Sundays were particularly a strange day on campus. Half of the student body was gone while the other half had nowhere to go or nothing to do that was related to school.

For me, I had to stay on campus instead of heading with Libby and Tally for a day trip for fun around New York. I had a story to write, and that was best done when I could go sit in one of my inspiration spots and think. As I grabbed my writing notebook and two pencils, I started thinking on the topic, my mind going busy quickly. I ventured outside and began to walk to campus. I debated on where to go, especially since it's cold.

My go-to was normally the garden, but I couldn't go because all of the students going into landscaping and gardening were tearing up weeds, tilling, and getting ready to plant on most of the land.

I wandered around until I found a lake that was on the very back edge of the University's property. There were a few benches around its partially frozen over water. A few ducks huddled close on the middle island, and there was a beaver dam right by the mouth of the river that flowed into the pond and was recycled back on further up the river.

I sat down on one of the benches and pulled my boots and legs under me, trying to keep my feet warm in their rain boots that I had dried off with a hand towel.

I put my notebook on my lap and leaned back, listening to the sounds of nature. I looked around as I twirled a loose piece of hair that was in my ponytail.

Write on the beauty of nature and how humans effect their environment. This should express what you see, how you feel, and what damage has been made of the little things. Be creative, and have fun.

My teacher told me before that when I wrote informational essays, I seemed a bit too stuck up. I decided to get my creative juices flowing as I looked around, grabbing three things to focus on.

Animals, specifically ducks and beavers.

Plants, specifically trees and flowers.

Litter, specifically paper on the ground and recycling.

Slowly, ideas flowed into my mind as I spotted a thing to write about for different parts of my essay and how to incorporate them in the best way possible.

Even the sounds, my professor mentioned, use them to grab a tone for writing. I could hear the crunching of branches from under the ducks' stubby feet, the lapping water, and the small breeze.

I studied the way the animals reacted to the harsh weather and how the plants had adapted from a while ago. I noted how trash build up around the area caused most animals to not leave the dense areas of their habitat.

I came back to the bench and leaned down to pick up a piece of paper on the ground to throw away along with the other pieces I had gathered from the build up.

I held the garbage in my arms and went to throw it all away in the only trash can by the entrance. The ducks waddled past the trash can fast, racing toward the fallen timber.

I threw the trash away before going back to start my rough draft for my essay, something that needed my all.

Once I had finished with the rough draft, I stood up to head back to my apartment to order some lunch and edit, revise, and finalize my essay.

As I walked around to the front of the school and to the bus stop, I was soon stopped in my tracks by someone throwing their arm across my chest and holding me back.

I gasped and took a step back, looking to glare at the person, but they pointed in front of me.

There stood a guy in the midst of a proposal, the camera guy five feet to my right and forward a bit. I watched as the girl gave an excited yes before taking the ring and smiling at him for the ring made from flower petals. Interesting...

I was soon allowed to walk through, working on avoiding the few people I saw, so I wouldn't be stopped and lose the few ideas in my mind for other bits in my essay.

I sat down at the bench at the bus stop and pulled out my notebook, making note of ideas for my essay and things I had been thinking of changing.

I'm very forgetful, and usually, if I don't write something down, I'll forget it easily.

I felt someone poke my shin, and I looked over to see a little girl looking at me with a smile on her face.

"What's your name?" She asked in a small whisper.

"Ryla. What's your's?"

"Melanie. Look at the flowers someone gave me." I looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a bouquet of daisies laying on one of the seats.

"Those are beautiful. I bet someone got them for you to match your beauty, but I think you best the flowers by a little bit. Maybe they are your's." I gave her a small smile, and I saw a flash of a half smile before she skipped away, grabbing the flowers and disappearing into the crowd of New Yorkers on the subway.

I thought about what had just happened, the cute little girl so excited about her flowers. I strained to hear the broadcast over the train that we were about to be at the next stop, my stop, in the muffled and grumbly voice of the conductor.

Such a great person! Note the sarcasm.

I trekked to my apartment complex and leaned against the front desk as I waited for the owner's son to get off work. We usually eat lunch together on Sunday's when I stay up here, but Tally doesn't know that.

"Hey Ry, meet me there. Order what you know I like." Lucas passed me as he traded off with the next worker, and I went to the in-hotel diner which is owned by a family who lives nearby.

I sat down at a three-seater and waited for a waitress. Ashley usually has this zone, but I'm pretty sure she's off on her cruise already. I may be wrong though.

After I had ordered, Lucas slumped in the seat in front of me with a small smile on his face. "Today was not a good day, but thank you for brightening it." I grinned back and shook my head at his cheesiness. Lucas had always been one to make someone's day better when he could.

"I'm everyone's ray of sunshine." I joked, sitting up straight and dropping my bag to the floor by my feet. "As long as they notice me."

"You just do what you do best."

"Like Tigger?"

He chuckled at my comeback and nodded, shaking his head as he looked down at his lap, "like Tigger, Ryla."

After a moment of silence, I spoke with a smirk on my face. "If I wasn't your girl, would you tell me?" I knew he got my question because he rested his chin on his palm and stroked his stubble slightly.

"Promise not to tell?" He whispered, his eyes gleaming.

"Of course." We interlocked pinkies for a few seconds before he looked around us and locked eyes with me again, shaking our hands slightly to create some tension.

"Libby."

"Did your nose just get bigger?" I asked, leaning forward as I hoped he was lying. I took my pinkie away, scrunching my nose and sticking my tongue out slightly to see if his nose was bigger than the last time I saw him.

"No. I got Libby. Why? Is that a bad thing?" With his circle sunglasses hanging where his shirt met in the middle, it always made it harder for me to take him serious, but I saw it in the way he acted right now. He was speaking the truth.

"Just possibly." I looked away, hoping he didn't know what I meant.

"I mean, I wanted someone else, but it wouldn't have been right. There was another girl that caught my eye yesterday. Carol, I think?" Ruh-roh...

"Who is my best friend?"

"Just Libby." He gave me a proud smile for what he thought he knew exactly. Double ruh-roh...

He doesn't even know she exists!

I nodded as Ashley set down our food with a small smile on her face. "It's great that the two of you come every Sunday. It really helps our business in saving animals."

Ashley had always been able to befriend everyone. Everyone thought she would move away from her family to actually go to an Ivy League school, but she does some Ivy League school classes online in private while she attends classes at Tristan for her degrees in Neurology. She's fantastic and loves to spend time with her family and is a huge animal lover.

"How are your brothers doing?" I asked kindly, and she leaned on the back of the third chair as she spoke.

"PJ is planning on proposing to your sister's best friend, finally. I haven't heard much from Landon since he moved away with his wife and kids. I guess they're still getting settled after this last child."

Ashley left after telling us all of the latest gossip and giving me a sign about some important news with her work that she didn't want anyone to know. I had nodded my head slowly, giving her a sorrowful eye.

"What happened?" He asked, his tone going soft. I shook my head and dug into our food. It quickly changed from awkward silence to comfortable silence, and I was glad that I knew Lucas would be a great man for my other best friend if he would ever notice her.

"Would you videotape it for me tomorrow?" I looked up and locked eyes with Lucas. I nodded eagerly.

"Fill me in. I need to know in advance, so I can think of how to film it." He lowered his voice as he thoroughly explained his plans for proposing to Libby the next day.

He's such a romantic.

~

When I finally got back up to my bedroom in our three bedroom apartment, I settled into my desk and got to work on my essay, music flowing loudly through my speakers.

I finished typing the essay and grabbed my expensive and professional camera and skipped down the stairs as I pulled on my knitted hat and pea coat again. I hoped and prayed that Libby and Tally weren't close to being back here.

As I passed Lucas, he winked and shot me the double barrel roll, and I have it right back, making the girl in front of him laugh at our playfulness.

I ventured into the busy streets of New York, my camera bag slung cross-body and my miniature umbrella hanging from its string band on my wrist.

It was sprinkling, but I didn't care. I loved the rain. It makes me happy and want to write and read and take pictures and snuggle and watch a movie or something. I guess you could call me weird.

As I found the spot Lucas had described, I walked around, picturing what he had imagined. He has a way with words. He does want to be an actor...

Soon, night had fallen as I ventured back to my apartment where I was met with the sight of Libby and Tally dragging Tally's things that belong in her apartment to mine and Libby's. They were struggling and looked like they dearly needed help.

Instead, I passed them and entered the apartment, shutting the door behind me. I smirked lightly before quickly going to hop in the shower before dinner.

As I got on the shower, my friend's lived crossed my mind. It was funny how Tally's regular schedule made her completely miss Lucas working wherever he was. I still wonder if she even knows that his family owns this hotel.

Libby was another story. she had no interest in any certain boys but could point out traits about them that she liked but never someone as a whole. Maybe this could be it for her. she may find her true love with this proposal.

Otherwise, I just don't see this working out with anyone in our Senior class. Everyone is really just out of my league...

I stepped out twenty minutes later and wrapped my robe around my body before going to change into my pajamas and see if Tally and Libby needed help on dinner.

As I stepped into the kitchen, I was met with a completely unnecessary fight.

"Why can't we just make calzones and then heat some cheese dip for chips and cheese dips?" Tally was focused on something she had fallen in love with recently due to her trip to Mellow Mushroom with me on 'No Pizza' day.

"McDonald's is so much cheaper! We can just order it and get it delivered." Libby thrust her hands out, almost yelling in her face as spit flew.

"McDonald's doesn't even deliver, and we have the ingredients we need." I stepped between the two placing a hand on each of their chests to get them to be quiet.

"We can each fix what we want. Tally, McDonald's does not deliver. Make yourself a burger. We have some MorningStar Farm ones in the freezer." They went their separate ways in the kitchen as I leaned against the counter and massaged my temples, suddenly trying to relax my growing headache.

"I'm going to lay down. I don't have an appetite." They each hummed in response before I turned around and headed back to my room, needing quiet.

I shut the door and locked it before turning off the lights. I turned on my desk lamp and sat down, opening my book and a notebook for notes on re chapter. Everything was color-coded, and the book, of what I've read, has been highlighted and tagged the heck out of.

I put my forehead in my palm as I started reading, my glasses falling down my nose ever so slightly. The headache was sitting in the back of my head, making every noise super loud in my head.

I finally slipped on my noise canceling ear phones and slowly packed up my things for tomorrow before getting ready for bed.

I did everything at a snail's pace and soon enough, I plopped onto my mattress with my fan on medium. I covered up in the cold from outside and my fan.

The last though I had before drifting to sleep was of two big, blue eyes that were an amazing color.