I'm Fine

Chapter 9

"Promise me we'll never grow older," I said to them, standing high and mighty on my rock. My cheeks were red and the air was cold but the fire crackled behind me, radiating heat and wispy smoke.

"I promise."

"Me too,"

"Me three,"

"Me four."

"I...I"

"C'mon! We've got to stay kids forever." I got off my stone and walked over to him. I placed a cold hand on his warm shoulder and looked into his eyes.

"Promise me you'll never grow old, promise me," I said, feeling the power surge through my words.

He blinked at me. Tears welled up in his eyes.

"I...I promise."

"Do you mean it?"

He looked at me, probably scared of my menacing tone. I took no notice, he needed to promise me. He needed to.

"Yes. I mean, no. I mean, yes," he replied, flustered and confused.

"Please," I pressed. "We can't grow older, we just can't!"

"Okay," he sighed, hanging his head in defeat. "I promise, Imogen. I promise to never grow older."

"Thank you," I said, smiling suddenly.

"But Imogen, I need to te_"

"_No! We won't talk now, today we celebrate!" I yelled. The kids, my friends, cheered and whooped and called 'hooray!' in cheery tones.

I looked at him again. He was the center of attention, our friends hugged him and smiled and laughed but he sat there, looking like he was what's wrong with the picture.

'Imogen' he mouthed, looked directly at me.

'What?' I mouthed back.

'I lied'

'What?'

"I'm going to grow older, with or without you," he said out loud. Our friends stopped and looked at him.

He got up and walked off. I ran after him.

"Wait!" He didn't slow down, he started to run.

"Wait, please!" He ran forward a little more, but then collapsed onto the sand on his knees. I ran towards him.

"I'm so sorry!" I cried, collapsing onto my knees along with him.

I pulled him into a fierce hug.

"Just promise me we'll be friends, maybe not forever, but for as long as it will be."

He didn't answer. We pulled out of the hug. We were sitting at the same level, panting and breathless.

He leaned forward.

His lips touched mine for what seemed like an eternity before I pushed him away.

He stared at me. "I love you, Imogen. I'm in love with you." I stared back at him. My heart fluttered.

"I'm in love with you, too."

That was the first time I'd ever fallen in love. That was the first time I'd ever admitted I'd fallen in love.

That was the night that he confessed his love for me. That was the night I confessed my love for him.

For Damian.