Cole

“Are you free Thursday?” Micheal asks, still rambling and I look up at him. “What was your name again?” “Micheal…” 

I nod slightly, taking him in. He’s really cute… Taller than me by a few inches… He’d look better if he grew his hair an inch or two though… He clears his throat and I look up at him “Okay…” I mumble hesitantly. 

“My pronouns are he/him.” Hesays pausing, "I wanted to ask what order you want me to say them in. And do I call you a boy or girl or person-”

“I usually tell people they can pick one and stick to it. Or to use both, but it really doesn’t matter.” 

Terrance’s car drives up slowly in front of me. And I scratch my head slightly, “I gotta go, that's my… Dad” He glances at the car before stopping me.

“Wait- can I get your number?” I look at him confused. Moving my hair out of my face I get my phone out of my bag and unlock it before passing it to him. He quickly dials the number and hands it back to me. 

“Call me!” He yells after me as I get into the car. “And who was that?” Terrance asks, smirking at me. I sigh leaning my head onto the window. Of course today of all freaking days I have to meet my soulmate. In a fucking mom bun and skinny jeans. I’m never gonna live this down. He’s never gonna let me live this down. 

Terrance circles the school, once. Twice. Three times before spotting Nova exchanging numbers with a small group of people. She looks up at us and walks quickly towards the car. Terrance locks the car doors and looks back at her, “I see you’ve made-” “Just drive.” She says flatly and he looks at her confused and drives. 

I turn around slightly and look at her. Her eyes are squeezed tightly shut as she rocks repeatedly back and forth.  “What’s wrong?” I mumble confused and she shakes her head. “I need to lay down” She signs and Terrance glances over at her, “Not talking today huh…” 

Nova shakes her head before she starts to fidget with her phone case. “You don’t need me to today… Right?” She signs, her eyes still tightly closed. “No no we don’t…” I touch her knee slightly and her eyes shoot open. “I’m sorry…” I mumble, sinking back into my seat.  

“So? Who was the white guy?” Nova signs and I sigh, staring at the car's side mirror. “My soulmate apparently?” I say motioning to my thread. “Well, he’s your type? You like submissive men.” I sigh and Terrance stares at me. “Did you teach her what that meant? Nov who the hell told you what that means?” 

She shrugs, closing her eyes again, “Cole said he likes masculine but submissive men… Which her soulmate is.” “How would you know that?” Isay scoffing. “He was wearing a dog collar.” Okay, that’s a good point. I sigh looking out of the car window. 

There are so many more trees here. Almost every house has its own garden, perfectly green lawns and small patches of grass seeping out of the concrete. Just looking at it makes me feel closer to nature. 

“Fuck” Terrance mumbles completely totaling my train of thought. “What’s wrong?”

“I forgot to get his number…” Terrance mumbles and we both look up at him. “I’m sorry. What was that?” I say laughing slightly. “I went on a date… And didn’t get his number.”

He gets out of the car and me and Nova both get out quickly following him into the house. 

“Since when do you go on dates? You haven’t gone on a date in years” Nova signs quickly. Terrance rolls his eyes.

“With who?” I ask confused and he smiles slightly. “Oh my god, Terr you didn’t!” I say lightly pushing him and he laughs. 

“Am I missing something?” Nova signs staring at the both of us. 

“You went on a date with the prince? And didn’t get his number!” I say groaning and he sighs, “I know okay.” 

“Aren’t princes supposed to be like… Unattainable?” Nova signs confused.

“Yeah… But they’re trying to find him a boyfriend so he’s going on dates with whoever asks. And no I didn’t ask. He asked me first” He says smiling. 

Nova pauses and asks, “Well did you get the white guy’s number?” 

I nod slightly, “He says to call him… But I know he’s gonna ask me on a date… And I know I’m gonna say yeah… But he’s just so freaking cute. How am I supposed to say no?” I mumble looking up at Terrance. 

“Well, I think… You should call him. Let him ask you out” He says hesitantly. “But you just said-” “That was before you met your soulmate? Your literal fucking soulmate Cole.” He chuckles and I smile slightly. 

I scroll through my phone until I find his number. I click the call button and glance up at them both. He answers the phone after the second ring and I pause. “Uhm… Hey… It’s me? You said to call you?” 

“Yeah. Uhm…My parents would kill me if I told them I met my soulmate today and didn’t ask them out…? So… Do you wanna go out somewhere…? With me?” 

I nod, chuckling slightly. He can’t see me. “Yes… I want to go somewhere with you…?” I say confused. “But I have cheer practice on Monday and Wednesday.” There’s a silence on the other end for a few seconds. Is he always this awkward or is it just because it’s me…? 

“How’s Thursday?” He says breaking the silence, “We could do dinner and a movie? Or- whatever you want to do…?” I shake my head slightly. “Nope. That's good. I’ll text you my address. “Okay.”

I hang up slightly confused. “What’s our address?” 

Nova sighs walking away from the both of us. “Wait- Nov!” I laugh following her into her room.