(This is very different from what I usually write. I originally wasn't going to publish because of this reason but I thought there might be some out there who will enjoy it anyway x)

Soulmate au: everybody is born with the tattoo of there soulmates first words to them on their wrist. Modern Day: Jily in college.

The black words which were inked onto Lily's skin were covered in a thick array of bracelets. Not because she was trying to make a fashion statement, but because it had become a trend at her school to find out the words inked on each others skin and set up strangers to greet them with it.

Making it extremely hard to know who your soulmate really is.

It was somewhat of a campus joke, but a nasty one at that. But a lot of people did it. Lily thought it was a little bit out of fear, that they themselves might never find their true soulmate.

But That's why Lily kept her wrist covered. She only told her words to those she trusted.

Anyone who has believed in the system did so.

Marlene knew of course, so did Alice. But they would never tell a soul. Much like she would never breath a word of there's.

Lily often found herself wishing that her tattoo was more memorable. She wished it wasn't as common of a thing to say.

Although it could've been worse, it could've been something like "hi" or "nice to meet you". Which so many of her elementary school friends had. But still, she'd hoped for something a little more specific.

Alice had it easy. Her words were simply, "Hey, I'm Frank, this is Benjy."

She already knew the name of her soulmate. And what was the chance you were going to meet two blokes who come up to you and introduce them to their friend 'Benjy'.

Exactly, the odds were next to none.

So Alice wasn't particularly consoling with Lily's worrying. She was set. But that was okay because at least she had Marlene.

But still, hers was perhaps not as vague as Lily's.

For etched into her skin was simply, "Here's your cappuccino miss."

Still, her words did cause her some worry.

For once you got to know Marlene, you'll know that she orders a cappuccino in nearly every coffee house she goes into.

She however, being the clever bird she is, Lily thought, has found a way to increase her chances.

It's a tactic Lily tries to incorporate as well. Instead of replying with a simple 'thank you' she tends to reply with something more precise. Such as "Thanks! I really love cappuccinos!" Or "Thanks! I really like the amount of cream you've put on!"

Sure, people look at her strangely but when she does find her soulmate. She'll know because he'll know.

He'll here her words or odd phrasing and recognise the strange phrase from the black words which stain his wrist.

Lily's tattoo was simply five letters. A simple phrase strung together with four words. But you wouldn't believe how often people's first words to her are "Here, you dropped your pen."

Lily sometimes suspected she was doing it on purpose. Flicking her pen off the desk onto the stone floor. Seeing if anyone picks it up. Often they do. Often they say those five words. Whenever they do, her heart basically falls out of her chest.

But whenever she says something slightly unusual in return, they never give the look of recognition. Or spark of excitement in their eyes.

So Lily goes on with her class, wondering if she'd just missed what she'd been waiting for.

Sometimes Lily wished for a more romantic setting. Her meeting her soulmate almost definetly occurred in a classroom. There's not much room for spontaneous snogging or asking out.

In the end, Alice found her soulmate first. They'd all thought Lily would be the first to find hers. Since she would most likely be spoken those words to while she was still at school but to the contrary.

After coming home from a party late one night, in which Lily and Marlene had too many exams coming up to go to, Alice returned to the apartment, giddy with either alcohol or excitement. Lily couldn't quite tell.

"I found him." She squealed as she walked threw the threshold.

"What?" Marlene yelled, startled from the sudden outburst.

"My soulmate!"

There was a short pause and then a yell.

In a matter of seconds Marlene and Lily had abandoned their work and began prying and demanding answers from Alice.

"What was his name?" Lily began.

"Lily don't be stupid, he's name is obviously Frank." Marlene retorted.

"Well I need to make sure."

"I can confirm that his name is in fact Frank." Alice said proudly.

"Great," said Marlene rolling her eyes. "But seriously, did you feel anything when he said it."

Alice pondered this for a moment.

"Well, no light comes from it, despite from what Ludo insists. I'm not sure why I ever believed him anyway. He hasn't even found his yet. Just because his brother says..."

"But...?" Lily said hopefully.

"There was something." Alice nodded. "It was a sort of faint burning at my wrist. It was barely noticeable but I'm sure it's there."

Lily and Marlene sighed happily. They were both certain they had not ever felt anything of the sort, contented they had not in fact, missed there soulmate.

"I wonder which one of you will find yours next." Alice said after quite some time of interrogation.

"Lily probably. But I'm going to be ordering cappuccinos at every chance I get from now on." Marlene said.

Lily let out a small laugh.

---

Alice and Frank had been dating for four months. Despite what people claimed about the soulmate system being faulty and making mistakes, Lily couldn't help but muse that it really got this one right.

Frank was the loveliest bloke. And he and Alice were perfect for each other. To the point where when he wrapped his arm around her, she fit perfectly, just under his shoulder.

If Lily found something half as good as that she'd be content.

---

Three weeks later, Lily was walking with Marlene to classes on upper campus and they were a solid ten minutes late.

Which was a big no no, especially with exams nearing once more.

The two girl were walking at a pace worthy to Olympic athletes. Both of their hands so full with folders and workbooks that Lily thought she'd lost many pages a long the way. But she suspected if they were a minute later to this class they'd be asked to sit out for there tardiness.

They were just rounding a corner when suddenly Lily found herself being interrupted in her path by a tall body mass. She stumbled backwards a few steps.

"Lily, c,mon!" Marlene yelled, already ten metres in front of her in her rush. "Do you want to fail this class?"

Lily quickly scooped all her dropped possessions back into her arms. Barely acknowledging the raven haired boy with rectangular glasses resting on his nose who'd collided with her.

One comment did pass through her mind though, and that was: the boy really needed to brush his hair.

She was about to take off again to catch up with Marlene, who'd slowed down waiting for her, when he stopped her.

"Here, you dropped your pen." He said holding out her blue biro in his hand.

She froze, like she always did when she heard those words first come from a stranger.

She heard Marlene gasp in front of her.

The boy looked at her peculiarly when she didn't take the pen.

"Look... Uh... Id love to stay and chat but I sort of have a class to get to...?" He said uncertainly. He reached up to the back of his hair and ruffled it.

She had to admit, if this guy was her soulmate, she'd got lucky because damn, this guy was cute.

She thought she felt a slight tingle on her wrist, it wasn't a burn but...

Maybe she was just imagining it.

Only one way to know for sure.

"Sorry, thanks! It's just that I really glad I didn't loose my pen." She stammered awkwardly but with a sense of confidence. That phrase was surely enough to get a reaction.

Although there never was every other time she'd tried this so her hopes weren't too high.

But then

she saw the boys eyes widened and suddenly he moved forward and grabbed her wrist. Which would've been an odd gesture if not for the circumstance.

He moved her brackets up slowly so he could read the words. Then his mouth opened slightly.

"Are we...?" Lily said slowly, finally accepting the truth.

He pulled up his sleeves and saw the awkward sentence she'd just stammered inked onto his skin

Suddenly she felt herself being swooped into a hug and spun around.

"My soulmate!" He shouted proudly.

She laughed into his arms because of the spontaneous of it all. She'd none this boy for less than a minute and she was already being swept up into his arms.

He put her down before asking excitedly,

"What's your name?"

"Lily." She said. She may of giggled, just a little bit.

"Like the flower!" He said enthusiastically.

"Um yeah sure." She laughed. "And yours?"

"James Potter." He shook her hand jokingly. "Very pleased to meet you.

She couldn't help but laugh once more. This whole situation was just making her so giggly, if she was Lily in any other moment, she'd want to kill this girl she'd become.

"You know I always wondered how on earth a person would ever say this to a person as their first words would be my soulmate." He smirked.

Lily's heart raced.

"Hey! I just heard my tattoo being spoken by a stranger. I had to say something memorable!" She defended.

She couldn't believe she'd found him. She couldn't believe how cute he was. Not to mention a tease.

"Mmmm." He said, already looking at her with a fondness which no one had looked at her like before.

"You know I have a feeling it might be a good idea to go out sometime." Lily joked, not being able to hide her happiness.

"I quite like the sound of that."

They paused for a short moment, taking it all in.

"Well then my Lily flower." The boy started. Lily let out another laugh. "Want to meet me at the 'Lilo'S' after class?"

Lily smiled. "I'd love to."

"Seriously though," he said, trying to keep a straight face. "take your pen. You seem to be found of it."

"Oh right. Thanks."

---

"Marls, where are we going, we still have to go to class!"

"Oh please, we missed that class while you were flirting with your soulmate."

Lily couldn't help but smile.

"But where are we going then?"

"To the nearest coffee shop that serves cappuccinos. I want to get me one of those." She said pointing to the fading figure of James Potter.

All Lily could do was laugh.

Little did the pair know, Marlene was about to meet her own soulmate in a hours wait.

(This was so different to what I usually write but I LOVE soulmate AUs SO much and I was writing one for the pleasure of it but then I was like hey I may as well post so quick update yay!

Dont worry, I'll be back to the good old hogwarts Jily soon ;) bc that's just my favourite type of Jily.

Thanks for all the reviews and votes!
Lots of love xx