Chapter Text
I am so going to fail this math test.
The terrified thought startled Ben completely out of sleep. His alarm had gone off probably twenty minutes prior, but, as per usual, he had hit the snooze button a couple times too many. The alarm now going off again indicating that he was running behind was not what had his heart racing. He knew he did not have a math test today. He also knew that, even if he did, he would pass it easily. Math was his best subject, but what if he had forgotten about something and his subconscious was reminding him.
In his panicked hurry to double check his calendar, Ben got tangled in his sheets and tumbled off his bed to the floor.
“Ben!” his mother’s anxious voice called from downstairs.
“Yes, mom?”
“Is everything all right?” she asked in genuine concern.
“I’m okay.” He grimaced knowing she would want an explanation. “My blankets fell on the floor.”
He could hear her exasperated sigh. “If you are about to tell that the reason those blankets sounded so heavy is because you were in them, so help me, I will come up there…” The rest of her words were drowned out by the sounds of their family dogs barking.
Ben fondly rolled his eyes - his mother knew him too well – before jumping up and going back to his original task. He hurriedly pulled his calendar out of his bookbag and started scanning it. There was nothing. Today was not special. For once, his calendar was blank. Which meant…
Ben’s eyes grew large and his breathing picked up as realization hit him. He was beginning to think that he did not have a soulmate. When he turned thirteen, he hoped to start hearing from her quickly, but nothing had ever happened. Most people began hearing their soulmate’s thoughts within at most a year or two of turning thirteen. It would only happen once both had turned that age. Then all they had to do was find one another and kiss at some point. That first kiss would leave matching marks somewhere on their bodies. Unfortunately, most people who had not heard their soulmates thoughts by the time they were eighteen never did hear them.
Ben was so sure that he would be one of those with no soulmate. He was no one’s favorite person. Most people considered him to be too quiet, too intense, too odd. He wasn’t even what others would consider good looking. There was a host of other reasons, but, just generally speaking, he was disliked. Now the thought that there was someone out there who could possibly love him left him breathless. The obvious issue of her age had not occurred to him when he tried reaching out to her like his mother had told him to if he ever connected to her mind.
Good morning to you too. He grinned as he felt a wave of shock that he knew for sure did not come from him.
You really exist? Came her hesitant reply. She almost sounded scared but hopeful at the same time.
Yes. I was beginning to think you didn’t though. Guess today is your birthday. Happy Birthday. That was when it hit him. At eighteen, he was technically an adult; and she was still a child. He resolutely decided to be careful. If it meant that they needed to wait for a while before they met, that was something he was willing to do. At least they knew each other was there. It also meant that he would go without a mark to prove her existence for a little while longer.
He felt sadness flow through her mind even as she became giddy with excitement. Thank you. You are the first to say that to me.
I can be the first next year too. Her excitement flooded him, and he wondered at what might cause such excitement when he was only wishing her a happy birthday. You have a math test today? He asked her as he started collecting his things to get ready for school.
Yes. Came her disgruntled response. I am awful at it. English is my best subject.
Grinning at how perfect that was, he quickly responded. English is my worst subject, and math is my best. I can help you study before the test.
Her relief was almost palpable. Please! I need to pass this test or…
Her thought just trailed off, but Ben could sense the importance of this to her. I can help. Not during the test, he stated pointedly, but I can help you understand the material before. We can talk about it on the way to school.
Joy that came not just from her filled up every space in his chest. He was talking to his soulmate! Yes, she was young, but the fact of the matter was she existed. It wouldn’t take long for others to start picking up on the fact that he had finally heard her. The sudden leap in his English grade would be a dead give-away. For now, he would keep it to himself… and his mom. He couldn’t keep anything from her. The woman was bordering on omniscient.
_
Best. Day. Ever. Rey shouted to her soulmate as she walked away from her school and headed in the direction of the park. Her soulmate! Just finding out that they were a real thing this morning and not just something in a textbook had been nothing short of joyous, but then to realize that she had one sent her over the moon.
She honestly didn’t know what to expect last night when she went to bed. She was nervous. It’s not like she had many friends. Unkar kept her far too busy at home with the other foster kids that were younger than her for her to have something as great as a friend. Some days she hated being the oldest. At least now she wouldn’t be as lonely. Her soulmate would be there to talk to her.
What made it so great and how did the test go? His voice was so deep. Objectively, Rey knew that he was older, but she absolutely refused to consider how much older. She did not want entertain the thought that it could be a little while before she could be with him. It wasn’t that Unkar was physically abusive, but he was very neglectful. She was left far too often to care for the others because Plutt could not bothered to get up and deal with anything himself. For this reason, she vowed to herself that she would leave as soon as she could. Now she possibly had an option of where she could go – straight to her soulmate.
I passed my test with a B thanks to you! She didn’t bother telling him that he was the other reason for such a great day. He gave her hope that her life wouldn’t always be the pile of trash that it was now. He gave her hope that she could maybe keep her grades up throughout her time in school and get a good scholarship when she went to college. He gave her hope that maybe, just maybe, someone out there would care about her.
Happy to help! Are you doing anything special for your birthday?
It was an innocent question, but it nearly tore Rey to pieces. He clearly didn’t understand when she had told him this morning that he was the first person to wish her a happy birthday that he was actually the first… that she could remember. Ever. Now what was she supposed tell him?
I don’t have any plans. Too much to do. Maybe I can celebrate some other time. She knew he would pick up on the dejectedness in her thoughts. It was hard to miss. Hopefully, she could cover it up some. BUT! I got to talk to you!
The mix of emotions that flowed from him was nearly overpowering. He seemed so surprised by her news but happy that she was glad that she got to talk to him. It made her wonder who he was that he became so inexplicably happy about that.
Once she arrived at the park, Rey sat heavily at a picnic table that she usually occupied for a few peaceful moments on her way back to Plutt’s house. She loved sitting there watching ducks in the pond. It was so easy to pull out her notebook and begin writing about the family she wished she had while also watching all the other families around her. And she was never alone in her observations.
When she had first started coming to the park on her way home from school two years ago, she had noticed a dark-haired, teenaged boy with a sketchbook lounging on the large rocks by the pond. He was always so absorbed in his surroundings while he drew that Rey was able to observe him. From what all she could tell, he was just as lonely as she was. His eyes were always drawn to the families that came to the park but most especially the boys with their fathers. That seemed to really bring out a longing look.
So what are you up to right now then? Her soulmate’s voice broke through her thoughts as she watched the black-haired boy climb up on the rocks and settle in with a huff.
Writing. I only get to do that for a little while each day. I want to be a writer. Maybe I can work for the Chandrilla Times! Be a Lois Lane! She knew what she said wasn’t funny, but the feeling of amusement that came from him made her feel warm and happy all over.
Glad to know you are a nerd!
Rey couldn’t help but smile as she settled in to write deciding that today she would write about the boy on the rock. He had been a source of inspiration before. In fact, he was her favorite inspiration. His emotions were all over the place. Some days he would show up absolutely a blank slate of emotion. Other days he would show up looking like he was ready to murder someone. She was determined to catch him one day in the act of smiling. For a moment, she thought that today would be that day. He certainly did look happier than normal. Regardless of when he did smile, she was fully convinced that it would be a glorious thing to witness.
His looks, though some might not care for them, were charming in their own way. His nose, lips, and ears were rather large, but they fit his face perfectly. His wavy black hair and dark eyes were absolutely gorgeous. Everything about him was extreme. Size included. He was huge. Rey was sure that he was around 6’ 2”.
It was safe to say that she had developed a little crush on this anonymous boy, but she was determined to get over him because of the fact that her soulmate had dropped into her life just that morning. She knew that he would be there for her. Some part of her knew that the boy who belonged to the voice in her head would one day love her, and she couldn’t wait! If only the soulmate bond would allow them to tell each other their names!