Author's note: This is the second in my series (I do not own the Benedict's unfortunately though), following on from Safe & Sound. S & S isn't yet finished, but I have the next four chapters written up and it'll finish shortly after them. This is set after S & S (this chapter is before it though- note the dates) and this chapter is really just a chapter to set the scene of the story and introduce Hazel.

Please leave reviews. If I get a few positive comments, I'll post the next chapter (I have up to chapter four already written up, ready for editing).

Hope you like it!

Charlotte xo

13th September 2009

Uriel felt unbelievably lost and out of place as he squeezed his way through the corridors that were packed with students rushing to get to the first lesson of the first term of the year. It was bad enough that he was in an entirely different country - albeit, it had been his idea, but actually going through with it was something else entirely - and away from his family for the first time ever seeing as he'd moved so that he could study Masters of Law at King's College London just like his father had back in the day, but now he felt like he didn't belong here and everybody around him knew it too. It was a ridiculous notion, he knew that, but the feeling just wouldn't leave him.

Finally, he reached his allocated classroom and was relieved to realise that he wasn't late like he thought he would be. There were only three other students in the room, none of whom cast even a glance towards Uriel as he took a seat near the back of the room. He took a notepad and pen out of his bag and put them on the desk, not caring if he looked like a geek eager to start his lesson, because that was exactly who he was.

After a few awkward, silent minutes, the door opened as another student entered. She was wearing a short white summer dress with a red cardigan and red pumps. She was tall and the dress showed off her long legs and emphasized her ample cleavage. Her chestnut hair was in short curls to her shoulders and she had golden brown skin. The girl looked up and noticed Uriel looking at her, her owl brown eyes staring straight back at him.

Without a falter, she began to walk towards him with confidence in her stride. Surprisingly, she chose to sit down next to Uriel despite the fact there were plenty of other empty seats in the room.

As if they were old friends and not utter strangers to each other, she began to talk to him. "So my mum totally didn't think I would get into uni. Boy, did I prove her wrong! I got top marks in my A-Levels, and knew instantly that I wanted to go to this university. I'm starting to regret it already though; I hate it here. I have no friends here, my roommate is a complete bitch, and it took me half an hour to find the right classroom. Oh and I've been knocked to the ground three times already with nobody offering to help me up. This place sucks. How's your first day been?"

Uriel blushed, just like he always did whenever an attractive girl spoke to him; he couldn't help it, he was just a naturally shy person. "Not the best," he admitted with a small smile. "Evidently not as bad as yours though- I've managed to stay on my feet."

The girl laughed, a tinkling, melodic sound. "You're American: nice. At least I'm in my home country," she teased. "I'm Hazel Clarrison."

"Uriel Benedict," he returned the introduction.

"Uriel," Hazel repeated, trying the name on her tongue, "that's an unusual name. I like it though, it's not a boring grandma name like mine is. So is this your first day at university, or just your first year here? My roommate has been to two other universities apparently, but became a failure and dropped out of both. Hopefully she'll do the same with this one."

Uriel chuckled. "First year here. I'm 19, so I spent a year at a college in Denver before deciding I wanted a change of scenery. What about you?"

"Well I'm 18 so I've only just finished sixth form," she explained. "So my first year in higher education here."

For some reason, Uriel felt disappointed that they weren't the same age. There was a very little chance of Hazel being a savant, let alone being his soulfinder, but he could never stop himself from hoping whenever he met a girl he liked. Trace met his soulfinder before he even fully understand what one was, why couldn't Uriel find his so easily and simply? It just wasn't fair.

Unaware of Uriel's inner monologue, Hazel continued talking, changing the subject. "Listen," she said, "some guys on campus are throwing a party tonight. You should come with me. I mean, it might be a total bore, but it might also make this place suck a little less."

"I'm not sure if I should go," he said hesitantly.

"Please do not tell me you're one of those boring guys who spend every night stuck inside studying and never going to parties." Uriel didn't answer because embarrassingly, she had his personality in a nutshell. "Woah, man! Okay Uriel, I promise that by the end of this month, you will be having fun here."

"I'm starting to think you're going to be a bad influence on me," he grinned.

"Well you'd be right about that," she said with a cheeky glint in her eyes. "So, you're coming to the party with me tonight whether you want to or not."

"Well, I guess that's settled then," he laughed.

21st November 2009

They made a gorgeous couple: the golden-brown skinned tall and curvy beauty and the caramel-skinned, tall, wiry and lanky American with short dark hair and striking blue eyes. Thanks to Hazel, they both became popular on campus, invited to all the parties and never pushed around in the corridor. Hazel brought out the fun-loving side of Uriel and, seeing as she was a girl who loved partying and playing games, Uriel tamed her and made sure she found the time to do her work and focus in her classes.

They were perfect for each other in every way, which made Uriel even more heartbroken to know she wasn't his soulfinder. But did it really matter that much? He might never find his soulfinder; he could live a long, happy and normal life with Hazel. He knew that he'd easily be able to spend a lifetime with her, and it thrilled him to know that she felt the same way.

Despite it being a November day in the usually chilly England, the sun was shining warmly and brightly. In a park, sat on a red picnic blanket on the grass, sat Uriel and Hazel. After spending some time eating and laughing together, they were now relaxing. Uriel was sat behind Hazel, his legs spread out on either side of her, his arms around her waist and his chin on her shoulder.

He gently kissed her neck before saying, "I still remember the day we met. You scared me a little, I have to admit. You just strolled in so confidently, like you knew exactly what you wanted and would stop at nothing to get it."

Hazel smiled at the memory as it formed in her mind. "I was playing a game. The goal was to choose one random person in that classroom - boy or girl - and make friends with them straight away. As soon as I saw you, I sensed something special about you, and knew I had to have you. So I went for it... And I got exactly what I wanted."

Uriel chuckled and the vibrations of it rumbled against Hazel's body. "Sounds like something you'd do," he teased.

"Oh, whatever," she rolled her eyes. "You love me, don't deny it."

"Wasn't planning to," he replied.

Hazel turned around in his arms slightly and pressed her lips against his. She'd had plenty of boyfriends before - some of which she had only dated to occupy her time, as bad as it sounded - but she'd never been in love before. Truthfully, she imagined that she was incapable of loving a boy and until she found her soulfinder, she expected to go from one boy to the next, never being completely happy and never being in love.

So it had surprised her when she fell head over heels in love with Uriel Benedict so quickly. She knew that he could never be 'the one' because as far as she was aware, he wasn't a savant and besides, he couldn't be her soulfinder because they were different ages... But she didn't care. They loved each other and were happy together, and that's all that mattered in her opinion. She wasn't going to deny herself the pleasure of being with the man she loved just because she had a soulfinder out there somewhere who, considering the odds, she would probably never meet.

"Well I love you too," she said to Uriel before kissing him again.

12th March 2010

It felt like the world was crashing around them, but in reality it was just as it normally was. The other people in the airport didn't care about their story, they didn't even give them a second glance as they were too busy wrapped up in their own lives.

Uriel was moving back to America today, and as much as he and Hazel loved each other, they knew they wouldn't be able to deal with a long distance relationship and barely ever seeing each other, so it was a mutual decision for them to split up. They were both thankful that at least they were ending on good terms. Uriel had told Hazel that he had to go home because of 'family problems', which wasn't a lie. Trace's best friend had just got married which had reminded Trace all over again about Georgie not being around and he was slowly spiraling back into depression; Zed's anger was starting to get worse and he was lashing out at his school friends now; and Victor was distancing himself from the family, blaming it on work, but Karla knew that really, he needed the balance of his soulfinder in his life, which he unfortunately didn't have. Karla and Saul had asked Uriel to come back for the sake of his brothers, and who was he to say no? If the roles were reversed, they'd give up everything for him if he needed them. Out of all of his brothers, Uriel was closest to Victor and vice versa, so the family were hoping Uriel would be able to talk some sense into him.

Hazel clung onto Uriel, sobbing. In all the time they'd known each other, Uriel had never seen Hazel cry before; she'd always seemed so strong, so untouchable from the bad things in the world and completely oblivious to them.

He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her back as he softly crooned, "shh. Shh. Everything's going to be okay, you'll be fine without me."

"No, I won't; you don't know that," she replied, pulling back a little to look up into his eyes. "I don't want you to go."

"Me either," he said past the lump in his throat. "But I have to, my family needs me. This doesn't have to be the end forever for us, Hazel; we might end up together in the future, you never know. We just have to keep on hoping."

"I hope we do," she smiled sadly. "I'll always love you."

"And I'll always love you," he replied, no longer able to hold back his tears. They streamed down his face endlessly, dripping off his chin and soaking into his shirt. He kissed her. He kissed her with everything he had, putting all of his love for her into that kiss, not caring that he didn't like PDA and that people might be staring. In the background, Uriel's flight was announced and he reluctantly broke the kiss, sighing. "I have to go, Hazel."

"I know," she nodded and managed to smile. "I'll miss you."

He sighed again and grabbed hold of her, kissing her one last time with just as much as passion as the one before. "Goodbye," he said afterwards, picking up his carry-on bag.

"Goodbye," she smiled through her tears.

A minute or two later, Uriel looked back over his shoulder and got one last look at Hazel a distance away from him, stood frozen as she cried, before the crowd of people swallowed her up and he lost her.