"Why does it matter what I am wearing when I'm just coming home?" I whined into my phone and suppressed the urge to end the call. The train's momentum had me plastered to my seat and I gripped the armrest for support. The small solace of traveling by train was that I got the whole compartment to myself. No tension of false pleasantries, awkward conversations, or creepy stalkers.

"Well, it does! What are you wearing again?" My mother's voice, as sweet as her bakery, came through the loudspeaker. I pondered over the question, my eyes glued to the ugly looking patch on the adjacent wall, trying to determine the story behind it.

"Oh, this old sundress you picked out for me two years ago. The one with strawberries on it," I mumbled, trying to sound sleepy.

Well, given it was quarter to one a.m. I was entitled to be sleepy. But who was I kidding? I had never slept before two in my entire life. But my mother didn't need to know that little detail.

"Ty! I told you, you'll catch a cold! Take out socks from your luggage and wear them before the AC gives you hypothermia." I rolled my eyes but still got up and made a few noises to let her know that I was indeed wearing my socks.

"Done. Happy?" I said into the phone. Resting my head back on the corner of the seat, I stretched out my legs. A few bones popped at the movement and I winced at the sound.

Here it comes.

"Tyler Marie Anderson, have you not been exercising?" she spoke again, and I cursed under my breath. I had promised her that I would exercise daily when I was at the hostel. But to be honest, it had been a good three months since I had seen the gym.

"Fine! I didn't! Mom, can you please let me sleep now? I will be home in a few hours anyway. You can scold me however you want and as much as you want, then." The fact that I was on the chubbier and the lazier side wasn't a secret, and I knew her intention was for me to get healthier. But changes didn't happen overnight. Neither physically nor psychologically.

"Okay, take care," she said and gave up on the argument. "Lock your compartment door. Good night."

I mumbled a goodnight back and ended the call. "Phew," I said aloud, and then grudgingly got up. My bones cracking again and I locked the door to my train compartment. Not that I'd tell her I did.

It's spring break again, I thought with a smile on my face. The fantasies of sleeping in for as long as I wanted, the refreshing thought of no more Monday morning classes, and finally breaking the monotony of my routine thrilled my heart. My gratitude towards the inventor of the stupid breaks was too much as I laid down on the seat, and closed my eyes for a while.

*****

I pulled on my luggage and heaved a sigh as it got stuck on a small stone. Carrying one trolley, two handbags, and a carry bag was a little hard, even if I won't admit it aloud. Getting a taxi was rare in this town, and I had rather walk home from the railway station than waste money on a fifteen-minute ride.

Looking around the familiar surroundings, I smiled, filled with a sense of belonging. It was as if the whole town was celebrating my arrival back home. The ocean filled the air with its fresh and salty scent. The background music was the soft sound of the waves, crashing on each other, increasing their tempo as my steps advanced. Even the palm trees danced in the light breeze as I passed by them. With a skip of my step, I embraced nature.

Though I was coming back home after eight months, it felt like I had been there just yesterday. I had left as a junior and was back as a senior, making it the longest time I had lived away from home.

A bead of sweat trickled down from my forehead and into my right eye. I tried to wipe it away with the back of my hands, then gave up, and hoisted up the bags a little higher to prevent them from falling down. My legs groaned out in pain from exhaustion and even the cool breeze couldn't help my non-existent muscles. I paused and leaned against the dead street lamp for a few deep breaths. Wouldn't be this hard if I'd been exercising, I chastised myself.

My pause turned into a five-minute water break. Soft murmurs made me aware of the people walking behind me. When I thought about it, the low voices had been there persistently throughout my walk.

They can't be following me.

In a haste, I closed the cap of the water bottle and pushed it into the bag. A quick look confirmed the presence of the three figures walking behind me. Their hands were full of bags as well. My mouth hung open in disbelief. I blew my bangs out of my face and picked up my bags.

So, they had been following me since the station.

The shadows were instantly my enemy, and peeling my body from the street lamp, I crossed the road to the brighter path. A little distance between all of us wouldn't do any harm.

My movement must have caught their eyes as I heard them talking in louder voices. It was vaguely audible over the sound of the waves, making me more suspicious of their motives. I gulped and stole another glance at them. Under the dim lights, the three shady male figures sent chills down my body.

I was at once on alert mode and thought of all the dire possibilities.

I debated whether running, screaming, or confronting them would be the better choice, but couldn't decide. Because all the options ended up with me lying dead in the corner of the valley.

Oh, well.

Just a few more blocks, I reminded myself and walked faster. The dawn was breaking, the sole reason my mother couldn't come and pick me up from the railway station.

Running a bakery was no joke, not when it came to using the freshest ingredients. All the fresh fruits and milk were delivered right about this time. Since the small cafe was a part of our big house and all she hired were part-time workers, it became her duty to collect those. I couldn't be the sore one and blame her for not coming.

A new sense of relief filled me at the sight of my bakery and I inhaled a deep breath. Quickly looking over, I saw that the three of them were still stalking me. I huffed and stopped in my tracks. Seriously, in only eight months of my absence, this town has become so rude. And here I was feeling nostalgic for nothing.

More confident now that I was in my neighborhood area, I turned back. I cleared my throat and fixed my gaze on them, ready to confront and give them a good dose of their own medicine.

But to my disbelief, they passed by me.

I tried to refrain my face from burning with anger and embarrassment and shouted a very irritated, "Excuse me!"

They slowly turned as if they were shocked to be called out by someone. All their faces looked blank and confused. Well, shouldn't they get the best actor awards!

"You three have been stalking me for the past half hour. All the way from the railway station. What do you think about yourself, huh?" By this time, I was pointing my finger at them and my other hand rested on my hip as I wore a very believing glare. I dare them to try anything funny with me. They will have my mother to answer.

Not waiting for an answer, I pulled my trolley bag closer and rushed past them. A few feet away from the back garden of my home, a hand touched my shoulder. I flinched away from it and yelped.

"I think you are um, mistaken, um, lady," the tallest one said and raised up his arms in surrender. I glared at the dark figure in the shadows as my heart hammered in my chest. His words went over my head as I calculated the steps I would need to take to enter my house.

Four steps.

Not waiting for a second longer, I ran with my bags, hoping that the garden gate was ajar and I could squeeze in.

"Hey!" the male shouted and it made me rush even more.

Stupid idea, Tyler, stupid.

I slammed into the gate in my haste to open it. The handbag slipped down my shoulder and with the utmost urgency I bent down to pick it up. The bag on the other shoulder slipped as I picked the first one and with an irritated sigh, I hoisted both of them back up. At the same moment I was about to shout for my mother, the gate opened and I squealed in relief.

"Mom!" I slammed my body into her without giving a second glance. Unfamiliar cool hands wrapped around me.

I staggered back, blinked, and looked properly for the first time. A half-naked guy stood in front of me, scratching his head and yawning. His blonde hair screamed of just-woken-up-but-I-am-still-sexy bed hair look and his body too relaxed to be a burglar who had just looted my house.

Or someone who had been assaulted by a frantic teenage girl.

"You're here," he spoke and I jumped back at his voice. Is he talking to me?

"Yeah," a voice from behind me replied. I turned, suddenly surrounded by the four dark figures.

"Who are you all? I'll call my mom--" The streetlight flickered on above us and it startled me into silence. Between the tall bodies, I was like a non-existent ant, and like an ant, they paid me no heed. The light made me squint my eyes, but at last, I saw their faces. For a fact, they didn't look as shady as I had imagined them to be.

"Aren't you-?" The one almost as tall as the other one trailed off and looked at me closely. I pulled back a little even though there was no space to do so.

"What?" I tried to sound nonchalant but as I looked at them, I couldn't help but feel that I had seen them somewhere before. Especially the two of them-- the twins.

All of them looked oddly familiar yet I didn't know them. Deja vu, maybe?

Wait, weren't they-

The back gate to my house banged open, taking my attention away from them. "There you are, Ty! Come in fast," my mother called out and clicked it shut from inside.

The four of them met my stare. It wasn't pleasant. With a million theories shooting around my head, I stormed inside the house with the luggage wheeling behind me.

"Mom!" I shouted.

"I'm in the kitchen!" she replied, and I swore to god, I had never run that fast to the kitchen before.

"Mom! A half-naked guy just walked out of our house," I called her, and then added in a hushed tone.

"Oh, uh-huh," she replied as she worked on the flour for the pastries.

"Mom, did I mention naked?" I emphasized and heard a soft chuckle behind me.

I turned around, the four of them stood there, crowding the doorway as if waiting for something interesting to happen.

The Naked Guy was leaning against the door frame, his green eyes twinkling with mischief. He raised his hand and lightly brushed them over his hair. My eyes followed his movements, from his firmly toned chest and biceps to his disheveled hair.

He raised an eyebrow at me, and I snorted and huffed at him, and one of the twins tried to conceal his laugh by a very unconvincing cough.

I, at once, turned to her.

"Mom, call the police. Are you being hypnotized? There are four unidentified males standing in our house! Wait... You can't, can't be dating one of them?"

"However much I like Rose, Ty, she already has a guy," The Naked Guy said, and with another chuckle went out. All of them, like a pack, shuffled out after him, and my mouth hung open in disbelief.

Okay, this was totally not going the way I had planned my reunion with Jacksonville, my hometown.

I was supposed to come home, hug my mom, and then hug my bed.

Where did four hot and random teenagers come in?

"They'll be living with us till the end of spring break. So, don't make a fuss about it and go to your room." She wiped her sweat with the ends of her apron. "I gave them the rest of the empty rooms on your floor, so help them settle in once you are fresh."

"Mom?"

She continued to roll the dough out again for the pastry base. After a moment, she stopped to turn and look at me, her eyes filling with sudden tears. I saw her swallow and she swooped me in for a hug. Warmth, as well as the smell of oranges, engulfed my senses and I melted.

"Oh, I have missed you so much Tyler Marie Anderson!"

"Mom, stop using my full name," I retorted at once, but then added, "Me too."

She pulled herself back and kissed my whole face, patted my hair, and massaged my shoulders. As if she could look at me forever. I rubbed her back, not wanting to let go of her embrace. I was simple-minded, but the worn lines on her face were all I needed to know.

"We needed the money, didn't we?" I asked, and her smile faltered, but she nodded. I shook my head and hugged her once more.

"It's okay, mom. I'll manage it. Your daughter isn't afraid of anything!" I said mockingly, showing her my biceps. Her eyes welled with another round of tears, but she turned away.

"Shut up and go to your room, Ty." She muffled her awkward laugh and gave me a little push towards the door. Her hands went back to work and like a parent watching her child, I watched her, then reluctantly left the kitchen.

Grabbing my bags from the back room, I lugged them up to the second floor. There were two rooms on the first, and three on the second. So it was a cozy yet spacious house, but forever too big for the two of us.

After the gruesome workout of hoisting the bags up to the second floor, I entered the corridor to hear the doors click open along with a lot of shuffling. A loose shoulder bag slipped from my hand, and dropped to the floor as the four incredibly half-naked guys, in trunks no less, got out of their rooms and passed by me.

"Close your mouth. Ty," the green-eyed, half-naked guy spoke as he brushed my shoulder with his.

I quickly shut my mouth and swallowed.

"We're going to the pool, Rose!" I heard them call out, and then I remembered the four of them.

Our school's best swimmers. Or players.

In shock, I went inside my room and plopped myself on my bed. I had the hottest four guys of my school, over at my house, for the whole break. Why did I suddenly have the feeling that this break would probably be the worst one ever?

Or maybe, just maybe, the other way around.

*****