Briar was dreading her 18th birthday. The day your soulmate's name appeared on your wrist, calling you to your true love! Except, Briar just wasn't really looking for love in her life. She had her family, and her best friend Aurora to love. Why did she need some new romantic partner to complicate things more? She was already happy.

Well, it seemed her life just wanted to give her more complications if the name that appeared on her wrist meant anything.

Briar stared in disbelief at the name, breath caught in her throat.

"Well?" Briar's mom asked excitedly, watching her daughter. They had thrown a small party for Briar's soulmate day, as most people did when they turned eighteen. "Are you gonna tell us the name?"

"I, uh," Briar frowned down at her arm for a moment longer before looking up at her mother, brushing her brown curls out of her face. "You know... I think I want to keep it to myself, for now. At least until I uh, find them..."

"Oh, alright," Her other sighed, clearly disappointed she didn't get to find out who the love of her daughter's life was yet, but she didn't fight. It was common for some to want to hide their soulmate at first, and it was considered rude to ask if someone didn't want to tell. "I'm so excited for you! I can't wait for you to meet this person and fall in love." Her mother leaned down to kiss her daughters forehead, brushing a hand through her hair before drawing the rest of Briar's small family and her friend Aurora's attention to getting cake instead, allowing Briar a moment to think.

Briar's gaze stayed on her best friend as she went to grab a piece of cake, lingering for a few moments before she feared she was being too obvious and glanced to the floor. Of all the people in the world it just had to be Aurora, didn't it? At least with anyone else she could have turned down a relationship without feeling too bad, but her best friend? How could she explain to her best friend and soulmate that she didn't want to be with her like that?

"Hey, B. Brought you some cake," Aurora smiled at her friend, holding a plate in her direction. Briar accepted with a smile, taking a bite of the cake as Aurora got comfortable beside of her, shoulder's pressing together. "I know you said you don't wanna tell. That apply to your best friend too?"

Briar didn't say anything for a moment, unsure how Aurora would take it. They never kept secrets from each other. After a moment of worrying Aurora nudged her arm, smiling her way. "Don't worry about it. I'll find out eventually."

They fell into a comfortable chatter, talking just like always and Briar managed to forget for a while about the name on her wrist. That is, until her mom came over.

"So, Aurora! Are you excited for your soulmate day soon?"

Shit. Briar forgot that her best friend's birthday was coming up too. That meant she only had a month to get herself together and figure out what she was going to say to Aurora. She could figure it out in a month, right? That was plenty of time.

**** 

It was not enough time.

The big day had already arrived, and the clock was almost to midnight. Briar's name was about to appear on Aurora's wrist and ruin their friendship forever. Briar still didn't know how she was going to tell Aurora she didn't want a soulmate, didn't think she even could.

Aurora was staring at her wrist. Then she was staring at Briar. Briar's cheeks were warming, and she was thankful when Aurora looked away when her mom asked who it was.

"I'll let you know after I talk to them." Aurora promised, prompting an excited squeal from her mother.

"You already know who it is! How wonderful," She kept doting on about how happy Aurora was going to be while the girl just stared at Briar, clearly signalling that they needed to talk soon.

"So," Aurora began once the party had finally died down and her and Briar could have a moment alone. "We're soulmates."

Briar didn't say anything, watching her friend and waiting for the questions. She should have told her sooner, why did she hide it, etc.. She waited, but that didn't come. Instead Aurora's arms were wrapping around her friend, holding her tight in an embrace she reflexively returned. "I'm glad it's you."

Briar decided then and there that she had to keep her mouth shut. She couldn't ruin her best friend's happiness with her selfishness. She loved her too much for that, even if it wasn't in the way she was supposed to.

****

Things after that conversation continued mostly normally. They still spent a lot of time at each others houses, still talked the way they always had. The only thing that changed was how physically close they were. Instead of small things like sitting close together with their shoulders pressed together, small hugs every now and then, it was bigger things. Holding hands now, and cuddling close when they watched movies. The change hadn't been anywhere near as difficult as Briar had imagined. She found she liked some of these new things.

However, there was one small change that became uncomfortable. The 'I love you's.'

They used the words before, but it felt different now. It carried more weight. It made Briar feel guilty, because she didn't mean it the way she should. She did her best to ignore the guilt, to keep this up for Aurora.

The two were at Aurora's now, cuddled up under covers to watch a movie together. It was quiet and peaceful, Briar thought.

"I love you," Aurora broke the peace, looking down at her soulmate laying against her chest. The look she gave Briar was so soft and adoring, and Briar felt her chest squeeze, an overwhelming mixture of emotions plaguing her.

"I love you too," She murmured, meeting Aurora's big green eyes for a brief moment, only to turn her gaze over to her soft blonde hair instead, trying to ignore the loving look as much as she could. Aurora brushed a hand through Briar's hair, drawing her attention back to her, smiling brightly.

Oh no, Briar thought, gazing up at Aurora. Did she want her to...? Of course she did, she should have seen this coming, they're soulmates. She's supposed to want to kiss her.

Briar steeled herself, drawing in a shaky breath before leaning up towards Aurora, lips getting closer. They were barely an inch apart when Aurora pulled away suddenly, red in the face and seeming baffled. "What are you doing?"

"I, uh," Briar hadn't seen that coming. "I thought you wanted me to... I'm sorry, I should have asked, or-"

"No, no you're okay, I, well, soulmates are supposed to want... I'm sorry." Aurora muttered, looking away. "We-we can-"

"Wait, do you... Not want to?"

Aurora stayed silent, face scrunched up in that confused way that always made Briar smile. "I... don't mind, for you."

"So you don't want to?" Briar confirmed. Aurora shrugged, meeting Briar's eyes again.

"Oh thank god," Briar breathed, leaning into Aurora and hugging her tightly. "Me either."

"Really?" Aurora asked, also letting out a quiet sigh. "Oh. I guess we've both been... Thinking the same thing."

Briar nodded against Aurora's shoulder, thinking quietly to herself for a few moments. "I... Are we, like... Not real soulmates?"

"I think we are." Aurora said quickly, frown on her lips.

"But we don't-we aren't attracted to each other like... That." They both went silent again, thinking things over.

"We still love each other. Even if it's not the common way soulmates do. I love you more than anyone else."

"But... shouldn't we feel that way? Romantic...? Are we wrong? Have soulmate marks been broken this whole time? Are we meant to be with someone else?" Briar paused, frown on her lips and brow furrowing. "I don't want to be with anyone else."

"Hey, slow down on the questions." Aurora soothed, holding Briar close. "I... I think that sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."

"And what's the answer to those questions?" Briar asked, frowning up at Aurora.

"We love each other. Even if it's not romantic. And I think that that's enough. Don't you?"

"I... yeah. You're right. We'll figure this out." She paused, smiling and hugging Aurora. "I'm glad that you're my soulmate. I love you."

Aurora held her back, hands carding through her hair soothingly. "Yeah, I'm glad it was you too. I love you too."