Captivated

Soul Mates

Hello loves! Sorry about my absence yesterday- I forgot that I had a dinner party situation which prevented me from writing. Oh well, I'm here with the update now! I'm quite fond of this chapter, so I hope you all like it was well. If you wish to, then comment and vote xxx
-ab

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June 28, 2025

Harper

When we arrive at Patrick's parents' flat, I find myself lost in a sea of unfamiliar faces. I know very few people here. Patrick, obviously, knows all of them, and everyone else seems to know each other, as well. Even Taylor appears to know most of the names and faces at the party, but I know less than I can count on one hand. Really, just Patrick's parents, Joe, and Taylor. A few of his other family members look vaguely familiar, probably from Taylor and Joe's wedding, but I'd never be able to come up with names for any of them, nor would they be able to do so for me.

"Do you want to meet a few of them?" Patrick asks, noticing how I'm clinging to him closely.

"If you wish to introduce me," I laugh.

"Alright. Come this way."

He leads me to the other side of the kitchen and up to a man and woman. "Aunt Dawn, Uncle Colin?"

They whip their heads around. "Patrick, love, congratulations," the lady says. I'm assuming that she's Dawn.

"Thank you," Patrick tells her, accepting a kiss on his cheek from her. I want to be the one kissing his cheek right now. "I wanted you to meet this lovely girl, Harper."

"Hi Harper," the man, presumably Colin, tells me, extending his hand for a handshake. "Are you two dating?"

"For a year, in two days," Patrick proudly states.

"Congratulations, you two," Dawn smiles. "Harper, does he treat you well?"

"Oh, absolutely!" I gush, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze. "I love him so much."

"I'm so glad," she replies. "We taught him well growing up, then."

"They lived two blocks away from me when I was younger, but moved to Sussex when I was about twelve," Patrick explains to me. "They would always babysit me when I was young, though."

I smile and give a nod. "You did teach him well, in that case."

"That's good to hear," Colin tells me.

"Well, we have lots of people to meet, but I wanted you two to be the first ones," Patrick tells his aunt and uncle. "We had best be on our way. I'll catch you later."

"Perfect," Dawn smiles. "You kids have fun."

"Thanks," Patrick replies, pulling me away. "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"No," I laugh, "but I don't know if I can take an entire party full of awkward first meetings."

"Don't worry, I'll only force you through a few more, then you can go hang out with Taylor and Joe or something while I make the rest of my obligatory visits with relatives that I have to pretend I remember from when I was seven."

I giggle. "Alright."

"And guess what, love? In a few hours, we can go home, and you'll have me all to yourself for our own little celebrations."

I know that is what both of us would have much preferred, but this huge party is part of the pomp and circumstance of the whole graduation thing. I had to go through it, too, when I graduated last year.

In the next few minutes, I meet a handful of Patrick's other relatives, whose names all become a jumble in my brain.

"That's pretty much everyone," he tells me after I meet about fifteen people. "Go find Taylor, love. She does know most of these people, as she's been with Joe for quite a few years now, but I don't think she really knows anyone too well. She'd be thrilled to have you keep her some company while Joe is chatting it up over there with our cousins."

He looks to the corner, where, sure enough, Joe is there with some guys and no Taylor.

"Okay," I laugh. "I'll catch you later, then." After planting a quick kiss on his cheek, I scurry off and find Taylor rather quickly.

"Harper, oh thank god," Taylor laughs.

"Patrick sent me over to keep you company while he's being social with all of these people who I've never met."

"That's about what I'm letting my husband do, too," Taylor laughs. "Look at him over there, being all cheeky."

I look over, just as Joe is lifting up his glass of water in the air and pretending that it is a shot.

"They never mature, Harper. Don't be fooled."

I giggle and stare at the ground, a blush creeping into my cheeks. "It's okay. I love when Patrick is silly. I think that it's cute, I guess."

Taylor lightly places her hand on my back. "You two are adorable when you're all loved up like this. You're getting pretty serious, hm? Do I hear wedding bells?"

"Not yet," I tell her. "Hopefully someday... but we are young still."

"That's smart," she acknowledges. "I'm so happy that you two have found each other. You know, I could feel your attraction even on that first day that you met at Les Mis. Before the two of you even knew that you fancied each other, I could have guessed you'd end up as soul mates."

"Do you really think that's what we are?" I ask Taylor with wide eyes.

"I have no doubt," she tells me. "Don't you think so?"

"Of course I do, but there's something about hearing somebody else say it, you know?"

"The first time that I heard somebody call Joe my soulmate, I was so happy. I wouldn't trade that feeling in that moment for anything in the world."

I giggle. "It does feel pretty good."

For a few more minutes, Taylor allows me to gush over Patrick, one of my favourite things to do. "You two are just too adorable," she remarks, then, looks up and notices something. "Hey, Prince Charming's coming your way."

"Thanks, Tay," I smile, then throw my arms around Patrick as he walks over. "How's the party?"

"Good. They're going to cut the cake soon, and then we can leave after cake."

"It feels silly to be the first one to leave your own party," I tell him. "Don't leave for me. I'm good here with Taylor."

"No, honestly, I just want to go home and get some cuddles."

"Well, in that case," I say, giving him a cheeky little smile, "I think I've got some cuddles to give away."