Two Years Later

"Hurry up Gold!" Ginger yelled. She dashed past my open door, a ball of nervous energy. Me, I just smiled. Sitting down in my new navy blue beaded dress, I brushed out my hair. I had cut it for the first time since arriving in America and the new ends were beautifully soft, still hanging a few inches beyond my shoulders.

I loved being able to focus on such small things. "Gold!" Ginger snarled as she poked her head into my room. "Get. Moving. Now."

"How about moving your ass downstairs and waiting a minute?" I snapped back. She rolled her eyes and I hear her flounce down the stairs to the Benedict's kitchen. Ginger, my best friend of two years after moving to Wrickenridge, was a class A drama queen but interesting nonetheless. Like, how many teenagers could say they spent their Friday nights playing the Romeo to Ginger's Juliet as she rehearsed for the next Shakespearean school play? Then again, with her gift to be able to delve into the deep dark recesses of any mind, it was a wonder she did not just go poking through the drama teachers head to see what they wanted in "Juliet". I think I saw a dozen different versions of that stupid love sick teen before the audition that time.

Tutting under my breath at her antics, I have a final look at myself in the mirror. Hair, clean and shiny, clothes, formal yet informal and nails were painted white. Perfect. I then picked up two very important things to add to the ensemble: my graduation gown and cap. While they were no doubt more flammable than a Halloween costume and as cheap to make as one too, they symbolised a beginning and an end. "Coming!" I shouted as I made my way down the stairs.

"Ah lovely!" Phee gushed as she came up to me. She helped me put on the graduation gown and cap, adjusting the latter so my hair stayed perfect. Karla, Phee's mother-in-law, came up appraising my look, smoothening out imaginary wrinkles and generally being a loving mother. It never ceased to amaze me how much I was wanted here. With all her sons and their soulfinders not living at home for most of the year, I was welcomed with wide and loving arms. More of which were converging to hug or pat me right now.

So I quickly ducked down and shimmied out of focus as I went under their arms. "Ah now how is that fair?" Xav complained loudly. All the brothers and their soulfinders but Trace and Victor were here so can you see why I disappeared?

"Ah nah, this will be fun Xav." Zed said menacingly, rubbing his hands together. Crap. This was a game Xav and Zed loved to play; Find the Golden Ticket. I was not the key into a damn chocolate factory! I squeaked involuntarily and ran to the kitchen where Ginger was waiting with her aunt. They were having a quiet drink until Zed, Xav and a few others including Phee and Sky ran in behind me but to Ginger and her aunt, thin air. The only reason they knew to run to the kitchen was the ridiculously loud heels I had on.

I mentally swore and silently slipped the heels off, deciding it was game on.

"What in the name of all things holy are you doing running in here like a herd of elephants?" Ginger's aunt, Miri, asked. She had one hand held up to her chest as though she was on the verge of having a heart attack there and then.

"The Golden Ticket just ran in here!" Sky said, panting a little. Ginger's eyes instantly brightened but Miri just sighed. She was also a Savant and had taken Ginger in when her parents had disappeared nearly fifteen years ago to some group but Miri and her soulfinder, Dervin, were delighted to take in a then three year old Ginger. A girl who unfortunately loved this game more than the Benedict's.

"Spread out!" Ginger yelled and Xav, Sky, Zed, Phee, Will and Crystal scattered. Everyone else just laughed as they ran, all hoping to run into me in the kitchen/ dining area. Shit, shit, shit was all that a mind reader could hear in my head as I attempted to duck to the left of Phee only to slam into Will. He instantly grabbed me and whooped.

"Got her!" he crowed as I made myself visible. I could feel my face going red.

"Get used to the big lovers here dahlin'. Comes with the big family tag." Xav said.

"You never get used to it." Phee whispered in my ear as Will put me down. "But that is the thing I love."

I smiled at her. Miri then let out a near ear piercing whistle and Saul gave her a grateful look. Despite his authority, we must have been seriously loud not to hear he was trying to get our attention. "Ok, everyone out to the cars. We cannot have Gold and Ginger missing graduation and Dervin just pulled up outside so get cracking."

The sheer amount of people here for the graduation was incredible. It seemed like everyone's extended families had attended which made my heart twist a little. I shoved the feeling away before anyone could catch it. I had Phee and the Benedict's. Without them, I highly doubt I would have managed to graduate so fast.

But, according to them, I was a pretty fast learner and looking around the huge number of people in robes and their fineest dress I could not help being excited. I had earned this day. As I took it in I felt a tug on my hair. Turning around with a hand ready I gave Xav a quick slap before he could think "What the-"

"Go sit somewhere." I snapped at him and surprisingly, he gave in.

"Sure cupcake. Xav will be oh so pleasant today. I promised my Beauty." He drawled as Crystal rolled her eyes and directed the family over to a row of seats. Dervin and Miri hugged Ginger and followed the Benedict's in the type of quiet you knew soulfinders were talking telepathically in.

"Can you actually believe we are graduating Gold?! I have been waiting for this day so long!" Ginger gushed as we went through the crowds.

"I have been waiting a tad longer." I reply grinning.

"Oh puh-lease. One year! Ah, Dominic!" she squealed and jumped our poor friend from behind. He was in a circle with what I presumed were a few of his cousins but ended up stumbling forward with Ginger, ploughing them both into one cousin/ friend. This guy swore as he fell under them as yep, Dominic had just head-butted him in the you-know-whats.

"God almighty!" Dominic cried. Turning around he saw me standing a few feet back and Ginger.

"You could take my weight last year." Ginger said as she shifted off the two guys.

"Yeah, when you told me you were going to jump! And you took down my cousin, El, this time!"

Ginger sighed and belatedly remembered the guy under Dominic. He was curled up groaning slightly as he tried to recover. Gingers eyes softened as she spoke. "Are you ok? I am so sorry."

He gave out a choked sort of grunt. Ginger gave me a nervous look.

Try to talk to him telepathically I said to her silently. He might feel deep down how sorry you are even though he cannot hear it in words.

"Can all graduating students and their families make their way to their seats, graduating class up front as instructed at rehearsal." Our principal said over the microphone at the podium on the stage.

Dominic gave me a look telling me to hurry as everyone was starting to move to the seats. When I glanced down at Ginger, she gave me a nod and turned back to El. So I got to witness as El suddenly sat up stunned as he looked at Ginger. They just stared at one another before he leaned towards her and they kissed. My thoughts came to a screeching halt.

I looked at how carefully he cupped her cheek with one hand and how Ginger had laced one of her hands through his.

I got confirmation of what I witnessed moments later.

My soulfinder, my soulfinder I picked up from Gingers thoughts. Ginger had met her soulfinder. And it just about broke my heart as I remembered, on what was meant to be one of the best days of my life, that I never would.

Author person here,

I was busy writing this last weekend, half to ignore how stuck I was on "Winning Willow"(not anymore. Woohoo!) Going to update that soon just saying... So I hoped you liked this and thanks for reviewing/ favouriting/ following! Also thanks xxx-benedictbrothersfan-xxx, LittleLily99 and Knifegirl01 and the guest reviewers for the reviews :).

I thought I might leave a hint for the next chapter: Could Phee and Gold actually be... related?