soulmate on a saturday

Calista sat on her bed, erasing the writing that she had scribbled onto her skin with a wet cloth. Elkhazel sat across from her with a sly smirk, drawing silly cat emoticons on her hand.

Calista observed her friend’s drawings. “Does Saber like cats?”

“No,” Elkhazel replied with a giggle. “I just like annoying her.”

Calista rose a brow and watched as sloppy swears appeared on Elkhazel’s cheek. Elkhazel, though, did not notice and continued to scrawl cats on her hand, so Calista nudged her and pointed at her cheek. Elkhazel fished her cellphone from her bag and clicked on the camera, laughing loudly upon seeing the words.

“Are you sure that she’s your soulmate?” Calista questioned.

Elkhazel gave her a look. “Not everyone likes their soulmate.”

Calista frowned as Elkhazel snatched the damp cloth and began erasing her cat drawings. “That’s the point of a soulmate,” Calista stated confusedly.

“Everyone has one, idiot. They don’t have to like them,” Elkhazel hummed, checking her cheek again. “She’s definitely not erasing this.”

Calista became quiet, but Elkhazel seemed more focused on texting Saber, yelling at her to erase the swears. She took the cloth from Elkhazel and set it on her bedside table before standing and clicking off her lamp, leaving the bedroom pitch black. “I’ll sleep on the couch,” she announced, trudging toward the door.

“Okay,” answered Elkhazel, shutting off her phone as more profanity appeared on her skin.

Calista snorted at Elkhazel’s lack of a response and closed the door as she exited the room, hurriedly settling on the couch with a fuzzy, blue blanket. She deeply pondered, thinking of Elkhazel’s words, wondering if her soulmate would dislike her, too; her soulmate only wrote encouraging phrases on the arm, but they erased them every night at midnight. Calista then took a marker and drew a heart on her hand, but she erased it ten minutes later, as her soulmate did not respond. Her soulmate never responded to her messages.

When Calista awoke, however, she found encouraging phrases on her arm, accompanied by a smiley face. She grinned at the emoticon as light blinded her vision, causing her to shield her eyes with her hands.

“Patch hasn’t erased the swears,” Elkhazel complained, hands on the open curtain.

Calista narrowed her eyes but dropped her hands. “Did you open the curtains just to complain about that?”

“No,” Elkhazel answered. After a pause, she added, “Kind of, actually, but I need you to get up.”

“I will, but why?”

Elkhazel skipped over to the couch and plopped down, pushing Calista’s feet to the side, forcing her to sit up. “We need to go shopping. I need a dress.”

Calista rubbed her eyes and folded her blanket, placing it on the couch’s arm. “For what?”

“I’m throwing a party,” responded Elkhazel with sparkling eyes. “I rented the bowling alley for tonight. I’ve placed posters about it all over the town.”

“As expected from you,” Calista hummed and stood, turning toward her bedroom with tired eyes. “I’ll get dressed.”

Elkhazel nodded, pressing a marker against her hand and jotting down angry phrases to counter Saber’s swears. She then drew awkward shapes on her neck, laughing wildly when her cellphone beeped continuously with messages from her irritated soulmate.

Calista was ready in less than twenty minutes, lazily completing each task, as she was more worried about her soulmate after the conversation from the night before. She silently decided to stop writing on her skin altogether, glancing forlornly at the encouraging words on her arm.

Elkhazel poked her head into Calista’s bedroom. “Good to go? We have to meet Patch at the mall.”

Calista shot her a curious look. “Saber, hm?”

“She was available,” countered Elkhazel, glaring with flushed cheeks.

Calista merely nodded and grabbed her bag, flinging it over her shoulder before following Elkhazel outside, climbing into the taxi once the latter caught the attention of a driver. Elkhazel directed the taxi driver toward the mall, afterward turning to Calista with, “Maybe you’ll meet your soulmate.”

“Maybe,” Calista responded while staring out the window.

Elkhazel flicked the back of Calista’s head with her fingers, frowning at her when she turned around with annoyed eyes. “Have a positive attitude, idiot. I’ll find your soulmate.”

Calista laughed as the taxi came to a stop in front of the sidewalk leading to the mall. “Elkhazel, it’s fine.” Upon glancing out the window a last time, she added, “They never reply to my writings, anyway.”

Elkhazel merely hummed in response and paid the taxi driver, nearly trampling her friend while exiting the taxi. Calista huffed and clambered out of the taxi, thanking the taxi driver with a wide smile before they drove down the road in silence.

“Patch!” Elkhazel yelled and bounded toward the girl, reaching out to bop her nose, but Saber shied away from the touch with an irritated expression.

Saber greeted Calista then inquired, “Why did you tell me to meet you here?” before glaring at Elkhazel.

“You’re coming to my party tonight,” asserted Elkhazel.

Saber blinked. “No, I’m not.”

“You have to,” Elkhazel implored with a pout. “You like bowling, don’t you? Come on, idiot.”

“That’s convincing,” Saber said sarcastically, shaking her head. “If I’m not busy, then I’ll come, because I want to win a bowling match against you.” Then, she silently strolled through the mall’s doors, leaving a squawking Elkhazel behind.

“She’s coming,” Calista assured before sprinting to catch up, dragging Elkhazel behind her.

Clapping and flashing cameras immediately snatched Calista’s attention, and she released her grip on Elkhazel as she paused to stare. The two girls did not wait for her and continued walking, but Calista did not budge, finding herself admiring the girl who was in the midst of the chaotic noises. She was beautiful and vibrant, smiling widely at the people who cheered for her.

Calista felt a tug on her arm, and she found Elkhazel smirking. “What are you doing?” the latter taunted.

“Do you know who that is?” Calista asked seriously.

“Candy Adkins. She’s an actress,” noted Elkhazel. “She barely gets any acting jobs, but she recently got casted in that new horror movie. She has some dedicated fans.”

Calista pursed her lips and caught Candy’s soft gaze, tensing and turning to Elkhazel, suddenly panicked. “What’s she doing here?”

“A photoshoot for the movie,” Elkhazel answered, raising a brow. “Is something wrong?”

“No.” Calista grabbed Elkhazel’s arm and guided her away from the scene swiftly. “Let’s find Saber.”

Elkhazel gazed at a shop full of candy and other sweets as Calista yanked her from the scene and whined, “I wanted chocolate!”

Calista pulled Elkhazel into a colorful clothing store, and the duo found Saber in the back of the store, attempting to find a blue suit in her clothing size. She appeared annoyed, but she ultimately found a red suit in the correct size, smirking smugly at the discovery. Upon seeing Elkhazel rushing toward her, she wove into a dressing room with a mocking wave.

“She truly hates me,” Elkhazel sighed, eyeing the suits that Saber had been sifting through. She reached and latched onto a blue suit, one that Saber had desired, before smiling mischievously. “I’ll buy a suit instead, since they have my size. She’ll be surprised, right? Is this the one she wanted?”

“Stop worrying,” ordered Calista, more focused on the flowers in the corner of the store that were of no cost. “She doesn’t hate you, I’m sure.”

“I hate her,” Elkhazel confidently but clearly jokingly responded, hopping into one of the dressing rooms without saying more.

Calista shook her head at Elkhazel’s words, knowing that her true intentions were to impress Saber and gain her affection, but she said nothing and crept toward the flowers. She gingerly touched the roses and felt the velvet petals, frowning at the sight before snatching one from its pot. The thorns startled her as they drew blood, and she immediately dropped the rose and spun around, clutching her slightly injured fingers. She glanced at the rose and bent down to pick it up, catching someone’s gaze as she regained her balance.

“Maybe sunflowers are a better pick,” the someone sweetly murmured with a giggle. They realized that they were standing rather close to Calista and stepped backward silently, the smile lingering.

Calista began to sweat as she faced Candy, the actress that she had locked eyes with before. She anxiously clutched the rose, ignoring the thorns, and felt her heart pounding in her chest. “They probably are.”

Candy‘s eyebrows furrowed, and she pointed at the rose in Calista’s grasp. “It has thorns, right?”

Calista moved her hand, finally holding the rose correctly and painlessly. Smiling sheepishly, she answered, “It does.”

“Geez,” Candy laughed, folding her arms over her chest.

“I’m fine. No worries,” Calista replied calmly, glancing at the few blood droplets on her skin. She placed the rose into its vase and traded it for a sunflower, staring at its beauty before looking at Candy again.

“Is it for someone?” Candy questioned curiously, staring at the sunflower with gleaming eyes.

Calista blinked and groped for words, eventually extending her arm toward Candy, offering the sunflower. Candy’s expression faded into a look of astonishment, but she accepted the sunflower nonetheless.

Saber burst out of the dressing room with the crumpled red suit in her arms, frowning angrily. Calista whirled around and regarded her with a confused expression, and she returned it but said nothing about Candy. “Elkhazel kept throwing her sock over to annoy me.”

Elkhazel crashed through the door of the dressing room, a sock on her head and an unreadable look on her face. The blue suit was slung neatly over her shoulder. “Patch threw a sock at me.”

Saber took a marker from her pocket and stared at Elkhazel, watching her expression convert to horror as she scribbled random shapes on her face. The same scribbles appeared on Elkhazel’s face, and the two began to argue with whispered insults, leaving the scene in a rush.

“They’re my friends,” Calista explained briskly. “It’s complicated.”

“They’re soulmates,” Candy observed, grinning. Calista noticed the sadness in the smile and opened her mouth to speak, but Candy continued with, “That’s nice.”

“Yeah.” Calista rose an eyebrow and looked at the sunflower in Candy’s hands, finding it to be an item of comfort. “Are you alright?”

Candy pondered for a moment before saying, “Yes.” She then paused for a moment and mumbled, “Do you have a soulmate?”

“Me? No,” Calista stated, realizing that she was not meant to hear the question judging by the sudden look of embarrassment written on Candy’s face. “It’s okay, though. Everyone finds their soulmate eventually.”

“That should be true,” Candy worried. Then, she beamed reassuringly and clasped her hands together. “I should be going. I have to finish my photoshoot.”

When Candy turned to leave the store, Calista instinctively called, “There’s a party at the bowling alley tonight! My friend is hosting it, and. . .”

Candy simpered and squeezed the sunflower as if it was long-awaited sunshine in darkness. “I’ll come. I saw the posters.” She continued walking, eventually disappearing into the crowd of photographers and nosy fans.

Calista realized with a jolt that she never gave Candy her name. She mentally smashed her head with a brick, but she was soon distracted by Elkhazel creeping back into view, holding the suit and her sock. She seemed frightened, and Calista was prepared to interrogate her, but Saber entered the scene and snatched the sock, a sly smirk playing on her face. Elkhazel chased her, but she hid behind Calista playfully.

“What are you two doing?” Calista grunted.

From behind Calista, Saber answered, “Playing sock tag. We were waiting for you.”

“Are you done with your soulmate?” joked Elkhazel, placing a hand on her hip.

Calista tensed. “I doubt she’s my soulmate,” she replied confidently. “She, uh, saw your posters.”

Elkhazel’s eyes brightened, and she forgot the sock game, throwing her hands cheerily into the air. “That means plenty of people will come!” she triumphed, and Saber groaned, tossing the sock and suit over her shoulder. “This is also good for you, Calista. You seem to like her.”

Calista huffed in response, staring into Elkhazel’s intense eyes. “She’s friendly.” She glanced between the two girls. “Have you paid for the clothes? Let’s leave, then.”

Elkhazel placed her hands on her hips and tipped herself forward playfully. “You need something.”

“Nothing special,” Calista replied.

“True, but you should get something.” Elkhazel pointed at the row of suits. Then, she shifted and pointed toward an aisle of long, colorful dresses, which were Calista’s preference. “Patch and I are gonna get ice cream.”

“I’m lactose intolerant,” Saber mumbled, pushing Elkhazel away when she leaned over to bop her nose. Elkhazel disregarded the statement and dragged her from the store with bouncy steps.

Calista frowned and trudged over to the aisle of dresses, placing her hand on each one; none interested her, and the dresses that she found worthwhile were too expensive. She owned similar outfits, and she knew that it would be no problem if she wore one, so she turned and began to stroll toward the exit.

“Ma’am?” a lady called, and Calista craned her head to look. The woman was older with gray hairs poking out, and she was wearing the typical mall cashier outfit. She held out her arms and displayed an expensive red dress that showed a heart stitched into the left side. “A lady told me to give this to you. I think it’s for you, anyway.”

Calista eyed the dress. “I wouldn’t know,” she said with a voice crack. Judging by the woman’s tone, however, Calista assumed that she did not care if she was handing the dress to the correct person and accepted the outfit. “Thank you.”

The lady nodded and returned to the cash register, leaving behind a surprised Calista.

The bowling alley was a change of scenery for Calista; the building was dazzling, and neon signs hung on the sides and doors. The music could be heard from outside the venue, and songs never finished, for guests became annoyed and paid a quarter to change the song to a tune that they would soon hate. The building was normally busy, but it was now bustling with activity, as Elkhazel’s posters successfully attracted attention. Elkhazel smiled at the guests that entered, and she had no reason to frown at the guests who left, because nobody did.

Elkhazel raised her glass of water to her lips from behind the counter, staring at Calista. “The party’s barely started. Why the long face, dummy?”

“I didn’t even buy this dress,” Calista claimed, watching Elkhazel sip her water with an eye roll.

“It was Candy,” Elkhazel said matter-of-factly. “She must’ve bought it for you in secret when you weren’t looking.”

Calista said nothing, deciding to change the conversation to a different and less depressing concept. “Where’s Saber?”

Elkhazel pointed toward an occupied alley, and Calista noticed that Saber was alone and tossing bowling balls down the alley, striking each time. When she picked up another bowling ball, she appeared worried, but her expression swiftly changed, and she threw the ball down the alley, missing one pin.

“She looks really nice in the suit,” murmured Elkhazel dreamily, and Saber gazed in her direction, but she did not break contact, and neither did Elkhazel.

Calista laughed dryly and patted Elkhazel’s head, earning no reaction. “I’m going to greet guests at the door,” she noted and plodded toward the front doors. She faintly heard Elkhazel stand and scurry toward the alley that Saber was standing near, but she did not pay attention. She became focused on shyly greeting guests, usually receiving no response, but that did not sadden her; something else did.

She pulled a marker from her bag and wrote a word on her hand, and while she expected no response, she merely stared for a few minutes, ignoring the new guests that entered. When there was no response, she erased the word and pocketed the marker.

“Something wrong?”

Calista jumped slightly, now peering into concerned but soothing blue eyes. Candy stood next to her, a hand hovering above her shoulder, asking for permission to drop.

“Yes,” Calista croaked, realizing what she had uttered after Candy frowned. “I meant no. Nothing is wrong.”

“Were you writing to your soulmate?” Candy inquired, a stranger rudely bumping into her shoulder as they entered the building. She pouted and offered a hand, and when Calista simply eyed it, she explained, “It’s crowded.”

Calista’s mouth formed an ‘o’ as she obliged, placing her hand in Candy’s, causing the latter to brighten and lead her away from the building. There was a possibility that a negative scene could happen, but Calista was mesmerized and trusting, and she realized that Candy also trusted her. When the leader stopped in her tracks, she proposed the same question.

“I suppose I was trying,” Calista finally replied. “They don’t respond to mine. I guess they don’t notice.”

Candy visibly softened. “Do they write to you?”

“They do,” Calista responded. She glanced at the encouragement that was written on her skin and hopefully held out her arm for Candy to see, wondering if, by chance, they were soulmates. Nervously, she retracted her arm upon noticing Candy’s unreadable expression. “We should get back to the party.”

“Wait,” Candy pleaded, tapping on Calista’s arm as she stood from the bench where they sat. “I have something to say.”

Hurriedly, Calista inquired, “May I ask a question first?” When Candy nodded, she finished, “Why did you buy me this dress?”

“You were wearing a sweater earlier, and I wanted to see your arm.” Silence filled the air, and Candy clearly realized that she had sounded odd, so she dragged a pen out of her pocket and drew a circle on her arm. Her eyes then fixed on Calista’s left arm.

Calista immediately noticed the circle on her arm. She heaved a sigh and meekly blurted, “Why did you never reply?”

Candy pursed her lips and held out her hand, requesting Calista’s permission to draw. The latter curiously obliged, and Candy scribbled hearts onto her hand, but no hearts appeared on her own skin. She released Calista’s hand and stared into her eyes. “Shall we get back to the party?”

Author's Note

once again, i didn’t proofread. also, this is the first soulmate au i’ve ever written, and the ending is slightly left up to interpretation. however, the situation i had in mind was that candy has a rare disease where she can write to her soulmate, but her skin can’t generate writings that her soulmate writes to her.

Reviews

[mae]

i love this !! you're a very talented writer!! :)