I Pledge My Love (Revising)

Soulmate

"You still don't pull back far enough." Lukkas said over my shoulder.

The bow string snapped against my skin, the arrow dropped to the ground.

"Well then show me how." I said angrily, rubbing the raw skin on the underside of my arm.

"Okay." he held out his hand for my bow.

I handed it to him and he quickly and smoothly notched an arrow. I noticed a dark mark on his inner forearm.

"What's that?" I asked confused.

He released tension on the compound and glanced at where I pointed before steadily pulling it back.

"Bruise." he said, releasing the string and letting the arrow fly into its mark.

"A bruise? Those are just myths." I said, completely sincere.

"What? You've never seen a bruise?" he asked, incredulous.

"No of course not." I replied. "How'd you get it?"

"Tripped. I'm a clutz." he replied, noticing another arrow. "Watch how far I pull back." he instructed, drawing the bow string past his ear. His ear twitched as the fletching brushed it.  He released it and the arrow shot off so fast that I could barely see it. It missed the center by a foot but stuck almost half way in.

"You need to pull back to here." he said, moving the string a little less taunt.

"Why am I pulling back less?" I asked, suspicious.

He shrugged. "I don't want the string to snap and hit you. You're a good friend of mine." He grew irritated and shoved the bow back towards me. "Just shoot the damn bow already Thomas."

My jaw dropped. "Did you just...?"

"Gridson! Did I just hear that? Take twenty laps. I'm calling your father." the instructor boomed.

"What are you doing?" I whispered. "You can't say things like that."

He grinned. "Guess I'll get some exercise." But he didn't fool me. I saw his smile disappeared as he turned away.

I pulled back the bow again, my arm sore.

"Hey Rain." Hudson said, leaning on the rail rail of the booth next to me. My hand slipped and my arrow shot off, completely missing the target.

"Did I distract you?" he teased.

"No," I said, my face flushing. "Your ugly face just scared me."

"What are you doing over here anyways?" I didn't look up at him. "Shouldn't you be training Mr. Fancy Agriculture Job?" I joked.

"I am." he said defensively. "I'm surveying." He swept his gaze around. "Lots of nice friends, a few meanies," he laughed. "And one beautiful girl."

"Who's that?" I looked around the room with him.

"It's you Rain. You're the beautiful girl." he explained.

I rolled my eyes. "Hilarious." My already-loaded-bow released and I was only inches off this time.

"Hey...guys... two... laps in" Lukkas gasped for breath. We laughed.

"What's he running for?" Hudson asked.

"He swore." I replied simply.

"Lukkas? No way. What did he say?"

"Hudson! Alright, alright." I waved him closer and stood on my tippy toes, until I was just below his ear.

"Not telling!" I practically yelled. He yanked his head away from mine.

"Not cool!" He protested.

"Stop whining." I told him. We both glanced up as our bell rung.

"See you tomorrow Rain." he sighed. "That's a long time to wait to see you." Then he leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. Just like that. He broke the law. Again. For me. But I still reached up to touch where he kissed me.
. . .
I woke up in the middle of the night. The Dream. I- I had the Dream. And I didn't know who it was. It ended when he hugged me from behind. He had it too. There would be a boy going to school tomorrow who would hug me from behind. And then we'd be together forever.

I walked to school with Ally and told her about it.

"Rain, this is so exciting! A mystery soulmate!"

"No, it isn't. What if- what if... I just don't know. This can't go well."

"Don't be silly. You're about to meet your soulmate. I bet it's Hudson."

I stayed quiet. I honestly hoped it was Hudson. Who wouldn't?

We were almost to our lockers when someone came up behind me.

"Hey Rain, how are you?" Hudson said, putting his arm around me.

"No..." My voice camp out as a horse whisper.

"What's wrong?" His expression was quizical.

"Hudd... I- I had my Dream."

"Good one Rain," he said laughing.

"I'm serious Hudd." I couldn't meet his eyes.

"What? There's no way. Rain, you're joking with me. You're joking, I know you are." He turned and almost stumbled into a wall.

Turning to face me, he continued. "You're lying. You're messing with me. You're lying." I watched tears slide down his face. He was blinking rapidly, the way Lukkas does.

"Its not my fault Hudd." I pleaded. "You said you'd be happy for me. You promised."

"I wanted to be happy for us. I was supposed to be happy with you." He turned and ran out the school front.

I watched him leave. His fists were clenched and his head was hanging low. Students parted to leap out of his way.

Lunch was different. I sat alone on my side of the bench. Rose and Quinn sat across from me, holding hands over the table. Ally was next to them, talking to Glia. I had met her earlier. She was nice, but shy.

"What do you think Rain?" Rose asked, snapping me back to reality.

"I'm sorry what? I wasn't listening."
I blushed, embarrassed.

"It's okay." she smiled. "We were talking about-" She stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong Rose?" I asked.

"N-nothing! Hey do you think my hair looks good today?"

"Umm.. I guess so.." I muttered, looking at everyone's face. They were all surprised.

"No way..." I heard Quinn, mutter looking down.

"What's going on? What are you looki-" my sentence was interupted.

There was flash of orange and yellow, and I felt arms wrap around me.

I looked up and saw a face peering down at me. One eye was scrunched up and looked shadowy, so I couldn't make out who it was.

I felt someone slide onto the bench next to me.

"Hey Rain." said Lukkas' voice.

Eww. I have to do this again.

I'm still kind of lazy right now and my head hurts because I'm in a car.

Goodbye. Oh and no I'm not sorry. Like I of all people, I would make a cliche character and have the protagonist be with him.

You should have known when I described him. You. Should. Have. Known.