Stranger [ Altas X Lucas ]

Stranger

It was said when you turn 18 you're destined a partner; a "soulmate"-- You weren't told who, no when you seen them you'd feel it—it's said a warmth spreads over your entire body; like you're engulfed into flames. Although growing up I thought the whole thing was stupid; being paired up with someone that you might not know only due to the "soulmate" criteria. 

My parents would always tell me the story of how they met in High School, and of course I listened to it, but never took interest in the whole thing. It stayed that way my entire life until my junior year of High School when I looked at him: Lucas Rider.
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I was walking down the hallway with Chris when I first saw him; he was talking to his friends, laughing and joking like nothing mattered in the world, but when my eyes met his; I could feel it—that flame. It was like my entire body was in a trance. I finally understood that feeling my parents told me about—and if I was being honest: I loved it—it was like the only people here were just me and him. I didn't even notice I was staring until Chris knocked me out of my thoughts. 

"Yo At, you good mate?" I looked at him quickly. ".....I found him." Was all I could muster up from my mouth. Chris looked at me confused before it clicked making him smile softly, "I'm so happy for you! Who is it??" But before I could reply to him, Rachel  jumped on his back, causing him to chuckle "Hi baby" Rachel kissed his check, "Helloo"

Rachel Lee; Chris's soulmate, and one of my closest friends. "Why does he look like he just saw the most beautiful person in his life?" Chris chuckled, casing me to blink, "he found his soulmate." Rachel's eyes widened, "who is it?!" The girl yelled, I pointed over towards who I knew was my soulmate. They followed my finger towards him, I was smiling until I heard a sigh as they looked back at me. "What?" I asked. 

"...That's Atlas. The school bully...I know you're happy you found your soulmate, but not him...I say this because I care for you okay? Say stranger...You'll be able to get a new soulmate in a year or two.." Chris  spoke, but I shook my head, "but I want him.." Rachel patted my shoulder, "trust us At...he's no good.." I nodded my head, but in reality I didn't listen. 
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I did everything I could to try and get his attention; I would accidentally bump into him, I would sit beside him even if there were other seats open, I would even try and make small talk. Although nothing seemed to work. If I was being honest with myself; I was beginning to lose hope, until the universe heard me struggling and let us get assigned as partners for a project in one of our classes. 
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I walked up to him slowly, before tapping on his shoulder. He turned to look at me, making me gulp. "What?" He asked when he turned around, "I..I'm Atlas. Your partner for the project..Um, the project isn't that hard..it should take a day or two to finish it.." I spoke quietly, but inside I was happy to finally have a conversation with him, until he spoke.

"Atlas huh? Well then Atlas. If it isn't that hard, you can do it yourself." I looked at him quickly, "but it's a partner project." He rolled his eyes; "so? Just put my name on it. I have shit I have to do, and I can't be wasting it with you doing something stupid." He snarled, causing me to back up. 

I should have ended any contact with him right then and there, but being so blinded by the feeling of that warmth from him. I nodded—I ended up doing the entire project on my own, and just adding his name on it at the end. 

It went on like that for the rest of the year—Me and Lucas being assigned as partners, me doing all the work and only adding his name at the end. At first I didn't affect me like I thought it would; because knowing I still got chances to talk to him; a chance to feel that flame—but as it went on I started to feel the flame die down; that feeling was slipping away and all I was left with were my tears at the end of the day. 
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It was time for another project; again he pushed it all on me, except for me agreeing I snapped. "You know what, No. you can either help me, or I'll tell the teacher Lucas." He looked at me shocked before he held a sly smirk on his face, "Awe, don't do that. You wouldn't want your soulmate to fail would you?" 

At his words I felt rage erupt in my veins, "soulmate?! Are you actually fucking kidding me!" I yelled, "you knew?!" He chuckled and nodded his head. "Of course I knew." Although I felt angry, I felt hurt and I could feel the tears begin to welled up in my eyes, but I didn't let them fall. "You know what..." I whispered but loud enough for him to hear, "what hmm?" He asked tilting his head in a mocking manner. 

"Fuck you." I laughed, "Fuck you Lucas—I tried and tired to get your attention. Tried to make conversation with you. Trying anything to get you to notice me because of that feeling I felt..that feeling I fell in love with when I looked at you." My hands began to shake but I kept going. "Chris and Rachel warned me to stay away from you. They told me that you weren't what I needed, but I didn't listen..." I chuckled to myself.

"I should have. I should have listened to them, because if I knew how much they were telling the truth I would have never—and I mean never would have tired to get you to notice me." A tear fell down my face, "I'm tired..I'm tired of trying with you...tired of trying to get you to see me." Suddenly I felt hot tears begin to fall down my cheeks, and I let them.

"I used to hate the thought of a soulmate. Loathing the thought of being destined with someone I may or may not know. But it all changed when I saw you...I was taken over by that warmth, and I wanted nothing more than to be with you...." My hand still shook, but instead of it being anger—it was heartbreak. "I'm an idiot...I should have listened, and I should have kept telling myself that having a soulmate is ridiculous...and the most important thing; I should have stayed as far away from you as I could." I whipped my tears, as I looked at him straight in the eyes, "but I didn't, I gave in, and the only way that I can get out is to forget you ever existed." 

Lucas shook his head, "wait- no —Atlas hold on a second—  I can fix this-" I laughed, "you want to fix it? This can't be fixed with an apology. You ruined me...this is your doing. Not mine." I shook a step back from him, whipping my tears once again, Lucas  reached out for me but before he could the word slipped past my lips. 

"Stranger."

Once the words left my mouth I closed my eyes for a quick second. Opening them I looked in front of me seeing a man about my age with tears falling down his face, "why are you crying?" I asked, before realizing I was also crying, "why am I crying?" I whipped my face, looking back at the man in front of me, "Atlas..." I tilted my head at him, "how do you know my name?" He stepped towards me, Making me take a step back out of precaution. 

"I'm your soulmate...Atlas It's me Lucas ..." I shook my head slightly, "I don't have a soulmate, I'm sorry, I don't know who you are." the man shook his head, "No, No you have to remember, you need to remember, please, I need to make this right" I looked at him in confusion, "Make what right? I don't know who you are" I took another step back, and It looks like he's about to reach out for me, but stop's himself. 

"I know..." he hiccups out a small sob, "...I know you don't Remember who I am, or what I am to you...what i was....and that's my fault." I saw tears begin to fall down his face one more, "I'm so sorry, I never should have treated you the way I did, I should have just made you mine like we were destined to be...Like it was supposed to be..." I saw his hands beginning to shake, "I was scared...I was so scared....I don't know how to love, or be loved...."

He walked closer to me, and this time I didn't step back, "I wish I could go back to the first day I talked to you...I would have taken my chance instead of being a complete idiot..." Looking at him my chest hurt, It felt like it was being torn apart, but I didn't know or understand why. 

But If he is saying who he says he is is true, and I don't remember him it must have been for a reason, right? I had a reason to forget him, right? "I'm sorry, I understand that you are sorry...But if you are who you say you are, and I have forgotten you, it was for a reason right?" he nodded his head. "I'm sorry Atlas...I know...I know that I can't change anything ..... I know you have already forgotten about me" He looked at me with tears swelled in his eyes.

"But this pain in my chest hurts.....It hurts so bad, I feel like i'm dying...Is this..Is this what you felt like..?" he whispered to himself, "I have no way of making things right, but I can make it better in this way..." He looked at me for a couple more seconds before he smiled softly.

"Stranger."