Soilmates

part one: screw fate!

"Hello, my name is Brandy, that's- oh, yeah, ok," she pushed off her desk, spinning around on the swivel chair, blocking the receiver with the palm of her hand. "They answered!" She whispered.

Delilah tugged another stitch through her needlepoint. "Cool." Imogene didn't look up from the yellow flower she was painting on her nails.

"I- yes, I'm still here," Brandy turned back around and threw her feet up on her desk, shoving her history textbook off the edge. "My name is B-R-, oh! Caller ID, duh." She listened impatiently. "Really, right now? You can get it right now? Yes, of course I can hold!" She whispered to her friends, "They're getting his name right now!"

"Nice," Imogene murmured.

"Do you trust them?" Delilah asked.

"Yes, wholeheartedly. I've read a Vice article and, also, like, so many testimonials. I'm not the first person to rush the process, and I won't be the last. Screw fate!"

"Screw fate," Delilah and Imogene echoed.

Brandy spun around once again, fidgeting with the waistband of her green pajama pants, listening intently to the tinny voice on the other end of the line.

Delilah and Imogene leaned in to whisper amongst each other. "I know she's crazy, but I do think this hotline is legit." The former admitted, abandoning her needlepoint and rolling onto her back, propping her head against Brandy's zebra pillow pet.

"Do you, now?" Imogene said.

"Yeah, I saw those testimonials she was talking about. They're all like 'because of the Hotline, I found the love of my life in minutes. I never thought I would meet someone who likes... oh... watching roller derby while wearing nothing but sweaters made out of cat fur. It's really weird shit like that, but real shit."

"I actually read that article on it," Imogene said. "So I'm not, like, hating on it. I do think she's too young, though."

"I dunno, fifteen. Sophomore year. How old were your parents when they met?"

"My parents aren't soulmates."

"That might be why she's doing it," Delilah said. "She doesn't want to get her heart broken or waste time on anyone who isn't her soulmate."

"Do you actually think she's that deep?"

"Nope."

"I think she just wants a fairytale romance, or whatever." Imogene laid down next to Delilah, blowing gently on her nails.

"That's my theory," Delilah said. "Your nails look nice."

"Thanks! And, personally, I think she shouldn't rush this. Everything happens when it should."

Delilah shut her eyes for a moment, exhausted from a long day of school and an even longer day of shopping for homecoming dresses. "Did you like the career fair today?"

"Yeah! I liked talking to professors from around the state. Did you know you can do your major in-"

"Ladies!" Brandy interrupted, flinging her phone onto their pile of coats. Her friends begrudgingly sit up. "My call is over. Sleep well, because tomorrow, we're finding... Grady Mortimer! They told me his name! He's my soulmate!"

"Sounds like an old man's name," Delilah laughed.

"Oh, I know, but I only get one soulmate so what can I do?" She scooped her laptop out of her backpack before flicking off the lights. "They said they'd call with more info tomorrow, but I'm sure I can find him on Twitter tonight. You guys go to sleep, though."