REJOIN | ✔️

Chapter One

I lived in a world where things were different. Things were changing for the better, at least that's what they were telling us. Me, I wasn't so sure about that — things certainly were different. But better?

Scientists had made a huge, breakthrough discovery. Soulmates were apparently a thing.

Both of my parents had already received their offer in the mail to see their soulmates. They hadn't gone of course, since they were part of the anti-rejoining group that had been suggesting it was all mind control propaganda whipped up by the government. Not to mention the fact that my mum said she'd see the end of their marriage over her dead body. Literally.

Not gonna lie, I think my mum was just mad that my dad might have been meant for someone else.

I thought it was kind of nice, the whole rejoining thing. Who wouldn't want to be doted on every moment? To know that someone would never have reason to cheat, would never hurt you on purpose and truly understood you... all because they were literally the other half of your soul? Even the name was kind of cute. Rejoining, as in the rejoining of souls to become one.

My warped reflection of disappointment stared back at me from the curve of my fork as it speared my breakfast. I huffed a sigh, my hair blowing up around my face. There wouldn't be anyone for me — that's a letter I wouldn't receive. But that's okay, I didn't want a soulmate anyway. Love only complicated things.

Even as I thought it, I didn't believe myself.

My younger sister read my face and clucked her tongue with disapproval. "Jane, there's someone for everyone," she muttered. Quietly, so our mother didn't overhear as she bustled about the kitchen, prepping her coffee. The sounds of her movement ceased and we both looked up like startled deer.

Ever the punctual, hardworking businesswoman, my mother's tall and slender frame appeared as though a blur, apparently running late. She seemed especially flustered too, since the only reason she'd paused was to berate herself for nearly putting the milk in the cupboard and the sugar in the fridge.

Clara and I levelled a look at each other that said, we're safe. There was no way she was paying us any attention when she was that out of sorts. She'd all but run into the room, barking for us to stay out of her way because they'd called her in early for a last-minute, high-profile meeting. Honestly, I couldn't even tell you what she did, only that she always looked really stressed and had the shortest temper of anyone I'd ever known. Despite that, her hair, makeup and outfit were always one step above perfection.

Saying there's someone for everyone had been easy for beautiful Clara to say. She was freshly turned eighteen and she'd already received her invitation to have the test. With my twenty-first birthday fast approaching, I was close to three years her senior and still hadn't received mine. She'd also inherited my mum's blonde hair, green eyes and long legs. She apparently had all the luck.

I was petite so I was often called cute, much to my chagrin. That morning, my dirty blonde hair was tied into a slept-on messy bun and my boring brown eyes were without make-up. I kind of hated the way I looked. Even my name was plain. Plain Jane as they'd loved calling me in school.

My sister and I were playing our part having breakfast but I knew that the moment Mum left for work, she would all but force me up the stairs to get dressed and we'd be out the door. She sat clutching her invitation a little too tightly under the table, the paper shaking. Her knuckles had even turned white from the effort. I put my hand on hers and left it there until she looked at me.

Clara defiantly swiped away the beginning of tears and whispered, "Am I doing the right thing? She is going to be so angry." With her expertly lined eyes, she gestured towards Mum. Apparently Clara had been up early enough to already have on a full face of make-up. Either that or she hadn't slept.