I am so so sorry it took me so long to get back to this! I'll try not to wait so long between updates again, but I sent in my creative writing coursework this morning so this is a celebratory chapter.

Pulling over, I pulled out my phone and opened my browser, beginning to type just as my phone rang. I answered without looking at the caller ID. "Maya, can we talk later, please? I have something I need to do."

"Maya? That new girl?"

"Hanna?" I frowned.

"Yeah. I need your advice."

"I'm kinda busy right now, Han." I said. I love Hanna, but I don't have time to hear about her latest fashion faux pas.

"I met my Soulmate"

Suddenly I was glad I'd pulled over, or else I would have crashed the car. "Um... congratulations?"

"No. Don't say that. Don't be happy for me."

"Okay... Poor you?" I replied, glad that Hanna couldn't see me shrugging confusedly.

"Oh, for gods sake. Look. I met my Soulmate. He's smart and understanding and sweet and cute and perfect."

"And the problem?" I frowned.

Hanna sighed on the other end. "Me! I'm the problem!"

"I don't understand." I heard a small sigh and a tiny hiccup. I remembered the last time I had heard that. "Han, are you crying?"

"No" came the quiet, teary response.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Hanna, can you tell me what's wrong?"

"I met my Soulmate and he's caring and considerate and he understands that I've got stuff going on with Aria and he says that he'll wait as long as I need and we'll take things as slow as I want and... oh, Em. He's amazing. And I'm just... me."

Emily sighed in sympathy. "Han... you're perfect."

"No I'm not" came the teary reply. "I'm broken. I've got divorced parents, an eating disorder, a freaking criminal record-"

"And your Soulmate will love you for all of that." I reassured her.

There was silence on the other end, apart from breathing that started off heavy and unmeasured but slowly returned to normal. I heard a small cough and a "yeah, Em. You're right. Sorry for-"

I interrupted. "Don't apologise."

"Okay."

"So... what's his name?" I asked.

Her response was immediate. "Caleb. He's tall and he has brown hair, kinda long, but it suits him. And he's really strong. He has these deep brown eyes and... Sorry. I'm rambling. You're probably not interested."

I realised that I hadn't said anything since she started talking, but, to be fair, I hadn't met the guy. "Sorry, Han. Just got... a lot on my mind."

"I get it. Not everyone has a Soulmate without a matching mark."

"You know?"

"Of course I know! Why didn't you tell me?" Hanna asked.

I bit my lip in thought. "I wasn't sure what to do. It's... its complicated."

"Because of Alison?"

"I have to go."

"Em!" Hanna shouted.

"Yeah?" I asnwered.

"Promise me that you won't listen to Ali. You can't change fate, no matter what she says. And if you think I'm going to sit here quietly while you let anyone but yourself dictate your life then you don't know me."

I drew in a breath and nodded, even though Hanna couldn't see it. "Thanks. I needed to hear that."

"And Em?"

"Yeah Han?"

"Let me know if Alison tries to do anything. I'll kick her ass."

Despite everything I laughed. "You? You'll kick her ass?"

"Yeah!" Hanna yelled confidently. There was a pause before she continued. "I might need Aria's help, though."

"Aria? Really?" I wasn't trying to be mean, but of all the people to call for backup, the 5'2" pacifist was an odd reinforcement.

"She's at the perfect height to bite Alison's kneecaps."

I laughed even harder. "You're the best."

"I know." She replied, hanging up.

I shook my head and smiled to myself as I reopened my phone browser and selected what I'd typed. My thumb hovered over the delete button and I bit my lip. Before I could change my mind, I pressed delete and the search "Mark removal clinic" disappeared from my screen.