"Dead? I can't be dead. I'm here. I'm real. Can't be dead." I pinched my arm. "Ow. No. Not dead. Definitely not dead. Not dead not dead not dead not-"

     "Rosie," Kelly said firmly, cutting through my hysterical blabbering. "Let me explain a few things to you. First, the car that knocked you down killed you. You died holding Ophelia's hand."

     The fact she knew who Ophelia was made me calm down a little. She was obviously not some random nutter who decided to visit me in my afterlife (or hospital. I'm not dead.) and had done her research. She looked kind too. She had warm eyes. I decided I could trust her and would listen to her version of the truth.

     "And where are we? We are in the Wings Agency. We match people up to one another and send off Cupids to make sure the couples meet and fall in love. I'm head of the Cupid department."

     She was definitely some random nutter who had decided to visit me in my afterlife/hospital/whatever. I cannot trust her and would not listen to her version of the truth.

     "It's true, Rosie." She said softly, noticing my disbelief. "It's hard to take in but it's true. That's how you begin a relationship. We do it for you. And we've brought you here because we want you to be a Cupid. We think you would be a suitable candidate. We will send you to Earth to make people fall in love. We want you to start your training as soon as possible. That is, if you agree to join us."

     She waited patiently for my answer. My head was buzzing and to be honest I was finding it hard to take it all in. It was all a bit too much. But a thought stood out at the front of my mind.

     "Would I be able to visit my friends and family while I'm on Earth?" I asked, crossing my fingers.

     "I'm afraid you can't." Kelly shook her head. "It's better for everyone if you're believed to be dead. And you are, truthfully, but if you're seen by your family they will think your death was fake. We can't have anyone nosing around us. The humans would shut us down and then there would be no more love in the world."

     I swallowed hard. It's a big decision and a part of me told me to stay out of it. But another part thought this was amazing, a dream come true. After all, I love matchmaking. And I was admittedly quite proud of myself for being selected in the first place.

     "I'll do it. I'll be a Cupid."

***

     After a few hours of being told everything about the Wings Agency, Kelly said before I become a Cupid I had to complete my training first, which could take years. But people who work in the Wings Agency don't age so I've had all the time in the world.

     Kelly told me all about my first match. In a college in California there was a girl called Fiona. She had a crush on Nathan, a football player who didn't realise she exists. Her true love was actually her geeky guy friend Owen who liked her too but couldn't work up the courage to ask her out. I somehow had to separate her from her affections to Nathan and then make her realise that Owen was a far nicer person who was perfect for her.

     Piece of cake.

     "I've registered you as a student at the college. You don't actually have to pay attention or do well in lessons or anything it's just your cover. Once you become a proper Cupid you get a 'blending in' ring which takes care of all that for you. But for now you just have to play act. Alright?" Kelly checked nervously. She was sort of like a Cupid mother hen, clucking anxiously about her chicks. I grinned at the sudden revelation.

     "Don't worry, everything's fine," I said, although inwardly I was slightly panicked. But I was trying my best to remain confident. She gave me a small smile.

     "Right then. Remember to check in every so often. Juliet is head of Cupid Training so from now on you'll report to her. I won't see you again until you complete your training. Good luck."
Kelly nodded respectfully at me and headed back to her office.

     Within a few minutes another woman walked up to me. I hadn't seen any male Cupids yet. Everyone I'd seen so far appears to be a woman. Rather sexist.

     "You must be Rosalind. I am Juliet," she said briskly, tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. Her ice blue eyes looked piercingly at me. "I'm afraid I will have to put a perception filter on you to alter your appearance a little. You can't be recognised as Rosalind Parker."

     She waved a hand over me and I felt my body shudder. My hair seemed to shoot painfully back. My eyes felt like they were on fire and I let out an involuntary howl of pain. I was thrust upwards, and sort of dangled upon my stick like legs. Oh thick thighs, where are they when I actually need them?!

     "It's always painful on your first go." She informed me, handing me a mirror. I peeked nervously at my reflection through half open eyes  and saw a totally different girl staring back up at me.

     This girl had sleek, medium length dark brown hair, set in pretty waves down her back with a streak of rebellious red through it. She had hazel coloured eyes. Her skin was tanned with no blemishes or spots whatsoever and she has zero freckles. She had arching eyebrows styled to perfection. Her eyelashes were naturally long and dark. She had high cheekbones. She had a heart shaped face. And she stared disbelievingly back at me.

     "You must be expected to fit in with the popular crowd if your looks have been enhanced so much." Juliet mused as I gawped at myself. "You've lost a lot of weight and you're far taller. I didn't realise quite how tiny you were. You're quite pretty now, it's an improvement. I would recommend keeping this appearance as your non-working one."

     I glanced up. "Oh thanks," I said sarcastically. "So you're basically telling me I was ugly beforehand?"

     She smiled coolly. "Glad you cottoned on. Now, you may proceed to the room you arrived in and you will dematerialise and arrive in California. You will henceforth be known as Jessica Kinney. Remember to make contact through your computer twice a day. It has been specially equipped with all the Wings Agency data you need and my contact details."

     With a wave of her hand I was dismissed. I headed back to the room, a little stunned. So much had happened since I got hit by that car and there was a lot to take in.

     I sat down in the same spot I woke up in, a comfortable little armchair. My body felt all tingly but I wasn't sure whether it was from excitement or if it was a side effect of dematerialising. I squeezes my eyes shut and crossed my fingers. Hopefully everything will go smoothly.

***

     I opened my eyes again, and I was on a train. This time, I was expecting my head to pound and to feel sick but it didn't make the sensation any less horrible. I shook my head roughly.

     I was at a window seat on a train. I felt quite comfortable and I suddenly realise why. I'd changed from the dishevelled party clothing I was wearing beforehand to a green t-shirt, a denim skirt and white converse. Another quick glance in the mirror showed me I had make up on as well. A sweep of glittery turquoise eyeshadow and pink glossy lipgloss.

     I stretched myself out, all my muscles screaming in protest. I guessed I was in California, but why on a train?

     The train shuddered to a stop. "Lockhart College, here I come," someone behind me murmured. Ah. That would answer my question.

     There was a bright pink wheelie suitcase at my feet. I picked it up and hastily set it down again. Unfortunately, Jessica Kinney did not have as much strength as Rosie Parker. With gritted teeth, I yanked the handle up and pulled it along behind me. I stepped off the train and out into the blinding sunlight. I shielded my eyes with my free hand and walked determinedly onto the campus.

     I missed the sensation of my waist length hair thudding against my back, but I had to admit the shorter cut made more sense now I was faced with the hot weather. Most of the students seemed  at ease, chatting to their friends and lounging about on the grass under the shade of the trees. It would be hard to find Fiona amidst the crowds of people.

     I glanced around me. The college was pretty cool. It had absolutely massive grounds full of trees and long dewy grass. There was a big water fountain at the front of the building, where a lot of students were messing about in on this hot day. There was a big red bricked path leading up to the building. Because it was the first day back after the summer, there were dozens of different coloured stalls on either side, full of people waving leaflets and shouting after you. All the different clubs and societies were on display. I ached to go along them curiously and sign up to some activities. I never made it to college in real life so this seemed great. However, I held myself back. You're dead, I reminded myself. And then, because it was all quite tempting, I thought, if Fiona was in any societies I would join them because I was meant to be matching her so that's OK.

"Hey!" Someone yelled at me. "You with the red streak in her hair!" I turned around apprehensively. I'd been here a grand total of three minutes - what could I have possibly done?

But to my relief it was just a girl behind one of the stalls yelling at me. Her silvery blonde hair was cut in a short bob, that looked painstakingly similar to Ophelia's. I felt a pang of longing for my best friend. The badge on her crisp blue uniform screamed in bright yellow lettering, 'President of The Lockhart Instrumentalists And Singers.'

"You look musical," she told me. "Are you?" The question was phrased sharply, and it's clear she was  expecting a decent response. I swallowed.

"I'm alright?" I said weakly. To be honest, I'd no clue whether having a new body would improve my musical talent. I still remembered the time we were doing a kindergarten play for the parents, and we used to rehearse every day. I enthusiastically belted out the lyrics at the back of the stage, with all the rest of the ones who weren't good enough to get a proper part. At least, I did until Mrs Jones asked me to mouth along nicely. I was quite confused about that fact - after all, she had just thoroughly told off a bunch of boys for mouthing the words instead of singing. I complained heartily to my parents that night, who went into school and made Mrs Jones allow me to sing.

After the performance, with several parents a little too relieved it was over, my parents told me just to pretend next time, because my singing was a little... Strong. They then offered me a chocolate lolly as a bribe. Well, I was young. I took no shame in accepting it. But as I'd grown older, I now realised that I had no musical talent whatsoever.

"Alright? I bet you're being modest. Sing for me." She commanded, picking up a pen and poising it perfectly over her sign up sheet. She glanced at me. "Well, go on."

"You mean... Now?" I squeaked. Even if my singing had improved a little, that was still enough to send the whole college running for a pair of earmuffs. She rolled her eyes.

"Obviously. Unless you play an instrument? But obviously you don't," she continued, not even giving me a moment to try to come up with an answer that got me out of doing this. "Because this is the first day back, so you'd be carrying an instrument but you aren't. So go on."

A song popped into my mind. You asked for it, Miss Bossy, I'm So Much Better Than You And Want to Humiliate You. I opened my mouth, and sang.

"Don't make me close one more door,
I don't wanna hurt anymore,
Stay in my arms if you dare,
Or must I imagine you there?
Don't walk away from me...
I have nothing, nothing, nothing
If I don't have you."

I finished triumphantly on an ear splitting long note, and I took an exaggerated bow to all the people staring at me. Yep. My singing had definitely not improved.

The girl stared at me weakly. "Oh... Um... That was lovely," she said, her voice cracking up a little.

I decided to play the moment for all it was worth. After all, she shouldn't have put all that pressure on me to sing. I gave a smile so big my muscles ached. "Really?" I said, fake delighted. "Why thank you! That was my best rendition yet, if I do say so myself." She nodded along, with a feeble smile. "In fact, seeing as your so appreciative, why don't I sing another of my favourite songs?"

"There's really no need," she assured me hastily but I'd already started.

"And we played the first thing that came to our heads,
Just so happened to be,
The Best Song in the World, it was The Best Song in the World.

Look into my eyes and it's easy to see
One and one make two, two and one make three,
It was destiny.
Once every hundred-thousand years or so,
When the sun doth shine and the moon doth glow
And the grass doth grow-"

"Please stop!" She shrieked, cutting me off and attracting all the attention of the students surrounding us. "Gosh, you are AWFUL! You should be sued for ruining my MUSICAL APPRECIATION!" It took a lot of self restraint to stop myself from bursting out laughing. "You know, I'm really desperate or I wouldn't be doing this. Please come join us as a background signer, but make sure to mouth the words, not sing." She pressed a flyer insistently into my hands, with an overly fake smile.

"Well, Brona," I said smoothly after a sneaky glance down at the leaflet. "Forgive me for not joining, but thank you for bullying me into singing. Oh, and I'm so glad I ruined your musical appreciation. See you in court!" I gave her a small wave, before crumpling up the flyer and sending it flying into the rubbish bin. All the watching students cheered as I marched up to the building, while Brona's face flushed a deep, angry scarlet. I had a feeling she's not the most popular of characters.

     I walked into the reception, and up to a woman in about her early twenties. She looked keen to impress, her blonde hair swept up into a perfect ponytail, geeky glasses and a pristine white shirt and purple pencil skirt. She smiled brightly at me, showing off pearly white teeth.

     "May I help you?" She asked cheerily.

     "My name is Ros- Jessica Kinney." I quickly amended. "I'm new here."

     "I'll look you up," she told me as her fingers flew across the keyboard. "Here you are. Yes, everything seems in order. You're sharing Room 261 with Fiona Aden. Here's a copy of your schedule." She informed me, handing me a sheet of paper.

     Good old Wings Agency. They've even got me rooming with the girl I need to help.

     "Thank you," I said. "Erm, where is Room 261?"

She smiled too brightly at me, obviously looking down her nose at someone who doesn't even know where her room is. I felt my muscles stiffen and my cheeks blushed scarlet. "Never mind. I'll find it myself."

     Ten minutes later, I seriously wished I had just swallowed my pride and waited for her response. I was somewhere in a maze of corridors on the second floor, that seemed to follow no particular order, with Room 235 beside Room 202. I sat down in the floor and rubbed my aching feet. I could have walked for miles as Rosie but in this new body I wasn't very athletic.

     "Are you lost?" I turned around and my mouth dropped open.

Hey guys! If you've made it this far I really appreciate it! The real story with Rosie and her first match is beginning properly now so please keep reading! Anyway, this is the last of my pre written chapters so you'll have to wait a bit longer for the next update. If I get one comment or vote on this chapter then I will upload in three days time! If not, expect four or five days. Oh, and one last thing - I know you might be confused by the cover picture but the girl is how Rosie looks before her appearance is changed.

Zoe xxx