Ticking clocks (Lesbian story)

Briha's numbers

London drops Briha and I at school and head towards the college campus with the two others. I pull on my sleeve to hide my arm, and I see Briha look at the numbers with angry eyes. She doesn't say anything to me and just leave for her class. I walk in the school, looking for Glass. She's at her locker, making out with Zare. I cough to get their attention.

-Oh hi Rio, Zare says, we didn't see you.

-I know, I say. Glass can I talk to you.

-Sure, she says smiling at me.

-I mean alone, I say looking at Zare.

-Why can't I know? he asks with sad puppy eyes.

I sigh and just grab Glass' hand and pull her toward the nearest bathroom. I walk into a stall and lock the door behind us both.

-What is this? she asks laughing but I know she's a little uncomfortable being in such a small space. Are you like gonna jump me?

I pull my sleeve up and her eyes go big. I just have the time to smash my hand over her mouth before she can scream. She starts talking anyway, even tho I can't make out a word of what she's saying. I pull my hand away.

-This is amazing? she says jumping up and down. When did it happened?

-Last night. Woke me up.

-Hurts like a bitch right?

I nod, pulling my sleeve down.

-How much do you have left?

-04:17:56:21.

-You don't look happy! she says worried. Why are you not happy? You're gonna meet your soulmate!

-I don't know, I feel like something is wrong.

-Don't worry, he'll be fine and nice and handsome. It's gonna be alright, just enjoy it. Only happens once in a lifetime!

-Unless you're a broke...I say.

-Don't say that! She hisses. It'll be fine.

I nod and the bell rings right that second. We head to class and I drop at the very last desk at the back of the class. I can't concentrate on one word the teacher is saying, so I just play games on my phone until it runs out of battery. At lunch, Glass, Zare and I sit at our usual table beside the window. Glass and Zare are talking about their future house when a guy get's up on a table, in the middle of the cafeteria, his eyes going back and forth from his wrist to the room around him. Few tables away, a girl get's up too, and they just stare at each other, smiling. There's a moment of silence in the cafeteria, everybody waiting to see what they are gonna do. Then someone start cheering and clapping and the two found are picked up by the crowd and thrown together on the same table. Silence again, everybody is staring at them. The girl who was red like a tomato two seconds before now look like she's gonna pass out. The guy brings her in and hugs her and the cheering start again.

-Who's the girl? I ask Glass.

-She's new, she just transferred yesterday. You see Rio, that's what's gonna happen to you in a few days! Aren't you excited? She says while cheering for the new couple.

-I guess, I say, staring at my food, not hungry anymore.

***

When I get home the house smells so great. My mom Ada has been cooking all day to make a special dinner for me, to celebrate my numbers. Everybody is cheerful, even Briha, and I kinda get in the mood too. My mom talks about my future with my soulmate with so much joy, her dreams make me feel kinda good. Briha is picking up the dishes when she screams and drops the plates. My dad jumps up, asking her on and on what's wrong. Briha is holding her left arm, silent. On her arm are 8 blue numbers, the last one changing each second.

-Oh God this is amazing! my mom chants. Two in one day! It's perfect!

Briha starts laughing and dancing around, my brothers are picking her up and dancing with her. I get up and clean the broken plates on the ground. Ruthy comes to help me.

-You ok? she asks me.

I nod, getting up and putting the broken pieces of the plates in the trash. I run up the stairs to my room, looking the door behind me. Did it had to happen now? The universe couldn't wait like a week or something. I stare at my numbers going down, the seconds, the minutes. I fall asleep waiting for the hour to turn too. When I wake up in the morning, I'm at 03:20:47:38. I just realize right then that I'm gonna meet him in the middle of the night. Where am I gonna be in the middle of the night in three days 20 hours? I turn around in my bed, not feeling like going to school. My phone rings.

-Rio, its Glass.

-I know it's you, nobody else calls me at 6 am.

-There's a party at Bronx's place on friday night! That's it Rio, that's where you'll meet your soulmate.

-Are we invited?

-Of course we are! Why do you think I told you! I'll pick you up at 9 so you'll have time to get ready!

She hangs up and I turn around in my bed, falling back asleep.