I changed into jeans and an orange t-shirt. I left my hair in the messy braid seeing as I needed all the time of this day to accomplish everything I set myself up to do. I had to find a secure place in town secluded enough for five people. I was more than ready to move out of this place and be on my own. I may miss others company but I wouldn't miss having to report in to someone.

I had looked far and wide online making sure it was still in the boundaries where Daniel would still be able to reach me without him time reading. I had found the perfect place just out by the interstate. It was a foreclosed boarding house that the bank couldn't get rid of. It had a giant water tower on its property where they stored water from a well back in the day. It was nearly one hundred years and most likely would need repairs. Regardless, I knew that was the place I wanted.

I'd check it out shortly once I had the paper work in order and made a few calls. I offered to pay in cash so they were more than happy to send me the paper work in fax for me to sign and I would return after I made a copy. It was incredibly easy to purchase land. They never once asked for my age when I told them I was willing to pay in full. Having been reborn over and over again, I had managed to gather a vast amount of money. The private bank I was associated with was set up where the next version of myself would inherit all I have. They required identification was my locket. Believe me, it wasn't easy to make that motion happen but eventually it passed.

I shoved the paper work in a folder and into my bag. I hurried out my door and slid it shut.

"Where are you going?"

I turned to see Daniel in his back yard closing his trash can and coming over to the fence to talk to me. I readjusted the bag on my shoulder.

"Out," I replied. "I have a few errands to run. I'll be back soon. Stay here."

"Oh yeah?" he challenged. "Where?" He followed me out to the front to Aunt Steph's car.

"I trail after you not the other way around," I reminded him. I opened the car door. Daniel quickly caught the door not permitting it to close.

"I still want to know. What if there's an emergency?" he demanded.

"That's never stopped you before," I shot back. He wasn't letting me close the door until I told him. "I bought a place, okay? You happy?"

"A house?" he asked thoroughly surprised letting go of the door. "Are you moving?"

I rolled my eyes. "No, silly, oh just come on!" I pointed over to his car. I shut my door and we headed over to his car. I got in the passenger seat and he in the driver. He pulled out of his driveway and we tore out of our street. "The other protector and who they protect are on their way over. I have to house them seeing as I can't keep them with me and you can't keep them with you."

"Wait, so the Past and the Future are coming?" Daniel asked giving me a quick glance. "Have I met them before?"

"Several times, you just don't remember then for your safety," I said. "Take a left here."

"That's where the old boarding house is."

"Exactly."

The boarding house was much bigger than I expected. You could house about over a dozen people. The house was shaped like a large L. There was a well at the entrance and a rusty water tower in the back. The grass needed some cutting but that wasn't important. I loved the gravel path leading up to the house giving it more age than necessary.

"This place is kind of amazing," I said moving forward in a hurry to get a closer look at it. It was odd for me how excited I was about this place. It gave me sense of security and unity. I had a feeling this place would do us more good than bad.

"Amazing?" Daniel asked falling behind. "You mean old and creepy, right?"

"You used to live in a boarding house in the late 1890's if I remember correctly," I told him. "It was you and your father then. I moved in when I turned sixteen. It was a pity to see it burn down two years later."

"Did we know each other then?" he asked me as we got to the door.

"Yes, well sort of, we shared the same tutor," I said pushing the door open. The living room looked more like a lounge area with various dusty pieces of furniture big enough for three families. The kitchen was on the second story looking out into the living room. It was big and spacious enough to have two long wooden tables lined up to fit all the attendants. Portraits hung of famous visitors and beautiful landscapes. The bedrooms diverted away from the center of the house. "We studied together, that's all. I'm going to go look around."

The rooms were relatively sized enough for a decent bed, a wardrobe and a dresser some even had the luxury of a small television. The bathrooms needed some cleaning but they weren't horrendous. I was anxious for the others to arrive. Once I had a good run of the place I headed back down stairs to Daniel who was looking out the window to the water tower.

"Ricky and I tagged that water tower our senior year of high school," Daniel told me. "It's tradition. I almost broke my leg climbing up the stupid thing. We got caught either way, I was in so much trouble when my parents came to pick me up from the police station." He chuckled at the memory.

I shifted in my feet. I remembered trailing after him that day because I was the one who called the cops. Once I had gotten the scare of almost seeing him fall, I called the cops. I was far younger to do anything then. I didn't ruin the memory for him, I didn't have the heart to. I didn't see the harm if I didn't let him know.

"Everything seems in order here we can go," I said. Daniel and I left. I didn't know how I would tell Aunt Steph and Uncle Liam I no longer needed to live with them. I'm sure Uncle Liam wouldn't care but Aunt Steph would definitely let the water works go.

I sat in his car on our way home quietly thinking of somehow I could ease into this conversation with them. I needed to be certain it would end up with me leaving tonight or tomorrow morning. The boarding house was pretty far and I was hesitant to leave him here defenseless. I didn't like the idea of being so far from Daniel. Despite all my internal fussing, I knew I had to leave.

"You're quiet," Daniel noted.

"I'm thinking," I said looking out the window as he drove the familiar route to our houses.

"Should I be worried?" he asked.

"No."

He went through the drive through of a Burger King to get breakfast. I had a few pancakes with a big cup of hot chocolate. We arrived in his driveway and got out of the car. I was about to head to my room when Daniel gently grabbed my arm.

"Luce, wait," he said. He let me go right away once I turned to face him. He hesitated before speaking. "I'm an ungrateful, self-absorbed, rude, unfair, sorry ass, jerk. I shouldn't have caused a scene like that last night. You had every right to be angry, I was putting you in a tough spot." Daniel seemed honest enough. I hadn't really seen much sincerity from him until now. It made me shiver and heart melt at the same time. "You can stop me any time."

I smiled a little. I stepped forward and kissed his cheek lightly. "I hate that you always have to doubt yourself with me," I admitted. I crossed the lawn back to my room. I had figured I'd go out on a run since I had discarded the idea earlier on today. I changed into sweats and went off on my usual route.

My music blared as my thoughts reared back to coming up with a plan to leave the house. I didn't want to make a fuss or cause a scene. And I wouldn't insist Daniel to make a choice to join me, it was unfair to his family. I couldn't tare him away from them just yet.

Daniel would follow me to the ends of the Earth at this point. I didn't know what I did to make him fall for me so hard when I tried everything in my power to keep my distance from him. But it felt like we were like magnets, every time we repelled we would come closer again. It was a never ending game.

I stopped at the gas station and did a light walk around the perimeter to cool myself down a bit. The cool autumn day felt refreshing and jabbed at my lungs more painfully with air than usual. I waited a while until I felt comfortable enough to jog back home.

I had debated about training Daniel just in case so he would be able to defend himself while I was momentarily gone or at least until I arrived to his rescue. I wanted to prolong this as much as I could but I guess I couldn't take any chances. Luckily when I got home, Daniel was outside in his garage.

"Daniel," I said jogging over to him.

"What's up?" he asked turning to me wiping his hands on his jeans.

"How do you feel about learning a bit of self defense?" I asked.

"You're worried?"

I gave a nod. "It'd put my mind at ease."

"What did you have in mind?"

"You'll see," I said letting my hair out of its braid and slid the hair band onto my wrist. "Be at my door in ten minutes." I walked back to the house and quickly took a shower. As I showered and changed into clean clothes, I thought of all the tactics I could teach Daniel.