Tom's Nook

Arrival

My heart pounds along with the steady hum of the plane. All I can see out of the small window is bright, shimmering water. To my left a tall, thin cat-boy with light skin and gray ears poking out of his clean cut hair sits calmly, reading a book. He doesn't look even a little nervous or unsure of this decision. I shift my eyes back to the endless water, wondering what I'd gotten myself into. Slowly, something starts to form in the distance. I pick up my head and blink. When the forming shape of a small island doesn't disappear, I know what I'm seeing is real. I tap the cat-boy on the shoulder. 
   "Hey, do you see that?" I whisper excitedly. He looks up from his book slowly, a little annoyed. He glances at the island for just a moment and returns to his book with a small nod. He sees it too. I press my hand against the cool glass and steady my breathing. There's no going back now.
The plane lowers gracefully onto the water. Leading up from the dock, I see a small blue airport. On shaky legs I stand up, following the cat-boy out of the small plane. I stumble as I step clumsily onto the dock, and I hear a laugh come from behind me.
"First time flying?" A whimsically, almost raspy voice calls. The voice sounds kind and happy, raw from nights of singing and talking. I turn around. Red dog ears flop out from a similar colored red bob. Her skin is pink, with one black patch across her right eye. She reaches out one pink hand to me. I nervously reach up and shake her soft hand.
"Name's Cherry. It's nice to meetcha." She says casually. I stare into her happy, knowing eyes and I feel a little calmer. She seems like she knows what she's doing. I walk a little closer to her as we make our way through the airport. We pass through a gate, and it closes behind us with one loud swing sound. I jump at the noise, turning around. Our pilot is nowhere to be found, but a similar looking guy sits at the desk next to the closed gate. 
"This is where we leave you, but Tom should be waiting for you right outside."
Tom. I feel the heat rushing to my cheeks, so I turn away from the guy without asking his name. Cherry and the cat-boy had already left. The only thing standing between me and my new life was the big, open door to the airport. Bright summer sunlight pours in through the doorway and basks me in warmth. I step towards the door, walking through it like a portal, my heart pounding. The light blinds my eyes and I reach up with one hand to block out the light. Slowly I start to see my surroundings. Thick trees, weeds and sticks covering the ground. I scan the landscape in disbelief until... I see him.
    Right in front of me, the trees give way to a dirt packed clearing. He stands tall and sure, expectant. His thin shirt sways in the soft breeze, revealing his muscular frame. My eyes linger on the soft lines of his muscles and the thick outline of his strong legs under his shorts. I realize what I'm doing and snap my eyes up, only to find myself staring straight into his.
    His eyes are big, a deep rich brown. With his raised eyebrows and calm demeanor he looks like he's staring deep into my soul, discovering all of my secrets. I almost squirm under the intensity of his gaze. His eyes scan my body - up and down, up and down. I gulp as heat rises to my face. The sound of bugs and leaves rustling, of the waves close behind me and distant waterfalls, it all fades away under the sound of my hammering heart. In my ears and chest and fingertips my entire body throbs in response to his eyes cooley looking me over. I fear he can hear it, that he can sense my nervousness. He meets my eyes with a smirk, confirming my fears. I watch as he takes a few steps towards me, closing in the gap.
"It's nice to finally meet you," He says, reaching out his hand. I offer mine back and he clasps it with both of his, pulling me in close for just a moment.
"...again." My breath catches in my throat, every muscle of my body tensing up. He brushes my palm with his strong fingers as he lets go of my hand, sending a familiar shiver up my spine. One thought races through my mind as he returns to clearing;

He remembers.