Soulmates
by FireDreamer

Soulmates

by FireDreamer

New semester, new classes, new books, new roommate. I never signed up for a single, and rarely had to pay extra for it. No one wanted to room with me. Yet, each semester they put me in one room with another poor freshman. I didn't TRY to be offensive... okay well... I didn't try too hard. It was just so easy. Last semester was one of the best. I never even knew the new guy's name. He arrived late in the evening, after I had already settled my stuff into my side of the room, ready to spread out after they moved him to another room.

It didn't help that I was making out with his Music teacher from the previous semester in said room when he walked in.

No, I'm not a slut. I'd been dating Vince for the entirety of last semester, and we were just getting reacquainted. It wasn't like he was MY teacher, I'd already taken my basic Music classes, and I was a Blue Magic major with a theory of magic minor, so it wasn't likely I'd ever take another Music class again. Just because I'm gay doesn't mean I'm a freakin' poet. I don't like the stuff. Not a theatre person either. And I hate musicals.

However, the roommate was a Music major, had Vince for a class the previous semester and likely'd be seeing him again. He didn't want to see his teacher that way. What's worse is he couldn't even claim the teacher was seducing me, as half the floor knew from the previous semester that I was dragging him back to my place more often than not.

He didn't stay the night. In fact he didn't ever come back to the room. Vince was not too terribly embarrassed actually. I was surprised.

Unfortunately, we decided to stop seeing each other. Summer break was just too long to be apart, so this semester I was left with nothing to shock anyone with. Well, my desktop wallpaper on my computer might give him a hint. He'd hopefully either be too terrified to stay, or just shut up once he realized.

The people here didn't tend to be terribly tolerant.

I was sitting on my bed reading a book and thinking about dinner when he entered. I glanced up. Cute kid. I'd do him.

"Hi," he said, rather shyly, and he started putting his stuff away. Eh, he'd either deal or leave soon enough, no sense in hurrying it. I went back to my book as he unpacked; glancing up to get hints of what this new kid was like. After he put some books up on a shelf and unpacked his computer he looked at me as if he was planning on asking something, but didn't have the courage.

I let him stew a moment before putting my book face down on my chest and raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"I... I'm Ryan."

"And?" I opened the book back up.

"Do you know where we go for food around here?" he asked softly, he had a trace of an accent. I couldn't figure from where. Accents aren't my forte.

"Yes, but it'd ruin your reputation to be seen going there with me," I said, as I turned the page of my book.

"Why?"

I rolled my eyes and mimicked his question.

"Because I'm gay," I finally answered after he didn't seem to get the point. Some people were so slow.

"That's a problem here?"

This got my attention. "Where you from?" I sat up, dropping my book on the floor, for lack of a better place for it.

"The coast..."

"Long way from home." I looked him over carefully. He didn't look like a big city person, but you never could tell. First thing that threw that was the red hair. I don't know many people who could have such a mess of red hair. Most people I'd seen from big cities tended to keep their hair cut short. Not so with the little brainless wonder. It was tied back to keep it from obscuring his vision, not that that was a bad thing, I mean... I didn't mind hair that you could run your fingers through.

No.

I was not going to like the stupid little brat. No way. He'd be gone within the week like the rest of them.

* * * * *

After a week and him not leaving curiosity overcame me and I started asking him about himself. Ryan was 17, and majoring in Healing Arts. He lived with his father, his mother was dead, and he liked pizza with as much meat on it as possible. Yeah I'm real thorough, aren't I?

Anyway, I was sitting there studying for my Ethics of Magic class (yes, magic has ethics like everything else in this world overfilled with rules.) when he looked up from his book and asked, "Do you believe in Soulmates?"

"Hm?" I looked up from my book. "You're not my soulmate."

"Nono... I mean...We're studying this section on lovesickness and soulmates, and it says a lot of people don't believe in such things. Do you?"

"I don't know." Hell, I'd never even thought about it. "I think I believe I could make almost anyone love me if they weren't already inclined to hate me."

"That's impossible!" He laughed.

I waved a finger at him. "Is that a challenge?"

Ryan stared at me blankly for a moment. "Are you... flirting with me?" I nodded, amused. "Wow... I've never had a guy flirt with me before. Strange."

"Strange? I can make you love me within this semester."

"But you couldn't keep from getting emotionally entangled back."

"I've done it before."

"I don't think so." He pointed to a line in his book. "It says here..."

"Don't care. Psychology doesn't apply to me."

"I'd like to see you try that then."

* * * * *

Ryan

Ah... Jason. He's right, he IS good. I almost didn't notice the touches that lingered just a little bit longer, the little reasons to walk by me and nearly touch me again.

Of course, he wasn't all subtlety; he also wore no shirt around the room, which my eyes kept being drawn to. One of his nipples was pierced with a thin golden ring, and it shined whenever the light touched it. I wondered if it hurt. Then I wondered if I was thinking about it too long.

I'm not into guys, at least I didn't think I was, but I'll admit that I was becoming attracted to him. Attraction was not love though. He would lose this bet.

Maybe two could play this game. I began returning his affections. At first it met with surprise, then slowly we grew closer. It wasn't love though. We even slept together for awhile, but the semester end drew near, and I still didn't call it love.

After the end of the semester, Jason had to leave to go to study in seclusion, practicing his magic before he could be certified. And I got a new roommate. The bet was forgotten, or so I thought.

I thought about him often, I mean... he was my first guy that I had sex with. The next roommate wasn't nearly as interesting either. I was sad, but not what I'd call lovesick, then again I was very busy, so I never thought too deep on it.

At the end of the semester, after my roommate moved out, I was finishing packing my stuff to leave when there was a knocking on the door. "Yes?" I called, "Come in."

It was Jason, his dark looks were somewhat shabby, and he looked so completely worn out. I touched his hand. "Are you ill? I can help with some illnesses now."

"No... no... I just..." He embraced me tightly. "I can't stop thinking about you. I don't understand it."

Oh...

"Can we try this dating thing for real now? I think..." He looked away.

"Yes?"

"I think that I may just believe in love now." Love was one step. Soulmates would have to come later. I nodded. And that was the beginning.