The blaring noise of a car horn and a loud crash snapped Winter awake, pumping adrenaline into her like electricity. Shooting up in her bed and looking around, Winter wasn't sure where she was or what she was doing there. But just as quickly the events of the last few days sunk into her, and understanding took over where shock had just been.

WInter flopped out of bed and made her way to the only window in the room. Her heart still raced when she looked out into the city, a feeling she hoped she would never get used to. But her eyes eventually dropped from the peaks of the buildings of the city and fell onto the road right outside of her apartment building. There was a small accident right up the road of the building. Nobody looked hurt, thankfully, but it looked like someone had been rear-ended though. The car owners were currently in a screaming match that Winter was glad she couldn't hear. Winter smiled as the face of the pre-teen girl who fixed her car popped into her head.

Winter wrapped herself up in her blanket and started to walk around her apartment, looking at it with fresh eyes. It wasn't amazing or anything, but it wasn't terrible. She could imagine where she would hang things and even what colors would work best in the space. While she was thinking, Winter stepped carefully, avoiding her many box towers, as she made her way to the kitchen.

Her stomach grumbled as she stepped onto the platform and her bare feet hit the fridged hardwood floor. Winter couldn't remember the last time she ate and smiled at the thought of a nice egg sandwich for breakfast. But her heart fell as she opened the fridge door and found it empty. "What a great way to start my Saturday morning" Winter sighed, shutting the fridge door.

Winter spent the next thirty minutes opening boxes, which Winter stupidly forgot to label, trying to find a decent outfit. She finally decided on a pair of white pants and a blue and white sweater. She might have picked something different, but her stomach was grumbling at her every few minutes to hurry up. After she had her outfit, Winter spent the next twenty minutes fixing her horrible bedhead.

One of Winter's greatest embarrassments is just how unruly her hair was in the morning most days. Her hair, no matter how much she tried the night before, always exploded every which way whenever she woke up. She had to work to get it back to its proper shape every morning. While Weiss, curse her, never had the issue and always had perfect hair in the morning.

After fixing her hair in a tight bun, making sure to get all of her hair into it, Winter decided to check online for a grocery store near her. That's when to Winter's horror, she first looked at the time. Instead of it being early morning like she thought, it was already three in the afternoon! "I slept for twelve hours!" shrieked Winter loud enough that her neighbor pounded on the wall. Winter blushed as she rushed to put on the first pair of shoes she could find and flew out the door, looking up a place to buy groceries on the way.

As Winter walked down the street, she couldn't understand why none of the grocery stores she was used to were near her. Luckily she ran into Earl in the lobby, exactly where she had left him last night, and he told her about a small place up the street called Elmos. Winter was nervous to walk down the street, but she didn't want to waste gas if she could help it. Plus, it was broad daylight and she doubted anyone would try anything… Hopefully.

Winter found it fast enough, it was a small corner store that had the name in faded red cursive above the doors and looked like it was made by the same person who designed her building.

Winter grabbed a handbasket and made her way into the store. After a few minutes of shopping, she started to feel… Off. Wherever she went Winter felt stares from other shoppers burning into the back of her neck, whenever she turned to look at them though, they were just doing their own shopping. Some even nodded at her with a smile. Winter felt her face start to flush, not sure why she felt so uncomfortable and anxious. She decided to hurry up and get what she needed.

Winter rushed with her full basket up to the register which was being manned by a slightly obese woman whos perfectly done makeup made Winter feel just a little bit jealous. "That'll be ninety-three dollars ma'am," Said the woman at the register with a warm smile. Winter felt her heart drop.

She opened her wallet and started to count, something she wasn't used to doing if she was being honest. Winter gave a forced laugh as she handed over almost all of the bills in her wallet to the woman. When did food get so expensive? Winter asked herself as she grabbed her bags and headed back to the apartment.

It was a quick walk back, but Winters' already sore arms almost gave out by the time she was back in the lobby of her building. She was met with a shock when she opened the lobby door, she and Earl weren't the only ones in the lobby for once. Standing there talking to Earl was a tall thin man with an intricately braided ponytail that went halfway down his back. He was curved over Earls desk and sounded like he was laughing. The sound made Winter shiver.

"Find it ok? No hassle?" Earl asked loudly as Winter made it to the elevator. The man, not noticing her, turned towards her with an annoyed look on his face, clearly not happy being interrupted. His annoyance instantly melted into an odd grin when his eyes found Winters. She could see his eyes travel up and down her body and felt like getting as far away from this man as fast as she could.

"Goodness, Earl you didn't think to mention that we had such a beautiful young woman in a building as decrepit as this!" The man exclaimed as he took two wide steps and ended up way too close for comfort. "Tyrian Callows, charmed, I'm sure" He smiled with a polite nod.

"Winter."She blurted after a moment's hesitation, making sure not to give him her full name.

"Winter… Such a beautiful name, for a beautiful girl!" Tyrian gushed as he moved his hand and tried to casually rest it on her shoulder, but she moved at the last second. He didn't look happy that she had moved.

"Tyrian, I needed to talk with Winter. Private stuff, you understand. So if you wouldn't mind leaving us alone for a while" Earl chimed in, his book to the side and his full attention on the two of them. Tyrion turned and looked at the old man with a look of contempt, but his face switched back to a charmless smile when he turned back to her.

"Another time then, dear Winter" He smiled as he snaked away to the elevator. Winter thought he looked like a spider when he walked and was glad when the elevator took him away.

"What did you need to talk about, Earl?" Winter asked politely as she let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

"Him. Stay away from Tyrion, he's bad news with a worse reputation. I can only guess which of the rumors around that creep are true… He lives on the eleventh floor, try and stay away from him if you can" Earl explained as he leaned back in his chair and picked up his book.

"Thanks for the warning Earl, I appreciate it" Winter smiled at him. He nodded and smiled back, then his attention turned back to his book.

"Five letter word for sweet. Starts with S"

Winter hit the elevator button with her elbow and thought. "Sugar?" She offered after a few moments. Earl looked up with a grin on his face.

"Right again" he laughed, writing the answer in. The elevator squeaked open and Winter got in with a skip in her step.

Winter gave a sigh of relief as she locked her apartment door behind her. It might not have been a long trip, but it sure felt like one, she thought to herself as she put her groceries away and finally started to make some food for her aching stomach.

Sitting down and eating her egg sandwich, Winter realized how quiet it was in the apartment. She was so used to Weiss being by her side or always being somewhere doing something, that the lack of movement and noise was almost unnerving.

After a few minutes, and a few egg sandwiches, Winter heard a small chime noise coming from her pocket. Then, another one right after. Winter grabbed a napkin and pulled her phone out. The texts were from two unknown numbers.

The first, Winter, this is Doctor Ironwood. I think it would be a good idea if you came in tomorrow and got your office ready for Monday. Please let me know if this works for you. Winter felt her heartbeat quicken, and she wasn't sure if it was anxiety or excitement.

The next was a bit… less formal. Hey, this is the one girl who was stranded in the middle of nowhere, right? If it is, let me know. I told Yand and Ruby they might get to see you again and now they won't stop bugging me until they know when. So we should probably work that out. Tnx, And then there was an emoji of a blackbird. Winter let out a loud laugh after reading Qrows text, it sounded like a middle schooler wrote it.

, I would greatly appreciate the chance to see the office tomorrow. I will be there bright and early, thank you. She wrote the message quickly but ended up re-writing it about a dozen times before she sent it.

Qrows message didn't take long at all to write though. She started it off with the bird emoji, making her smile. I would love to see you guys soon! I start work on Monday, so I'll tell you when we can meet then. But I should be available at some point this week. Tell the girls I say hi for me! - The girl you found stranded. Then she put a snowflake emoji and sent it off with a smile.

As Winter put her phone down she couldn't help but feel giddy. She had never felt so popular before!

-Authors note-

Thanks again to everyone who's reading the story and the support I've gotten! Thanks to anyone who has left a comment too, timrocks99 and daring-moon! Little stuff like that makes my day and gives me a lot of push to keep going with this! So any other comments are appreciated!

I really like this story so far and hope you guys do too!