^^ Me right now! Explanation in Author's Note :) 

As the music class finished their recreation of The Symphony, there was polite applause. A few wrong notes had been hit, so admittedly, it hurt my ears slightly. However, where I just winced, Em sat next to me banging her head repeatedly on my shoulder. 

I finally hissed, "Stop it; you're hurting me."

She froze and glared at me, "And the music was hurting me."

"Well, I'm not the music, am I?" I rolled my eyes.

Em sat up straight, "I suppose not."

"Wasn't that... wonderful?" Dr Demonico said into the microphone and my attention was caught by her. 

Dr Weston continued, "Hello students. I hope you're all swell."

Dr Demonico obviously rolled her eyes and went on bluntly, "Your time at The Facility has unfortunately come to an end. On behalf of myself and Dr Weston, I thank you for being here. All your samples have been gathered and we're proud to announce exactly why we were doing what you were doing and reveal some results."

I tensed. Was she going to tell us about Alto Emus? Please say no. Please say no.

"May we please have Natalie Roberts and Christian Park with us?" Dr Weston asked, his eyes searching the auditorium.

I took a large breath. So I guess they were going to tell us. 

I stood up slowly and then smoothed my plaid skirt. I turned out into the aisle and made my way down the stairs. Christian was already there by the time I reached them. I stood on the other side of the doctors to him, waiting for what they were going to say.

Dr Demonico smiled, "Thank you, you two. You both know why you're down here, obviously."

I nodded quickly.

Dr Demonico continued, "Students, these two have been part of an association called Alto Emus since they were fourteen-years-old, unknowingly. Alto Emus is an anagram of the word soulmate." A collective gasp rose in the room. Dr Demonico spoke over it, "They've been our main... experiment, I suppose I should say. However, that sounds quite evil, doesn't it? It's not supposed to be. Miss Natalie Roberts and Mr Christian Park have had their bodies, pheromones and dreamscape altered to suit each other. In our medical examination, they've adapted to find comfort in the other before they even ever met."

Another gasp. 

"The two of them have had dreams about them since the beginning of the experiment, when they were fourteen, however, they didn't meet until just recently, in real life," Dr Demonico said. 

The third collective gasp rose and I blushed faintly.

Dr Weston continued, "You, students, have the privilege of finding out first. Natalie and Christian will be meeting with world leaders at the beginning of next year to prove our experiment has worked. If it does work, the next generation will all have soulmates for each other."

Dr Demonico went on, "Now, some of you might be thinking, 'how are they soulmates if you're forcing them on to each other'? Simple. Your soulmate is actually already adapted to you. The experiment just pushes you together."

My blush deepened as my eyes connected with Christian's. 

Dr Weston said, "So, some of you, already have soulmates in this room. Others are still to be decided. We'll be announcing the list of soulmates in this room, but we aren't continuing with the experiment until at the soonest, after Natalie and Christian's meeting, for this next generation."

Small talk rose in the room and Christian mouthed to me, 'Feel important?'

I nodded slightly, 'But terrified.'

He smirked, 'Don't be.'

"Here are the soulmates..."

***

Current Date: 

June 27th, 2016.

Operation Start Date: 

June 2nd, 2016. 

Operation Code Name:

Alto Emus (Tangent)

Operation Full Name:

Soulmate (Tangent)

Operation Doctors:

Dr Damon Weston, Dr Alisha Demonico.

Operation Tangent Synopsis:

To examine the soulmates in the vicinity of our main experiment and see their reactions as evidence of Alto Emus.

Operation Participators:

Dunwich Academy for Boys, Dunwich Academy for Girls.

Operation Tangent Couplings:

Miss Vivian Jones, Mr Zach Durant.

Miss Olivia Lou, Mr Phil Quan.

Miss Bridget Wilkes, Mr James Dean.

Miss Olivia Jennings, Mr Liam Crawl.

Miss Emily Wednesday, Mr Shawn Roberts.

Miss Breeana Fowler, Mr Kayden Strong.

Miss Whitney Smith, Mr Zach Young.

Miss Natalie Roberts, Mr Christian Park.

***

They went through the list with ease as people laughed, hooted, clapped and wolf-whistled at almost every discovery. But my best friend with my brother? Are they crazy? 

Actually, yes. Yes, the doctors are crazy.

"Now that those have been announced," Dr Weston said over the noise, "We're going to explain the withdrawal period. For those who weren't called out, thank you for attending the Facility. May you please return back to your dormitories?"

A bunch of people exited, grumbling about not having a 'soulmate'. How were they not happy? I'd been forced to Christian. True, I'd agreed to everything in the end but I'd never had a choice!

Everyone else moved down into the first few rows in the auditorium, as a clump. 

Dr Demonico said, "Christian, Natalie, you know all this. You may return to your dorms."

I nodded slowly but couldn't find it in myself to move.

Dr Demonico whispered, "Are you feeling sick?"

I shook my head, "No. Just a little... scared of the withdrawal period is all."

I walked off without another word from her. 

***

"Park... ah," I moaned as his hand rested on my bare back. 

He bent down and bit my bottom lip lightly, tugging at it gently. He leant back, "Yeah, Dove?"

I murmured, ruffling my hands through his hair, "I'm gonna miss you..."

"Who said I'm going anywhere?" he bent down again and began leaving a trail of kisses along my neck.

"The doctors..." I squeezed out, trying to remember, "Uh, the withdrawal period."

He moved up to plant a short, fiery kiss on my mouth and then said, "Hey, I'll see you at the end-of-year formal, okay?"

"Okay," I whispered, "But... that's so long to go without you."

He winked, "I think that's the point of it, Dove."

He moved his other hand from my hair so it joined it's other on my back. I shivered lightly and whispered, "You know..."

"I know?" he asked after I trailed off.

He moved his hands slightly down to the fabric of my jeans so they rested on my butt. I let out a soft groan against his lips on mine. 

He bent back again, "I know?"

"You know I love you," I forced out.

He paused and moved his hands, sadly, so they rested on either side of my head, "You what?"

"I love you, Christian," I murmured again.

He smiled slowly so his entire face lit up like I'd never seen before, "I love you, too, Natalie."

"Natalie?" I cocked my head.

"Christian?" his tone grew heavier, serious.

"You never call me that," I whispered, suddenly confused.

"You always call me Park..." he murmured back with furrowed eyebrows.

And then I was falling into a black abyss.

***

I woke with a start. My alarm was blaring and I fumbled to turn it off in my haze. I stared blankly at it after it stopped. 

Had I said 'I love you' to Christian last night? 

I slipped out of my bed and slowly began to pull on clothes as I tried to collect my thoughts. After today, I wouldn't see Christian until the end of the year. I'm pretty sure I also confessed my feelings to him in my dreamscape last night. My best friend and my brother are 'soulmates'. Next year, I'm going to present myself as an experiment to world leaders. 

Yeah... I'm seventeen and rocking this life.

There was a knock on the door and I looked at my brother. He looked glum and possibly moody so I sent him a tentative smile.

He nodded weakly back, "Need help with your bags?"

"I've only got the three," I shrugged, "Thanks anyway."

I pulled on my backpack, shouldered my satchel and grabbed the handle of my suitcase, "But could you walk me down anyway?"

He nodded, "Of course, sis."

In the elevator, I stared at his brooding self. Finally, when the doors opened, I followed him and asked bravely, "Who's put a stick up your ass?"

"Emily!" he said immediately, "She has! She's annoying as hell, clingy, flirting all the time, not to mention probably off-limits since she's your best friend, but then we're told we're soulmates - which I still don't get - and Emily has completely backed-off."

I cocked my head, "So you don't like my best friend?"

"No, that's the problem," Shawn groaned, "I like her too much. She's your best friend and I'm not supposed to like my sister's best friend. But as soon as I'm told we're perfect for each other, she just goes away, making the situation even harder."

I smirked, "Shawn if it makes you feel better, you can date Em. Sure, I find it gross and highly annoying, but you can go out with her and I'll be fine."

Shawn ruffled my hair, "Thanks, sis."

"Natalie!" Principal Wednesday called, "You're late!"

I gave Shawn a too-quick hug and said, "See you tomorrow!"

"Tomorrow?"

"Holidays, idiot," I smirked and rushed to the bus to give the driver my bags. Leaving them with him I boarded the bus. 

Finding a seat directly next to Emily, I sat down, "Hey bestie."

She smiled gently at me, "Hey."

I narrowed my eyes, "Why is your hair in a ponytail? You aren't wearing any makeup. You and my brother have been flipped upside-down."

"Your brother?" she raised an eyebrow.

"You, missy," I narrowed my eyes, "Are coming to my place these holidays and are spending some time with Shawn, got it?"

She rolled her eyes, "And if I don't want to?"

"You will because otherwise I won't come to the Gold Coast in the Spring Holidays."

"Fine," she sighed, "But what about this withdrawal period thingy? I wasn't really paying attention."

"Honestly?" I scoffed, "That really only is important to me and Christian."

"Speak of the devil," she murmured softly, furrowing her eyebrows at the front of the bus.

I, confused, followed her gaze. Christian's eyes were scanning each row before they landed on me. I raised an eyebrow at him before he started walking briskly down the aisle, "Dove, Nat, Natalie, whatever, there are so many crazy things going on right now and I just... I need you to know that I'm gonna miss you."

I smiled gently, despite the blush crawling up my cheeks, "I'm gonna miss you, too, Park. You know that, don't you?"

Christian closed his eyes, fumbling for words, "I, uh, um, oh good lord... of course I'm going to miss you, but that's... not what I'm trying to-"

"Mr Park, the buses are leaving quite soon," Principal Wednesday said seriously. 

He ran a hand through his hair, which I still found adorable, and then muttered, "How do I say this?"

I gulped. Trusting my instincts, I murmured to him, "Don't say it, then?"

His eyes snapped open, examining me. 

All too quickly, his lips were on mine. A sense of perfection ran through me and I smiled against his lips. I ran my hands through his hair as he cupped my face. 

"No PDA, please," Principal Wednesday ordered and Christian leant back from me. 

So many words hung between us but he just whispered, "I don't say goodbyes."

Then he turned away and walked away from the bus.

Away from me.

***

Song: Dial Tones - AS IT IS

Okay, so explanation needed!!!!!! This morning, I got an email from someone at a Writing Mentor place in California, USA! This is on the other side of the world from me. He asked for my opinion on character and plot development so he could share it with 'young, aspiring writers'. This makes me so happy because he actually emailed me to ask for my opinion as an 'experienced' writer! I'm so gleeful right now, oh lord. Okay, explanation over hahaa. 

xx Sharky. *\(*0*)/*