Chapter Text
She looked down at her inner forearm.
Blinking back at her in thin, red lines were her numbers.
Three days, six hours, twenty eight minutes…
She sighed and traced her finger over the lines beneath her skin, watching as the minutes slowly changed.
Everyone waited for this moment. The moment their numbers ticked down to zero.
She’d seen a handful of her friends’ numbers reach zero.
The excitement that glimmered in their eyes as they looked around for their person.
Everyone always talked about how it was the most thrilling moment in their lives.
And she couldn’t wait to experience that moment. The moment her eyes would lock with someone else’s and her minutes would turn to seconds before hitting zero.
I can do three more days. Hell, I’ve waited twenty years already. What’s three more days, right?
She shook her head and rolled her shoulders, pulling her long hair back away from her face sliding her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
She pulled the soft fabric of her old, torn-up jeans up over her hips, fastening her worn leather belt with a practiced ease.
Pulling on an old t-shirt, she grabbed her keys and headed out to work.
“Shit,” she mumbled, rolling her eyes at the choked sound of her car engine. “Looks like I’m taking the bus today then.”
Thankfully she’d gotten up a little early and had enough time to get to the stop.
She looked down at her wrist, checking her watch.
What the hell…
Her numbers… They…
Five minutes, twenty-three seconds…
She’d read, of course, of people’s numbers skipping or dropping suddenly but it was so rare. She certainly didn’t think it’d happen to her.
Famous last words, idiot.
Her hands started to shake as she sat and waited for the bus.
God why did I decide to wear my rattiest fucking clothes today? Stupid car. I needed those days to prepare… I didn’t even shave my legs!
Her fingertips traced over the lines on her arm, a habit she’d picked up as a kid.
It used to give her hope, seeing the numbers.
But right now she couldn’t be more terrified.
Oh god what if he sees me and thinks I look like a hot mess?
She got so wrapped up in her thoughts, she barely noticed the bus pull up in front of her.
Two minutes, fifteen seconds…
She shouldered her bag, stepping onto the bus.
Her eyes were wide, she knew. A few people moved to put their bags next to them at the sight of her.
Keep it together, woman.
Plastering on a smile, she walked toward the back of the bus, sliding into an empty seat.
One minute, thirty nine seconds…
Cars blurred past, the rushing in her ears drowning out the chatter, her eyes fixed on her numbers.
The bus pulled up to a stop. She searched wildly, trying to find her person in the small group at the stop.
An elderly man stepped onto the bus, tipping his hat at the driver.
Nope.
A mother carrying a baby, holding the hand of a young girl.
Still no.
Twenty seconds…
A young man wearing a band t-shirt and ripped skinny jeans stepped on, carrying his skateboard in his hand.
… Maybe?
Fifteen seconds…
A smooth businessman stepped on, his hair slicked back and oiled, his suit impeccably tailored.
… Probably not.
Ten…
A young girl got on, fumbling with her bus pass, nearly dropping the books in her arms.
Nine…
The doors to the bus closed.
Eight…
The young girl took her bus pass in her teeth as she walked, eye searching for an open seat.
Seven…
Finally spotting an open seat, she headed toward it, smiling apologetically as she tripped over someone’s bag.
Five…
It can’t be.
Four…
Taking a deep breath, she looked at the other passengers, trying to detect some kind of movement from the other passengers.
Three…
No.
Two…
It’s impossible…
One…
“Do you mind if I sit here?”
Zero.
“That’s not possible.”
“… I think it is. There’s am empty seat next to you…”
“I.. My time ran out.”
The girl stood, staring back at her, her brow furrowed.
“I’m sorry?”
“Look at your arm.”
“… May I sit down first?”
“Sorry. Sure. Yeah.”
The girl placed her bag on the floor next to her seat, settling down, wincing as her hair got caught between her books.
“… C-can I see your arm please?”
“I’m not sure why but… Oh my god.”
“P-please tell me mine isn’t the only one that zeroed out.”
“It’s not possible. My reading told me I had years this morning…”
The girl held her arm out. In smooth, light blue, curling script, her arm read…
Zero.
“I… I’m not gay.”
“Your arm reads zero, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Then it looks like you might be. At least a little bit. I’m Laura,” the girl said, extending her hand, smiling nervously.
“D-Danny,” the red-head replied, shaking her hand tentatively.
“Well it’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve been waiting.”
“Me too. I guess.”
“… You seem really disappointed for someone who just found her soulmate… Which is a little judgmental because I’m pretty awesome.”
“I’m sorry. I just… I didn’t expect you to be a girl.”
“I can wear a suit if you’d like.”
Danny laughed for the first time all day.
“I.. It’ll just take me a bit to get used to it.”
“Well. Can we start with something simple?”
“I… That depends.”
Laura grinned and reached for Danny’s hand, pausing when she saw the girl flinch.
“Do you trust me?”
“Um. I suppose.”
Smooth, Lawrence. This is supposed to be your moment.
Laura bit her lip and extended her hand, letting her fingertips skim gently over the back of Danny’s hand.
The tips of her fingers caught the edge of Danny’s palm and she turned it over, sliding her hand into Danny’s slightly larger one.
Their fingers interlocked.
Danny sat with wide eyes at the feeling of a hand fitting so perfectly in hers.
A girl’s hand.
“J-just give me some time.”
“As long as you need, Danny.”
Six months later, Danny couldn’t be more in love with her short, brunette girlfriend.
“Danny?”
“Yes?”
“Can you help me?”
Danny walked into the kitchen, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose, a book clutched in her right hand.
“What’s up, Laura?”
Looking up, Danny couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s not funny!”
“Oh it definitely is.”
“Danny just help me get the damn thing.”
Danny chuckled at her girlfriend, seeing her on her tip-toes reaching for the highest shelf, fingertips barely reaching the very edge.
Sliding up behind the shorter girl, Danny’s hand easily grasped the blue coffee mug shaped like a TARDIS. Dropping a kiss on Laura’s lips, she handed the girl the cup.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Their one-year anniversary was… Rough.
“Danny, you can’t keep fighting my battles for me.”
“I’m trying to protect you.”
“Well did it ever occur to you that I can protect myself? That I can handle things on my own?”
“Laura, you’re my girlfriend. We’re supposed to handle things together.”
“God. You just don’t get it, do you?”
“Get what, exactly, Laura?”
Laura sighed and ran a hand through her hair. And that’s when Danny’s eyes caught something.
“Laura, let me see your arm.”
“I don’t want you to touch me and hold my hand right now. I’m pissed off.”
“Laura. Let. Me. See. Your. Arm,” Danny gritted out, her hands starting to shake.
“I don’t see what the hell you’re– What the fuck?!”
Danny reached out and grasped Laura’s wrist, turning her arm over.
Blinking back at her, she clearly read in curly, blue script.
Six days, twelve hours, forty seven minutes…
“Y-Your numbers.”
“I… Can they do that?”
“I… I don’t… I’m not your–”
“Let me see your arm. Maybe…”
“Laura, no. My arm has read zero from the minute you asked me if you could sit by me on the bus.”
“That isn’t possible… How is it…”
“I’m not your soulmate,” Danny choked, dropping Laura’s arm. “But you’re mine.”
“I don’t understand. I’ve never heard of this… I mean… This doesn’t happen…”
“Look at your damn arm, Laura! It’s happening. Your numbers are back. And in six days you’ll find your brand new soulmate.”
“Danny… What do we do?”
“We break up. I end up alone. You end up happy with who-the-fuck-ever.”
“That’s not possible… Danny… I… I love you.”
Danny shook her head, tears streaming down her face.
“I love you, Laura. But you’re meant for someone else.”
“But I’m meant for you too–”
“It hasn’t been working. We’ve been arguing. You’ve been unhappy.”
“Danny, stop it. Please just–”
“I need to go,” Danny choked out, turning and stalking out of the room and out of Laura’s apartment door. She started jogging back to her apartment, gasping for breath between sobs.
She’s not yours anymore.
Her numbers reset.
Danny slammed the door of her apartment shut. Her back slid down the door and she stared at the unchanging number on her arm.
“Come on, come on, come on!” Danny growled, rubbing her hand furiously over the stagnant number.
Zero.
A month passed and Danny barely looked at her arm anymore.
She took to wearing long-sleeved shirts, refusing to look down at her arm.
She watched people around her having their moments and cringed every time she witnessed it, her fingers tracing over what she knew to be a zero.
She tried to stay friends with Laura but seeing her with Carmilla made her sick.
Laura was supposed to be her soulmate.
Laura ran her numbers down to zero and then left her…
She scratched at her forearm again and sighed.
“How have you been, Danny?” Laura asked, stirring her hot cocoa slowly.
Danny plastered on her best fake smile.
“I’ve been alright.”
“Now how have you really been?”
Danny sighed. Of course Laura knew her well enough to know that was a lie.
“I’ve been… Okay. I guess. Not terrible. Not great.”
Laura nodded in understanding.
“I’m probably not who you want to talk to about this, huh?”
Danny shrugged, pushing her long sleeves up her arms.
“I’ll get over it. We’re friends. I don’t want to lose you just because my numbers ran out. Who knows? Maybe I’ll find someone else whose numbers ran out or something.”
Laura smiled softly, reaching across the table to take Danny’s hand comfortingly. She smoothed her thumb over the girl’s knuckles and Danny smiled sadly at their joined hands.
“Danny.”
“What, Laura?”
“Look.”
Danny rolled her eyes and looked down at her arm.
Twenty-six days, two hours, forty-five minutes…
“Looks like you’ve still got time.”