QUICK CHAPTER BECAUSE I FELT LIKE WRITING TODAY I HOPE YOU GUYS ENJOY!

Much love, everyone!

Ever since I first saw Jim's marking, I was interested in analyzing its meaning. It was how I was able to connect the dots so quickly. Romeo and Juliet. A skull quite similar to the one I've kept on my desk for the last four years of my life. My favorite line from the play upon his wrist all within the same breath. It was obvious to me with only a little bit of time and some speed analysis, that his marking must have been linked to me in some way. It was too close to my own interests for it not to be.

I entered my house without an issue as my thoughts just continued.

All of it just kept running within my head. Just how obvious it was to me that his marking was tied to me. But I never actually tied the fact that mine was made for him. It must have been hell for him to know somewhat who his marking was linked to, but never be able to verify it till the other actually saw it. It makes sense to me now though why he would have always worn his jacket sleeves down then or always wear a compression sleeve in gym class. I would hide it too to keep away rumors and everything if I wasn't for sure just yet.

Doesn't help with people like Steve around too.

"How was your day, mija?" I snapped out of my thoughts before smiling up at my father as I snuck past him and grabbed an apple out of the fruit basket sitting on the counter.

"It was decent. It was actually pretty good in hindsight." I gifted him with another smile as he just grinned in return. "How about you, Papá? Did your day go well?"

"It's been good. Even better since mi pequeña niña has asked me." He leaned over from whatever it was that he was making for dinner and placed a kiss on the top of my head. "I would keep it to an apple by the way. Dinner should be done soon. You should have enough time to get your homework done and everything though."

"Alright. Let me know if you need anything, Papá." My father gave a wide joyful smile before giving me his reply.

"I don't believe I'll need it, but thank you, mija." After that, I took my leave and went toward the stairs before I could get wrapped up in anything else. But honestly, homework was the last thing on my mind as I reached the top of the steps and made it to my room.

I dropped my bag next to my now closed bedroom door as I instantly shrugged off my jacket and made my way toward the floor-length mirror that has been my friend for quite a few years now. I flung my blazer onto my bed as I stood in front of the mirror with a soft smile.

But now I have been questioning the same thing on my own marking. What pieces of Jim that I'm aware of are upon my skin? What exactly is my skin showcasing to me? What other parts of Jim's personality am I carrying?

I pulled off my sweater high over my head and flung it to my bed before twisting in front of the mirror and looking over my shoulder at it. The back of my bra only being a slight nuisance while trying to look over the markings.

What can I get from my marking that will help me understand him better?

I looked over the markings and noted the color combination of blue, white, and silver. It made sense. Especially since most of his aura was based on the hues of blues and whites. The gears and little mechanisms made so much more sense to me now since I've been subjected to the boy's rambles about Vespas and mechanics. The chains were still somewhat questionable to me, but the fact that it's evident the boy lives as if he has the weight of the world upon his shoulders was an easy tie to make to it. There was a small faded circle spot right behind where my heart should be that I couldn't make heads or tails of yet. It looked as if that part of him haven't developed yet. As if he hasn't found that part of him yet.

Is there anything like that with Jim's marking? Is there something he hasn't experience yet that will change my marking in some way? Is that something that can even happen?

"Claire!" I heard my mom now calling from downstairs. She must have gotten home shortly after me since I never crossed paths with her just yet. "Dinner's ready come down and help set up!"

"Coming!" I sprinted over toward my best and grabbed my sweater to frantically pull it over my head without a second thought while racing out of my room and down the stairs. All while a single thought was exploring my mind.

Whatever it is, I'm here for it. No matter what it is.

I couldn't help but chuckle a little as I reached the bottom of the stairs.

Even then, he's my soulmate. I'm kinda stuck with him otherwise.

"You can't be serious! That's how you two met?" I laughed wholeheartedly as I just nodded along as if Claire could see my reaction.

"Yep! All started with poor timing and a broken tricycle." I chuckled a little as I simply listened to Claire's laugh in reply.

If there was anything that I learned within the two weeks now that have passed of me and Claire knowing each other as our soulmates, it was that her laugh was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard and not even an angelic chorus could ever compare to it.

I felt myself smile at the sound as her giggle subsided.

How did I get so lucky to have her as a soulmate? Did I make a deal with the devil or something? There is no way that this just ended up happening for me. I had to have done something for me to be this lucky. Maybe someone owed me from another life or something? Either way though, I'm the luckiest guy on earth and no one can tell me otherwise.

"Shit, I gotta go. I need to lay Enrique to sleep while mom and dad are out." I couldn't help but frown a little as she continued. "I'll text you later if you're still up. Promise me you'll finish that assignment though first before replying to me. I don't need Miss. Janeth jumping my ass for you failing or anything." I laughed a little in reply before leaning back in my chair. The math assignment Claire originally called to help me with resting on the desk before me as I just gave a sloppy grin into the phone's receiver.

"It's all good. Go take care of the little guy. I'll be here suffering." I felt my smile widen as she just giggled in reply.

"Well, don't be suffering too much. I'm hoping to see you alive tomorrow."

"No promises." She just laughed once more before speaking.

"No dying, Jim." I smirked as she seemed to already tell what my reply would have been. "I'll text you later."

"I'll be waiting." With that, the call ended as I dropped my phone back down onto my desk.

Again, what did I do to get so lucky? How was fate, for one, kind to me?

I rolled up my right sleeve once more and stared at the marking resting on my wrist with a happy smile.

I always enjoyed the art that showcased itself upon my skin, but now it was so much more beautiful to me.

My smile only widened as I noted just how vibrant it seemed to be within that moment. As if it was changing in some small way to prove how much closer Claire and I have been getting so far.

Honestly though, even if it actually was, I didn't need my marking letting me know that me and the girl I never spoke to yet had the biggest crush on were getting closer. Anything is actually closer than being strangers to one another.

Especially when you're willing to maybe auditioning for a play for the person in question despite the fact that you hate that much attention on yourself.

I chuckled for a minute to myself before glancing back over toward the unfinished homework assignment sitting on my desk.

Speaking of auditions though, that means having a decent grade in math so that the director of the department doesn't flip her shit at you for auditioning for her play after saying 'Fuck this' to her homework assignment.

I scooted myself closer to my desk and grabbing my pencil. I re-read the question for a second before my mind went blank.

Wait.

I stared at the numbers and letters glaring up toward me as I dropped my pencil again.

Claire was going to help me with this because I'm hopeless with quadratics.

I chuckled hopelessly for a second to myself as I ran my free hand through my hair.

Whelp. I'm screwed then.

"You're actually doing this, huh?" Toby gave me a shit-eating grin as I looked over the flyer that Miss. Janeth had given me when I asked her about audition times today. "You've only actually known she's your soulmate for what? Two weeks now? And you're already simping this hard?"

"I'm not a simp." I rolled my eyes as I rolled up the flyer in my hands. "It's just-. She was complaining the other day that the play that brought us together might not be produced due to the lack of male interest in acting in it, so I figured since it brought us together that maybe it would be worth a shot?" I shrugged a little as I glanced over toward my best friend.

"Yeah, and me joining the football team to see the mole costume person more wouldn't be me simping over my soulmate either."

"I don't see how that's similar, Tobes."

"It's similar because we would both be way out of our fucking elements, Jimbo."

"What about being out of your elements?" I nearly jumped as Claire's voice came up beside me.

"CLAIRE! Hi. How are you? What about elements? I don't remember anything about elements." I chuckled nervously as Claire just gave me a soft smile.

"Well now." Claire giggled for a second as she slipped her hand into my right. "This is new." A knowing look gleamed within her eyes as she stared at me. "You're nervous over something and it's quite obvious you want me not to know about it."

"Hiding something? I'm not hiding something." I tucked my left hand behind my back as I tried my best to hide the rolled-up flyer. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Toby," Claire looked over toward my best friend who was snickering not so silently beside me. "What's going on here?"

"He's not hiding something terrible if that's what you're asking." I sighed as I just presented the rolled-up flyer to her.

"Toby was making fun of me for asking about this with Miss. Janeth." A curious look took over Claire's face as she slipped her hand out of mine to take the flyer from me. She unrolled it only to have a happy look take over her face before turning toward me.

"You're auditioning?" Claire stopped with Toby and me as the shorter boy turned to open his locker. She was bouncing on her heels like a happy child as I just smiled at the sight.

Good Gods, she's adorable.

"Please tell me you're auditioning." She looked at me with wide puppy dog like eyes as she held the flyer close to her chest.

"Well, you were saying that it might not go on without enough men. So I was thinking that I might as well help the show that allowed all of this to happen."

"REALLY?!" Claire looked so happy as she reached out and placed her hands onto my shoulders. "You are the best boyfriend ever." She leaned in and placed a kiss on my cheek before quickly pulling back.

"Boyfriend?" I smiled like a fool as I brought my right hand up to my cheek.

"Too soon?" It was Claire's turn this time to be nervous as she gave me a soft smile.

"Actually, I'm totally okay with it." My smile just widened as she now proudly grinned at me.

"Good!"

"Good!" Toby mimicked Claire as he shut his locker with an annoyed sigh. "God, you're both simps for each other." I simply blushed like a fool this time as Claire gifted my best friend with a smirk.

"And you're a simp for a fucking mole. At least we know who we're simping for." I couldn't help but cackle a little as Toby gave Claire a shocked look before whipping his head toward me.

"You are not allowed to break up with her. We need someone to keep up with our asses." I looked over toward Claire with a soft smile only to see her smile the same way back toward me.

"Trust me, Tobes. That's the last thing on my mind." Our hands seemed to find each other without a second thought as the three of us turned our attention toward the hallway and then continued on toward our next class together.

Honestly, though, I would never leave her side.

I felt her hand squeeze mine as I just smiled in reply.

Even if heaven and hell tried to stop me.