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was as close as I’d come to having those prayers answered. Looking at him, I hadn’t hurt at all. I hadn’t felt like I was barely hanging on, I’d felt okay. I needed that. I needed him again.
    I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d experienced that entire soul mate thing. I’d never put much stock in the phenomena before, but then again, I’d never felt anything like it before either. I could come up with no logical way to explain away my experience. Soul mates may have been farfetched, but I didn’t have anything else. Even if I was insane, at least he made breathing hurt a little less. If he could do it once, he could do it again.
    He had to, because I couldn’t take much more. Maybe that sounded stupid or crazy, but that’s how I felt. I needed him, and I needed him to be real.
    He was, wasn’t he?
    God, I hoped so.

    Somehow, I managed to find my way back to the campus. I wasn’t sure why I’d come, but ASU seemed as good a place as any to get lost for a while, so I wandered around. The small college was in the midst of Winter Break, and registration had ended. Only a handful of cars were scattered throughout the parking lot.
    A small group of girls sat beneath one of the big oak trees on the quad, talking and laughing. I hesitated on the sidewalk, unsure if I should go over and introduce myself or continue walking. I’d never been shy, but the thought of dealing with people and their inevitable questions didn’t appeal to me.
    Before I could decide one way or another, one of the girls, a pretty blonde, spotted me.
    “You’re welcome to join us,” she called out, climbing to her feet and waving me over.
    I thought about pretending I didn’t hear her for a moment, and then stopped. I’d have to get to know the people around here sooner or later.
    I started toward her.
    She bounded across the grass and met me halfway, a big smile on her face. “Hi. I’m Mandy Chapman.”
    Mandy was all-American pretty, with big blue eyes and a sun-kissed complexion.
    I shook her hand uncertainly, knowing I looked like hell. I hadn’t been thinking about my appearance when I’d rushed out the door. “I’m Arionna Jacobs.”
    “I know,” she said, looping her arm through mine and half dragging me toward her friends.
    My heart pounded uncomfortably in my chest as I followed along.
    “I was in the Dean’s office when you came in to register the other day.”
    “Oh.”
    “I heard about your mom. I’m real sorry.” She squeezed my arm and continued chattering. “You’re living with your dad now, right? Professor Jacobs?”
    “Yeah, I am.” I swallowed against the pain her sympathetic apology sent rippling through me. “Have you had any of his classes?”
    “I wish!” She rolled her eyes. “I’m a nursing student, so all of the fun classes are out for me. What’s your major?”
    “Ah, I’m not quite sure yet,” I said. I had a passion for history, and I figured I’d eventually go that route, but for now, who knew? I certainly didn’t.
    “Well, whatever you decide, have fun,” she advised. “ASU is a small campus, but it’s great. Most of the professors are a lot of fun, and everyone is real friendly here.”
    If the rest of the town turned out to be anything like her, friendly was definitely the term. She had a genuine air about her though, and I liked that. Her warm smile made the energetic chatter less intimidating. Let’s face it; bubbly people could be damn scary. She wasn’t, though. She was … nice.
    We drew closer to the little group on the blanket.
    Our conversation slowed and then halted altogether.
    I took the time to study the other girls. They were as dark as Mandy was fair. Pretty in a timeless kind of way: brown eyes, dark, glossy hair, and petite builds. Bottles of water were strewn across the rest of the blanket.
    “Hi.” I smiled down at the three of them, my nerves clamoring.
    “Hi,” they chorused together, welcoming smiles on their faces.
    “Arionna, this is Chelle,