"Here, let me catch the door for you!"

I looked up gratefully at the dark-haired girl who held the door to the dorms open to me. I squeezed past, trying hard not to nick her with the box full of pictures and other mementos of home. Even so, I snagged her jacket with the corner of the box, and started to stammer an apology. "I- I'm sorry, I didn-"

She graced me with a truly beautiful smile and took the box with one hand to help me in and I felt a lump in my throat as she smiled at me. "Don't worry about it," she said with a low and soft voice. "Careful now, there are some steps ahead of you. Here, I'll warn you," she said, letting me catch the outer door with me shoulder as she started walking backward while continuing to hold the box. My face flushed and I looked down at the box as it shifted under us. "Okay, step up now..."

Somehow she kept me from stumbling on the steps. Maybe I was learning? I'd tripped over them on my first trip when my dad helped me bring most of my things in from the car. I wish they'd stuck around longer but it's a half day's driving to Arcadia Bay from Seattle. They wanted to get home before it got too dark out.

"This your first time in Arcadia Bay?"

I glanced up and the girl dazzled me with her brilliant smile once again while guiding me through the door to my floor. Thankfully someone had kicked a wedge under the door so it remained open for us. "No, I used to live here, five years back. My parents moved to Seattle when... for a job." I ducked my head to gaze at the closed box once more. She didn't need to hear about my parents losing their jobs and the house. It was none of her business anyway.

She paused at the cubby leading to the bathroom and I spied a glance at her. She was glaring at a blonde girl with a pixie cut even shorter than her own hair. The blonde girl was talking to two others who hung off her every word. My helper shook her head and glanced back at me, her face calm once more. Had I imagined her irritation? "Where are we headed, anyway?

"You know, I can do this, you don't have to help!"

She shrugged, her left eye twinkling. Her right eye didn't catch the light as well, it was a discolored pale blue that failed to reflect the light like her bright blue left eye. I blushed as I was caught in her gaze. "I've helped you this far, it's no problem.

"I- okay, it's the last door on the right," I said and we continued down the hallway. "Wait! My right!" I called out as I saw her crane her head over her right shoulder counting doors, and she nodded gratefully to me. We reached the door and she reached down, popping it open with ease, before turning into the room. And then everything fell apart as she stumbled over the edge of my suitcase, the box tumbling from our grasp. "Whoa!"

The box flapped open as it fell but thankfully remained upright as it hit the floor, only a few pictures fluttering out. Chloe looked up at me wearing a pirate hat while my younger self sported an eye-patch while grinning up at me. The girl reached down and gathered the pictures on the ground. She smiled at the picture of me and Chloe.

"Cute picture," she said, not caring that she'd just tripped over the suitcase I stupidly left out for just anyone to trip over. Like me. I'd probably be picking up all of my pictures from the floor if it'd just been me.

"I'm so sorry! I should have pushed that in further! This is my fault..." I apologized, but the girl shook her head and graced me with a smaller smile this time, though my heart still fluttered at it. What's wrong with me, anyway?

"Don't worry about it, I trip over my own two feet all the time. So, who is she?" she asked while handing the pictures back to me.

I glanced down at the top picture and found myself smiling wistfully. "This is Chloe Price. She's my captain and best friend. I came back to Arcadia Bay to see her again." I paused, my face burning. Why'd I say that? I'm just boring her with this bullshit.

Her sigh drew my attention back to her. She looked sad, looking away from me for once. "That must be nice, being able to reconnect with old friends," she said and glanced back up at me. "I'm surprised she's not here helping you though."

"Oh. I- I haven't... she doesn't know I'm back yet. I was- I was going to surprise her. We- we've not talked in years and... I don't know..." I looked away.

I glanced back at her as she put her hand on my shoulder. I'd not realized it, but I was a half foot taller than her. It was weird being the tall one; all of my friends were bigger than me. "You know, there's no time like the present. Why don't you visit her right now? Invite her up here to decorate. She'd probably love that."

"Um..." I stared dumbfounded at the girl. See Chloe now? I'd wanted to settle in first, not just be some dumb shy geek. I wanted... I... I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was going to procrastinate. Put it off. Because I was scared.

It must have showed on my face. "The longer you wait, the harder it'll get. I bet she'll be truly overjoyed if she knows the very first thing you did, even before unpacking, was visit her and ask her to help you out. To set things up. Try it."

I took another deep breath and let it out. "Easier said than done," I muttered.

The girl giggled then and said "Well, you could just procrastinate until she stumbles across you and is mad at you for not getting in touch with her sooner. I really think Chloe would be happy to see you now, Max. So why not?"

Why not? Maybe it's easy for her but... wait. "How do you know my name?"

"You mentioned it when you tripped into me earlier. You were carrying your suitcase, remember?"

I didn't remember. But that's not surprising. "I'm sorry, it slipped my mind. I've already forgotten your name."

"You can call me Angel. Guardian or otherwise, depending on your actions," she added with a wink and then tugged me forward. "Come on, let's get you to your friend before you talk yourself out of it. Trust me, it's better to get these things done sooner rather than later."

And that's now I found myself rushed out of my dorm to see my best friend I've not talked to in five years... not since her dad had died... with a guardian angel by my side.