Soulmates are everything. That’s all you’ve ever been told your whole life. Soulmates are found by matching marks on your skin, like tattoos. They show up whenever they want to, and it’s up to you to find your soulmate. The trick? They usually show up whenever your soulmate is nearby for the first time.

You’re preparing for a math test while the crown princess goes on her yearly tour around her kingdom. This week is your city’s turn. You hear the commotion as she enters your school, people screaming in excitement and security doing their best.

As she enters your favorite teacher’s room while you study, she winces and touches her shoulder. People freak out and check her, and realize she got her mark.

Her team immediately start searching through the group of people who have swarmed her, while you continue to study with headphones on.

Later, her soulmate has still not been found. Only 50 students, including yourself, have not been checked. After your test, you go into the hall where she is, attempting to change class, when you feel it. You wince, and her head immediately snaps up.

“Check.”