Grey (Monochrome)
~••~

             “Rue is your soulmate?" Hannah was stunned.

Xavier nodded. “Please help me," he pleaded. “I don't know what to do.”

“I—” Hannah hesitated. “Okay.”

“Thank you.” His warm blue eyes looked like the sky. Hannah stared at them, blankly. “Remember when I was mean to you when we were kids?” he asked bashfully. “It's cause I was jealous. You were always with her. I've always had a crush on her ever since we were kids.”

Hannah loudly sipped the empty chocolate milk box. She clutched her stomach where the words should be.

Xavier shook his head, words rushing like water. “Well, no excuse. I apologize for that as well and I'm not just saying that because you'd help me and stuff. I've been also meaning to apologize ever since—”

Hannah raised up her arms, chuckling. “I get it, Evans. I accept your apology, don't worry.”

“Although, something worries me. I've heard that Rue's birthday was like six months-ish ago. But she hasn't even talked to me.” Xavier looked disheartened, a kicked puppy left in rain. “Of course, I'm not entitled to her attention but I've heard about unrequited soulmates. And I know she just dates girls so—”

“She's bisexual with a heavy preference for girls.” She blurted out because she's stupid and masochistic.

“Oh.”

“Although, she did mention that her soulmate was a girl,” she added.

“Oh.” Xavier slumped down. “So, it really is an unrequited soulmate.”

Hannah pursed her lips. “She said it's not working out though. You still have a chance.” She swallowed the bile in her throat. “I’ll help.”

“Thank you.” He smiled warmly. “Still. Isn't it so odd? Why string someone with someone who's bonded for someone else? Isn't that a bit cruel?”

Hannah could paint the curve of his nose, the tint of his lips. Hannah knew the exact shade of blue his eyes were. She crushed the empty milkbox and nodded.

“How about you? How's your bond?” Xavier asked earnestly.

It felt like a stab in a throat. Hannah sighed, wanting nothing more but to be a worm in a plant. “I don't even wanna talk about it.”

He nodded, sympathetically. “I understand. It's very private and touchy issue, I get it.”

No, you don't. She sighed internally.

“Can you not tell her about the bond? I don't want her to like me just cause colors said so. I want her to like me for me,” he said determinedly. “And please, if you matchmake us, don't make it uncomfortable to her or to you.” It's chivalrously stupid but it made Hannah like him more somehow.

The bell rang once again.

Xavier began to stand. “I’ll be going now for my class but Hannah, really, thank you.”

She waved him off, smiling wanly.

“Good luck with your bond. If you need help, I'll help!” he swore, solemn. “We could be Bond Buddies.”

And he was gone, taking all the color with him. Hannah threw the empty chocomilk box. She slumped to the table and loudly banged her head on it.

~••~

saltyscrub
so how was it with smate dude:

:Hahahha so we just decided to take it slow

:Is it okay if he hangs out with us

saltyscrub
replied to:Hahahha so we just...
smart u are learning:

sure he can hang out w us:

no smooching:

:I don't think we'd smooch at all

saltyscrub
HE WASN'T INTERESTED??:

:I don't know

saltyscrub
I KNEW IT THAT GUY WAS STUPID:

:Rue. Chill out. I get it now. What u said about the messiness of soulmates

:Not yet giving up tho!!:>

saltyscrub is typing...

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~••~

       She thought of asking Rue. She briefly thought of getting mad. But, according to Xavier's account, there's a huge chance, Rue doesn't even know.

Rue doesn't seem to be lying about her soulmate either. But considering her manhater personality, it's heavily plausible she just said it's a girl out of spite or something.

There was only one solution.

Figure out Rue’s soulmate.

Ugh, wait why am I doing this? Teary eyed Hannah Gaunt asked herself whilst being curled under a blanket. Why indeed was she doing this matchmake business? Why even bother?

She thought of Xavier's soft and rounded features—almost always beaming and bright—and Rue's broody and enigmatic personality matched with her strong jaw, sharp nose and face. Pretty and lean. Kissable lips.

They look good together, she mournfully thought. And checked one of her favorite tropes too; black cat and golden retriever.

She likes Xavier. He's one of the kindest and genuine dudes in the school. He's her soulmate. The colors had proven.

She loves Rue. She's her best friend and she had stuck with Hannah thick and through from the dawn of time. She thought of them being happy together. The words in her skin throbbed. The grey world seemed dimmer and crueler than ever.

Well, she hadn't completely given up. She had articulately planned a way to perchance be able to win back her unrequited soulmate as well. She'll suggest it once and if Xavier is uncomfortable she will stop, she had sworn.

Two words.

Fake dating.

She could reason out that it might help spur some jealousy from Rue. Hannah had seen enough romcoms to understand the potential intimacy and closeness that might be made.

And if it doesn't work out and the two were to live happily ever after? Hannah closed her eyes as the image of an empty chair comes to mind.

She'd greet them away with a smile.

~••~

Xavier Evans
HIII:

Itss me:

Wanna meet up at the 7/11 near the sxjool?? My treat :)) :

Are u asleep:

Goodnigt sleepwell!:

5:20 am

replied to: Wanna meet up at...
:Sure:>

:What time?

Xavier Evans
Omgoshbhii goodmornig!:

I'm free at 7 hbu:

: I'm free at 7 as well :>>

See u there!!:

~••~

       “You want us to fake date?” Xavier gasped. He was on full hide mode, sunglasses and caps and all that the security had made a full blown search all over his body when they went in and out of the 7/11.

Hannah sipped her slurpee. “Well, it might help spur some jealousy. Look, we still aren't sure if your bond is truly unrequited or not,” she explained. “I know Rue. She hides things that she deems ‘embarrassing’”(she hand quoted),“like I didn't even know she likes guys until she accidentally blurted out that she liked Joseph Gordon Levitt from some airplane anime.”

“And once, their house had a bunch of legos scattered around when I visited and she said that her sibling used it. She doesn't have any siblings! And there's nothing wrong with playing legos!”

Xavier nodded in heavy agreement, perfectly arched brows furrowing. “I didn't think she'd be someone embarrassed at something like that.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “You’d be surprised. I just don't get it. There's nothing wrong with her interests. I just wish she'd be more open about it to me. I won't mind.”

Xavier smiled at her, showing pearl white teeth. “You're such a good friend, Hannah. Rue is very lucky to have you,” he said sincerely.

She blushed. “I mean, thank you—But that's just like—It's basic human decency. She's my friend.” Hannah shrugged. “She'd do the same for me.”

“You guys are such nice friends.” Xavier nodded, jaw set. “Can we be friends?”

Hannah laughed nervously. “Sure, dude.” She finger-gunned. She'll jump off the roof tomorrow, once she finishes reading Normal People.

“Thanks. Right so—” Xavier shook his head. “—back to the topic.” He cleared his throat, voice sincere. “I’ll trust your judgement, Hannah. I’ll agree with the fake dating.”

“We should take it slow though. Set some boundaries and, like, feel the waters.”

“Of course, of course.” He bobbed his head. “Are you sure you don't want me to help in your soulmate issue too? I'm serious about the Bond Buddies.”

~••~

: we're dating

saltyscrub
Congrats:

saltyscrub is typing...

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