Brandy huffed out a breath, watching it float away slowly and disappear into the coldness of the sky. School had just been let out and Brandy was on her way to the library for another tutoring session; she quickly rubbed her glove covered hands together attempting to create some kind of warmth. She came to an abrupt stop in front of her destination, she was as frozen as the ground beneath her feet. Stood in front of her were the stereotypical mean girls, stereotypical was a term she would use loosely to describe them. Mean girls came in all different shapes and sizes; the four girls that seemed as if they were planted in their spots were far from being quadruplets, unlike the type Brandy would read about in the cliche novels she loved oh-so much.

"Look who decided to show up," sneered the blonde, her piercing green contacts clashing against her pale, freckled skin. Brandy quickly inhaled a sharp breath of lung-burning air that left her holding in a cough as her pale orbs of blue darting around the snow-covered area for any sign of a bystander. Her cheek started burning, the frosty air not contributing as far as helping goes. Tears started to make their way into her eyes, Brandy knew she had to swallow them down, feeling the granola bar she managed to keep down churn in her stomach. She caught a quick glimpse of the tiny brunette that was nursing her frost-bitten hand. The remaining three girls formed an unusual circle around her, through the blizzard of snow rushing down from the charcoal colored clouds, Brandy could identify the girls as those from the soccer team. A girl with naturally wavy hair stood at eye-level with her; Brandy glanced down to see her lifting her foot, most likely imagining her as a soccer ball and going in for the kick.

"Sylvia!" A male voice growled, startling 'Sylvia' which resulted in her falling mid-kick onto the cold, hard ground. Brandy had to compose herself from bursting out into a Taylor Swift song and keep her brain on track, she quickly whipped her head around to see a tall figure making it's way towards the party of five. Sylvia and her gang of misfits didn't speak another word as they walked off, their retreating forms fading through the fog. Brandy made her way to the double doors reaching out for a handle only to find they were being held open. Once she was safely inside she turned to see the towering man smiling down at her petite frame,

"Ryker," she breathed out feeling the burning in her lungs making a reappearance. In that moment, something had overcame Brandy; that something had her pulling Ryker in for an embrace.

Ryker wrapped his leather jacket clad arms around her. He didn't attempt to fight the smile that came with being near her and sneakily placing her daily note in her jacket pocket. Closing his eyes silently calming his nerves that were jumping off the wall. He felt her move a bit and took that as a sign to pull away, all Ryker wanted to do was hold her and tell her everything would be okay, but all good things must come to an end.

"Why?"  her voice sounded, as her eyes stayed locked on the carpeted flooring. Ryker was confused, that was a fact, something his brain pieced together the puzzle. Before he answered her simple, one-worded question he led her over to their study table, the same table in which she sat everyday. He pulled the chair out for her, even removing the jacket from her shoulders and draping it over the back of the chair.

"I enjoy your presence.  I feel this weight on my shoulders when I'm with other people to live up to this reputation I had passed down to me from my older brother when he had graduated. When I'm with you, as cliche as it sounds, I feel as light as a feather. If I had to be cliche with anyone, I'm glad it's you and not just a random girl that has been around the block. If you're disgusted by me, I understand. Hell, I would be lying if I said looking in the mirror a few times I wasn't completely disturbed." He punctuated with a slight chuckle, Brandy couldn't bring herself to laugh.

"You're not disturbing." She pointed out, Ryker smiled softly and reached his hand across the table grasping her left hand in his right, stroking his thumb across the top of her hand.

"Umph, Brandy? What time is it?" He asked, suddenly feeling shy, admitting his feelings must have really taken a toll on him. Brandy used her free hand to dig through the pocket of her jacket before finally retrieving her slide phone and a white slip of paper.

"Three forty two," she replied un-entwining their hands making her able to push open the folds of her daily note and read the printed words,

it seems during these

freezing, sleepless nights

you are occupying my

mind

I'm not complaining

I just wish instead

of the having you

in my mind

I had you

in my arms

-an admirer

"What is that?" Brandy came crashing back into reality when she caught Ryker looking over her shoulder trying to read the words of her secret admirer.

"Ah, a secret admirer." Brandy could feel the heat spreading over the entirety of her face and nodded with a smile playing on her pink, still recovering from the cold weather, lips.

"I have an idea, how about if I promise to help you figure out who is sending these cheesy love notes to you, while you continue tutoring me." Brandy considered the plan for a few moments before craning her neck in such a way she was able to see Ryker who was comfortably resting his head on her shoulders and nodded, lightly pecking the stubble that covered his cheek, thanking him.