IMPORTANT:

I'm thinking of starting a Patreon.

What you would get as a supporter:
•A sneak peak of chapters before they're published.
•Request Story Commissions
•Get access to my discord server, where you can talk with me and other people who support me.
•Help me with ideas
•Get help from me with your writing
     •And more to come!

I'll tell you guys when that's all officially a thing! If you have any other ideas for stuff you might want that would make you want to support me, let me know!

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The nurses told me to leave around dinner time. I wasn't family, so I couldn't stay. Rent and Roman both assured me it would be fine. With nothing left to do, I returned home. Roman said he had to finish homework, and recommended I do the same.

Returning to my apartment, and realizing I'd left my homework in my locker was probably the final straw for me. I turned on the shower and sat under the water, fully clothed, for an unspecified amount of time.

The clock ticked loudly from the hallway and I wondered if the continuous stream of water beating down on my back would drive me crazy. I wondered why the people that meant the most to me always ended up getting hurt. Soon enough the water grew cold, but I didn't feel it. The burning questions inside my soul kept the temperature bearable.

     Or maybe that was my hoodie.

     After awhile, my anxiety crawled up my spine as I realized I had just hours left to complete my homework and get a decent amount of sleep. Though, when was my sleep schedule ever healthy?

     As long as I maintained a good GPA, I could get into college, hopefully on scholarship. Then, I'd be free of it all. I could leave it behind, never really knowing what happened to my senior class. I'd never see them again. I'd probably only stay in contact with a few people. A thought rolled into my mind and I blushed a bit, despite the freezing water that was now in the back of my mind.

     Roman would be with me forever.

     He was my soulmate, wasn't he? He would stick with me through thick and thin. . . Wouldn't he? So far he didn't seem like one of those toxic partners that were, unfortunately, a problem. Maybe I would live happily with him? Maybe. . . Maybe. . . Maybe. . .

     Too many maybes and I'd have a midlife crisis right there in my bathtub. With the way things were going right then, 18 might actually be the middle of my life. I'd die of bubonic plague at 36 or be stoned to death in the square for being a witch.

     Quite frankly, neither of those options sounded worse than homework. Can't damage my GPA if I'm dead.

     I sighed and climbed out of the shower. My clothes were soaked and so were my dreams. I turned off the water and proceeded to my room to do three miserable hours worth of homework. All the while, I contemplated how long it would take me to jump off the nearest bridge.

An hour in, my phone buzzed loudly. I picked it up, hoping for a distraction. The screen showed a small notification and I grimaced.

Bank Account Refilled.

Yeah, I guess they were still alive. What a wonderful way to find out. My focus was momentarily disrupted, but I tried my hardest to get back on track. Soon, it was 12am and I was finished. I pushed away from my desk and stretched. Weariness overpowered the part of my brain itching to scroll through my phone for six hours. I collapsed on my bed, my earlier shower now only a faint dampness in my memories.

     Sleep greeted me almost as quickly as the blaring of my alarm did. I groaned, rolling out of bed. I sniffled a little and it occurred to me for the first time that I might've caught a cold. Though, it wasn't guaranteed that I was sick, so I guessed I should probably go to school like a responsible student. My grade couldn't afford another sick day full of make-up work.

My phone buzzed from where I'd left it to charge. I picked it up, expecting the worst. A text message sat on my screen. . . From Roman. I almost smiled. Finally, after so long, I could experience the joy of waking up to that good morning text all girls raved over. I froze. Did I just relate myself to a girl?

I shook my head. That was an accident, for sure. I got ready for school with a clear head and a better mood than I'd felt all year. I almost reached for my mask, but realized I didn't need it anymore. Roman may be a little bit of a sap sometimes, but I suppose he had good intentions. I recalled my last few days with him as I walked down the sidewalk to the building I'd spent too long in.

I heard conversations buzzing around the moment I stepped foot on the grounds. For once, I didn't feel as though they were all whispering about me. I noticed things through new eyes and found myself actually enjoying the atmosphere around me. It occurred to me now, that high school might not be as bad as I had thought. I felt a small pep in my step as I neared the doors. Roman had said he would wait for me by my locker.

Wait, how'd he get my locker number?

I shook the thought from my head, deciding it was sweet no matter what the details suggested. I saw him there as I neared. He leaned against the metal lockers, smiling at something on his phone, his hand tucked nonchalantly in his pocket and his hair a perfect mess.

He looked up and we locked eyes. His smile became a crooked grin, and I had to admit, it made me swoon. Of course, it made anyone in a five yard radius swoon just as hard, and I felt my first pang of worry all day. Roman saw my emotions in my traitorous eyes and held out his hand. Gently, he took my hand in his. Our fingers intertwined like a scene from a movie, and my heart thumped in my ears. He pulled me to my locker and I half-heartedly opened it.

We had yet to exchange any words, but a thousand things had been said. That was when I first heard them; the little voices that would always follow me.

" Are they soulmates?"

" Who is that?"

" I've never seen him before."

I glanced over my shoulder in time to see a few head turn away. My breathing became uneven and I gripped onto Roman as if he were my only anchor to the world. A horrible thought hit me like a bus. Sure, I may have been done with my mask for the past few days, but these people had never seen me without it. They wouldn't even recognize me.

A million thoughts flooded me. Could I make them like me? Is this a chance to start over? I let out a weak cough and Roman shot me a worried look. Finally, he spoke, " Are you sick?"

I shook my head. " No, I'm just a little overwhelmed by the norms of society." I nodded to the group of people gathering nearby. He put a hand on my head and smiled.

" They don't know who you are! And let me tell you, they're really jealous I got a cute goth boyfriend." I shot him a glare and he laughed. His laugh echoed through my head and I was certain I'd faint right there.

" Be quiet, you attract attention," I whispered aggressively.

" You have a lovely morning glow, did you know that?" He sighed. I froze, a chill running up my spine.

" Okay, Prince Alarming! We've established that I'm your soulmate and you're attracted to me. Just tone it down a little," I said, a nervous laugh escaping me.

" If I tone it down, someone might try and make a move," he teased, though there was an edge to his voice that made me think he was serious. I rolled my eyes.

" Mighty full of ourselves this morning, are we?" I commented, grabbing my books and turning to face him completely.

He shook his head, a little smirk playing on his perfec— cOMPLETELY AVERAGE LIPS. I frowned, confused. " No, silly. Not me, you!"

I snorted a little louder than I maybe should've. Roman quickly said, " I'm serious! You aren't wearing makeup and you're quite handsome beneath your façade! You look like that bad boy cliche that every woman loves!"

Not even a moment after he finished speaking, a girl walked up to us. " Excuse me," she said to Roman. She stepped between us, separating me from him. " Hi! I'm Becky, and you must be new!~"

I heard Roman make a small noise of annoyance at her sudden pushiness, and I decided to mess with him a little. " Hello, Becky," I said, a small smile playing at my lips.

Roman shot me a look of utter betrayal and I had to hold in my amusement. The girl sent a look to a few of her friends standing off to the side. Due to my continuously rising social anxiety, I could pick up on everything happening around me at once.

Becky gave me a smile she must have intended to be seductive, but I was quite inwardly disgusted. " You want me to walk you to class? To make sure you don't get lost?"

I noticed Roman getting a little fidgety, and figured I should probably get back to him sooner rather than later. " That's very sweet of you, but I'll have to decline."

Becky looked shell-shocked. " Really?"

" Yes," I said. " I've got my soulmate to walk me anywhere I need."

" Your. . ." She trailed off and looked over her shoulder, as if she had just seen Roman for the first time. " Oh."

She was gone in an instant and Roman was back at my side, like a handsome little puppy. He sent a side eye at Becky's retreating figure and then turned back to me completely. " I can't believe how quickly they forget of me when there's a different cutie to eye."

" Please, you're making me gag," I joked. My ego swelled and I felt infinitely better. My day just kept improving. I found out I'm not the most hideous creature ever.

Roman walked a few feet ahead, before turning back to me. He extended his hand and smiled that beautiful smile of his. " Shall I walk you to class now, my dark prince?"

For once in my life, I knew exactly what I wanted in that moment.

I took his hand. " You may, my little green monster!"

He feigned hurt and we shared a precious moment. With that, we walked, hand in hand, to the beginning of the next chapter.