It had been a long day. Two periods left. Maths had been a drag; Geoff's head was still killing. Otto lay down on the bench table with Geoff and Grace sitting on the actual bench. Geoff had constructed a mini card game where he was playing against himself. Grace just looked bored with her chin resting in her hand.

"Yo Geoff! Why didn't you text me man? We haven't spoken for, like, a month!" A voice yelled from behind him. The silence around them broke as two tall, lanky boys ran over to the small group.

"Alex shut up." Otto hissed, raising his head to glare at him. The boy in question frowned and sat down next to Geoff. Jack, his soulmate, sat down next to Grace and struck up a quiet conversation.

"What's up?" He asked. "Hangover. Head hurts. Dying. Card games are quiet." Geoff muttered, unable to string a full sentence together.

Alex laughed. "You're so stupid."

"Thanks dude. I feel loved."

"Any time bro."

"Time for music." Otto announced as the bell rang. Geoff heaved a sigh of relief and ran his fingers through his hair, cards forgotten.

Having music everyday was the only reason he showed up. That and the fact Jawn seemed to make it his personal mission to drag him out of bed every morning. Friends can be sweet but they can also be annoying pieces of shit.

With glasses still firmly over his eyes, Geoff slung his bag over his shoulder and strode through the entrance and into the tidal wave of people. Once inside the crowd he found himself being smothered by the amount of bodies and body odour. He was suffocating.

Geoff tried to remember where the classroom was from where he was standing. Someone barged past him causing him to lose his balance. Geoff smacked his head into the lockers and sighed.

The symphony of pain in his head grew to the point where he felt dizzy and nauseas but at least he knew where he was.

Navigating through the unpleasant stench and claustrophobic spaces, Geoff was spat out right outside his classroom.

Perfect. White lights started covering his vision. Geoff frowned and closed his eyes. He opened them again as he walked through the door. They were still there.

Two people stood in front of him at the desk but Geoff could only see one of them at a time. Fucking great. A migraine was just what he needed.

Remember kids, don't go to school hungover. Take the day off.

"Geoff!" Wincing he looked at where he thought the voice came from. Otto was already seated and waving him over.

"How the fuck are you here already?"

"We waited until most people had gone and then we just ran for it." Otto shrugged.

"Where's Grace?" The older looked around for a sign of the pink haired girl. "Oh she changed her timetable and switched to Media Studies so a couple of other subjects are different."

"Oh ok. Which lessons would they be?"

"History, Art and Languages." Otto said.

"What's different about them?"

"She's in all of them with us." Otto smiled widely. It was hard for Otto and Grace to be apart for long periods of time since they found each other.

If it was more than three days the pain of missing each other was unbearable. Phone calls and text messages wouldn't cut it any more. They had more lessons together and got to spend more time with each other. That's all they wanted.

"Must be nice." Geoff mused. "What does it feel like when you're together?"

"It feels like a warm hug. Like even if we're not touching, just the sight of her fills me with love and strength. I feel protected like nothing can hurt me and she makes me feel like I can live forever."

A look of pure happiness flooded Otto's face. The same expression that Geoff saw whenever they were together. Otto's mark glowed pink as he spoke.

"But when we're apart the world speeds up. It's like I'm chasing after a rainbow. I can see her but I'm not with her. It feels like someone pulled my heart out and beat the shit out of it before putting it back, bruised, broken and bleeding." He continued.

Geoff didn't know what to say. He never thought there could be a bond that strong.

"Wow. I guess you've found true love." Geoff breathed. Otto blushed and nodded. "Yeah, I guess I have."

-

With both hands wrapped around the wooden neck, Geoff refused to loosen his grip. "Geoff you have to put the guitar down. The lesson is over." Otto panted.

He was putting all his energy into retrieving the instrument from his friend but Geoff was not making it easy.

"I won't give in." Geoff grunted. With a sigh of frustration, Otto let the guitar slip out of his grip. "Fine do whatever you want. I'm out."

Although Geoff had won, he didn't feel so victorious. Otto was pissed and he was going to be late for Spanish.

"Mr Wigington, could I have a word?" His teacher asked. The brunette nodded and placed the guitar back. He picked up his bag and walked over to his teacher.

Mr Fysh waited until all lingering students had vacated the room before speaking. "We have a new student starting today and he will be joining this class."

Geoff waited. Neither of them moved. "And?" Geoff asked finally. "And I would like you and Mr Wood to invite him into your group. Now as y-"

"Sir you can't do that! We are a two piece band and if we add someone we don't know then we might fail! What if we don't like him? What if he's a dick and we're stuck with him?"

"That is enough!" Mr Fysh cut off Geoff's rant. He passed the tall boy a piece of paper. "This is what you have to do for the first part of your exams. You have been asked to compose six to eight pieces of music. This could be any genre, any instruments. We ask that they should preferably have lyrics but if you don't feel comfortable with that we can make exceptions."

Geoff looked at the sheet and studied it. "I'm still confused about why you want us to do this. Have we done something wrong? Is it a punishment?"

"No, no." Mr Fysh laughed. "You and Otto are the only group with two members and I think you could do with another member."

"I would like to point out that Tyler and Josh only have two members. Why can't we have Blake?"

"Blake is transferring to a different school and Tyler and Josh work really well together. They just click!"

Geoff sighed. It was so unfair. "Otto and I work really well together. This is bullshit." He muttered on his way out of the class. "Language Mr Wigington!" His teacher called.

The brunette walked out into the partially empty hallway. Focused on the paper in his hand, Geoff wasn't aware of anyone around him. He walked out of the room and his body collided with someone else's.

"Oh, sorry dude." The brunette apologised. "It's ok." They responded. Geoff momentarily averted his gaze from the paper. He locked eyes with a blue haired, dual tone eyed angel.

Geoff felt something burn his skin; a searing pain spread across his arm.

There it was. Glowing crystal blue and emerald green.

The one thing everyone dreamt of seeing. The one mark that showed you that you would never be alone again. Underneath it, four words burned themself into his skin.

Simply meant to be.

They were his words. Every couple had their own special message that was unique to them. Grace and Otto had "birds of a feather, now and forever." That was their message.

Geoff tore his gaze from his wrist and looked up. There he was. Right in front of him, looking at him with wide eyes.

Geoff would never be alone again.