I don't want to get drawn into the mindmate/soulmate difference because I don't quite have a handle on soulmates. I hate that term, in fact.
I first saw him on the day of orientation. I sat at the front of the room. My foreman was waiting for everyone to sit down before starting The Official Orientation Speech, taking us around the garage. This usual orientation speech was prefaced with "this is a girl..." gesturing to me. Everyone laughed. I waved, smiled. The guys I already knew laughed and waved back sarcastically. "Hey, Pink! So you're a girl, huh? That's cool....kinda knew you were a little off to be a fella..." Ah you people. So charming!
During this speech, he walked in late. He sat down behind me. I was turned sideways in my seat. He stared at me without blinking, like I wasn't supposed to be there or even exist. I stared back. His eyes were almost white.
This began a year and a half's worth of fights, affectionate grappling, witty zingers and just being around each other. He was so dry, so smart, so funny, I was always proud of myself if I managed to crack his deadpan face and make him double over laughing. I remember one day, we were just standing there on break. (On the news this week, there was a passing mention of grocery stores doing unethical things to their produce so they could sell it well after it's freshness date. This was not mentioned in class. I just saw it on the news myself.) I remarked that my friend D (a grocery clerk) had not been to class in days. Boy with the White Eyes shoved a cigarette in his mouth, remarked dryly, "He's probably in the back of the Food Lion, pouring Clorox on the meat..."
That moment is burned into my brain. I always knew he was paying attention, that he was smart and absorbed subtle things. He wasn't like the other boys. He looked up at me through a haze of smoke, saw that I caught the meaning, smiled at me a little when I was asked to explain what that meant and knew what he was talking about. I guess the other guys didn't watch the news. He got a charge out of not having to explain himself to me.
That moment is burned into me because two things occurred: A whiplash meeting of the minds and overarching physical/emotional attraction. Other moments like these occurred, yes, but that one, I don't know. Stands out to me. It sort of typified our interactions.