Promise.

Chapter 1 | The Beginning

~ Annabelle's P.O.V ~

"Ethan no stop!" I laughed.

My best friend was currently pinning me to the couch, tickling my sides. The tears were streaming down my cheeks and my eyes were crinkled so much, I had to shut them.

"No, never!" Ethan smiled his heart-stopping grin.

"Please Ekat please!" I pleaded, wanting him to let me breathe.

"Only if you tell me you love me and you will forever!" He exclaimed.

"Ok ok fine! I love you Ethan and I will love you forever!" I said quickly, needing air to pass into my lungs.

He giggled and stopped. He hovered above me for a moment or two, both of us still holding our grins on our faces. I caught my breath, my eyes peering into his.

He laughed again, then got off of me. He reached his hand out and pulled me off the couch. He brought me into his chest and wrapped his arms around my waist.

He sighed.

"I'm gonna miss this Belle..." He said, sadly.

I stood on my tiptoes to wrap my arms around his neck and dug my face into his shoulder.

"I don't want you to go..." I whispered, my voice breaking as tears of sadness popped into my eyes.

He squeezed tighter.

"I have to, but I promise, I'm gonna come back to you. You're my number one, my Belle, my angel...ok? I promise you, I'm coming back to you as soon as I help out my family."

The tears spilled from my eyes, soaking his shirt.

"You really promise, Ethan?" I questioned.

The thought of losing the only good thing in my life was unbearable.

"I promise. I promise on everything I care about Annabelle, I promise."

I pulled away slowly, keeping my hands wrapped around his neck.

Peering into his eyes, I saw the truth. I saw his promise.

I leaned my forehead against his, savoring the moment I knew I wouldn't get for so long.

He looked at me, then started to lean forward. I caught on quickly and leaned forward too.

Soon enough, our lips were sealed, like two perfect puzzle pieces connecting for the first time. We put everything we had into it, we could feel each other's emotions, how each other felt.

After a few short moments, we pulled away. The tears streamed down my cheeks harder than ever because I knew it was time.

He cupped my face and wiped my tears with his thumbs. I grasped his wrists, coverings them with my hands. He leaned his forehead against mine once again, closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I promise." He whispered, sincerely.

I shut my eyes, and I no longer felt his hands or his warm embrace.

All I felt was the cold.

I called out for him, but nothing came. Not a single sound. The world was spinning and it wouldn't stop....

\\\\\\\\\\\\

My eyes shot open.

My head pounded.

The dream is back.

The same dream I've been having for 10 months.

Every now and then, it would come and go, but recently, it's been coming more and more.

I remember the tingles I felt with him, the feelings I had for him, the warm feeling I got when I was around him, the love.

I was only 19, but I knew what I felt.

His words rang through my head, like an echo in the back of my skull.

"I promise"