I have a crush.

She have straight brown hair and big almond eyes. She like to wear white dresses that compliment her tan skin. Her smile is warm like the sun. She's beautiful. Her name is Calypso Nightshade.

And I wish our strings were connected.

I stare at her left pinky finger. A red string hangs from it. Not connected to anyone. One day she is going to meet her soulmate and I'll be sad. One day I'll meet mine and be half happy. Only half because it won't be Calyspo. Half because I'll be with my soulmate.

"Where is she? She's late," Calypso says.

I sip on my sweet tea from Chick-fil-a, "I don't know." We're at Olympus Mall, waiting for my second bestie Piper McLean to show up. "Maybe she got stuck in traffic."

"It's a Sunday, what traffic?"

I point my tea at her with a grin on my face. "You are smart Sunshine." Calypso glare at me for the given nickname. "That couple there," I point ahead of me with the foam cup, "their strings are not connected."

Calypso is the only one outside my family that knows I can see the red strings. "That mean they are going to break-up soon, right?"

I raise my cup half-empty with sweet tea in the air, "You got that right!" She laughs at my stupid gesture. And I smile because of her beautiful laugh. I see my string wave in the air.

Then I see it. I slowly pull my left hand down as I stare at my red string. Of all days, in a mall, my string connect. Calypso is saying something, but my head goes blank. My eyes follow the string to the escalator, away from the food court. I stand up which started Calypso.

"Leo? What's wrong?"

"My red string connect," I respond with fear. I leave her alone at the table. Who is she that I'm connected? Is she awesome like me? I basically run down the escalator. They are still stairs.

"Leo! Wait up!" Calypso sounds far away. I can't wait.

I feel so happy to follow my own string. It's like when Charles's string connected. I follow it so happily to know my brother's soulmate is close by. But mine. It's my happiness. My half-happiness.

Then I get stop outside the Disney store. "Leo!" It's Piper.

"Hey Pipes," I say impatiently. Just behind her.

"I'm sorry I'm late. But I think its time." Calypso comes up next to me breathing heavily. Time for What? "You okay Calypso?"

Calypso wave a hand. "I'm fine Piper. Why are you late?" She takes away my sweet tea.

Piper smile happily. To my left. She look behind her, "Damn, lost him." I follow my red string.

"No, right here Piper," a deep voice boom next to me.

My string is connected to it. I look up to sneakers, blue jeans and a purple t-shirt. To a crescent scar on their lips that spreads when a smile form. Lightning blue eyes behind black frames and wind struck blond hair. And I can't believe it.

"This is Jason Grace," Piper introduce. "Jason, this is Leo Vasquez and Calypso Nightshade, my best friends. Guys, this is my boyfriend."

"Hi," Jason nevoursly wave to us.

My red string is connected to a guy. To my best friend's boyfriend. My soulmate is a guy.

I'm not gay.