My Year At Seacliff - Intro

My Year At Seacliff - Intro

(A fan story, based off of Animal Crossing New Leaf.)

"Have you ever travelled somewhere completely unfamiliar, But it still felt like home?"

"That was Seacliff, for me. It feels like I was there a lifetime ago, but looking back? It was the best year of my life."

I sat on the train, looking out the window as the trees and buildings rushed by; My city's skyline traveling further and further back into the horizon. It's sunset. Not many others are on the train, but I hear a voice approach me. A young man taps me on the shoulder. He's dressed in a sweater vest with a button down shirt underneath, wearing chinos and loafers. He has a fairly smug grin on his face- but not in a condescending way.

"Hey, mind if I sit next to ya? It can get pretty boring on the train if you're all by yourself."

I nod quietly, smiling back at him with a half smile as my stomach churns at the thought of moving somewhere new for the first time in my life.

The young man sits across from me and beams a smile. He extends his hand.

"Name's Rover."

I look at him, sort of reluctant to shake his hand. But I do it anyway.

"Logan. It's nice to meet ya."

We shake hands for a moment. Then a brief moment of thick silence passed. I was just so anxious about the move that my brain kept looping over and over about everything that could go wrong. What if I miss home? What if I can't make new friends? What if…

He breaks the silence.

"Y'know. I've been all over these parts. I know the rails like the back of my hand. You're coming from Skytop, right?"

"Mhm. It's where I grew up. Lived there my whole life."

He smiled softly and looked out the window, resting his elbow on the ledge as he holds his head up in his hand.

"It's a lovely city. Lot's of great places to eat- lots of places to meet people.."

I cut him off.

"It's lovely to visit."

He lifts his head from his palm and faces me again.

"Hmm, I suppose. What made you want to leave, though? ..If you don't mind me asking."

I grew mildly irritated with Rover. He's a complete stranger and he's bombarding me with questions. I try to remain calm but my teeth grit as my irritation slips through the cracks of my facade. I wear my heart on my sleeve, after all. At least that's what everyone tells me.

"I just want to know if there's more out there for me. Skytop is great if you love loud streets, strangers, and a fast paced life.. but I don't. I want to meet people and have them know my name- I want to watch the stars at night and I want to feel the crash of the waves at my feet on the shoreline-"

"Shoreline……shoreline…"

Rover becomes lost in thought as he closes his eyes and thinks for a moment.

"..Yeah. Shoreline. Where I'm headed.. I hear the cliffs look over an ocean that glows as the waves hit the sand. It's in their brochure."

"Ah! I got it- You're headed to Seacliff, aren't you?"

I was about to hand him the brochure but as he guessed it correctly In put it back into my pants pocket.

"Yeah..! How'd you know, though?"

He smiled and nodded to himself. He opened his eyes a moment later looking me in the face.

"Like I said.. I know these rails like the back of my hand. It's the only town this train stops at that's by the ocean. End of the line before it loops back around."

"I see.. have you been there? Is it nice..?"

He chuckles to himself, and looks at me with a reassuring gaze.

"I think you'll love it. Haven't been there myself but.. I've heard that town is special."

I looked at him, puzzled.

"What do you mean? Why is it special?"

"Well.. rumor has it that anyone who visits Seacliff finds something. It could be something little…. maybe a trinket or souvenir. Or it could be something bigger- who knows."

"Hah! Maybe I'll find the love of my life or something."

I said with a trace of sarcasm. ..But what if I did find the love of my life? I've always wanted to fall madly in love with someone.

"Heh, maybe you will! For your sake I hope you do- but.. maybe you'll find yourself, too."

"Find myself? What does that mean?"

"Well, you know- maybe you'll find out things about yourself you've never known before! I think we all find new pieces of ourselves when life takes us to new places."

We both look out the window. The silence is softer and lighter than before. The stars shined brightly through the orange and purple sky as the sun continued to set. I had never seen stars that bright- when you're in a city the lights from the skyscrapers blot out the stars in the sky, making them very hard to see. But these were so clear- it's like you could reach out and grab them. We sat quietly for the rest of the ride until my stop finally came.

"Looks like your new story starts here, Logan."

"I guess it does!"

I said, picking up my suitcase and bag.

"You look a lot less worried now- that's good! Everything will work out. I know it will!"

"Thanks, Rover. Maybe someday I'll see you again!"

He chuckled.

"Maybe! Now get going, or else you'll miss your stop!"

I nod and make my way off of the train. As the train departs, Rover waves at me with a smile.