and held it tightly in his hand.

"Don't run away." he said to Violet.

"I'm not a dog! I won't run away." she pouted.

"Good girl." he said smiling. She blushed and looked away from him.

"Or what?" the guy asked.

"Leave it," Maya said to Jaxon. "We're not giving you anything."

The guy gripped her wrist tighter and she flinched. She punched the guy across the face. Before the guy's friends could get her, Jaxon stepped in front of them. Izumi looked at Violet once more before letting the fabric go to help Jaxon. Violet noticed the bruise on Maya's arm and got mad.

"Get them!" Violet shouted at Jaxon and Izumi. Izumi grabbed her hand again and started running away. Jaxon did the same with Maya.

"Tell him!" Maya shouted.

"You didn't have to shout it." Violet mumbled. Luckily Izumi wasn't focused on what Maya said. He just wanted to get Violet away.

He still had to tell her and she still had to tell him.