To The Touch

Prolouge

These necklaces we get are strange things really. Magical. When a kid is born, they get this necklace. The stone on the necklace is a raw birthstone. Meaning, they aren't polished or cut in anyway to look pretty. Regardless, every baby gets one. And these stones glow and get hotter the closer you are to your supposed soul mate. And suprise, suprise, the farther you are the more cold and dull your stone becomes. 

I've heard some people say that when those two people meet, they use their stones to create their wedding rings. It's such a sweet thing to do for people really. It gives them hope and a reason to live. 

************

"1...2...3...4..." Thrill ran through my blood as I ran around my yard looking for a good place to hide. Hiding under the house in the crawlspace was to easy, and inside of the house was off limits, so I ended up hiding behind some tall bushes. 

"19..20! Ready or not, here i come!" Shouted Aaron. I smiled and peeked around the leaves. I saw him looking across the yard going in the right direction, away from me. I pulled back and hugged my knees to my chest, waiting for him to find me. 

"Hey Tay where are you!!" He tauntingly shouted. I bit my lip, trying not to laugh. I listened as his footsteps got further and further away. I held my necklace, the one given to me by my real mom, the one with the small round black stone on it, and felt it's gentle pulse of heat. I never knew where it came from, so I always thought it was the heat from my body. I missed mom.

"Got yah!" Aaron shouted from next to me. I jumped and shrieked and got up to chase him. We both laughed and giggled, never once realizing our necklaces burned brightly. 

Aaron moved away the day after. I didn't really understand that we would never see each other again, but I was 5 y'know. I thought I would see him again in a few days, but when I waited, he never came back. Being the dense kid I was, I moved on.

*********

I walked down the hall, quietly counting my steps. 156  157  158  159.... I took out my key and unlocked my door and stepped inside. 160. I threw myself on my bed and sighed. I was finally home. 

"So, how was the exam?" My roomate asked, not even looking up from her laptop. I groaned and sat up. 

"I failed. I just know I completely and utterly bombed it. Ugh, what am I going to do?" I groaned.

I look at Kate, my roomate. She was intently staring at her screen which reflected off of her glasses, blocking her expressionless eyes from my viewing.  Her dark curls were pulled up in a messy bun, a few thick strands cascading down her face. She sat criss-crossed in light gray sweatpants and  red t-shirt, plain as normal. Except for the fact that she was the highest ranked person in our entire university. She was a fascinating person to talk to, and was admired by many. But she hated being followed and treated as if she was a higher species than her peers.

'Kate! Hellooooo? You even listening?" I asked waving my arms for emphisis. She was silent for a minute, finishing what she was reading before she acknowledged me.

"Yes Tay, I can hear you just fine." She looked up to face me, her intense gray eyes consuming me with the same bold yet gentle look. 

"What confused you?" She asked quietly. I proceded to explain the nonsense that was my Calculus mid term. Kate gazed over me, obviously bored at the fact that what I was explaining was incredibly straight foward to her. 

My mouth kept spewing out random analogies and none of it really made any sense now that I think about it. I began to pace back and forth, throwing my arms around in frustration and my nim wit professor.

"Tay..."

"Why did I even decide on taking calculus? It's so boring and I dont understand anything. I should have just taken Trig, or maybe no math at all!" I screamed.

"Tay!" Kate shouted. Kate never raised her voice so I instantly stopped talking and sat straight, wide eyed and a little terrified at my roomate. She looked a bit entranced as she tilted her head and gazed at my chest

"Your necklace... Is it glowing?" I wasn't sure I heard her right. 

"W-what?" I stuttered as I got up from my bed, feeling Kate's gaze follow me, and looked at my reflection in the mirror we shared. 

At first all I saw was my shoulder length brown hair and hazel eyes staring back at me; but as I pulled out my opal necklace, I was amazed at the fact that it was glowing, just barely, but it was. I spun around to face Kate and was practically hyperventalating. 

"Ohmigosh, it's happening, he's here somewhere! I never thought this would happen, I mean I'm so plain and boring!" I started yammering on and on again. Kate smiled and got up from her bed. She put a hand on my shoulder and asked

'So. how are we going to celebrate? Ice cream and a horror movie?" Even though she was normally dismal, I could see the slight smile tugging at her lips. Kate knew me too well.

"You're so awesome" I said before Kate managed to get dressed, and practically pull me out the door. 

"Yeah, I know. Let's go to the store." She said with that mischievious smile on her face. 

*////////////////////////////////////////////////////*

Part one done. Let me know what you think about it :)