*
"You look terrible," Brandon said to her when they met at the front steps of the manor.
"Thank you for that warm compliment," she said. "That's the first thing a girl wants to hear in the morning."
"Forgive me," he said sheepishly, avoiding her gaze. "But what happened to you? And why are your eyes bloodshot?"
"I don't want to talk about it," she said, sticking her hands in the pocket of her hoodie. The cold air caused mist to rise from their mouths as they spoke, and a light fog had settled over them. Brandon was wearing a black jumper, and his hair was pushed back messily over his head. Every few seconds, he would run his fingers through the hair and push it back, making it look messier than it was from the start.
Sierra caught herself suddenly. Since when had Brandon ever look
