Soulmates by Holly Bourne Read Free Book Online

I laughed aloud at my own naivety and startled a passing dog walker.
    With the Ruth fiasco sorted, I let my mind drift to Noah. My memory was drowned immediately – the curve of his jaw, the intense look in his eyes when they met mine. I firmly pushed this to one side, determined to compartmentalize whatever these emotions were and deal with them practically.
    I supposed it had to happen at some point. There had to be at least one boy out there who got attractive before the age of nineteen. But the strength of my attraction concerned me. I’d only just met him and I couldn’t get him out of my head. As I saw it, there were only two possible outcomes. One – the much more realistic option: he’d barely remember me, let alone feel anything, and I’d feel rejected and awful. Or two: he’d fall for me, soon realize I was way below his league, dump me for someone beautiful and I’d feel rejected and awful. So there was only one solution: to remove him from my brain entirely. I didn’t have the mental strength to be hurt by a guy, not now. My head was already too preoccupied trying to stop me from passing out.
    So no. I wouldn’t let myself fall for him. For anyone. I wasn’t ready.
    With my decision made I felt lighter. I watched another plane disappear through the thin cloud layer. The sun was going in so I slowly made my way across the clearing, savouring every last moment of the view. And then, checking first that no one could see, I skipped down the alleyway towards home.

When I woke up the next morning, I groaned. It was Monday.
    I hit the snooze button, pushing my head under the pillow to block out the light shining optimistically through my window. Lying on my front, I practised my breathing exercises again. I breathed in and out slowly, but it was difficult not to doze off. For a moment I slipped back into sleep and my thoughts floated elsewhere.
    Noah’s eyes appeared before me the moment I closed my own. In a dozy haze I let myself imagine how it would feel to have his arms wrapped around me – those same strong arms I’d seen playing the guitar…
    The frantic trill of my alarm jogged me awake properly. I took my time getting ready for college, as I had a free period first thing on Mondays. I’d washed my hair the night before and plaited it into four sections. I slowly unravelled them so my hair was wavy and dabbed on some make-up. I pulled on some light blue jeans, a white vest, and twisted my long turquoise-stone necklace around myself. After breakfast, brushing my teeth and checking I had all the right books, I set off. It was a gorgeous day, the sort that rarely bestows itself upon England. I wondered if anyone would bother with lessons or just sit in a beer garden instead. I put my iPod headphones on and turned the music up loud. It was definitely a morning for The Beatles and I picked “Here Comes the Sun”. Dad had once said this was the only song that really summed up a British summer, and he was right. Everything looked beautiful. The roads were quiet, green leaves burst from trees, birds sang out like ambitious reality-show auditionees, and everyone was wearing summer clothes and had a grin across their face.
    I played my favourite walking-alone game where, in my head, I pretend I’m in a music video. Imagining myself leaning into a wind machine and practising my dramatic-singing face made the journey go quickly and soon I was walking up the college path. I was enjoying myself so much that I didn’t really notice somebody tapping my shoulder. I was singing under my breath, oblivious to everything, when I felt it again.
    I turned round, music still blasting in my ears, and there he was. Right in front of me. Noah. Wearing a rolled-up pair of jeans and a blue T-shirt. Looking perfect. My heart started thudding and I felt out of breath. I stared at him gormlessly, music still roaring. I couldn’t hear what he was saying; I was too busy concentrating on staying upright. So, so perfect. His