Then.

"She's ambitious, Joel." Drew says to Joel, patting his shoulder while a tight-lipped smile remains on his face. "Seriously, she's like, the smartest girl here."

Joel was looking at his friend like he was an idiot who couldn't tell his left shoe from the right. "Whatever you say, man."

"I'm serious!" Joel goes to cut the brunette off but before he can get the chance, Drew speaks -- as if reading his mind. "No, I'm not biased just because I'm sleeping with her."

"Sleepin' with who?" I ask, my timing impeccable as I jump myself up onto Drew's back, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

Drew smiles as my arms wrap around his neck. He doesn't say anything, just looks at his friend with a taunting smile.

But now, none of us can speak because Dean Schwarzenegger soon comes out onto the courtyard where each of us stand -- walking right toward us, eyes focused like we're in trouble.

I holster myself off of Drew and quickly stand beside him, offering a smile as sweet as pie when I look at the Dean and the man beside him. Both, of which, are looking right at me and only me.

Once they've finally come to a stop, standing in place just a few feet in front of us, Schwarzenegger gives a nod to both Drew and Joel, a look of unpleasantry behind his dark eyes, and it's no question why. Drew and Joel were some of the smartest guys on campus -- especially amongst the Meteorology department, but they were also two of the biggest partyers around. Everyone (the Dean included) knew.

While the only thing the boys earn is a subtle nod and their names spoken with distaste, Schwarzenegger takes a step forward to shake my hand. "Miss Meadows, this is Tyler Owens."

He's plenty inches taller than short and stubby Dean Schwarzenegger, and especially than me. His hair is the color of a hot cocoa and his smile as white as the marshmallows. He's next to shake my hand, and when he does, I take notice to the feel of the way the gold of his rings feel against my hand -- cold.

"Dallas." I say.

His eyes alight with surprise, almost confusion -- or maybe he's intrigued. "Dallas."

"Miss Meadows is President of the Welcome Comittee. She's going to be the one to tour you around the campus."

Tyler looks light he's trying to fight off a smile as he says the words. "Lookin' forward to it."

We share a grin like we're the only ones in this courtyard and I think I could get lost in his eyes for quite some time if he let me.

But Drew clears his throat, and when I go to look at him there's jealousy drawn out on his face.

I give him a reassuring nod before taking off with Tyler.

"So, what brings you to UofA?" I ask him as we walk towards the campus buildings, the warm summer air filled with the scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers.

Tyler's gaze drifts around, taking in the sights of the bustling university grounds. "It's close to home."

He says the honest words with a shrug, and it's when I notice just how thick his accent is.

"Oh yeah? What part're you from?"

"A farm just a few minutes from here."

I realize he's wearing tecovas, just like me, except his are a much darker brown -- dried mud clamped around the heels and hundreds of more creases. My brows raise with amusement the next time I meet his gaze "A cowboy, huh?"

He smiles like he's just been figured out, but tries to hide it with a bite of his lip. "What about you, hmm? Where are you from?"

"Wanna guess?"

His eyes narrow on me for a moment, eyes scanning down my body -- analyzing the wear and tear in my boots and the stains of my bell bottom jeans. "Texas?"

I can't help the laugh that slips past my lips. "You're just saying that 'cause of my name."

He shares my stupid grin. "Maybe."

Once my laughter has died out (his too), I completely forget that I'm supposed to be showing him where each building is and what's inside, but instead, I'm caught up far too much in the story behind his eyes. "I'm from Saint Johns."

"No shit?" His eyes widen just like mine a few minutes ago. "You're messin'."

My hands raise in defense as his slide deeper into the pockets of his jeans. "Nope. Born and raised."

"Well, I'm still gonna call you Texas."

"'Kay."

As we stroll across the campus grounds, a gentle breeze teases the leaves, creating a soft rustle that seems to harmonize with the unspoken melody between Tyler and me. Just a gentle silence falls between us as our laughter has died.

His eyes, pools of molten gold beneath a brow of thoughtful furrows, looking down at his worn tecovas.

It's silent, nothing but the leaves at our feet crinkling, but it isn't awkward.

Until, after what feels like only seconds but I know has been a few minutes because we're no longer at the steps of the library, but at the first dorm hall, he speaks.

"Saint Johns, huh?" he repeats the location with such infatuation it makes me want to ask him all sorts of questions. "That's a long way from here."

I nod, giving him a shrug. "You get used to it."

He hums, eyes only meeting mine for a split second until he breaks out into yet another lopsided grin. "Rains a lot there."

It's such a random thing to say -- so unfunny, yet for whatever reason, I laugh for almost fifteen seconds while Tyler looks at me like he's counting. But the soft, concentrated eye contact draws me back to reality for a moment, but my wide smile remains still on my face. "Well, I'm not made of sugar."

He pulls his hand out of his left pocket to scratch his brow, chuckling. "Yeah, that's good."

But as all good things must come to an end, we arrive at the Sciences building, which means I now have to actually do my job.