I sat on the white four-board fence that surrounded the four horses taking shelter under the old pine. I watched them, thinking hard, my eyes lazily following the steam rising off their backs. It had been so long since I’d been here. Done this. It was hard to believe I’d last time I sat here eight years ago, I promised myself what I have now. It had been I promise made in the heat of the moment, but I keep my word.

I paused, and felt the rain trickle down my neck. I was soaked, but I didn’t care. In fact, I was rejoicing, the last time I was here it was raining, too. I smiled cynically. I always had believed life was a circle. My thoughts heavy, I suddenly leaped down from my perch and began to run. My cowboy boots that churned the gravel as I raced up the driveway were the only thing that betrayed my secret, hidden for so many years. This was where I belonged. This was where I grew up. This is what I came back to. And this, this was where my heart would stay. My white, tight-fitting t-shirt clung to my skin and my shorts tossed water towards my feet as they took me to an unrevealed destination. Eventually, I took note of my surroundings. I smirked. Still in shape. The small town looked the same way I’d left it. The small grocery store, the school, the barber’s, the cinema, and the tiny mall that the teenagers still got together at, by the looks of it. I turned towards the clothing store, sighing at the thought of greeting Mrs. Canebridge like this. I pushed open the door after wiping my muddy boots on the Welcome mat outside. The old bell rang as I stepped inside.

The old lady at the counter looked up and took in my form with kind blue eyes, showing not a hint of surprise. Mrs. Canebridge pushed her glasses up to forehead.

“Why, Alex. You promised you’d stay in touch.” I meandered up to the counter to greet my old friend.

“Mrs. Canebridge. You don’t look a bit shocked to see me. Even more surprising, you aren’t scolding me for being wet, and spouting the old wives’ line about catching my death.”

“Well, dear, you’re older now- 26 I believe, and I always knew you’d come back.” A smile spread across her wrinkled face.

I laughed. “And I’m taking a stab in the dark here, but you also know why I left, don’t you?”

“Of course, dear. I’ve known you before you were born. Your mother has been better at keeping in touch than you, though. At any rate, it was that boy.”

“I owe you an apology for that. You deserved at least to hear me say goodbye. But, when I left I didn’t want any attachments, and I never thought I’d be back.”

“Darlin’, it wouldn’t have been goodbye. It was only see you later.”

“What happened to him, anyway?”

“Damien? Oh, he took off for about five years after you left. Got an education out of state somewhere. Came back three years ago. He’s still working out of town, but he lives in his old house, right next to yours, I believe.”

“Oh…Well, let me pick out some clothes and be on my way.” I sighed. So he left, and came back. I guess I’m not the only one drawn to this little town.

I picked up a few dry t-shirts, and a pair of shorts, paid, changed, and was on my way. The downpour had turned into a mist, and I threw my bag of clothes, marked with the Cane’s emblem, over my shoulder and jogged towards my home. I realized that moment what it was. Home. Under the Texas sun. What I didn’t know, was that not only did a pair of powder blue eyes follow me, but a pair of half-shuttered, electrifying green orbs.

Read and Review, please! Thankies! I KNOW I haven’t update IB&W, but I’ll get to it this week.