Love's a Jerk

I anxiously bounce up and down on the balls of my feet. 10...9....The counter on my wrist lowers with every passing second. Seconds away from my soul mate.

I can't believe it. I've been waiting for this my whole life. When you're born you have a counter on your wrist. It counts down to your true love. I've been waiting, picturing what happens for way too long. He will walk up to me. He will be cute and adorable and funny and perfect. The counter reaches 5. Nearby, someone trips and falls, spilling the contents they were carrying. I rush over, emphasis on "rush." I can't be late!

"Sorry I'm hurrying, but my counter will be out in 3 seconds."

"Same."

I slowly raise my head, looking into the wide eyes that reached the same realization. We take a moment to look each other over.

He's about my age (Yes, I didn't get an old man!), and has startling green eyes. His hair is black and swept to the side in a cute way. He is dressed in a casual t-shirt and jeans, and I blush at the fact that I am too.

I suddenly become self conscious that we our staring at each other with spilled contents around us. He really is gorgeous, though. I fix my pigtail and try to help him up, but he ignores my hand.

"That's it?" Okay, maybe not so gorgeous.

"Excuse me?"

"You're just not really that hot." Okayyy, not going as planned.

"Yeah, and I'm not a jerk either. Are we done comparing me to you?" He desperately tries to hide a smile. I start walking away. It's definitely not him.

"Hey, where are you going?" I turn around.

"As far away from you as possible." "But you're my soulmate. You're supposed to fall all over me."

"And you're supposed to not be an idiot. I guess we both didn't get what we wanted." I walk away without glancing back, scanning the area anxiously. Stupidface has picked up his stuff and is following me.

"What are you looking for?"

"Go away."

"No one else is here. It's me, babe." "Don't call me that." He puts his hand on my shoulder, trying to turn me around.

"I-" I hear him fall behind me and quickly turn around.

"Oh my gosh." I kneel down by him and put my hand on his heart. Thank goodness, he's still breathing. It was at that point I noticed that we never told each other our names.

"Hey! Hey! Can you hear me?" No response. I get out my cell and call 911.

-

I'm in the waiting room of the hospital when a doctor comes out to meet me. He's a middle aged man with gray hair and a crooked smile, but his brown eyes are kind.

"He's okay-" I exhale. "Who are you? How much do you know?" I hesitate.

"A close friend."

"Ok, then you know about his cancer?"

"Well...no."

"Percy has been a victim to brain cancer for 5 years. It's amazing he's still alive, but he's certainly not himself." Percy, so that's his name. He has cancer?!?

"What happened?"

"A spike of adrenaline triggered a temporary shut down of his central nervous system." (A/N I don't know if that actually happens.)

"Wow. That sounds serious." Suddenly, a nurse bustles out of his room. She has blue eyes, blonde hair, and a panicked expression on her face. I clench my teeth. The doctor turns to me.

"Back in a moment."

Oh, no. I hope nothing bad has happened. He has brain cancer. Way to make a girl feel guilty. Oh my gosh, maybe he's really not a jerk. Maybe he actually likes me. Shut up, I chide myself. I might never even see him again. A tear rolls down my cheek. Ugh, more guilt.

The doctor comes back out, but instead of a somber facade, it's the total opposite. He's grinning like a madman. I jump out of my seat.

"What? What is it?" The doctor is in total shock. He can barely speak.

"He's-he's alive!"

"That's wonderful!" I say. The nurse butts in.

"What Dr. Sanz means to say, is he's made a full recovery!" Is this some sort of sick joke?

"That's impossible! There's no cure for cancer!"

"Yes there is," the doctor says,teary eyed. He grabs my wrist where it now reads zero and shows the nurse. "Love."

-

I cautiously open the door to his room. It's been three days since the whole incident. They had to run tests before I could see him, to make sure he was 100% better. Now my heart is beating like crazy. What if he doesn't remember me? What if he hates me?

"Come on in." I gently close the door and walk to his side. Here goes. He's sitting up, and his skin has a healthy glow. His eyes are shining the brightest I've ever seen. He looks amazing.

"Ah, yes. I've wanted to meet the girl who saved my life." I blush.

"I did no such thing."

"Really? Unfortunately, I don't remember our meeting, but I see this-"he raises his wrist to me"-and I remember your face. You're who I thought of in the pain. You're my miracle." Now I'm radiating. Who knew he was so darn sweet?

"Shut up. I'm turning into a tomato."

"You would be a cute tomato."

"Oh my gosh, seriously?" I say, but we both are smiling. He leans over and kisses me. Now I know what people mean when they say soulmate, and that I have truly found mine. I'm kissing him right back.