Work Text:
(JIMMY’S POV)
It was Jimmy's first day of year 11, and he was pissed. He couldn’t even begin to understand why today of all days had to be the day he would meet his soulmate. This year was supposed to be about working towards his GCSEs, not love of all things. God he couldn’t WAIT for this day to end. Soulmates had always been something of a sore spot ever since his mum had died, shattering his childlike beliefs in true love and happily ever afters, and leaving his dad to bring him up all alone. And then years after that, everyone else had gained their soulmate marks at the age of 10, except Jimmy. Jimmy and the incredibly attractive new guy who joined the school last year, but he knew he had no chance with the legendary Scott Major. He envied those who had found their soulmates, and to avoid the heartache, constantly tried to convince himself that he didn’t care about his stupid soulmate, not even a little bit. This obviously wasn’t true, and deep down Jimmy secretly hoped he would find his soulmate, but some people aren’t that lucky. They have the pain of being left with no words to lean on. And what’s even worse is a one sided bond, where one person begs for the affection of their ‘love’ but the other yearns for the one imprinted on their arm. Honestly, he didn’t think he could take that.
(FLASHBACK IG)
‘DAAAAAAD- what’s a soulmate??’
The young boy asked. His father chuckled. ‘Well Jim, a soulmate is the person you are meant to be with. Mine was your mother..’ he looked sad momentarily before quickly plastering a smile onto his face. Jimmy frowned, ‘how do I know who my soulmate is?’
‘Well kid, on the day you will meet your soulmate, the first words she or he will ever say to you appear on your arm, and they will only leave that arm if your soulmate… If your
soulmate dies, Jim.’ his father managed, ‘That's why I don't have any words on my arm anymore.’
(SCOTT’S POV)
GOD, school was the worst. Scott had never liked school, not even when he was little. The only reason he was going to school today was because he knew he was going to meet his soulmate, even if that soulmate was the reason he now had the phrase, ‘ HOLY SHIT I’M SO SORRY’ plastered on his arm like an odd tattoo. Sighing, he found his seat on the bus and put his headphones in, trying hard not to make it obvious he was listening to a mixture of the Heathers soundtrack and Mitski. He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t bothered by his lack of soulmate, but he’d managed to find a way to brush off the pitying looks and act like everything was okay. He had to act like everything was okay and live the past six years happily single, because he wasn’t sure he’d make it with everyone looking at him like some goddamn kicked puppy.
(JIMMY AGAIN)
Jimmy stood in a way he hoped made it look like he was waiting for someone, when in reality he had very few friends within the school as he generally spent his break times in the library running Minecraft on the computers. This year had to be different. He didn’t think he’d manage spending a year alone again. Feeling his face go warm with the embarrassment of phantom eyes staring him down, he started to make his way to the library to kick out the year sevens with a little too much confidence sitting in his place. He rolled up his sleeves and caught sight of his soulmate mark, again. ‘Are you okay?’ The words read, taunting him in his solidarity. Lost in his thoughts, Jimmy forgot to look where he was going and managed to walk smack bang into the chest of none other than Scott Major.
(SCOTTS POV)
‘HOLY SHIT I’M SO SORRY’ the shorter boy yelled, walking straight into Scott. ‘A-are you okay??’ He froze, eyes widening. ‘Oh my god. Who are you?’
The blond froze, avoiding the other boy’s eyes. ‘I’m Jimmy Shadow-Solidarity. And you’re Scott Major.’ Scott thought he must be nervous, otherwise why was it so hard to speak? ‘Jimmy, we’re soulmates. Let's get a drink after school or something?’ He thought he saw Jimmy go slightly pink, however he tried to brush that off. At Jimmy’s silence, he cleared his throat uncomfortably. Quickly, Scott spoke again, ‘That is if you’re comfortable with that, i know that lots of people don’t want to have a soulmate and they end up staying separate, but i’d love to try at least if you’re up for it?’
(JIMMY POV)
Jimmy’s throat felt like it was closing up. He had tried to convince himself he didn’t need a stupid soulmate, but now he wasn’t so sure. ‘Uh-’ he managed, ‘no that- that's fine Scott, let’s get a drink.’ Nervously, he pulled a face he hoped somewhat resembled a smile and held his phone out to the other boy. ‘Here, give me your number, I guess I'll need it seeing as we’re soulmates now.’ Scott laughed in a way that sounded strained. ‘Okay Jim, okay.’ Scott laughed properly this time, in a way that made his eyes light up, in a way that told Jimmy it was all going to be okay in the end.