The ink was weak and broken at regular intervals, but it was there and it ran the length of Rose's inner left calf — and it wasn't hers.

So her soulmate, whoever they were — had tried to tattoo themselves, and apparently failed drastically. Not for the first time, Rose wished that soulmates didn't have to be aged within six months of each other, because then at least she'd be able to safely assume her soulmate had just turned eighteen. But the ink had clearly messed up, and even the little 16 on her ankle looked like the work of an amateur — and Rose could only assume her soulmate had just turned sixteen and decided to mark the occasion.

Rose pulled her pant leg down angrily and flopped back on her bed as the seconds ticked agonizingly by. Alice was long gone, having marched home in frustration and under the belief that Rose really had tried to tattoo herself — no amount of logic could convince her that it had been Rose's soulmate. Either way it didn't sit right with Alice's weird morals, and Rose wondered glumly if she'd just lost her best friend.

It didn't help that Rose herself had turned sixteen a month earlier.

No — there was no way she could tell her parents about this. They'd never look at her the same even if they did believe it wasn't her. The tattoo indicated that her soulmate was reckless and willing to go against the law for their personal amusement. Her parents would never approve, and they would probably expect Rose to be disapproving as well... Maybe they'd even force her to reject her soulmate. That thought was more than a little depressing.

She'd just have to keep the tattoo covered until she could find some way to remove it.

Presently a little ping was uttered by her phone, and Rose snatched it up eagerly, hoping beyond hope that it was Alice — but her heart sank a little when she realized t was just a boy she'd recently befriended on Wattpad through a shared interest in (obsession with) Supernatural.

destiel_s: heey :)

Rose smiled a little, opening her PM and responding with the usual.

imbatmann: *Cas voice* hello Dean

destiel_s: saw that coming

imbatmann: yeh ok whatever bitch

destiel_s: jerk

destiel_s: so how've u been??

Rose hesitated. How much could she tell him? After all, she didn't really know him that well... she didn't even know his real name. He was just an internet friend... But the more she thought about it, the simpler it seemed to just keep everything to herself. She wasn't in the mood for people's sympathy, not even the sympathy of internet friends. 

imbatmann: I'm alright, just a lil stressed. Family things :P hbu?

destiel_s: ehh I've been better, things r a lil crazy for me 2 rn

imbatmann: that sucks :( how so?

destiel_s: friend drama, family drama, drama in general

imbatmann: :( u poor child, go watch spn

destiel_s: yeah cuz spn is just a sparkly rainbow full of unicorns and candy

imbatmann: yeah but it actually is tho

destiel_s: yes I realize my argument just crawled into a hole and died :'(

imbatmann: poor child ::::)))) now go watch spn

destiel_s: fine <3

Face alight with leftover grins, Rose dropped down her phone, picked up her laptop and wandered absently down the stairs again and through the sliding back doors onto the deck encasing the pool. The bright, transparent blue of the water sparkled innocently up at her as she collapsed defeatedly into the comfort of a lawn chair.

Soulmate information was accessible everywhere on the Internet, being the most defining aspect of human life. Rose surfed through waves of tattoo info, art and forums, searching desperately for some way to remove tattoos without damaging the soulmate bond. A removal option was quickly unveiled, but it was painful, not exactly foolproof, completely unaffordable, and had to be carried out by a specialist. Moreover, people only did it after a soulmate rejection. Rose would have to look for DIYs instead.

Many links later, Rose stumbled across an obscure little DIY tattoo website and found what she was looking for, complete with video tutorials and recommended product brands. She heaved a tremendous sigh of relief. Maybe there was an easy way out of this after all.

Removing Your Soulmate's Tattoo from Your Body

*Warning: the removal of soulmate tattoos is not recommended for persons under the age of 18. The procedure can be very damaging to soulmate bonds and should only be attempted after losing a soulmate to death and/or rejection. In the case of a large and/or malfunctioned/broken tattoo, seek the help of a professional.

Rose faltered upon reaching the end of the disheartening warning. On second thoughts... maybe there really was no easy way out.

Maybe she'd just have to tell her parents.

But she knew how they'd react! They were so conservative — there's no way they'd ever respect her again if she accepted her soulmate despite the tattoo. And Rose wasn't planning on rejecting her soulmate. She had no desire to live out her life alone on the mere account of one little illegal ink.

Rose glanced back at her screen, and was startled at the realization that it was nearing 5:30pm. And then, right in time with her thoughts, the front door clacked open and Rose's mother's voice rang cheerily through the house. "Rose! I'm home!"

Grudgingly, Rose snapped her laptop shut, double-checked to make certain that her leg was covered, and trudged back through the sliding doors to greet her mother.

"And how was your PA day?" Mrs. Weasley inquired briskly, as she bustled around with her shoes and bags and folders. "What'd you do with it?"

"Alice came over," Rose responded cautiously.

"Of course she did. And I trust you two conducted yourselves responsibly? Is anything broken? Are the neighbours going to complain?"

"Mum." Mrs. Weasley could be so exasperating. "We hung out in the pool for a while and ate ice cream. The neighbours aren't going to complain. Jesus."

Mrs. Weasley abruptly ceased her bustling, and turned a scrutinizing look on her daughter. Rose shifted uncomfortably, convinced that that look could see right to her soul, convinced she looked guilty, convinced her pant leg had somehow rode up —

"Are you alright, Rose?" Her mother queried. "You seem tense."

"I'm fine," Rose said quickly. "Just kinda tired." Then she inwardly cursed herself, because tired Rose was never tense. What the hell.

Her mother observed her suspiciously for a moment longer, before going back to her bustling with a doubtful little hmph.

And Rose suddenly had no idea what to do.

She wasn't familiar with this feeling, this feeling that told her she'd lost control of her life. This wasn't real. How could it be? She was Rose Weasley. She was popular. She was the top of her class. She had a good family. She was in control.

Since when had she ever had to lie about this stuff?

As calmly as she could, Rose mounted the stairs again to her bedroom, whereupon she collapsed against her bed and pulled up her pant leg. There it was, real as ever.

She couldn't hide her entire leg for two years. Even then, this tattoo had clearly been homemade. No... there was nothing for it.

Rose was going to have to remove it herself.

+++

A/N: chapter the second is served please enjoy 

~The Unicorn Queen