Jack was now sitting on the bus, struggling to keep a straight face. He could feel Anti bubbling beneath his surface, ready to come out. But it was too soon. Jack couldn't handle going back to the Athlone Home for the Mentally Unstable. It was such a terrible name too. He wasn't mentally unstable. He was just... different. So was she.

Jack bit the inside of his cheek trying to think of happy things. He didn't realize he was thinking about YouTube until the urge for Anti to come out was gone. He released a breath he didn't even know he was holding.

He swung his back pack onto his lap and unzipped the smallest zipper. Inside were two things: his phone and a small slip of paper. He stared at the paper pup tore his gaze away. He took out his phone and tried to turn it on, to no avail. The battery was drained from sitting in his bag too long.

The bus came to a sudden halt. The doors swung open and someone scrambled on. She had her beautiful strawberry blond hair pulled into a loose messy bun. She wore an oversized sweatshirt and baggy sweatpants. She pushed her hair out of her face and sat down right next to Jack on the all-empty bus.

"Hi." She breathed, giving Jack a exasperated smile. "I'm in a bit of a rushhhh." She said awkwardly. Jack didn't know this woman and was slightly creeped out by her actions. But there was also something oddly comforting about her. Anti tingled at the back of his mind.

Jack gulped. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" He politely asked. "Well I don't know you, so that be weird if you knew me." She said matter-of-factly. She proceeded to extend her hand towards Jack for a handshake. He hesitated before he finally shook her hand. It was soft.

"It's a pleasure." She said with her head held high. "...Could I bother you for a name?" Jack said. "Does it matter?" She said, furrowing her brows together. "I only give my name out to close friends."

Jack didn't know what to think of this woman. She looked so beautiful and there was...something about that voice of hers. Although her actions were strange, insane even, he admired her confidence. "Well, I'm...Jack." He said, fighting the urge to blurt 'Anti'.

"Nice to meet you.. Jack." She said, lifting her feet onto the small seat. She hugged her legs and set her chin up on her knees. "Where you headed?" She said, turning her head.

"I'm going home. For the first time in a while." The words slipped out of his mouth without even a second thought. She was just so easy to talk to. "Where are YOU going?" Jack said, playfully pushing her shoulder.

She smiled back at him. "Well..." Silence. With such a playful question, he could tell Jack could tell he had hit a soft spot. She took a deep breath, fighting thoughts in her head. She looked straight at Jack and her muscles released their tension. She was about to open up.

"I'm going nowhere. I've been stuck in some place I didn't want to be. And now I'm gone. And... I don't know where to go." Jack felt a pang of empathy for her. "But, I know I want to go somewhere. Anywhere, really. I think thats why I was able to escape from... there. Determination. I told myself, 'You need to leave, because any place is better than this one.' " Her eyes traveled towards the floor. " 'Any place is better than this one. Just go.' " she turned her head back towards Jack. "I told myself, 'Anywhere but here.' "