"I just wanted to stop by and say happy birthday," Chance said, handing her the card he picked up from the corner cafe before he closed it. The card had a picture of a cake on it: maybe he should have gotten her a real cake, he thinks. Or something better. But what? Not that it matters now, he's here and all he has to give her is the stupid card.

She barely looks at the card, but she smiles and takes his hands, so he hasn't completely failed. "I'm really glad you came by," she says, "Dad just got a job and Mom finally got promoted to manager, so I've been busy with the baby, I've hardly had a real birthday at all. Seeing you has made it a special day."

"Caroline, I know we were just kids, but I kept the promise I made my last day of school," he says, voice barely above a whisper.

Chance and Caroline had been inseparable in school, and on his last day she made him promise to wait for her, save his first kiss for her. It was a play promise of children, but Chance kept it seriously, and waited for this moment, for the kiss she had promised to him.

From inside, they hear her father calling for her. "I have to go," she sighs, "My parents have Saturday off, I can go out then."

"Saturday," Chance agrees, "I'll call you before then. I've got to run now, too, and check on the game club before I go home."