The Promise  

Classes soon finished for the morning and it was now lunch break. Students from different year levels started streaming into the cafeteria for lunch. Year 7, 8 and 9 students had earlier lunch times than Year 10 and 11, while Year 12 and 13 could eat at any time. For Shawn and clique, the group arrived at their usual lunch table and the news about Shawn signing up for the drama audition spread amongst the table.

Everyone was laughing at the fact that Shawn managed to fall for it. Though, Shawn never did care too much about it after the initial laugh. It was not in his good faith to care about many things. His mind would only be dedicated to things he thought was worth his time. If he did not want to do it, he wouldn't.

In Shawn's Asian Gang, there were a total of 8 people that sits at the table. Other than the four in 9A, the other four were Jess Kim, Misako Kobe, Cynthia Liu, Rae Lee. In context, Shawn was never really close with most of them even after a year. He mostly hung around Julian and that was it. Shawn sat at the edge of the table with Julian. Unlike Shawn who had to buy his food in the cafeteria, Julian would normally get a packed lunch from his mother for the day.

The small boy was picky with his food and would usually eat plain sandwiches and a packet of fruit juice for his lunch. Shawn, on the other hand, loved food to the core. If anyone could describe him, they would say that the boy was chubby but not yet at the point of being fat. In a school day, lunch time could be said to be his favourite time of the day. The school cafeteria hired international chefs that cook amazing food spanning many different cuisines. Today, they were having roast chicken and the delicious smell wafted through the air and into Shawn's nostrils.

A blissful smile appeared on Shawn's face as he queues for his food. Just then, there was a tap on his shoulder, to which he turned around to see that Emilie was standing behind him. The first thing that came out of her mouth was, "Hey, I can't believe that you signed up for the audition!"

"Julian, that dumbass, tricked me into signing up." At the thought of his close friend tricking him, Shawn's mood went slightly down.

"Hahaha, but it is your fault for not paying attention." Emilie laughed sweetly. "Anyways, its fine if you signed up. I believe you will do well in the audition."

"I wasn't planning to do well though."

"Oh, come on…" Shrugging her shoulders, she continued, "Since you signed up already, don't you think it would be fun to do a play together with me?"

"What? I play a tree while you play a princess in the play?"

"No! Why not you aim higher and we can play a role together?" Emilie was hopeful.

"Have you seen me acting?"

"No! And that is only because you never try in anything. I believe that if you try, you will be able to succeed. Remember the goal I had set for you and me?" Emilie reminded Shawn.

"No not really." He wasn't lying.

"Are you serious? God…" It was on the first day of Year 9 school and Shawn was moved to a different school bus. On that bus trip, it was the first time Shawn and Emilie really spoke between each other. Being both Year 9s and in the same class and bus, Emilie instantly stuck onto Shawn like glue and would always try to speak with him on the bus. One day, on the way back from school, Emilie realised that Shawn was a person that never truly cared about anything in school.

At that time, the girl made a declaration, "By the end of Year 9, I would like for you to have at least done something that you normally would not do."

"And what do I get out of that?" The Shawn of the past asked.

"Well, you get to experience life! Maybe, that something could be done together between you and me!" Emilie smiled brightly.

"Uh huh, well I will not promise that."

"Why not?"

"Because that may not happen and I do not want to break promises."

"What? Then make the promise and don't break it!" Emilie thought about it and decided on her next course of action. "If you do not promise me, I will hound you for the rest of the year and not ever let you sleep on the bus!"

"Ah! Alright fine!" Immediately, after she said that, Shawn gave up to the annoying girl. He had no choice as he really enjoyed sleeping on the bus. With a pinkie promise, the deal was set in stone and now that Emilie brought it up again, Shawn remembered what he had done.

Seeing that he now had to crawl out of his somehow, he tried diverting her attention, "How about I do something else with you another day? Drama plays aren't really my thing."

"Oh, come on! If it weren't for Julian, you wouldn't have signed up. Who was to say that there would be another opportunity like this?" Picking up their food in the tray, the pair walked to the cashier to pay for the food. Emilie looked at her bus mate and said pleadingly, "Could you just try for once? I will pick a simpler role that we can do together? So, what do you say?"

"Ugh… Fine…"