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The first-time you had heard about soulmates, you parents had sat you down and explained about the tattoo that would one day appear on your body. Your soulmates first words to you. They informed you that you might not meet them, even with the words permanently etched on your body it doesn’t mean that you were sure to meet them. If you did, it didn’t mean that it would be smooth sailing, it didn’t mean everlasting happiness. It would still require work, patience, kindness and love. Your parents were soulmates and you’d witnessed first hand how difficult their relationship could be at times, but they still stood strong and steadfast.
You only hoped that if you met your soulmate, it would be easier, less angry and painful.
If you met them, anyway.
Your words appear weeks after, you’re only 7, extraordinarily young to receive your words. Most people didn’t get theirs until after their 13th birthday. Your fingers trace over the words on your inner arm.
You’re bleeding, are you alright? I’ll kill him.
Your mother frowns when she sees the words, worry evident in her eyes and your dad grows even more protective over you. His eyes scan every room, looking for some mysterious assailant that might rappel down from the ceiling and hurt you. You don’t worry though. You know they find you. When your hurt, the person that is destined to be the other half of your soul is there to make sure you’re alright, and threaten the person that’s hurt you.
You spend hours laying in your bed over the years imagining what they might be like. You’re 15 when you realise that you want the other person to be another woman. Your mother and father aren’t surprised, your love for Xena and Buffy a clue to them about what your preferences might be. You imagine a tall brunette, glasses perched on her nose and a kind smile. You imagine a redhead with a beautiful laugh and mischievous grin. You realise early on it doesn’t matter what they look like, only that they’re kind.
The years pass by and you find yourself attending the University of Pennsylvania, you date on and off but your mind always draws you back to the words etched on your arm. You wonder where she is, how her life is, if she’s happy or married, if she thinks about you too. You parents support you as much as they can but you know, they wish you would find someone to settle down with.
You graduate, you float between different schools teaching third grade. You decide early on that charter schools are not for you, you’d rather stick with public. The pressure that the charter schools puts on the kids leaves a bad taste in your mouth and you’d seen plenty of good teachers thrown away because they just don’t fit the charter school mould.
That’s how you find yourself at Abbott Elementary. Finally, the school board had released some more funding so they could hire another teacher. You’d heard rumours from other teachers that they had to combine classes due to the teacher shortage. You couldn’t imagine the amount of stress of having two classes, second graders and third graders.
Walking into the school you bite your lip, pulling at your burgundy sweater out of nervousness. This was a permanent position; this could be the school you work at for the rest of your life. Your eyes scan the walls, art work from children of all ages pinned up. The school is in dire need of work in some places, but you like its feel. You could be happy here.
You fall into your own little world as you walk around, trying to find your way to Principal Coleman’s office. Smiling as some of the students start to filter into the school. You’re so wrapped up into your thoughts you don’t see the person hurdling towards you until your eyes make contact and you find yourself sprawled onto the floor, knocking you into the lockers and catching your face on them as you go down. You let out a loud pained moan as you lay on the floor.
“You idiot, you ran straight into her!” You hear a woman yell, and hear the rush off footsteps towards you. “Janine makes sure Jacob’s not dead.”
The voice grows closer and you hear the sound of someone kneeling next to you. You turn to your left and find a woman smiling slightly at you. She looks worried as she looks over your face, her hand coming to touch your cheek. You don’t think you’ve ever seen anyone this beautiful. Her hair is a fiery red, deep blue eye filled with concern, ruby red lips, a soft looking grey jacket and a black long sleeved top.
Wait, were they leather pants?
You think you might be in love.
“You’re bleeding, you alright?” The redhead looks over her shoulder and glares. “I’ll kill him.”
“You’re so beautiful, like a very angry angel.” You blurt out before your eyes widen in shock at her words.
Her words.
The words that match the tattoo on your inner arm.
You watch as her eyes widen in shock, you see the fleeting panic in her eyes before a smile settles on her face and she lets out a laugh, whilst shaking her head. Your own shock fades and you smile back. She really does have a beautiful laugh.
“Come on, lets get you to the nurses office, I can’t promise that she’s in there but her medical supplies sure are.” She motions for you to sit up and slowly helps you up, letting you lean on her. “I’ll get you sorted out.”
Your eyes wander down to the young man on the floor, who is looking at you very apologetically whilst the other teacher, Janine tends to him and helps him up. He goes to apologise but a glare from the woman holding you up shuts it down very quickly.
Your silent as you walk down the hallway, trying your best to not bleed onto the woman next to you and ruin her grey jacket. Neither one of you mentions what had just taken place between you. The teacher is older than you expected your soulmate to be but that doesn’t bother you. You wonder if it bothers her, if she expected her soulmate to be someone that was what appeared to be 15-20 years younger than her.
The nurses office is just like you expect, riddled with healthy eating posters and posters explaining to kids all about the human body. You smile as you sit down and watch her move around the office trying to find something to clean the cut on your cheek with. Bringing your hand up to your cheek you wince, its clearly not a deep cut but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.
“Stop touching it.” She chides as she walks over and places the alcohol wipe on your cut, cleaning it. “You’ll get it infected, do you wanna lose your cheek?”
“I don’t think it quite works like that.” You smile, as she rolls her eyes. “I suppose, you should know my name..”
“Y/N Y/LN.” She answers and your eyes widen slightly before she smirks. “You’re taking on my third grade class, I had to shove them in with my second graders.”
“You’re the teacher I’m taking over from?” You ask, as she continues to clean your cheek before going to find a plaster big enough to cover your cut.
“I am indeed, Melissa Schemmenti.” She smiles as she puts the plaster on your cheek before moving back. “There, you’re all patched up.”
“Thank you.” You both stare at each other for a moment before you break the growing silence. “You’re my soulmate.”
“You’re mine.” There’s a sense of vulnerability in her voice. “Guess I’m not what a young woman like yourself was expecting.”
Your eyes move over her as they did when she first knelt down beside you. Melissa Schemmenti was breathtakingly beautiful. She stood strong, even with the insecurity on her face. You could imagine nights on your sofa, wrapped in her arms watching terrible reality tv shows. You could see walking through the malls with her holding hands as you both teased each other about your purchases. You could imagine an entire life ahead of you with this woman and you’d known her less than thirty minutes.
“I didn’t know what to expect, I spent my entire childhood trying to picture what kind of woman would walk into my life.” You chuckle to yourself. “I realised pretty early on I didn’t care who my soulmate was, I just wanted her to be kind and for her to love me for myself and not want me to be anyone different.”
“I didn’t expect it to be someone as young as you, not that it’s a bad thing, I don’t know, after my marriage I kind of made my peace that you’d never show up, used to lay in bed going over memories wondering if you could be in the background somewhere or maybe you saw me and decided you didn’t want me.” She shrugs, eyes downcast. “The divorce made me feel unlovable for a long time, then I met Gary and things were great until his soulmate showed up and he said he owed it to himself to try with her and I wanted to be angry but I knew I would do the same thing.”
“I was seven when your mark appeared and my parents went into full on protect mode, they were also worried because I was so young you know?” You smile at the surprise on her face. “I know everyone’s kinda appears just before or after their 13th birthday but yours appeared early.”
“I..” She swallows. “Mine didn’t appear until I was about 17, I always wondered why you showed up so late but maybe it’s the age thing.”
“We went to a doctor who specialises in it, that was their theory, yours hadn’t appeared as I wasn’t born yet, but mine appeared early because you were already out there.” You shrug. “He says its not exactly a science, but he figured that my soulmate was older, he just didn’t know how much by.”
“I bet you were expecting five years or something.” She shakes her head. “Instead, you got an old lady.”
“I got a beautiful older woman, who is aging like a fine wine.” You wiggle your eyebrows causing her to laugh. “So, you’ve only dated men?”
“No, I’ve dated women.” She admits, biting her lip. “I will admit, I’m a little surprised my soulmate’s a woman, but like, I’m not complaining, pretty young thing like you.”
“Even if I end up scarred for life?” You pout dramatically as your hand comes to touch your face and she laughs with her head thrown back and your heart beats wildly in your chest.
You’re definitely in love with this woman.
“Should of known you’d be dramatic by the whole, you look like a very angry angel line.” Melissa grins and you blush. “I just want you to know when that appeared, I couldn’t stop smiling, a constant reminder that my soulmate thinks I’m beautiful kept me going, even when I thought I’d never get to see you.”
“You are beautiful.” You move forward and grab her hand, as you sit on the patient’s bed. “I’m glad its you, I don’t know you but I know how I’m feeling and I’m meant to love you Melissa Schemmenti.”
She looks at you for a moment before moving and pressing your lips together, her hands move to cup your cheeks. You smile into the kiss as you move your hands to her shoulders. Neither of you notice the door opening.
“Well, this is surprising.” She moves away from you to look toward the door. “You kiss all the new teachers here, is there something Gregory ain’t telling me?”
“Ava, Barb.” She greets as you turn to look at the two women by the door. “Y/N, the tall smirking one is principal Ava Coleman and the shocked one is my best friend and the teacher of Kindergarten Barbara Howard.”
“Hi.” You wave. “Y/N Y/LN, I was on my way to find you Principal Coleman when erm, Jacob, knocked me over into the lockers?”
“You gonna sue?” She asks, arching one of her eyebrows at you. “You can’t sue.”
“I don’t plan to sue.” You assure her as you look at Melissa who’s glaring at her. “It was an accident and I was in my own world.”
“Clearly thinking about the hot looking teachers, we have here.” Ava wiggles her eyebrows at you and you let out a laugh. “Seriously though, you move fast Schemmenti.”
“We have soulmate tattoo’s so I figured it would be okay if I locked her down pretty quick.” Melissa smirks, as Barbara suddenly squeals in delight and claps her hands. “So yeah, the new teacher is mine.”
Mine.
Melissa turns to look at you and for a moment you see the flicker of uncertainty. She’s unsure if she’s crossed a line but you just smile and press a soft kiss to her cheek.
You were hers.