Chapter 3

I’m walking through the school the next morning. I’m still bruised and limping when suddenly a song I've never heard rings through my head. The song is loud and very mainstream pop sounding. I hate it so I plug in my headphones and blast Panic! At The Disco. Maybe I can give my soulmate better music taste.

Just as I power my phone screen down I crash into someone. I look up from my knees to see Jacob. I start to shake in fear. I don’t want him to hurt me again. I shift my eyes down quickly. I feel his strong hands lift me to my feet and start to brush me off. I look up at him.

We’re alone in the hallway and he looks like he’s been crying. I knew the feeling. You want to cry but you feel like you’ve cried too much so you don’t. He pulls out his headphones. Strangely I can no longer hear the obnoxious pop music under the sounds of Brendon Urie’s voice. I take off my headphones and press the pause button on my music.

Looking up at him I say, "Why are you being so nice to me right now?" He was never nice to me.

"I just realized how sorry I am for tormenting you so much," he said. A thought rings through my head...

My soulmate has been hurt too. I don't want to hurt anyone else. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I just roll my eyes and put my headphones back on. The song changed to Bullet by HollywoodUndead. As soon as I start to walk away I hear Jacob start to cry.

I turn around and look back at him pulling my headphones out, the song playing through the air. Jacob looks at me like a deer in headlights. The ending plays over the silent air.

I sing softly, “I wish that I could fly…”

"Way up in the sky," I hear Jacob's voice join mine, “Like a bird so high. Oh, I might just try. Oh, I might just try," we both sing as the music fades. I look at him. He's probably never heard that song on his own. Then it clicks. Jacob is my soulmate. He looks as if he figured it out too.

"Can I see your playlist?" He asks me. I hand him my phone and open my Spotify. He looks through my music and his eyes widen more.

"Are we?" I ask figuring he knows. He nods, neither of us can bring ourselves to actual words. He takes my hand and my head drops.

"No one’s going to hurt you anymore Jewelia. I promise,” for once I hear kind words and I start crying.

The boy that's tormented me for all my life is pulling me into a caring hug. I never wanted to hurt you Jewelia. His voice suddenly feels more soothing in my head but I remember something. I tug at my sleeves pulling them over my wrists more. He notices the movement and pulls me away rolling up my sleeve. My arm is covered in fresh cuts and old scars. He looks at me and a tear rolls from his eye.

“I’m so sorry I hurt you Jewelia. I never wanted to hurt you this much,” he says, sincerity clear in his voice. The tears keep rolling as I feel the blade I have hidden in my pocket shift. I reach into my pocket and adjust it in my fingers. Before I release the blade and pull my hand out, Jacob pulls it out for me, blade and all. He looks at it and back at me.

“Jewelia, have you... ...at school?” he asks genuinely worried.

I shake my head, “No but at the park I have. It’s safer to cut there than at home.” I remember all the times my mother was drunk and she would hurt me, saying it’s my fault dad left us. That I killed dad. I can’t help but cry remembering the scars she left on me. The cigarette burns and the scars on my back from the lashes she gave me.

A strange warmth distracts me from my thoughts as I feel Jacob’s hand rubbing my back. I didn’t even realize I was crying into his chest. I forgot he could hear my thoughts all the bad things I was thinking. He held me close, gently. I’m sure he could feel each individual cut on my back. I cry until I can feel myself start to fall asleep. At that point, Jacob had moved us to the wall and I was sitting on his lap crying into his chest. I feel myself fall asleep on his lap as I curl myself up in his lap.

After a few minutes, Jacob shakes me gently.

He whispers to me, “We have to go to class.” I nod and stand wiping the fresh tears off my face with my sleeve. Jacob pulls his jacket on and zips it up to hide my tear stain. As I start to walk to class I feel Jacob grab my hand and pull me to walk with him.

We stop in front of the door and I begin heading for my desk in the back corner but Jacob pulls me away from it and towards his group in the front/middle of the room. I tug away sending my thought to him.

Your friends despise me. I don’t want to go over there.

He looks at me remorsefully. I promise I won’t let them hurt you. I promise.

I nod softly and let him lead me over. His friends look at me disgustedly.

“Jacob why the fuck are you walking with the loser? You better not be bringing her over here,” his buddies jeer and I hide behind Jacob. I feel his hand wrap around me behind him. His buddies look disgusted but I hear Jacob’s calm voice over the chatter.

“She is not to be hurt again. Understand me when I say that. You lay one finger on her or I hear that ANY of you has insulted her, you will deal with me. Jewelia is the one thing I’ve always been looking for in this pathetic existence called life and I plan on keeping my SOULMATE,” he punches the word, “safe. I expect no harm to come of her.” His friends remain silent as he sits me down at the desk with him keeping me close and holding my hand. Something about him made me feel safe but what scares me is when he won’t be around.