And then I saw it. The thing I had been trying to keep from happening. Maybe not the only thing, but this- this was definitely something I was trying desperately to make from happening.

James's lips crashed against Juniper's pink ones, and her wide blue eyes slowly closed shut. Her body, although stiffened with surprise began to melt into his touch. 

Even with the roar of teens around me, and terrible music blasting throughout the room I could hear the blood bursting in my veins. I could feel it. 

My grip on the pocket watch tightened until I could feel it hurting me. My naturally pale knuckles were now a shade of white, and my mind was static. I couldn't think, I couldn't breathe, but even so there felt to be one thing I knew I could do. And so without a moment to waste, with a twist, I turn back time, determined to stop them from kissing.

------

"You've got to be kidding me," I sighed out. I had been sure that Katie would agree with me. That she would say a party on a school night was a terrible idea, or that it was too soon for June to go to a party. Anything. Any excuse that would keep her in the comfort of her home. And me off on my grand adventure to find my father's belongings.

But things didn't go as planned.

They never did.

As if captivated by Juniper's smile and big blue doe eyes she had instead said, "a party? As long as Aspen looks after you it should be all good. You will be going, right Aspen?"

And so here I was, at a party.

I hadn't been to a party since sophomore year- which had happened to be my first one. After a night of mistakes and bad experiences the thought of doing it again was a no go.

But again, here I was at a party. I could feel regret tug on me already, practically begging me to just ditch it and go home. Or anywhere else.

But I couldn't, not yet at least.

The small house of Cherry Creek Lane was rocking with the rhythm of the base, windows flashing with exotic LED lights. The house looked alive. Upon entering the two-story house the temperature seemed to increase at least ten degrees, and Juniper's white dress was quickly lost among the waves of people.

"June!" I called after her as soon as the warmth of her hand had left my own. The entire ride over the one thing on my mind was how to keep her in sight. Well that and how pretty she had looked in the dress.

If she had answered I my call I didn't hear it, and I doubt anyone standing in a 5 feet radius would either, the rough music seemed to rock with the house in a dizzy, intoxicating way. Voices paled in comparison.

Fuck, it was going to be damn near impossible to find a 5'6 girl in this kind of crowd. I knew that, I was smart enough to know that- but to accept it? Nope.

It was on my third trips around the house, that I had finally admitted defeat in finding her. I had checked not just the first story but the thin overcrowded hallways on the second. Never in my life had I seen so much PDA in such a small place.

Desperately I resorted to the kitchen, where the flow of teens was thinner than it was in the overcrowded rooms. It was easier to breathe here, and the smell of sweat and overused cologne faded.

Wanting to fit in I glanced around, observing the room. Some of the teens were eating what little snacks were left, while others filled their drinks with the assortment of liquids that lay on the counter.

"Want one," a girl with curly black hair tapped on my shoulder, capturing my attention. Her peach lips were curled into a cat-like smile, eyes lingering on me for more than a few seconds before she set a red cup down on the counter.

I shook my head instantly, I couldn't. Not when there was a chance I would be ending up driving June home. That is if I could find her.

"Oh come on," the words slipped off her tongue like poison as she leaned into me, her hands on my shoulders, playfully shaking me, "it's a party, have a little fun won't you?"

The strong scent of peaches came to me then, peaches and cream. It was a lovely scent, and held a sweetness to it. But there was something off with it, something strange. I couldn't put my finger on it.

Slowly I took the red cup from the counter, glancing at what was in the cup. A light brown liquid, shinning from the reflection of the light.

It was a party, and I knew my limit. One drink wasn't it.

"That's more like it darlin, now let's go" She grabbed my hand, pulling me out of the kitchen as I took a sip from the red cup.

It burned my throat, and I felt a need to cough or gag. But I didn't, instead I followed the black-haired girl throughout the waves, eyes rolling down her peach colored shirt and skin tight jeans.

I was sure if James saw her he would go after too. She was definitely his type, and knowing that made me want to follow her even more. Revenge is bittersweet. And she was clouding my judgment.

It's then that I saw it, the black mark on her hand. I watched it, as her hand moved around, twisting and turning as we weaved throughout the people. Finally. Finally, I would get an answer to a question on my mind. Which at this time happened to be-was there others like me? Other's cursed, other time turners....

It was zero. Well, not just one zero. It had four, as in 0 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes, and 0 seconds until her soulmate died. Did she know this? Did she know her soulmate was dying in this second as we talked?

I glanced at my wrist, happy to see that mine wasn't at zero. Not yet, I still had time. I could feel the sips of alcohol getting to me, pushing me forward.

The room seemed to blur around me, the colored lights catching my attention. I wonder if the stars were as pretty as she was. Or if they too paled at the face of her, of Juniper.

"W-wait, your wrist" I spoke out, grabbing it as we stopped in the middle of a crowded room. Upon a glance around I could see a couch and TV plastered on the wall, so I made the decision that I was in the living room. Where I had started.

A cheshire smile slowly spread across her face at my words, "I knew it. You can see it too, can't you."

I nodded, eyes remaining on her arm before it glanced back up and over her face. She had a narrow face, and eyes that seemed....unusually slow when following me. As if they were stalking their prey. Her smile was lopsided, and dimples showed on her hollow cheeks.

"Laurel by the way, and you are" she spoke out, a small accent evident in her voice. Why hadn't I picked up on it before?

"Aspen," My voice was calm and collected; everything I wasn't in that moment. My mind was all over the place, not understanding that after all the searcing Katie had gone through I was the one to find someone with a curse, someone like me.

I watched as she leaned into the crowd, pulling back a sharpie from someone in the crowd.

"Here," she spoke out as she grabbed my arm, the warmth of her skin spreading to my own. Her hair covered whatever she was doing on my arm, but I felt the familiar brush of the sharpie against my skin, "call me sometime, when your situation gets better."

"My situation," I spoke out, confusion laced in my voice as she disappeared into the crowd, "wait!"

God, what was with that woman. It felt like every step forward was five more steps back. Every answer came more questions.

I shook my head as I took another sip of the bitter liquid, letting it run down the back of my throat before my eyes traveled across the room, looking for the crimson-haired woman.

A certain smell of strawberry drew my interest, and although I couldn't see June, I felt her. It was although even in this sea of people there was a string, a thin but strong string keeping the two of us together. All I had to do was follow it.

So I did.

Pushing past the crowd of people, and relying purely on her certain scent I made my way across the room. But at a certain point I opened my eyes, realizing that it was stronger now so I could probably find her without having to follow just her scent.

I saw her, standing amongst the crowd in her white lacy dress that stopped a few inches above her knee. It looked good on her, really good.

A smile crossed my face as I took a step forward. I was about to call out to her when I saw a hand reach out, stroking her cheek.

What?

I took another step forward, watching as the hand traveled to her hair, running their fingers through her locks of hair, and pushing a loose strand behind her ear.

It was James.  And he was close, too close.

His eyes were focused on her pink lips, and her eyes were wide, unaware of what was about to happen.

It was at that moment that I realized what I had some wrong. Pushing her away. I didn't want to break her heart. I didn't want to hurt her. I would find another way to help her, another way to break the curse.

And when I did, she would be right by my side.

My footsteps echoed with the pump of blood in my ears. Fast. Hard. I had a goal now. I watched in horror as James's lips touched June's, her eyes wide with fear. Fear.

Roughly I pulled James out of her touch, throwing him onto the beer stained carpet before he got the chance to even react.

"Wh-" James started, but before he said anything my hand came in contact with his face. I had never punched anyone before, much less my best friend.

But punching him felt like the best thing to do, so I did.