Leaving my home behind didn't bother me much. It never really felt like home in the first place. It has only been a week since I graduated, but I've been eagerly anticipating this move since middle school. There weren't any ties left to cut and the law was the only thing in my way. After putting in my two weeks notice at work, every day felt like years and the anxiety was swallowing me whole. I had been sitting on every paycheck and scrounging as much into my savings as I could. My birthday is today, October thirteenth, and I am twenty minutes from stepping onto the train that'll take me away from hell. I check my watch for the five hundredth time today and shake my arms in an attempt to throw off the ever climbing threat of panic. Although I already have a job secured and I'm scheduled to meet with a young woman to sign for the house I've decided to invest in, I can't shake the feeling that everything is going to go wrong. The only thought running through my mind is that I will finally be alone.

Trees roll by the window as I finally feel at ease. I almost laugh at how silly I felt leading up to this moment, but as the train is rolling through my new town I feel giddy and excited. My anxieties return as I step out onto the barren platform. Trees and skies stretch all around me as I walk alone through the small station and find only a dirt path on the other side. I walk as far as I can, daydreaming as I drag my bags through the dirt. I feel my shoulders begin to burn and I stop, sitting on top of my biggest bag to rest. The fresh air is more clear than I expected when I left Hattiesburg for Eureka Springs, but my fresh start had just begun.

"Hey! Hey, where ya carryin' all that?"

The fast approaching footsteps told me that my peaceful escape was short lived. I close my eyes and groan internally. Nothing could prepare me for when I opened them again, not even the steeliest of nerves.

"You sleepin' or somethin'?"

As I opened my eyes again to glare at my new enemy, I find his face inches away from mine with dark golden eyes filled with enthusiasm. Nearly falling backwards off of my luggage, I steady myself and deliver my most menacing glare. The rays of the sun glowed along his tanned skin as he held his grin in spite of the aggravation I attempted to plaster across my face.

"If I were asleep, it was surely rude of you to disturb me. Do you always make a point of invading someone's personal space?"

"Only when they catch my eye. Care for some help?"

The wink he gives me leaves a dry patch in my throat as I cough out, "No."

I ignore the fine curves along his strong jaw as he grins again like a foolish child. With strapping arms and a swift move, he easily tosses the heaviest bag I have over his shoulder and begins walking as he whistles. I snatch the loops on my remaining bag and run to catch up to him.

"I'm sorry, but did you hear me? I'd appreciate it if you put my bag down."

I see a brief wave of frustration on his face as he places my bag down and I grab the loop, dragging it behind me.

As I make my way down the road, the quiet shadow I've acquired keeps pace, only irritating me more and more as I go. Only I could be so lucky to meet the one sole human in this town on this small dirt road in the middle of nowhere. I stop, my shadow stopping beside me as I huff, my lungs burning and my legs like gel as I glance over at the athlete stalking me.

"Fine. If you plan to be stubborn and follow me anyways, I'll submit to your help, but I don't want to talk. Understood?"

A smile breaks across his face as he hoists up the bag and we continue walking.

"I knew you'd warm up to me. Names Anthony, if you're wonderin'."

"I'm not."

"You comin' to live or to visit?"

"..."

"I live here. It's not too bad, I reckon. I been, ..."

"I faintly remember saying that I didn't want to talk," I grumble, discomfort quickly filling me along with aggravation and dismay at my luck so far.

The rest of our walk is silent as I carefully avoid the occasional glance he gives. As we approach the town, I look around to find the diner where I'm supposed to meet the realtor. I spot the diner just down the road and I nod towards the small building and he quietly follows, his soft expression making me feel something I can't place as we stop at the front window.

"ANTHONYYY!"

A young woman who looks to be in her late twenties is coming out of the diner in washed out jeans and a white button up shirt, tucked behind a tan leather belt as her boots click against the stone laid walkway.

"Mack! How're ya doin' today?"

"I think I'm waitin' on this gentleman you're leadin' around. You ain't tried to lure him to the Tracks have ya?"

As their bland conversation continues, I get lost in the figure of Anthony's face, unintentionally staring until I feel his gaze turn to me and startle me out of my stupor.

"Are you ready to go see the house, sir?"

The smug look he's giving me makes my blood boil as I nod, avoiding the blush creeping up my neck as I turn abruptly and head towards the only truck on the street while the two behind me continue their catching up. At least this time I don't have to be involved. As I climb into the passenger seat and hear the clunk of my bags in the back of the truck, Mack jumps into the driver seat, rattling the engine to life and surely destroying an extra layer of our ozone. I hear tapping behind me and I look back to find my bubbly new shadow in the bed of the truck, the metal chain at the back of his neck clicking against the window as his head tilts forward and it seems as if he has already fallen asleep. I wonder how he could possibly sleep through the bumps in the road as we travel deeper into the woods, the sunlight scattered through the treetops as I soak in the scenery.