Hearing my Soulmate

He sat back in the library chair letting out a sigh and roughing at his curly hair feeling his spine let out a few small pops as he moved.

"I wish I could do that..." His friend, Greg, mumbled under his breath. He smiled shaking his head as he noticed a few girls across the room smiling at him. He flashed a charming smile and winked making them blush and giggle. "I wish I could to that too..." Greg added shaking his head. He chuckled leaning forward laying his arms on the desk saying,

"Start going to the gym with me and we could make that happen."

"You know I have athsma, Johnny, I can't even go up and down stairs to fast or I'll die."

"Then don't whine to me about it." Johnny said with a smirk as he adjusted one of his earrings.

"We need to get back to work," Greg mumbled, "We need you to pass these classes."

"I know, I know." Johnny said roughing at his hair again and looking at the papers in front of him.

"Ok." Greg said then started reading from the book, but his voice started to slowly fade out as music started playing. Johnny started bobbing his head to the beat as it played, the music was heavy metal which wasn't normally his favorite though he did enjoy hearing it on occasion. He started looking around for the source but couldn't see an obvious one nearby. "What are you doing?" Greg asked. He looked at him and said,

"I've never heard them play music in here." Greg looked at him strangely and said,

"They don't. They never have." He scrunched his face a bit and said,

"Hm... I guess I randomly got a song stuck in my head then."

"Well, I'm gonna need you to focus we don't have much longer before I have to go to work."

"You're right, you're right, I am focused." They continued working till Greg's phone alarm started going off and they started packing up their things when Johnny heard music again. It was the same heavy metal but now it was a different song and a female singer. He held his bag over his shoulder looking around noticing there weren't many people around the library anymore. He finally caught sight of a girl a few tables away in a large black jacket, strands of red hair falling from underneath her hood and she was bobbing her head to the same beat he was hearing. He watched her for a moment listening to the music when Greg bumped his arm and it stopped. He looked at him and said,

"She's playing the music." Greg looked over then back and said,

"You must have super sonic hearing cause she's using headphones." He looked over again and asked,

"How can you tell?"

"Because she always does." He replied with a shrug and started walking away, Johnny moved catching up with him trying to look back at her but she had moved from the table.

"Damn, is she a ghost?" He asked jokingly.

"Pretty much, don't worry about it she isn't your type anyways." Greg said as they left the building heading for the sidewalk.

"And how do you know what my type is?" Johnny asked. Greg looked at him and said,

"Look behind you." Johnny looked over his shoulder and saw a crowd of sorority girls by the stairs smiling and giggling as they watched him. He smiled nodding in their direction and then said,

"Yeah, you're right." Greg rolled his eyes and said,

"See you tomorrow."

"At the gym, right?" Johnny asked smiling.

"Still have athsma!" Greg called over his shoulder and Johnny turned walking to the group of girls saying,

"Hello, ladies, may I escourt you all home?" They all started giggling and laughing when he heard the music again and turned looking around seeing the girl leaving the library doors and jogging down the stairs walking in the opposite direction. He blinked and the music faded as he heard the girls chattering around him. He flashed a smile making them swoon and they started walking down the sidewalk together.

Ashley opened her eyes and sighed smacking her alarm to get it to stop beeping and sat up roughing at her hair before getting up and started to get ready for the day. She checked her bright red hair as she finished brushing her teeth then sighed lightly as she started putting on her black eye liner. She shrugged deciding it was good enough and pulled on jeans with a tank top and started putting on her boots as her phone started to vibrate. She looked at the screen and rolled her eyes tapping on 'answer' and said,

"What?"

"Woah, Ash, that's agressive." A male's voice responded.

"Well, I'm an agressive person first thing in the morning..." She grumbled as she pulled on her other boot, "Especially when I'm stood the hell up at the library."

"And that is my bad, I am a horrible boyfriend." He said.

"Not my boyfriend." She said under her breath.

"Well, I've claimed you for three years and no one has challenged me." She sighed standing up saying,

"That would be because I never advertised."

"Which means you obviously love me."

"Cory, don't mistake my disdain for you as love." She said as she slid on her stud belt buckling it at her hip.

"Then why do you keep taking me back?" He asked, she could feel his voice curling aroud her like a shadow. She held her breath for a moment then said,

"It beats being alone..."

"See? I have my good points. Now, be a good girl and hurry up. I'll meet you at the coffee shop. I'll buy."

"Fine..." She sighed. She hung up the phone and internalized a scream of irritation then picked up her headset placing it around her neck clicking it on and sliding an earbud in hearing it happily chime in her ear. She tapped on her phone scrolling through her music then selected one and some heavy metal started as she slid on her large jacket zipping up the front and grabbing her shoulder bag. She stepped out of the room locking the door behind her and tucked her keys into her pocket before noticing a large guy holding a gym bag over his shoulder walking down the hall towards her, he also looked like he had just rolled out of bed. She pulled up her hood and started walking a few feet turning up her music as he passed her yawning and shaking his head a bit. She noticed him pause and look around for a moment as she turned a corner and went down another hallway and left the building.

It didn't take long to get to the coffee shop where she saw Cory sitting outside waiting, she waited for a moment to see if he would stand before she sat but he just looked up at her and she rolled her eyes dropping her bag at her feet and sitting down.

"What took you so long?" He asked. She shrugged and said,

"I didn't think I took long at all..." He placed a cup in front of her. "Thanks..." She said taking it and starting to sip on it.

"Why don't you wear my hoodie anymore?" He asked.

"Because you took it back months ago." She said reaching in her jacket pocket to change her song.

"You know I don't like you listening to music when you're with me," He said, "You already can't hear worth a shit." She rolled her eyes pausing her music and taking out her earbud before grumbling,

"It beats listening to the ringing in my ear..."

"You'll live." He said with a smile, she looked away. She had grown to hate his smile. It was all happiness and love at one time and now it was just a look, he thought it still worked its magic on her but at this point she was tired of seeing it. Seeing all of the hidden meanings and messages it left behind. She took a drink looking around and then asked,

"Why did you get me coffee?"

"To make up for last night." He said. She looked at him and said,

"And?" He sighed and added,

"Alright, and there's a party tonight."

"I don't do parties."

"Well you're gonna have to do this one." He said in a sharp tone, "And then you can stay the night with me." She sighed and said,

"Fine, but I'm not drinking."

"That's up to you as long as you're there when I tell you." She sighed and said,

"Fine." He reached into her hood letting his fingers graze her face, ignoring her jaw tightening at his touch.

"Good." He stood up, "Enjoy the coffee, I'll text you the details." She nodded and he bent down. She reluctantly looked up and kissed him and he walked away. She waited till he was gone before she put her earbud back in and unpaused her music sipping on her drink till it was gone.

Johnny finished his time at the gym and walked outside seeing Greg waiting for him in the parking lot.

"Dude, you didn't have to wait for me." He said.

"I was already passing by and figured you'd be headed to lunch."

"Yup."

"Good," Greg said, "We're going to Subway." Johnny shrugged and they got into their cars and drove off to the sandwich shop going in. Johnny heard the song again, the same one he heard this morning before he headed to the gym. Greg nudged him before saying, "There's the ghost girl." He blinked as the music faded looking over to see he pointed her out still in the large jacket with the hood covering most of her hair except a few red strands that had fallen out, and bobbing her head as she was eating her lunch.

"Do you actually know her?" Johnny asked.

"I mean... I guess... I had a class with her last year."

"What class?" He asked.

"Filmography... She did a lot of script writing."

"You think she'd let us sit over there?" Greg looked up at him strangely and asked,

"Why?"

"Because it's crowded." He said. Greg shrugged and said,

"I don't know, maybe... she doesn't like to be bothered."

"Well, there's no harm in asking, right?" Greg sighed and said,

"Can we get our food first?"

"Yeah, hurry up and order." Greg rolled his eyes not understanding. They paid for their food and slowly approached her table.

“Hey, Ashley, right?” Greg asked. Her eyes shifted as she looked at them.

“Yeah...” She said watching them.

“You mind if we join you? It’s getting kinda crowded in here.” She shrugged and said,

“I guess so.” Johnny sat across from her and she pulled out her earbud pausing her music.

“Hey, I’m Johnny.” He said with a charming smile.

“Ashley.” She said looking him over. He noticed her eyes were some kind of hazel maybe green but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

“We saw you at the library last night.” Greg said.

“Pretty sure everyone was at the library last night...” She said, “Took me forever to get a table.”

“You could’ve sat with us.” Greg said. She looked at them and said,

“Why?”

“Well... because we had room at our table...” She looked at him for a moment then looked at Johnny who smiled.

“You can sit with us next time.” He said. She nodded and said,

“Noted...” Johnny started hearing a light ringing sound and noticed Ashley clear her throat as her fingers reached into her hood massaging the back of her ear a bit, he could tell she was trying to hide some kind of uncomfort. He pointed out her earbud and asked,

“What were you listening to?”

“The Animal in Me.” She said putting her hand back down.

“Who’s that?” He asked.

“They’re generally a cover band but they have a few of their own albums too...”

“What kind of music do they play?” He asked.

“It’s screamo. It’s on the heavy metal side...” He nodded and said,

“That’s cool.” She made a polite smile when her phone started going off. She looked at the screen and started typing quickly her black tipped acrylics speeding over the keyboard before she hit ‘send’ and put her phone back.

“That was some angry typing.” Greg said. She shrugged saying,

“It was my ex...”

“He bothering you?” Johnny asked. She smirked and said,

“Always... he’s got me going to a party tonight...”

“The one at the frat house?” Greg asked.

“Yup...” She said with a sigh.

“We’re going too.” Greg said, “Johnny doesn’t miss a party.” Johnny smirked and said,

“It’s true though.” She started getting up and noticed Johnny stand and reach to help her but she flinched and he stepped back. She cleared her throat as he helped with her trash and she said,

“Thank you... I guess I’ll see you guys later...” She put her ear bud in and walked out of the building, the song resuming in Johnny’s head. He slowly sat down.

“Smooth.” Greg said, “Scare the hell out of her why don’t you?”

“I don’t think I’m what scared her.” Johnny asked watching her through the window as she headed down the sidewalk.

“Dude, I’m telling you now, forget it. She isn’t the kind of female you want to be around.”

“How do you know?” He asked looking over at him.

“I’ve seen your track record and trust me, SHE wouldn’t be an easy one to deal with you’d get rid of her in a week.” He smirked and said,

“I like a challenge.” He pulled out his phone opening his music and searching 'The Animal in Me'.

That night Ashley sighed as she climbed the steps of the fraternity house. The party was already in full swing with a huge crowd, blasting music and definately a lot of drinking. She dodged a couple of girls in the doorway as she headed inside and looked around, already regretting the decision to be here. She tried to find an empty corner when she saw the guys that sat with her at lunch earlier that day. The larger one, Johnny, was standing with a cup in his hand a few girls cooing over him like a set of blonde pigeons, the other rocking from heel to toe as he looked around the room. He noticed her and tapped Johnny to point her out from the crowd. Johnny flashed a smile to her and waved her over. She sighed and found her way aross the crowded room to them, the girls scowling at her as he turned to face her.

"You made it." He said with a smile, she nodded with an awkward smile. "You don't have a drink." He said pointing at her, "Let me get you one."

"Oh, I don't really drink." She said waving her hand. And he looked at her with a sort of half smile.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yeah... I don't like it." Greg chuckled and said,

"Johnny drinks like a tank." Johnny looked at him and said,

"Not always!"

"Oh, please you just say that cause it doesn't hit you like the rest of us, this guy is some kind of mutant!" She smiled lightly then jumped feeling someone touch the back of her neck.

"Hey, Babe..." A voice whispered in her ear before she felt lips on her cheek, the smell of beer already making her want to vomit.

"Hey..." She said as Cory measured up her company.

"Who are these guys?"

"I'm Greg and this is Johnny." Greg said as Johnny watched Cory pull Ashley's hood down starting to fix her bright red hair, though she didn’t look pleased about it at all.

"When are you going to fix your hair?" He asked pointing out her darker roots. She jerked away.

"When I have time to." She said feeling him grip the back of her head harder making her eyes close and jaw tighten as he leaned forward hissing into her ear,

"Watch the attitude..." She cleared her throat as he released her and said, "I'll get you a drink, Babe."

"No, I really don't-" He walked away not listening to her. Johnny stepped closer to her but she took half a step back looking around the room.

"Are you okay?" Greg asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" She asked. He looked at Johnny who watched her with his deep brown eyes like he was trying to see into her thoughts.

"You want me to get you a water?" He asked gently. She stared up at him for a moment then said,

"N-No, thank you, I'd better not..." He watched her for a moment then said,

"Greg stay with her." Greg nodded as he walked away. Johnny went through the crowd feeling his ear start to ring again shaking his head a bit and found Cory at the drink table. "Hey." He said.

"Hey." Cory said as he and another guy were making some kind of alcohol concoction in a cup.

"I'm Johnny." He said reaching his hand out.

"Cory." He said with a nod but didn't stop what he's doing, "This is Trey." The other guy nodded as he grabbed another bottle to pour.

"You're making some kind of banger there..." Johnny said picking up a bottled water checking the seal on the lid.

"Yeah, my girlfriend likes her drinks super strong."

"Oh, really?" He asked, "Was that your girlfriend back there?"

"Yeah, she keeps telling peope I'm her ex but she knows she'll never leave me." Johnny nodded and asked,

"Why's that?" Cory almost laughed and said,

"No one else will deal with her deaf ass!" Trey joined in laughing and nodding. Johnny looked down at him.

"She's deaf?"

"Well, one of her ears, I don't remember which one, is mostly deaf... and it rings a lot. She keeps a headset on with her music to stop it but I hate it when she does that. I want her attention on me not her damn music. You know what I mean?" He nudged his elbow at Johnny, who nodded saying,

"That makes sense..." He turned away and left going back to Greg holding the bottle at his side as he felt Cory behind him.

"Here's a good drink for my girl." Cory said handing Ashley the cup, she smelled it and he said, "Just drink it don't be picky!" She took a drink and almost choked coughing it down nearly dropping the cup. Cory took it back from her saying, "Damn you're being a drama queen today you'd better quit that before we go to bed." And he walked away. Johnny held the water to her and she popped the lid open drinking half of it down. Cory came back shaking his head, "Wasted a perfectly good drink."

"I told you... I wasn't drinking tonight..." She mumbled still trying to catch her breath. He smirked and said,

"You say that everytime." She cleared her throat as her eyes watered. He stepped around her and she shied away as Johnny turned to him asking,

"What classes are you taking, Cory?" As they engaged in a conversation Greg stepped to her.

"Ashley, can you show me to the bathroom?" Greg asked. She nodded and walked away with Greg following her.

"Are you okay?" He asked. She nodded saying,

"It was just super strong... I'm not a drinker at all... maybe wine coolers tops..." He nodded saying,

"I'm not a big drinker either..." She reached up massaging her ear and snapped her fingers a few times. "Why are you doing that?" He asked.

"Oh... it's embarrassing..." She said.

"I have athsma, try me."

"I'm mostly deaf in that ear... it rings constantly when I don't have my music in to distract me... snapping my fingers helps me know how bad my hearing is that day."

"Oh, if you can't hear yourself snap..."

"Yup exactly." She snapped a few more times, meanwhile Johnny was looking around trying to find the person who was snapping their fingers but didn't see anyone. He shrugged it off as he saw Ashley come back through the crowd. Cory set his arm around her saying,

"Come on, Babe... let's turn in..." She shrunk under his arm and asked,

"With all these people still here?" He shrugged and said,

"The door locks..." She reluctantly nodded and he kissed her cheek before saying, "Tell your friend 'good night'..."

"Night..." She said. Johnny watched her then said,

"Night..." She tried to smile and Cory turned her away as they left the room Greg passing them saying 'good night' and going to Johnny seeing he was tense.

"What's up?" He asked.

"I don't like him..." Johnny said deeply.

"Well, nothing you can do about it." He said with a shrug. Johnny watched them disappear up the stairs.

Cory closed the door locking it as Ashley sat on the bed letting out a sigh. He started some smooth music turning it up. She gulped lightly as he walked towards her shedding his shirt.

"I'm really not in the mood..." She said, "That drink made me sick..." He started kissing her face saying,

"You'll be fine..."

"I told you we weren't doing this anymore." She said.

"You've said that so many times before... then came crawling back to me..."

Johnny looked around hearing different music nearby.

"What is that?" He asked. Greg looked up at him,

"What?" He asked.

"It's some kind of 'get it on' music..." Johnny said.

"You're losing it man. First the metal and now this?" Greg shook his head.

"Have you heard of anyone's ear ringing like crazy? 'Cause mine's doing that too and I don't think I'm drunk..." Greg chuckled and said,

"Not unless you're deaf in one ear too..." He looked down at him and said,

"Say that again..." Greg looked at him,

"Uh... 'not unless you're deaf in one ear too'?" Johnny nodded and said,

"That's what I thought you said..."

"Dude, what is going on with you?"

"I don't know, I have absolutely no clue... but it's been happening and I can't explain it..." He trailed off hearing a voice in his head hissing,

"You're mine... and you will do what I say... no one else will ever deal with your deaf ass..." He felt the ringing get so intense it felt like it was burning into his skull.

"I'm going upstairs..." He said putting the cup down, "There's no way these are coincidences..." He moved, Greg following close behind. He passed through the crowd till he got to the upper floor listening at the doors trying to match the music. He found it at the far end and tried to open the door but it was locked. He looked at Greg who looked at him, his face expressing absolute concern. Then Johnny took a step back and slammed his shoulder through the door busting it open.

"What the hell?!" Cory yelled as he sat up on the bed, Ashley under him with her hands tied abover her, a gag in her mouth, her jacket unzipped and her shirt ripped open. She looked up at him, tears streaming from her eyes. Johnny felt his blood go cold and he growled, "Greg... get her out of here..." And he walked in grabbing Cory ripping him from the bed, Ashley letting out a wailing cry against the gag as he did. Greg moved in going to her side gulping at the sight of her as she blinked more tears from her eyes.

"Ok... uh... do I have permission to touch you?" He asked not sure where to start as Johnny threw Cory against the wall. She nodded whimpering lightly. "Yes... I understand it hurts..." He said zipping her jacket up over her chest and reached up untying her and let her get the gag as he found her pants balled up on the floor nearby, her underwear dropping. "Uh... I..." She reached down getting them slowly trying to put her clothes on as he balanced her turning to look over his shoulder seeing Johnny punch Cory several times and throw him to the floor. She limped towards the desk gasping as Greg caught her. "Ok, to the desk here we go..." He said helping her so she could grab her phone and headset. "Is that everything?" He asked. She nodded and he said, "Okay here we go... don't look back no reason to see that... are these yours?" He asked seeing her boots. She nodded and he grabbed them then helped her out of the door carrying her boots.

They headed to the stairs seeing the party goers had started coming to see what was going on. She leaned against the wall trying to breathe while people tried to crowed the stairs, Greg trying the shield her from the people. She looked down feeling more tears welling in her, when she felt her feet leave the floor and opened her eyes seeing Johnny was carrying her as he went down the stairs, Greg following.

They got outside and started down the sidewalk getting away from the house. She looked up at him and he looked back, their eyes meeting. Now her eyes looked gold shining with the tears they held. He felt something in him that made him want to hold her closer, tighter and never let go. They walked till he found a quiet place they could sit and he carefully placed her on a bench hearing her whimper lightly as he did.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered and took her boots from Greg starting to put them on her feet.

"How did you know?" She mumbled.

"Know what?" He asked continuing with her boots.

"How did you know?" She repeated a bit louder, her voice hoarse.

"I could tell you weren't super comfortable with him." He said, Greg nodding in agreement. She sniffled a bit looking around then up at the stars.

"Why are you still around him?" Greg asked quietly. She continued looking at the sky.

"She didn't hear you." Johnny said gently tapping her knee. She looked at him. "Why are you still around him?" He asked. She shrugged and said,

"I don't have anyone else..." He looked into her eyes seeing more tears form and he held her hands in his, feeling her pull back a little then he said,

"That's not true anymore." Greg nodded in agreement. Johnny reached into her jacket pocket taking her phone and added his phone number into it then tapped the screen and his phone started ringing in his pocket, he waited for a few moments then hung up and handed the phone back to her saying, "Day or night, text or call... whatever works for you..." She smiled lightly and said,

"Thank you..." He held her hand again and said,

"And we'll keep his ass away from you..." She made a small smile then slowly started to stand up, Johnny ready to catch her as she started to walk down the sidewalk. They walked in quiet through the cool darkness as she held herself in her jacket. "You can put your music on..." Johnny said lightly as he heard ringing in his ear, "We don't mind..." She smiled gratefully and fixed her headset setting her earbud in and started a song. Johnny expected the heavy metal he had been hearing, but not this time... This time he heard a quiet song, the words filled with pain as the music swelled. He watched her as tears slipped down her cheeks. He wanted so much to hold her and protect her but knew it wasn't the time, he just stayed close to her letting her feel his emitting warmth. Their hands between them would every now and then brush against each other and she fought the urge to grab his even though he was somehow making her feel safe.

They followed her to a dorm building and he punched in the code opening the door for her as she looked up at him, he smiled lightly and said, "I live here too..." She stepped through the doorway as he added, "Come on, Greg, you can crash tonight."

"Thanks." Greg said walking in with Johnny following making sure the door latched behind them. She walked down the hall as they followed and she fumbled with her keys, realizing her hands were shaking and cleared her throat. They made it to her door and she unlocked it letting it open till it hit her closet and looked up at them smiling a bit.

"Thank you..." They both nodded and Johnny said,

"Now that we know where you live maybe we can take you to breakfast sometime?" She nodded and said,

"Sometime... tommorrow I'll be staying in bed..." He nodded and she went inside closing the door saying, "Good night..."

"Night." They said and waited a few moments hearing her lock the door before they walked away.

"How did you know?" Greg asked.

"What?" Johnny asked.

"You know, 'what', how did you know?" Johnny started fiddling with his keys and said,

"You wouldn't believe me..."

"I'm drunk, try me." Greg said flatly. Johnny unlocked the door to his dorm and looked at Greg saying,

"I heard him..." Greg watched him then said,

"That doesn't make sense..." Johnny shrugged and said,

"I told you." They walked into the dorm and closed the door locking it. "The last few days have been weird, okay? I can't explain it...." He said as he tossed his keys onto his desk and sat in his chair taking off his shoes. "I hear random music from nowhere... my ear rings... but I swear I heard him and I knew she was in trouble and I had to do something..."

"This is some Twilight Zone shit..."

"Maybe it is. Maybe it'll never happen again..."

"Or maybe this is your life now." Greg said laying on the couch. Johnny checked his freshly bruised knuckles as Greg added, “Maybe you’ll have to learn sign language.” Johnny smirked and said,

“Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea....”

“You gonna keep being around her??”

“If she’ll let me...”

“And you’ll just keep living like this?? Having to learn a whole new game and you don’t know why you’re hearing stuff...” Johnny looked at him and said,

"At least it's good music."