Todd sat on Monique's bed and picked up one of the books from her nightstand. It was an old, trashy romantic mystery with a torn cover and yellowed pages. He flipped through the pages with a bored sigh and glanced yet again at his watch. Monique had finished teaching her last class almost an hour ago, and she had promised to meet him in her room afterwards. Todd set the book down with and audible thump and stood up, smoothing the legs of his slacks with his hands. He shoved his hands in to his pockets and began to pace around Monique's cramped bedroom. After another fifteen minutes of anxious pacing, Todd decided to stop by her classroom to see what was taking her so long.

Todd closed the door to Monique's room and snuck carefully down the hall and out the door. If anyone had seen him coming out of her room at that time of day, there would certainly be questions. But Todd was careful, and didn't really mind having to sneak around. He loved Monique enough to make sure that neither of them got in trouble for their relationship. Sure, there were times when he wanted to shout his loves from the rooftops and times when he wanted to tell his friends and ask them what they thought, but he knew he couldn't. Doing so would bring around his downfall and hers. So he kept quiet and continued to love her and take pride in the fact that she loved him.

Todd had changed so much over the course of three weeks that even the students and other faculty members were starting to notice it. He was more outgoing. He wasn't afraid to laugh or tell other students what the thought in his classes. His school work improved, especially his English. He didn't cry alone as much, though only he and Monique knew that. Todd was, literally, a new man. And he knew that he had Monique to thank for that.

The air was cold but the sun was shining as Todd made his way across the courtyard on his way to the English department. His heels resounded on the cold stone and he took a deep breath full of the chilly winter air. Winter had always been his favorite season. Sitting on his window sill at home and watching the bare trees shake in the wind lor; playing soccer out on cold sunny days in his backyard had been some of his favorite things to do. Todd smiled and thought happily about how much his life had changed in the past month.

He opened the door to the English apartment and smiled and Pitts, who was on his way out, a stack of rather think books in his arms. Todd had to restrain himself from skipping down the hall to Monique's room as he made his way down the stairs. He knocked on the door, two soft knocks and then a loud one- their secret knock. He waited anxiously, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He ran his hands through his hair and looked at his watch. He knocked again and waited. He was surprised that she wasn't answering. The thought ran through his head that she may not have been there, but he didn't think that was possible. If she wasn't there, than where was she? She had promised to come and meet him after class unless she had a student, and Monique always kept those kinds of promises. He knocked a third time, his hand reaching down and twisting the door knob. He was surprised to find it unlocked. If she wasn't there, she would have locked the door. But if she was there, she would have answered his knock. He set a tentative foot in to the room and looked around, half-expecting to see some sign of tragedy. But the room looked the same. It looked as it had that morning and all the mornings before that. He walked quietly up to Monique's desk, trying not to make any noise. He knew that it would bring questions if he was found alone in a teacher's room with no sign of the teacher.

Todd walked to her office and turned the doorknob, surprised to find it unlocked as well. But as surprised as he was to find it unlocked, he was surprised to find Monique's sitting at her desk, a mug of tea in her hand and a students essay in front of her.

"Monique! What are you doing here?"

"This is my office, Todd. I'm grading papers. What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for you! You didn't come to your room like you promised you would."

"I'm sorry Todd. I know I promised. But I really do have to grade these essays. You know I can't let us get in the way of the job I'm getting paid to do."

"I know that. But why didn't you tell me you weren't going to come?"

"Tell you when, Todd? I haven't seen you all day."

"You could have told me today in class."

"In front of all your friends and classmates? Come on now, Todd. Use your head."

"I'm sorry, Monique. You're right. It doesn't matter that you didn't come. I was just worried about you."

"Well, that's very sweet of you, Todd."

Todd leaned against the doorpost and looked at the woman he loved. The sunlight was pouring through her hair, causing a red halo to appear around her head. She truly was an angel. Just as he was about to leave and let her get back to her grading, another thought came in to his head.

"I'll go ahead and let you get back to your grading, sweetie, but I only have one more question."

"What is it love?"

"Why didn't you answer the door? I knocked our secret knock three times."

"I'm sorry love. I just must not have heard it. I didn't mean to leave you waiting."

"No, it's fine. I'll go ahead and let you get back to your work. Besides, I have to go see Mr. Hankins about my chemistry homework. But I'll see you tonight, right? You'll meet me this time?"

"Of course, love. I'll be there."

"You promise?"

"I swear."

Todd kissed her lightly and a strange smell met his nose. It smelled vaguely like man's cologne. But Todd decided that he must be imagining things or perhaps even smelling himself. He patted Monique gently on the shoulder and walked out of her office, shutting the door quietly behind him. He exited her room quickly and ran back to his room, a huge grin across his face. Not even the looming thought of twenty chemistry problems to do in an hour could dampen his mood.

Monique watched Todd run happily across the courtyard and she let out the breath she had been holding. She stood up quickly and opened the small closet in her office. She smiled at the bright green eyes that met hers.

"That was close."

"You didn't tell me you were supposed to be meeting lover boy."

"You don't really mind, do you?"

"Of course not. Ok, well, maybe a little. But if sleeping with him makes you have the sex that you have with me, I think I'll get over it."

"You are so not funny."

The red-headed stranger pulled her close and kissed her neck. She shivered and kissed him on the lips, hard and passionate.

"You know you love me."

"Your right."

The two continued to kiss, wrapped comfortably in each others arms. By the time Monique glanced at the clock on her desk, she realized that she only had ten minutes to get ready for dinner.

"Jeffrey, I have to go."

"Go where?"

"To dinner! I only have ten minutes!"

"What is dinner? We can live on love. We don't need dinner."

"Maybe you don't! But I'm an old lady!"

"An old sexy lady!"

"Your flattery won't help! I really do have to go to dinner."

"Alright, alright. Fine. But I'll see you afterwards, right?"

"You know you won't. You know I'll have to be with Todd."

"Alright. Fine. You but you know, eventually I'll get sick of having to share you."

"No you won't. Not as long as the sex is good."

She kissed his full on the lips, running her hands over his crotch, teasing.

"Damn you, Monique. You know me too well."

Monique smiled and left her office quickly, rushing to her room and changing. Just before she left, the small bouquet of red geraniums on her nightstand caught her eye. She smiled and picked them up, reading the note in scribbled handwriting: Monique, sorry I missed you. I love you. Love Todd. She put the bouquet in a small vase and left her room, clicking the lock closed behind her. She knew that Jeffrey would never have left her flowers. But at the same time, Jeffrey was everything Todd wasn't.