"Ladies and gentlemen, we are approaching the San Diego station, so for those getting off please gather all your belongings and exit to the left once the bus has made a complete stop."

The voice of our driver speaking from the speakers was enough to wake me up from my sleep. I lifted my head from the window and stretched, getting caught up in the wires of my earbuds. New Found Glory was currently blasting through the lone bud still in my ear and it caused me to smile a little. No matter how much I felt like crap, my music was always there for me. It was also one of the few things that kept me sane and from diving off the deep end...again...

I shook off the memories that started creeping into my mind and tried focusing on the city lights. San Diego...I couldn't believe I was back. I had been born here but my parents had moved away from the city before I was even 12 months. I used to wish that I still lived here and had never moved to the small town I was living in now, but now, I'm glad they had moved. If they hadn't, I wouldn't have been able to come back. And boy, was I glad to be back.

"Home sweet home," I mumbled quietly to myself as the bus came to a stop. I slung my Jansport over my shoulder and grabbed my suitcase from the rack above me as everyone else around me started grabbing their last minute things and exiting the bus. We all eventually boarded off and I was frozen in my spot; the bus came to life and departed from the station behind me.

The city was still alive at this late night hour and the stars twinkled in time with it all. Street lamps flickered above the semi-deserted sidewalks and gave life to the few couples and streetwalkers out. Cars were honking their own musical tune and the rest of the town was absorbed into their own little thing. They all had no idea what was going on around them but they did it with such synchronicity and beauty that it made me tear up a little.

I was here. I was finally home. And there was no way I was going back.

---

"Thank you," I softly say to the cabbie as I stepped out in front the large building and handed him the cash for the ride. He gave me a kind smile and wished me a good night before he drove off. I watched him drive off for a moment before I reached into my pocket and pulled out a piece of paper and a key. I unfolded the paper and then looked from the address scribbled onto it before looking at the building in front of me. The addresses matched so I just grabbed the strap of my Jansport, grabbed my suitcase, and rolled up to the front door.

I had half thought that I should go find the apartment building office to check in with the management or some sort of office person, but then I remembered the time and figured I could get away with just checking in with them tomorrow and head up to my new apartment.

It didn't take me long to climb the few flights of stairs that led me to my room and once I entered that hallway, I immediately could hear the loud bass from one of the apartments on the floor and cheers quickly followed.

Great, I thought to myself, I'm living next to a bunch of party animals. Fan-fucking-tastic.

I just rolled my eyes and decided to ignore it and them. Not like I was going to be socializing with them anyway. I unlocked the door and brought my suitcase and Jansport with me, closing the door and finally beginning to ignore the party across from me. I ventured further into my apartment and couldn't help but sigh in relief when I found that it was furnished as promised. Throwing my Jansport onto the sofa, I walked until I found my room (which was also thankfully furnished). I deposited the suitcase in the large room and then started to wander around the apartment, which was beginning to feel more and more like a loft rather than a simple little apartment. It was almost too big for little ol' me, but I wasn't moving. It kind of worked, in an odd, weird way anyway.

I finished settling in and unpacked a few things from my suitcase to put away. Eventually, I had finished up with that and there wasn't exactly anything to do other than wander around my empty apartment, stare up a ceiling, or go to sleep, so I created another option and decided to go out. I needed some coffee anyway and there wasn't in the apartment (I had already checked through the cabinets) so I grabbed my wallet and key before heading out into the night.

I didn't make it very far into the night though because as I was opening my door, the door from across the way, the party room mind you, opened and I could see a shadow of a person coming out. I let out a soft sigh and made myself look busy. I didn't want to talk to my neighbors right now, especially the ones from the party house. All I wanted was a late night coffee, was that possibly too much to ask for?

I locked the door and it seemed like no one had noticed me, or had possibly ignored me, so I thought I was going to get away without having to endure awkward conversations, but I was wrong.

"Hey, I haven't seen you before. New neighbor?" a soft voice called out.

Softly cursing under my breath, I turned around to face a guy with long brown hair. He had a quizzical look on his face and a beer in his hand, so I decided that maybe this guy was drunk and wouldn't remember anything, so I talked.

"Yeah, I guess so," I say with a slight shrug. "But don't worry, I'm usually pretty quiet so you don't have to worry about me throwing any loud parties to wake you up."

The brown haired boy chuckled at my remark and gave me a lopsided grin. "Good to know," he told me. "Wouldn't want to have any competition as it was anyway," he adds with a wink.

I couldn't stop the laugh that escaped my lips as I shook my head at his remark. "Don't worry, your parties are safe," I joke, giving him a light smile. He smiled back and for several long moments, we just sat there and smiled at each other. It was kind of nice actually, but...

"Well I'll just let you go back to your party then," I tell him as I turned and made my way to the stairs.

"Wait!" he cried, making me turn around and looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "What's your name?"

"Dean," I blurt out, causing me to bite my tongue. You're so stupid Dean. You could have at least given him a false name or something like that. It gives him a reason to get close.

The guy smiled at me and tilted his beer towards me in a gesture. "Vic," he said before smiling and taking a drink from his beer. "It was nice talking to you, darling." Then he opened his door and went back to his party.

I stood at the top of the stairs for a long moment as my mind just processed what happened. Did...that just happen? Despite everything my instincts were saying, I couldn't help but smile at it all. Maybe these neighbors wouldn't be that bad...

I shook my head and then made my way down the stairs. Only time would tell, I guess, but I wasn't going to get friendly with them. That's why I moved out here and away from everything. No friends, no getting close, and absolutely under no circumstances getting close to any guys.

And that included Vic.

Notes

Hey guys! Here's the beginning to my story. I have this and the first chapter written up with the second on half way done, so stay tuned for that! (man I really suck at notes xD)