Soulmate Clocks

The Countdown

Nervously fidgeting with the buttons on the cuffs of my sweater, I resisted the urge to look at the clock.

Today's the day.

Taking deep breaths, I ran the brush through my hair one last time.

I snuck a peep and the mirror and smiled. At least I looked presentable.

Didn't want to make a horrible first impression,now do we?

I wondered what he was doing.

Was he excited as I was?

Was he brushing his hair until it stayed perfect?

I heard a chime and stopped. It went again and I waited. "Yes?"

There was a two second silence. " Ang, it's mum." Came a muffled reply.

I walked over to my bed and punched in my code to open the door.

"Angela, love, do you need me to drive you to school?" My mum poked her head around the door with a grin on her face.

She was way too excited for this. Heck, even more excited than I was. In a way, I kind of understand.

In mum's day, this sort of thing probably would have been seen as strange.

After all, it was fairly new. Only a few decades old to be precise.

"No, mum" I smiled reassuringly. "I'll just hitch a ride with Jer-"

"Nooooooo! No you will not." My big brother yelled, barging in.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, please do come into room at seven am,screaming loudly enough to wake our new neighbours."

He scowled at me, crossing his arms on his chest.

My gave us amused looks. She knew well enough not to get into our little 'squabbles'.

"I can't drive you." He huffed. "Mum, I can't drive her."

I glared at the back of his head.

"Why not dear? You both go to the same school, you know?" Mum frowned.

My eyes widened. Blimey, she didn't know.

"Uh... Umm"

Jeremy gave me a pointed look, effectively silencing me. "Because, I'm supposed to be picking up Cotton in like ten minutes."

I almost threw up in my mouth.

Candace 'Cotton' Prince has been my brother's little 'helper' for the past couple weeks.

I'd become suspicious when he invited her over to explain a chemistry problem, which was really, really strange since my brother was practically a professional nerd in the Sciences.

A nerd that all the girls of Rumford Academy fawned over like moths to a fire.

It disgusted me.

Mum gave him a smile, but I could see straight through it. "Oh, Candace, what a lovely girl."

Jeremy rolled his eyes. "She prefers the name Cotton."

Um shoot me?

Honestly, why would anyone want to be called cotton?

"Hey Jer, why do you call her that, anyway?" I was genuinely curious.

Pressing the tiny remote, closing the closet, I grabbed my school bag.

He smirked at me. "The boys say its because she has this pair of really-"

"That's enough". Mum scowled. She wasn't exactly fond of Jeremy's 'hobbies'. I mean, which parent would willingly listen to their child relate their own sexual adventures?