A/N: All memory vaults will be from Roman's POV from his original timeline. Also, most memory vault chapters will be short. 500-1000 words. I will try to release a regular chapter within the same day a memory vault chapter goes out.
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For as long as I could remember, I have always called Jared and Dante my friends. I guess you could even say best friends.
We would always play together every summer. We would do what most kids would do. We walked around our neighborhood, we played at the park and we hung out at each others home.
We would usually hangout at Dante's house or mine. Jared never had a good relationship with either of his parents so we never forced our way to his family home.
Now, since we always hung out together, we of course ran into each others family. That was when I met her.
I remember this one time at Dante house, we were playing games when his only other sibling, Anna, came in and started asking Dante the usual thing she always does. I remember seeing this happen and thinking that she reminded me a lot of Clem.
"Danteeeee!!! Mommy said to let me play!!!"
"No! Go away! You're bothering us!!"
"Waaaaaaa!!"
Anna would then ran out of the room, crying to her mom. I remember being worried. She had a lonely look in her eyes whenever Dante would brush her off. I decided to go see if she was okay. I headed downstairs to see her crying to her mom. That was the first time I think my heart skipped a beat.
"Mommy!! *BIG SNIFF* you said that big brother would *BIG SNIFF* let me play if I asked nicely!! He didn't let me again!!"
Her mom got down to her level and spoke softly to her.
"Oh dear. I heard you from down here. You can't be demanding like that! Let me tell you how to ask. Do you want to know?"
Anna listened carefully while nodding. She wanted to play with us no matter what. Her mom giggles and tells her.
"Boys are scared of vicious and demanding girls. You must act more shy and delicate… that way, when they lower their guard, you can beat them when they least expect it!"
Her mom gave her an almost sinister grin. Even as a child, I felt a chill down my spine. I quietly turned around and left.
Unfortunately, I didn't even make it far before I heard tiny footsteps waddling behind me. I then heard her.
"Huh? Roman?…"
I turn around and see Anna. It looks like she took her mom's advice. Her demeanor had completely changed and she was now acting all flustered. I couldn't just ignore her now since she saw me.
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
She quietly held onto the hem of my shirt and spoke.
"Could… you help convince my big brother? I want to play with you guys. Please Roman."
I remember her face at that moment. Her shy persona was slowly faltering since I didn't immediately answer her. I found it cute and funny so I held out on answering her for just a few seconds longer.
Right before her shy persona fell apart, I laughed and answered her.
"Of course Anna. Since you're so cute I will ask your big brother. Come on!"
I took her hand and we went back upstairs. I looked over my shoulder to see her reaction.
She looked excited, probably happy that her mom's advice worked. But then her face changed. She was even redder than before now. She kept staring at my hand that was holding hers. She was genuinely shy now!
I think that this was the moment I realized she wasn't like Clem. Clem was my sister, my love for her was brotherly. But when I looked at Anna, I felt more than that. This was the beginning of my first crush.
If I remember correctly, we were both around 6-8 years old at the time. I wasn't even old enough to realize that I liked her at that moment.
Oh yeah, I successfully helped her convince Dante and she joined us. We were gaming and she completely destroyed the three of us. That shy nature disappeared so quick! Only her smug smile was left.
Man, she was competitive. I would of never expected her to be like that. But now that I think about it, Dante was a school athlete and also competitive, it would make sense that she was too.
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