Soulmate Notebook

Chapter 1 - Janus

It is said that every single person in the world has a soulmate. When a child is born a notebook is created in the same color as their soulmate's favorite color. The soulmate will also have a notebook in the other's favorite color. If you have multiple soulmates, then your notebook will have each soulmate's favorite color. Each notebook also has the owner's name engraved on the back, bottom corner. The first time that you meet your soulmate or soulmates, the notebooks will change color and design to match everybody including you. The name or names of the soulmates will be engraved on the back as well after your first meeting with them.

Janus was five years old when he learned this and was given his very own notebook that had five different colors on it. His father didn't want him to have it, because he lost his soulmate, Janus's mother, the day their son was born. He despised the boy ever since. He believed that Janus killed his mother and that if he were never born then she would still be here with him. His father didn't want Janus to ever meet his soulmates, so any time the boy would even look inside the book his father would forcible remove his scales on his snake side. The side that most reminded him of his late soulmate.

At first, Janus was super excited. He would dream about the day that he met his five soulmates. Late at night after his father had drank himself to unconsciousness, Janus would pull his notebook out from under his bed. He would never write in it, for fear that his father would one day find it. He would read all the things his soulmates wrote though. They helped him get through each day and especially through the worst days. He never did care for his snake half much. Especially during his ecdysis cycle, it was the worst thing ever and that is when his father would beat him the most.

As the years went by, Janus's father beat him more and more. Janus would wear pants, long-sleeves, and even gloves. He didn't want anybody else learning about what his father would do to him. If he so much as saw Janus holding the notebook, he would whip him and remove more scales. This went on for so long that Janus didn't want to meet them. He thought that they would be safe if they never met him.

So, when he started high school, he avoided pretty much everybody. He wouldn't even make eye contact with any of his fellow students. He was the new student again. Anytime anybody became slightly suspicious of what was happening in his home life, Janus's father would uproot them. This is the seventh school that Janus has attended in the same amount of years. He was hoping that if he kept to himself, that no body would become suspicious and they wouldn't have to leave after this school year was over.

His plan was going off without a hitch until lunch period. This boy came over wearing a light blue, button-up shirt with tan slacks. He also had on a grey cardigan around his shoulders and black glasses on his face. He had brown hair, crystal blue eyes, and some light blue wings. The newcomer gave Janus a smile and asked, "Hi, I'm Patton! Is it all right if I sit here with you?"

Janus looked up at the fairy and just nodded his head. He wasn't in the mood to lie to anyone right now. Patton seemed kind and sweet, but he was also adorable. Janus shook his head embarrassed that he had that thought.

"So, what's your name, new kid?" Patton questioned, trying to get rid of the uncomfortable silence.

Janus just glanced over at him before answering, "My name is Janus. It's *not* a pleasure to meet you, Patton." Patton looked a little hurt after that statement, so Janus decided to try to continue their conversation. "Hey, Patton, what grade are you in?" Janus decided to ask the once bubbly fairy.

"Oh! This is my freshmen year, and I'm super excited to meet all the students here!" he answered back in his cheerfulness. It didn't take long for Patton to realize that Janus was wearing winter clothes with gloves on as well. It took a little time, but he finally worked up the courage to ask Janus about it. "Hey, Janus, why are you wearing winter clothing in the dead of summer? It's like one hundred degrees outside," Patton wondered confused for his new friend.

Janus had a fleeting moment of panic and lashed out a little too harshly. "I'm half snake, Fairy! I stay cold most of the year and it helps to stay warm when I wear thicker clothing!" Janus saw the tears in Patton's eyes and immediately felt guilty. He didn't need to lash out so harshly. The fairy was merely wondering for his well-being. Before he could apologize though, another student came over to see what made Patton so upset.

Patton, there you are. "I've been looking for you, Pat. Pat, are you all right?" the mystery student began to question the fairy boy. This boy was an elf with black hair, storm blue eyes, and black glasses. He wore a dark blue, button-up shirt with tie and black slacks.

"I'm fine, Logan. I was just talking to Janus here," Patton answered quickly wiping away his tears, hoping that Logan didn't see them.

"Is he the reason that you are in tears, Pat?" Logan asked, glaring over at Janus. Janus just looked down at his food, feeling even more guilty. "Did you make my soulmate cry?" Logan questioned sternly. Janus's eyes never left his food during all of this.

"I *did* mean to make him cry. He asked me a question and *not* on instinct I defended myself, elf," Janus muttered.

"Could you look at me when you speak, serpent? I want to be able to hear you," Logan requested firmly. Janus slowly looked up to Logan's eyes and saw pure anger and protection over his soulmate.

"I ssssaid that I *did* mean to make him cry. He asked me a question and *not* on insssstinct I defended myself, elf," Janus retorted, getting tired of this conversation. Thankfully for him, the bell signaling the end of lunch rang. Janus stood up abruptly and dumped his untouched food in the trash. He then headed for his math class.