((I didn't include the flashbacks in the last chapter because it would be too long. Warning: this chapter does mention death and some self harm.))

//Gabriel's POV

<flashback>

The door opened and I heard footsteps.

"Gabe? Are you home?"

Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck! I was not ready for this! In my panic, icing shot out of the tube I was holding, ruining the perfect cake I had baked. I hurriedly tried to fix it with a spatula, but it didn't look a lot better when I was done.

"Um... Just a sec! Don't go any further!" I yelled, grabbing the cake and setting it out on the dining table.

She stopped. "What?"

"Don't move until I tell you to!" I tore off my apron, wiped flour and icing off my hands, and ran out into the foyer, where she was waiting.

"Gabriel, what the hell?" Kali asked, her beautiful face wearing a confused and exasperated look.

"Just trust me," I told her, holding out a blindfold. She looked wary, but let me tie it around her eyes. I took her hand and led her to the dining room. "Okay, this seems weird, but I promise you there is a method to my madness."

"You did something for my birthday, didn't you?" she replied as I gently sat her down at the table.

I blushed. "Um, yes." I removed the blindfold.

She blinked a couple times as she looked at the cake in front of her. "Wow. I love it."

"Really?" I asked.

"Well, you're not that great of a decorator, but it's good. I love it. And I love you." She stood and kissed me on the cheek.

"I love you too." I replied. "Happy birthday."

~~~

<one year later>

I was at Kali's house, the two of us snuggled on the couch watching Arrow. Her mom came downstairs. "Hey, have either of you seen Baldur? He's supposed to be back from work by now."

"I haven't seen him for a while," Kali said. "Not since he left a few hours ago for work."

"Okay." Her mom sounded worried. "He should be back by now."

"Do you want me to call him?" Kali asked.

"No, it's fine. I can call him," her mom replied, and left the living room.

Two episodes later, the phone rang. Kali got up and answered it. "Hello? Yes, this is the Deus residence. How may I..." She trailed off, and put a hand to her mouth. "Oh my god." I could see tears forming in her eyes.

"MOM!" she yelled. Her mother ran into the room, and I stood up. Kali handed her the phone and walked over to me, crying.

"What is it?" I asked.

Kali hiccuped, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Baldur, he- he was in a car crash downtown. He- he- he's d-dead."

My heart sank all the way down to my feet. Kali's older brother, Baldur, had always been her rock. He had been there even when I hadn't, and he was her mother's pride and joy. He'd kept their family together. Without him... I couldn't imagine the pain Kali and her mom were going through.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered. I tightly wrapped my arms around her, holding her close to me, letting her cry into my shirt. Her mom was also sobbing.

~~~

<three months later>

I walked up to Kali's door. It was her birthday and our two year anniversary, so I brought her flowers and gummy bears, as well as a couple books I knew she would like.

I knocked. Her mom opened the door, whiskey in hand. I was used to this. After Baldur's death, Minerva Deus had turned to alcohol for solace, neglecting her daughters. The loss of her mom and brother had hit Kali hard, and her depression had gotten worse. I wanted to help, but I felt I couldn't make a connection. Hopefully, celebrating our anniversary would help. Hopefully.

"I'm here to see Kali. May I come in?" I said.

Mrs. Deus shrugged. "Yeah. I guess. She's up in her room." I entered the house.

"Y'know," she said as I started to climb the stairs, "I never understood what she saw in you."

"She's my soulmate. We were meant to be together," I responded stiffly.

"Yeah. I guess," she said. "I don't have a soulmate. I suppose I don't know what it's like. Kali's dad fathered three children, then just up and left me. I guess I just don't know how any of it works."

"I'm sorry," I told her, and went upstairs to Kali's room.

In the upstairs hall, I could hear Kali's little sister, Freya, playing with Legos. That's all she does. She builds things and takes them apart. Over and over. That's what Kali told me. 

When I opened the door to her room, my soulmate was lying in her bed, staring at the ceiling. I softly knocked on the doorframe and she looked up. "Hi, Gabe."

"Hi," I responded. "I brought you a gift. Happy birthday."

"Thanks," she said. She opened the present, thanked me for the books, and then curled up against me, reading one. We sat like that for a long time, until I had go home because mom wanted me there.

That was the last time I saw her in person.

~~~

<present>

I was shaken back to reality when my phone buzzed. Dad was calling.

"Hey," I sighed into the receiver.

"Hey," Dad replied. "You're at school? You're okay?"

I restrained a groan. "Yes, Dad, I'm fine. You were there when Balth picked me up from the house."

"I know, just checking on you," he said. "Are you doing okay?"

"Yes dad, why wouldn't I be? Look, school starts tomorrow, I'll tell you how my first day went. Okay?"

"Yeah. Okay. Goodnight son."

"Dad, it is literally 5:45 PM. Not that late."

"Oh. Yeah. Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow. We at home love you, son."

"I love you all too, Dad. Talk to you tomorrow." I hung up. I loved my dad, but sometimes he did the weirdest things. Like checking up on me before school started. Honestly, it was the same with the rest of my family too. They wanted to be close to me. But there is such a thing as too close. Right now, I just needed space.

I went over to my own desk and grabbed the photo if Kali I still kept there. Having it felt rude, seeing as I had a boyfriend whom I loved very much, but you just can't get over the death of your soulmate.

I still remember the feeling I had when she died, like my guts were being ripped out. My tattoo had started burning my arm, just like it had when it first appeared. And then I just felt...numb.

I learned later that she had gotten in a fight with her mom, and had stormed out of her house. She was crossing the street when she was hit by a drunk driver. She died instantly.

My tattoo had faded from black inky color to a light gray. I hated it. I tried to cut the tattooed skin off, but it just kept reappearing. Now my right forearm was covered in scars, and her name was still there.

I never saw her family after she died. I couldn't face them. Later, my life moved on, I suppose. I fell in love with a boy, who never had a soulmate, and he loved me back.

I still miss her, though.