The Mark of Love

Marked

The morning of July 19th, was just like any other morning for me. I got up, had a shower, had breakfast, packed for school and left. Driving to school on a winters rainy day is relaxing for me. I put the radio on, and just drive in peace. Sometimes the house gets a bit chaotic. It's friday, and our school is going to a football game in the state capital. The Knights vs The Roosters. It's the first game of the season, so you can imagine the buzz when everyone found out we were going.

I pick up my best friends, Hannah and Mara on the way. Hannah is a possible one of the most beautiful people I will ever encounter. Her gorgeous, bouncy red hair seems to follow her wherever she goes. Mara is also extremely beautiful. She's brazilian and has beautiful tan skin with dark brown eyes and raven hair. I, am somewhat of a mix between the two. My hair is sort of similar to Hannah's, but mines blonde and a bit longer. Because of my spainish heritage, my skin is also tan, but definitely not as clear as Mara's.

Hannah and Mara have already found their marks, both with handsome men. I sometimes feel left out when they talk about gooey relationship stuff, but I can deal with it.

"I can't wait for this football game!" Hannah exclaims happily from the back.

"I'm not." groaned Mara, "I'd rather watch PLL with Dylan.

"To be quite honest ladies, I'm only going for the hot boys." I state.

"None of them matter anyway," says Mara, "they only matter if they have the mark."

"Sometimes I don't think I'll find the one. Look at Mrs Baker for instance, she's 46 and still has that hideous hand on her neck."

"That is so rude!" yelled Hannah, "It's impossible not to find someone, it's not genetically possible."

"I agree." Mara says, "studies show you are most likely to find your mark before you're 25."

"Those statistics don't matter, I could never find the one

***

The school day drags on by. At the end of the day, we hop on the bus and start the two hour journey to Sandel.

The bus is consumed with general classroom chatter. Gossiping about other students, and sometimes even teachers. Only 12 people out of our class of 24 have found their mark. Half. Some in the same year level, some in the same school, some even in different states.

"Gianna, you'll find yours soon, I just know it! You know the attraction process starts if you haven't found your mark at the age of 16! It's bound to happen soon!"

"Mara, enough with the facts," said Hannah, "These things are left up to fate."

"What if I end up with the dark mark?"

The dark mark is perhaps the most awful thing that could ever happen in our world. When your marked person dies, if you've met them or not, your mark turns black and never fades. Some people are lucky, within a few months, they've got another mark and another person. A dark mark means that your first mark wasn't meant to be. One of Hannah's cousins had the dark mark. Her cousin, Olly was married to a beautiful girl. She was hit by a car a few years back. His mark on his hand turned completely black. After a few months, his mark faded and a new, lighter on appeared on his other hand. His new mark was his second wife, Julia. Julia had always had the mark on her right hand. This could only mean that Olly's first wife was a mistake.

"Mistakes are so rare. Just because my cousin had it doesn't mean you will."

"That is true. It's literally a one in a million chance."

"Your facts aren't helping Mara. What if i'm one of those million?"

***

We arrived at the football game. There are thousands of fans at the stadium. It's hard to move, there's so many. We find our seats and the game begins. The Knights are up 87-73 at the start of the last quarter.

The Knights are my favourite team, they always have been. With the amount of new players they are getting in, they'll be sure to win a few games.

The amount of marks on the people in this stadium is incredible. So many marks. Peoples faces, hands, arms, legs, really anywhere there is skin. I see couples with their families, young couples alone and a few old couples. I look to my left and I see a sad boy with a dark mark. He looks my age, about 18. The mark on his hand is completely black. It makes me sad to think what he once had is completely gone.

***

The game ends. We wait for the crowd to die down. Mara, Hannah and I head to the Knights players. They won the game. Everybody was so happy. We decided to get some photos with the players.

Mara and Hannah get photos with some of the old favourites, but I notice one recruit isn't getting much attention. I decided to get a photo with him.

"Hi, can I please get a photo with you?" I ask politely

"Sure." he smiles.

He puts his hand around my waist and we get a photo.

"Thank you." I say.

He nods and walks to the changing rooms.

***

I get home and change into my pjs. I take one last look at myself in the mirror, noticing all my little flaws. I turn around to see that my mark has completely faded. In shock, I rush down to my parents. They are as shocked as I am. They ask me who it could possibly be. Only one person comes to mind.

It's that new recruit.