I Pinky Promise (Today, Tomorrow & Always)

~10 Years Old~

"Sam?" Steve says, turning to the boy beside him, his heart racing like he just ran a million miles.

Sam turns to him with huge smile, "yeah?"

"I don' wanna go back" Steve says. He can't feel the tears welling up in his eyes, he scrunches up his face to try and keep them back.

Sam gives him a confused frown. "Whadya mean?"

"I don' wanna go back to school and you go back to yours." Tears run down his cheeks. "I don' wan you ta go!"

"I don' wan you ta go either!" Sam says, in tears himself now.

Steve grabs Sam's shirt and pulls him close, holding onto his friend desperately.

They sit there, crying into each other's shirts until a teacher from Sam's school finds them.

"Now what was all that about?" She asks.

Steve buries his face into her leg, willing himself not to start crying again. "I don' wan Sam to go."

"But he has too, sweetheart" she says, her hand rubs his back soothingly.

"I know." He says.

She shushes him gently. "Why don't you write to one another? I'm sure our schools would gladly passes your letters along."

"Sam! Sam!" he says excitedly.

Sam is looking at him with a huge smile on his face. "You promise you'll write to me?" he says

"I promise, Sam"

"Do you pinky promise?" Sam asks him, looking at him seriously.

Steve gasps.

He holds out his pinky to Sam who takes it with his own. "I pinky promise"

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~11 Years Old~

The ball breaks the window with a large smash. Steve and Sam duck behind a bush.

"Aw, hell" Steve says.

"You can say that again" Sam gripes. "Whydah hav'ta do that for?"

"I didn' mean too" Steve exclaims. "My hand slipped"

"Shush!" Sam warns

They get up from behind the bush and run. Running until the house is far behind them.

After a while they stop, panting for breath.

"We can't tell anyone 'bout this" Steve says.

"You're right" Sam says, frowning. His friend turns to him. "We have to promise not to tell anyone!"

"Pink promise" Steve says.

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~13 Years Old~

They sit on the swings, gently rocking back and forth. The cold winter air blowing through the empty playground.

"We're going to be friends forever, right?" Steve says, putting his feet down to stop himself swinging. He bunches his hands nervously in his jumper.

Sam stops too and gives him a smile. "Yeah, Steve. Friends forever ever"

"You promise?" Steve asks.

"Yes"

"Prove it" he says "pinky promise"

Sam laughs, reaching forward, pinky extended.