Soulmate, everyone has one. It's the person who can make you smile with a simple drawing or a simple thought, that may sound a little strange so let me explain. Every time a person marks their skin with ink it will show up on they're soulmate, whether it be a drawing, numbers, words anything. It's a way of communicating with them before you meet. Of course once you've met and accepted it (that's kind of important you have to accept your soulmate for this next stage to happen) it's kind of silly to continue having thing written all cross your body so when you do accept it (everyone does eventually) you grow a mind link with your soulmate and drawing on the skin thing goes away.
Why we all don't just write down who we are an where we live and meet them faster? Well there is believe that it is cheating of sorts and so most people believe it is forbidden to directly speak to them unless you have meet and know who it is. Most of us have found a way around that by writing down a dates and times of appointments and where the appointment is, or drawing things to symbolise words.
Your probably wondering how we find each other if we can't communicate, it's kind of simply really. Our timelines are destine to meet eventually and so most people walk around in short sleeves or in winter most people write on their hands. Most of the time soulmates meet in high school, the parents get this urge to send it them to a certain school, sometimes parents ignore it but most of the time they don't. Currently almost everyone in my year has found their soulmate.
Me? I already know who my soulmate is but she doesn't know who I am and I'm trying to keep it that way. Why? Because my soulmate is the most popular girl at my school and hates my guts with a passion and I don't want to make her life miserable because some unknown force thought it would be a good idea to pair the two of us together.
How do I keep it hidden? Well I wear long sleeves everywhere no matter if it's summer or winter and I always have foundation on me to cover up anything that I can't cover up with clothes. I'm lucky that neither of us put any drawings anywhere before a competitions or dress rehearsals. So I can wear short sleeves then but only during those times.
Is it fair to her? Probably not because it seems like she really loves her 'soulmate' but I'm doing it for her.
I sighed as I wiped the slushie out of my eyes and headed to my locker to grab my spare clothes before heading into a bathroom to clean myself off and change clothes. It was routine for me now; I get slushed before the start of school and at the end of lunch, l clean myself off and change into whatever spare clothes I have brought for the day, and then when I get home I wash the slushed clothes before either of my Dads can find them and asked what had happened. I washed my face and did everything I had to before changing my pants, I turned around to make sure I had gotten everything out of my hair before I put my new shirt on.
"They got you good today." I heard her voice and sighed. I turned around to face my soulmate.
"Quinn, what a big surprise." I put my arms behind my back because my arms are currently bare and Quinn as I can see got bored during class again because on her forearm there was a rose. A perfectly drawn rose. I slowly reached behind me make sure to keep my forearm out of her view and grabbed my long-sleeved blouse and putting my arm through the hole before slipping it on sighing in relief.
"Oh don't try and act tough Rachel."
"Don't try and act like a bitch Quinn because we both know you not." I pushed past her and walked out of the bathroom.
"Rachel, have you got anything to sing?" Mr Schuester asked with hope.
"Sorry Mr Schue normally I would but I'm not in the mood to sing so much right now." I heard collective gasp pass through he Glee club.
"The Hobbit refused a chance to show off? Okay now I need to know the reason." Santana smirked.
I groaned, I did not want anyone to find why I am so off today. I had been violated in more ways than one just to keep my soulmate from getting hurt. A soulmate who does nothing but torment me on a daily basis. Despite all of this I couldn't let the creep, Jacob Israel tell the school about Quinn supposably being pregnant, something I know for a fact isn't true because I know Quinn. It was just a nasty rumour created by one of the Jocks she refused to fuck. Anyway in exchange for his silence he blackmailed me into giving a pair of my underwear, which I did reluctantly.
"It's nothing, I just don't feel well. Sorry Mr Shue but can I be excused." I jumped out of my seat and quickly moved to the door, before I could even get to the door Puck grabbed my arm and spun me around. This promoted my shirt to pull down revealing a small love heart identical to the one on Quinn's bare shoulders. I had drawn it there because I was bored and I liked seeing the way her eyes light up just a little bit every time she saw it.
"Oh my god." Puck whispered, I quickly pulled my shirt into its proper position thankful that due to Pucks position no one could see what he was staring at.
"Puck what is it?" Mr Shue asked.
"Arhh, nothing just Rachel... it nothing don't worry. I'm gonna take to her nurse." I followed Puck out into the hall way and followed him into the auditorium.
"Your Quinn's soulmate! Holy shit you're Quinn's soulmate!"
"Puck shhh people might hear you."
"Why haven't you said anything! How long have you known!"
"Puck, please. I've known since last year, I had drawn something and then when I was in the bathroom after being Shushed she confronted me and that's when I saw the identical half wiped off drawing on her."
"Why haven't you said anything? Both of us know how much she loves you."
"No she loves her soulmate, she doesn't love me."
"But you are her soulmate, Rachel you have to say something!" He shouted.
"I can't." I whispered, my voice now sounded broken and weak. It was obvious that Puck noticed the change.
"Why not?" His voice had softened.
"I can't do that to her, she hates me. She would be miserable."
"Rach, she doesn't hate you."
"Puck, she takes every opportunity to torment me and put me down! God why did I have to be such a nice person and give that creep my underwear to stop him blabbing the stupid rumour!" I growled only to remember that Puck has no clue what I was talking about.
"What?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it."
"What did you do?"
"It's nothing, I took care of it."
"Rachel what did you do?"
"Jacob had this rumour that Quinn was pregnant, some Jock made it up to get back at her for not sleeping with him. Jacob was going to publish it on his Blog but I made a deal with him to stop him from posting it."
"What was the deal?"
"I gave him a pair of my underwear and he didn't post the rumour."
"Why would you do that?!" Puck was shouting again so I sat down in one of the chairs.
"I did it for her, I couldn't let a rumour like that get out. It would ruin her."
"You going to have to tell her one day."
"When we're out of high school and live three thousand miles way where neither of us can get hurt."
"Rach you're both already getting hurt. I can see how she affects you and I can see how she is effected by you, her soulmate."
"I can't Puck, I just can't. What if she find out hates me even more to the point where she refuses to even look at me?" I finally broke and let the tears that had been building up fall, Puck swatted in front of me and pulled me against his chest and held.
"I am going to fix this, I swear I will."
The rumour was out, it had leaked and now its circling the whole school and all I can do is watch has my soulmate slowly crumbles under the stares and whispers. Worst of all I can't comfort her all I can do is draw some hopefully happy drawings, which seem to only makes her smile for a few seconds and they never seem to reach her eyes. Before I can do anything else my eyes land on an overly happy Jacob Israel, too happy for my liking.
"What the hell did you do Israel?" I walked over with my sleeve covered arms crossed.
"I did my job." I wanted to slap the smirk right off his stop face but I held my temper.
"And what exactly was your job."
"My job was to make sure the student body knew exactly who their head cheerleader really is."
"WE had a deal Israel, I gave you what you wanted."
"Yes but not all of it." Something about his creepy smile made me snap and before I could register what was happening there was a throbbing pain in my right hand and Jacob was on the floor with blood coming out of his nose.
"What the hell Berry?" Out of nowhere Santana and Britney were standing beside me while the rest of the hallway stared.
"He was the one who posted the rumour." Was all I said before walking to the nurse's office. In most cases if you had punched a student you would be called to the office and suspended because either a teacher or student would report it. In this case that isn't something I have to worry about because most people don't like Jacob and none of the teachers had seen it.
"My dear what have you done?" The nurse looked at my now semi swollen hand.
"I was tripped in the hall and I kind of punched the ground when I was trying to stop myself from face planting."
"Well by the swelling it looks like there is a possibility you've broken something."
"I'll call my dads."
Five hours later I'm lying in bed watching Foot loose with my right arm partly casted, thankful that its Friday today and I don't have to go to school tomorrow. I had broken three of the four bones running from the end of my fingers to my wrist. Just as the movie was finished there was a knock at front door.
"I'll get it." Dad shouted.
I continued to watch the screen until there was a knock on my door. It was probably Puck.
"Come in!" I said closing my laptop as the door open revealing Britney.
"Hey Brit what are you doing here?" I asked looking behind her to see if Santana was with her.
"She isn't here if you're worried about, I'm actually here alone to talk about what you did today." I stiffened before quickly relaxing and looking at her confused
"What do you mean?" I asked gesturing that if she want she could sit on the bed which she said.
"You broke Jacob Israel's nose, and your hand." She pointed at my cast.
"Yeah so? Santana would probably done worse if she had known who posted the rumour."
"That's kind of point, Santana would have because she and Quinn are close friends, you on the other."
"Brit, she is a part of Glee, she may hate me, torment me but she is still one of my teammate."
"But is not just that, is it?"
"Look, you and I both know how much she loves her soulmate. I don't think it's fair that she have her reputation ruined because some pervert couldn't take no for an answer and started that rumour."
"How did you find out about the rumour in the first place?"
"The scumbag knew how to get what he wanted." I sighed.
"What do you mean?"
"Jacob knew if he told me, he could get me to do what he wanted."
"What did he want?"
"A pair of my underwear." I whispered feeling ashamed now.
"Tell me you didn't give him any." I stayed silent.
"Tell me, Rachel tell me you didn't." I just shook my head.
"I can't."
"You didn't."
"I couldn't let him ruin Quinn, she may torment me but she doesn't deserve that."
"Rachel, who else knows about this?"
"Puck, that's it. Look don't tell anyone Brit, he got what he deserved, it's settled now."
"Can I ask a question?" I nodded nervously.
"Are you Quinn's soulmate?" My body completely stiffened and all I could do is stare at her.
"Rachel?" I shook my head.
"No." My voice cracked giving me away.
"Rachel, why haven't you said anything?" I could see the sadness in Brit's eyes.
"I can't do that to her Brit. She hates me, she'd be miserable if she ever found out it was me."
"She doesn't hate you."
"Funny you're the second person to say that, but why else would she make my life a living hell?"
"It doesn't mean she hates you, Quinn and Santana only picks on you to protect you from everyone else who would make fun of your cloths and how you act sometimes."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Rachel have you seen you closet? It looks like a five year old threw up in there. And you sometimes act like your better than everyone else, it makes people feel bad." She pointed at my walk in closet where the door was currently opened.
"But I like my clothes and as for my attitude I didn't know I was that bad."
"I know Rach but it makes you look like an over grown five year old and you can always try and change your attitude slightly so you don't come off like an arrogant bitch all the time."
"So what do you suggest I do then? I can't just walk up to Quinn and say 'hey Quinn, guess what I know you don't really like me that much but Im your soulmate' Ha! Yeah right I would be slushie bathed within the hour from people who over hear."
"Well firstly you and I are going shopping tomorrow and then burning all those." She again pointed at my closet.
"But…"
"Not buts Rachel."
"Fine, then what are we going to do? The clothes I buy will be ruined within a week because of the Slushies the Football kids throw." I knew not to argue with Britany, I've seen Santana after one of their arguments and it's not pretty.
"I can get that to stop, anyway after we go shopping then you're coming over to mine for a slumber party with Quinn, Santana and I."
"No! Not happening, I'll wake up in the middle of a lake or something."
"I promise they won't do anything. Please?" She pouted.
"Fine let me go ask my dads."
Britany end up staying the night and the next morning she dragged me to the closet Mall. I think I tried on a hundred thousand pairs of clothes. We walked out to the car and both of us had armfuls of bags.
"So what do you think of your new clothes?"
"I actually sort of like them." I smiled just little, glad I convinced her to let me buy a few long sleeved shirts and Flannels. We got into her car and she drove us back to my place to drop a few bags off before heading to her house, once we got there I changed into a plain white shirt, blue and black flannel over the top and some jeans. I walked out of the bathroom and Brit just about dropped everything in her hands.
"What? Does it look bad?" I asked suddenly becoming very self-conscious.
"No! No its just you look really nice, I just never notice that you actually kind of have really nice legs." My face rapidly grew red which made Britany laughed.
"You might want to get used to the complements from now on, you'll be getting them a lot."
"YO B WE'RE HERE WHERE ARE YOU?" Santana's voice echoed through the house from the front door, I looked at Brit confused as to how she got in when I distinctly remember Britany asking me to lock it, which I did.
"She has her own key, my parents gave her one when they found out that she is my soulmate."
"Cute." I whispered and then before Britany could yell back I run back up into her bedroom realising that Quinn and Santana were actually going to see me in what I'm wearing, from downstairs I could here Brit and Santana talking, I heard when Brit realised I wasn't down stairs with them.
"RACHEL!" She shouted and I could almost feel her stomping her why up the stairs before throwing her bedroom door open.
"Umm… I forget lip-gloss?" She shook her head, grabbed my arm and dragged me down the stairs to face two very shocked Cheerleaders.
"Um…hi?" I waved shyly trying to hide behind Britany who wasn't having any of it and forced me to stand next to her.
"I thought Rachel could join us tonight so we can at least try and get to know her."
"What the hell happened? Brit what did you do to Man-hands?" Santana snapped out of her shook and looked at Britany while Quinn continued to stare which was starting to make me even more self-conscious and fidgety. I could see the Santana and Britany having an mental agreement right now.
"I went over to her house after what she did to Jacob just to check she was okay and don't call her that." The mention of what happened with Jacob brought Quinn back to us.
"Wait what happened with Jacob?" Quinn asked, I looked at her puzzled, how did she not know about what happened.
"Wait why the hell do you have a cast on your arm Berry?" Quinn finally looked at my black cast.
"Didn't Santana tell you? Once the rumour got out Rachel went a little crazy and punched him in the face for posting it."
"You did what?" Quinn looked at me shocked for the second time tonight.
"You may make my life a living hell but not even you deserve what he did." I sighed and fiddled with the loose fitting flannel shirt I had on to cover my arms were Quinn had sketched another rose, which she was proudly wearing. I sighed a little knowing I would never be able to do that without cause a whole lot of issues.
"Why don't we start a movie?" Brit suggested seeing my sigh and feeling the awkwardness between the two Cheerio's and I, we all nodded and moved into the living room.
The movie had finished and the four of us were currently on the floor playing 20 questions, which was more just truth or dare without the dare because we had lost count of how many questions each of us have been asked, currently it was Britany's turn and she had this semi evil look on her face. I could see Santana had a matching smile, what the hell are they planning.
"So Rachel, Quinn this question is for both of you. Do you know who your soulmate is?" I automatically stiffened and glared at Britany as she smirked and snuggled into Santana. Those two were honestly the cutest soulmate couple ever, they've known since the start of high school.
"No." Quinn shook her head, something about her looked sad which broke my heart, I sighed knowing I would have to tell the truth.
"Yes." I nodded, thus shocking both Quinn and Santana for the second time tonight.
"Wait Man-hands you've meet your soulmate?" Santana asked shocked while Brit slapped her arm for calling me Man-hands.
"Umm yeah." I nodded and started to fiddle with the sleeves of my flannel shirt.
"Why have we never meet them? And why do you cover your arms all the time if you know who it is? Its not like the ink link sticks around once you meet."
"Because they don't know who I am." I sighed rolling out of my position, walking over to the bathroom and locking myself in. I sighed and leant against the wall trying to get Quinn's sad face out of my head, someone lightly knocked at the door.
"Rach its me, let me in?" Britany whispered, I slowly unlocked the door letting Britany slip in before locking it again.
"Oh Rach." She pulled me into a hug.
"Why does it hurt so much? Why can't I just forget about her?"
"Rachel she is your soulmate, you can't forget her even if you wanted to. Anyway I have an idea, if you don't want to tell her you could clue her into it."
"What do you mean? I can't directly to talk to her, you know that it's forbidden."
"Well technically it is only forbidden if you don't know who your soulmate is, so you have every right to directly talk to her. She just can't talk back to your and you can't tell her who you are but you can suggest stuff." She smirked and handed me a pen, I looked at it and then looked at her and shook my head.
"I can't Brit, she'll hate me more when she finds out it's me. I can't do that to her."
"Rachel, I've told you she doesn't hate you. Did you not see her face when she said no just before? She is one of the only people in our year level that hasn't found their soulmate."
"I know but when she finds out it's me… Brit I can't it'll ruin her."
"Okay that's it, I didn't want to have to do this." I tried to run out of the bathroom when Brit opened the door to let Santana in but the Latina grabbed my arms and pulled me back closing the door leaving a confused looking Quinn outside.
"Okay Brit what's up?"
"Rachel is Quins soulmate."
"Well yeah, I know."
"Woah, woah what?" I almost shouted.
"When you ran for Glee the other day and Puck grab you I saw the love heart on your shoulder, plus mind link." She gestured between herself and Brit.
"So you're not mad? You don't hate me?" I was so confused right now.
"Look Quinn and I only do the things we did because we have to."
"I can't get her to tell Quinn."
"And you think I can?"
"Mhm." Britany quickly opened the door and left to keep Quinn company.
"Okay, how long have you known Quinn is you soulmate?" I was completely shocked, Santana was actually being kind of nice.
"Oh don't look so shocked I do kind of have a heart even if it is slightly blackened. Now answer the question, how long have you known?"
"Since the start of the last year, after the first slushie facial, I had drawn a flower which had gotten smudged, Quinn had an identical one when she confronted me."
"Wait, you've known since last year and you haven't said anything? Holy shit Berry, do you know how many times I've had to comfort Quinn because she is one of the only people in our year who hasn't found there soulmate yet and here you are preventing that because your too scared to say anything." I knew she was right, Santana is almost always right.
"I can't Santana, she would be miserable."
"Give me your arm Berry." She tried to grab my arm.
"What?" I pulled back holding my arms close to me.
"Give it to me Berry." I slowly let her grab my arm and she pulled the sleeve up to reveal the rose.
"Do you know why she draws that rose almost every day?" She asked, I shook my head. I didn't think there was any really reason other than she got bored during class.
"She draws them because she wants you, her soulmate to know that she cares about them even if they haven't met yet, the other day when you draw the love heart? Every time she looked at it her eyes immediately lit up, and her smile would actually reach her eyes. Like I said before, me and her? We only do the things we do because we have to, imagine what people would do if Quinn and I hadn't claimed you as our punching bag, the two of us we know when we pushing it too far and we stop. "
"It doesn't stop the football team throwing slushes at me."
"I am sorry about that, after today I promise they'll stop. You she follows you in there to make sure you're okay, she might torment you a little but she honestly does care enough to make sure you're okay. You have to tell her Rachel, do it for Quinn because right now she needs her soulmate."
"How? I can't just walk up to her after a year of knowing and say 'hey Quinn so I'm you soulmate, I've known since last year but I've been too scared to tell you'? Sure that'll work out real fine."
Santana then suddenly pulled out a pen from somewhere I didn't want to look, she pulled the cap off and then started writing on my arm before I could stop her.
"Santana what the hell!" I shouted, trying to pull my arm back only for her to pull it back and continue.
"Britany get in here and stop you bloody soulmate!" I shouted only to hear Britany giggle, and Quin sounding overly excited about something.
"Hold still man-hands." Santana whispered before she eventually pulled away, capped her pen and put it back where she had gotten it from. I looked down at my arm and gasped, written in almost neat writing in a paragraph on my forearm were the words.
"So you may think that this is forbidden but I already know who you are, I've known for a little over a year now but I've been too scared to say anything. Would you be disappointed if I was someone you didn't talk to often? Would you be miserable with me if I wasn't someone popular? I want to tell you who I am but I am so scared you'll hate me, I'm sorry."
"What the hell Santana?" I whispered.
"You were too scared to do it so I did it for you, now you can start clueing her in." Santana stood up and left the bathroom, leaving me to fix my sleeve and leave the bathroom as well.
"Hey Quinn what's that on your arm?" Santana asked.
"My soulmate wrote to me S!" Quinn replied, her voice was quiet and sad.
"Then why do you sound so sad?" Santana asked looking back at me as if to say that I need to pay attention and that it is my fault, which it is.
"Because they know who I am."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Brit asked.
"It would be if they hadn't known for a year had known for a year! They've known for a year and something I've down has made them too scared to say anything." At that point her voice cracked.
"What do you mean?"
"So you may think that this is forbidden but I already know who you are, I've known for a little over a year now but I've been too scared to say anything. Would you be disappointed if I was someone you didn't talk to often? Would you be miserable with me if I wasn't someone popular? I want to tell you who I am but I am so scared you'll hate me, I'm sorry. B what does that even mean?"
"I don't know Q, but I think if they have written to you then they'll probably start giving you clues or something as to they are instead of having to actually tell you. The big question how do you feel about what they asked?"
"I could never be disappointed or miserable with them, if they're my soulmate, they are for a reason."
My head was reeling with information. Quinn wouldn't be upset if it was me? But… what is going on right now. But surely she would hate me because I've known for a year and I haven't told her.
"What about the fact they've known for a year? Doesn't that upset you?" I asked.
"Well of course but I can't blame them if they've been too scared to say anything because clearly then it's something I've down to make them feel that way." Quinn said as Britany wrapped her arm around her shoulder, I wish I could to that.
"What if was someone like Berry? I bet you would be miserable and disappointed then, I mean for god sacks its man-hands! I even feel sorry for whoever has her a soulmate." Santana laughed, my eyes widen in shock. Not only because of the fact she suggested that I'm Quinn's soulmate but how she did it as well, when not even ten minutes before this she was saying she didn't mean the things she is always saying.
"No not even then, and S don't say those things about Rachel you and I both know there all lies to protect her from the rest of the school." My head snapped towards Quinn.
"Oh don't look at me like that, you not so bad you know. I would actually quite enjoy it if you were my soulmate. But like you said you already know who your soulmate is." Quinn smiled at me, my eyes almost popped out of my head at the statement making all three of them laugh. Santana poked me a few times but I couldn't move, my whole body was frozen in place. Though Quinn seemed to have forgotten that my soulmate also didn't know who I was, just like what our arms said.
"Hey Q I thank you broke her." Santana laughed.
"You could always kiss her! I mean like prince charming does to snow white to wake her up!" Britany teased, I snapped right out of my daze.
"Nope, nope I good. There will be no kiss me!" I jumped up and stood way from the three girls who were know laughing.
"Don't worry Berry your safe." Santana laughed, I grumbled and glared at Santana and Britany who were both having way too much fun for my liking.
Saturday night had been fun despite the teasing down by Britany and Santana. Currently though I'm walking through the halls of the school watching as everyone stared at me confused.
"Is that a new student?" Someone whispered.
"Is that Rachel Berry? What the hell happened to her over the weekend? She looks good." Someone else whispered. I was wearing my new clothes and so far everyone seemed to have noticed, when I noticed the football Jocks walking I froze and scrunched my face up waiting for the frozen dye to hit me. It never came.
"We're not going to throw these at you Rachel." I heard Krofsky say, I opened my eyes and looked at them puzzled.
"Look I just wanted to say that we're sorry, the all of us. We didn't know how it was affecting you, we thought maybe to prove how sorry we are you could throw a slushie at each of us." He said handing me the slushie from his hand, it was grape flavoured which is the hardest to get out.
"No I believe you, I don't have to give slushie facial at you to know that. Thanks' for the offer though." They all nodded before walking away and I threw the slushie in the nearest bin.
"So how does it feel being slushie free" I spun around and came face to face with Quinn.
"Oh umm… it's nice not having to change clothes all of the time. Am I right in assuming that you and Santana had something to do with this?" I asked, she nodded.
"Thank you." I smiled, she opened her arms and offered me a hug, I stepped into them and hugged her. My god it feels amazing hugging her.
"I'll see you later Rach." Quinn pulled back and walked way, once she was out of sight I pulled my sleeve and pulled a pen out and started writing.
"So you stopped the slushie facials? I suppose I should really thank you, those things were freezing and really hard to clean off of white clothing every day."
"Writing to Quinn are you?" I looked up in shock and then smiled
"Yeah, thought I would give her another clue and the Football team give ten people a slushie facial daylily basis." I nodded to Santana.
"Clever." She nodded before walking away holding Britany's pinkie with her own. I pulled my sleeve down and capped the pen before putting it in my pocket.
"Hey Rachel what was that about?" Puck asked as he walked up to me.
"Oh, Santana, Brit and I are now kinda close friends. Brit come over to check on me after my broke my hand punching Jacob." I laughed raising my left hand.
"Is that why you have new clothes?"
"Yeah." I nodded.
"How are things with you and Quinn?"
"There good, hey can you help me with an idea. Brit and San are helping give her clues by writing stuff on my arm but I want to sing something to her in Glee."
"Easy." He nodded.