(Continuation of A Soulmate World)

———

Bell is on edge.

She’s never had to keep this big of a secret before, especially from her best friends.

“Everything ok, Bell?” Lou asks, concern directed at her instead of the squirrel that found its way onto their outdoor lunch table. Her, Roman, and Jeremiah are all gazing at her. “Yeah,” she says, but must not convince her friends because they all kept staring. “Just worried for Cross.”

At least that part is true. She doesn’t have to lie about that. Cross hasn’t updated her on his control with his powers. She really hopes he’s ok.

Roman touches her arm and she feels her worry and her tenseness bleed from her.

“You don’t have to do that,” she says. Bell really doesn’t like when he does that. It feels like he thinks his health is dispensible.

“I don’t mind taking some of it.” He offers a small smile.

“Is there any other reason you’re extra concerned about him?” Lou probes, a teasing glint in her eyes. “Maybe the reason you were blushing earlier.”

Against her will, she feels herself grow warm again. If only she had a better poker face.

“It’s ok, Jelly Belly. You don’t have to,” Jeremiah reaches across the table and bumps his arms with hers. She smiles, never more grateful for him.

“Yes she does! Jere, we’ve all been waiting for them to get together for…forever!” Roman declares, exasperated.

Lou pouts next to him as they both look at her expectedly.

“Ok, I was going to wait for him to be here, but we might have kissed yesterday,” she admits. It felt good to reveal something, especially since she did want to tell them that part.

All three of the squeal. Like ear splitting squeals.

Roman has a look of realization before bringing his hand to his face. “Shit, I owe Marta like thirty bucks.”

“You bet on us?” Bell asks, though not upset. She knows that many people thought she and Cross would make a good couple. With both of them not having soulmates and all. Well not knowing they had one.

“They were confident, so we put some money on the line,” Roman clarifies as he drags his hand down his face in exaggeration.

“I want you to know I had nothing to do with that,” Jeremiah says, trying to cover himself. “You knew?” Bell questions, pointing out his admittance of knowing.

“Of course he did, I told him. I can’t not tell my soulmate that I was going to win fifty dollars,” Roman mutters.

Lou raises her eyebrows in question. “I thought you just said thirty?”

“Well I bet fifty on longer, and Marta bet thirty for sooner. I was confident that they wouldn’t have the balls to confess to each other until like senior year.”

Bell laughs at this. Some might find it abrasive, but she sees what he means. It really did take them forever.

“Can we keep it on the low? Just for now. Cross and I don’t want much attention.”

“Of course, Bell. You have ours and Mr. Squirl’s silence,” Lou vows as she pets the squirrel’s head. The squirrel squeaks some and she leans her head closer to listen.

“Well he said he has to tell his sister the gossip, but she won’t tell a soul,” she amends.

“Don’t tell Marta, so then I don’t have to give them the thirty dollars,” Roman jokes.

“They’ll probably find out when Cross comes back, you’ll be out of your money soon.”

Watching her friends, Bell is hit with a sudden gratefulness for them. When they do feel like they can tell people, they will be the first to know about their powers.

She checks her phone to see a text from Cross.

“I think I’ve got a little control, enough to come back tomorrow. How’s it going there, my ❄️”

An unconscious smile spread on her lips.

“Huh, I didn’t think it called for snow,” Jeremiah comments, shielding his potted plant that he brought with him everywhere. His emotional support plant as he calls it.

Bell’s head cranes up so quickly she could have gotten whiplash. No, no, no. Just thinking about Cross made it snow.

She made it snow.

Ok, it’s fine. As long as it stays a flurry, she should be fine.

Breathe. Calming thoughts.

“I’m going to go to the bathroom,” she gets up and retreats before any of them have time to respond.

All she can hope is that the snow doesn’t follow her.

Once she gets inside and to the bathroom, she grips the sink, the cold porcelain is a welcome for her sweaty palms. She lifts her head and stares at her reflection.

She looks tired, but at least it isn’t snowing in the room. How did everyone do this on a daily basis? Keep their powers in check?

When the door creaks open, she turns on the faucet and pretends to wash her hands. Being caught having a mental breakdown in the bathroom is not high on her list of things happening today.

“Don’t worry, it’s just me.” Bell lets out a sigh of relief. It’s Amelie.

“I was just leaving,” she assures her as she gets dries her hand with a paper towel.

Amelie scans the stalls, seeing all of the doors are open, unoccupied.

“I know your secret.”

Bell’s heart drops.

——

(There will be more of Amelie next time! I love writing the chracters that some of you created!!

When did the word limit change to 2,000???!!!)