Soulmates A/U

Soulmates

I walk into the cafe where I meet Jefferson every morning, gray boots splashing into gray puddles that reflect gray skies. I'm at the age where most of my other friends have started to see colors, but I'm still stuck in this lonely black and white world. I swing open the door and am met with the familiar sight of Jefferson smiling at me, his hair in a neat quiff, his shirt done up perfectly. He sees me walking through the door, and the way he looks at me, it is obvious that something has changed. I walk over to him, clasping his hand and pulling his shoulder towards mine. "How are you, Sebastian?" he says, laughing.

"Good, good. So, who's the girl?" I ask, as I step back to look at him. He shakes his head.

"Always so perceptive." I grin. "I just met her the other day. Her name is Grace. She's amazing, Baz- she's smart, and witty, and beautiful, and just- perfect." He looks at me. "I'm assuming you still see in black and white." I nod. "Don't worry, Baz. You'll find your soulmate soon." I nod again, looking at the ground. It's something everyone says to me, something that is supposed to comfort me. But it's starting to feel like I will forever be stuck in the colorless world.

"What's it like?" I ask him.

"It's amazing- I saw her, and the entire world just lit up in color. Everything is so vibrant and surreal." Jefferson glances at the clock. "I'm sorry Baz, I have to go. Grace is waiting for me. See you later." He turns and walks away. I sigh, and leave without ordering.

I absentmindedly walk through the streets on my way to work, taking no notice of the people or buildings in my path. I am happy for Jefferson, but part of me is bitter. We always promised ourselves that we would move forward in life together- move out away from home at the same time, get cars at the same time, and find love at the same time. It just seems like he's ready to start moving on without me, and I will be left behind.

I sigh and press the crosswalk button, waiting to cross. I heard a crash- someone dropping something, I'm sure- and subconsciously glance over my shoulder, enough to see a girl with a head of red hair bending over, but not able to see much else. The light turned green and I started walking-

The light turned green. I stop in the middle of the road, heart racing, turning my head every which way to look at the colors- bright reds and yellows and greens on the lights around me, blue and pink and purple coats on the people beside me, crossing the road- white and gold and blue cars driving down the streets. I exhale, not realizing that I was holding my breath until I released it. I could see colors.

I had found my soulmate.

And, I realize, standing in a crowd of bright colors- I had also lost her.

I quickly turn around, looking for the girl with the bright red hair- it had to be her, she was the last person I saw before the colors started happening- but she was nowhere to be found. I quickly dart past people in the crowd, racing to reach her, racing to see where she's gone, not really paying attention to the hords of people around me and all of the things I am probably knocking over.

I was going east, and she had been walking north- or was it south? I groaned in frustration, looking for her, and also wasting too much time getting distracted by the numerous shiny objects and brightly colored bags and scarves that I have never seen before.

I cross the street again, running up and down streets, looking into alleyways and shops, searching for a glimpse of bright red hair. I see it in a small cafe, by the window, and I rush in.

But when I look at the girl with red hair, she is leaning on the arm of someone else. My heart drops through my chest- how is this possible?- but I realize this girl's hair is much, much shorter than the girl I saw. I start to breathe again. This cannot be my soulmate. I turn around and I keep looking.

I reach the end of the north street, and so I turn around and start to run the other way, panic rising in my chest. What if I never find her? My feet start to hurt from running so much and changing direction so fast and so often. But I still keep running, chest heaving from panting and breathing so deeply, head turning every which direction. What if I had actually lost her? What if she was gone forever?

I realize I am now as far south as I can possibly run, and I still have not found her. Hot tears sting my eyes, threatening to spill, and I clench my fists together. No. I cannot have lost her- not when I am this close. I will not accept that.

So I run around the block, starting to go east, checking in every shop window, through all the hoards of people, looking.

I sit down on a set of marble steps to rest and check my watch. It has been an hour since I met Jefferson at the cafe. She is probably long gone by now. I've taken too long to find her.

I groan and bury my face in my hands, frustrated. How could I be so stupid- how could I be so slow? I am probably the only person in history ever to find their soulmate and then lose them in a crowd of people.

I am snapped out of my thoughts by the sound of heels clicking on marble, and I look up into a pair of sapphire blue eyes.

A strand of red hair falls into the girl's face, and I gasp.

"Um, hi." she says. "I saw you at the crosswalk- I was just wondering- can you see the colors too?" Her face looks hopeful, but also nervous- and breathtakingly beautiful. I nod, somewhat dazed, and then leap to my feet, heart racing.

"I'm Sebastian," I say, flashing a grin. She smiles back at me.

"Claryn," She replies.

"Love your bag, by the way," I say, gesturing to a blue tote bag she is carrying with the Star Wars logo on it.

She giggles. "Really? My friends think I'm too nerdy, but I really love Star Wars."

I smile. "If you love Star Wars, then what they say is true- we really are soulmates."

She blushes and tucks a piece of hair behind her ear.

"So, uh, Claryn, if you're not doing anything later... I believe Rouge One is still in theatres?" I say. She laughs.

"I'd love to see it with you." she takes a business card out of her pocket. "But I really have to go- call me, okay?" She smiles and turns around, walking away, red hair blowing behind her.

I tuck the business card into my pocket and laugh. Just wait until Jefferson hears about her.