I'm Not the One You Were Meant to Find
Summary: AU. Lucy is a young woman from the elite Cahill family, one of the most well-respected and power families in all of California. Wyatt is from an equally rich and powerful family, the Logans. The two families are in constant competition; Lucy's father, Benjamin and Wyatt's grandfather, Sherwin, are old rivals. What happens one night when Wyatt and Lucy meet at a college party and sparks fly? Can these two young people find love or are they destined to be pulled apart by their families historic rivalry.
Author's Note: Lucy and Wyatt are the same age and both attend Stanford. Lucy is studying history and anthropology while Wyatt is still undecided for now. Amy is still alive and is a senior in high school, only a few years younger than Lucy. Amy and Lucy both share the same father, Ben Cahill and were both raised in San Francisco by Carol and Ben. Wyatt's parents both died when he was young and he was raised by his grandparents, Sherwin and Claire Logan. He was born in Texas but moved to San Francisco at the age of 14 after his parents died. Neither Lucy or Wyatt have ever met up until this point. Their families do not get along and try to stay out of each other's way as much as possible.
Disclaimer: Timeless and its characters are property of NBC and Sony. The title as well as the few lyrics in the first chapter are from the song Rewrite the Stars from The Greatest Showman soundtrack.
Chapter 1
Its not up to you
Its not up to me
When everyone tells us what we can be
How can we rewrite the stars
Say that the world can be ours
Tonight
"I don't know about this Ames." Lucy said as she searched her tiny dorm room closet looking for a certain outfit. "You know college parties aren't my scene.
She heard her younger sister's scoff from the speaker of her computer, turning to see Amy rolling her eyes over the Skype box.
"And I'm telling you, big sis, that you need to get out more." Amy smirked. "Do you know how much I would kill to be invited to a college party?"
Lucy shook her head, still poking around her closet. "How are we related again? I have no interest in any of this. I didn't work my butt off all through high school to get into Stanford just to attend some ridiculous college rave."
"Seriously, no wonder you are mom and dad's favourite." Amy pretended to pout. It was a long standing joke between the two of them. "Okay nerd, turn around let me see what you found."
Lucy let out a long sigh and pulled the dress from the closet. It was the only black dress she owned and by far the shortest.
"Yes, Luce, that's the one!" Amy cheered.
Lucy looked at it. She had bought it at the mall a few months ago on a whim and had yet to wear it. "Are you sure I can pull this off?" She frowned.
Amy nodded eagerly. "You don't seem to realize it, but you have a body most girls would kill for. Now put it on."
"Bossy." Lucy mumbled as she disappeared into her small bathroom and came out a few minutes later with the dress on, feeling awkward.
"That's it!" Amy exclaimed. "You look amazing."
Lucy blushed. "I guess its not so bad."
She admitted looking at her lanky form in the mirror.
"Now about the make-up, make sure when Jiya does it, its not that dark. You don't want to look like a whore."
"Amy!" Lucy admonished. Sometimes her sister had no couth. "I'll tell her to keep it natural, I promise." She was, of course, referring to her best friend since childhood, Jiya, who was tagging along with her to the party with her boyfriend, Rufus.
"And make sure you send me pictures." Amy held up her phone as a reminder.
Lucy laughed. "Pinky swear I will."
Amy nodded emphatically. "Oh and Luce, if you happen to meet any good looking guys, make sure to use protection."
Lucy's eyes widened in shock at her bluntness. "Goodnight Amy!" She shook her head and turned the computer screen off just as she heard a knock at the door.
Struggling to straighten up her small room on the way to answer the door, Lucy was almost out of breath as she pulled it open.
"You're out of breath, anything I need to know?" Her best friend asked with a knowing smirk as she walked into the room.
Lucy chose to ignore her and looked around for the missing person who usually followed Jiya wherever she went.
"Where's Rufus?"
Jiya shrugged. "I told him we were doing girly things so he asked if he could just hang out in the lobby."
Lucy nodded in understanding. The lobby of the dorm had an air hockey table and a few computers set up. For a guy, it was a better option than sitting and waiting while her and Jiya did her makeup and hair.
"About that dress, Luce you look amazing." Jiya said in awe.
"Are you sure it isn't too much? Amy liked it, but she and I have such different styles." Lucy said.
Jiya shook her head. "Listen to your sister, you look awesome. The guys will be all over you."
Lucy groaned. That is exactly what she didn't want. Not at this point in her life anyways. "Maybe I should change."
"You will do no such thing. Now sit and let me see if we can tame that hair." Jiya gestured to the chair in front of her small vanity. She ran her hands through Lucy's curls and started pinning it back in some kind of updo on the lower side of her head. It was casual yet it still fit with the overall look they were going for. Soft tendrils of curls were left loose to frame her face.
"So why are you going to this party if you have no intention of hooking up with any guys?" Jiya asked as she started fumbling through Lucy's makeup bag.
Lucy sighed. "Its Amy's idea. She thinks I need to get out more and make some more friends. Although I think she is secretly hoping I will meet someone and maybe turn into one of those college girls." She rolled her eyes.
"What girls?" Jiya asked. "You mean the ones that do the walk of shame?" Off Lucy's nod, Jiya burst out in laughter. "Luce, I love you, don't get me wrong, but you could never be one of those girls. You are a long term relationship girl."
Lucy scoffed. "How would you know, the longest relationship I've ever been in lasted 2 months."
Jiya nodded. "That's because Noah was boring as hell. I know you and I know you are holding out for the one and that's great. But in the mean time, you need to get out more. So in that sense, Amy is right."
Lucy gave her best friend a thankful smile, glad she understood and knowing she would look out for her at the party. Jiya patted her shoulder, signalling to her that she was done. Lucy stood up once again in front of the mirror, taking in her reflection. She had to admit, she looked good. Her makeup was natural looking, her hair was classy, and she wasn't dressed over the top.
"Relax, you look great." Jiya said as if to read her thoughts, coming to stand beside her in the mirror. "Ready to go?"
Lucy nodded and grabbed her purse, unaware of just how life changing tonight would be.
Two hours later, the party was in full swing. Lucy knew she was right, this was not her scene, not by a long shot. She had been nursing the same glass of cheap wine all night and was currently sitting on the couch, watching all the drunk idiots, including her best friend and Jiya's boyfriend.
Shaking her head, she pulled out her phone, about to text Jiya that she was going to take off, when she felt someone sit down next to her on the couch.
Turning her head, she saw a guy about her own age, lay his head back against the cushion behind them. Figuring he was hungover, Lucy rolled her eyes.
"Are you asleep?" She asked curiously.
The guy shook his head. "No ma'am."
"Are you drunk?"
Again she was met with the same reply. Feeling annoyed, Lucy said "you know we're about the same age, so you can stop calling me ma'am."
That got his attention as he finally opened his eyes, one eye brow raised, and a smirk on his face. He had barely noticed the girl before when he sat down, all he could focus on was getting away from the craziness going on around him. This wasn't his scene. Having just gotten medically discharged from the military due to injury, he was not big on loud noises and crowds. He had no idea how he let his friends talk him into coming. They said he was turning a hermit and needed to socialize a little. Now all he wanted was to go back to his small, but peaceful dorm.
Now that he got a good look at who was next to him, he realized she wasn't a girl, but a woman his own age or a year or two older. She was beautiful with her dark hair and big brown eyes. She was a little over dressed for a college keg party so she stood out, but he didn't think that was a bad thing.
"Pardon me, ma'am, but aren't you a little overdressed?" He asked the woman.
She rolled her eyes once again when he called her ma'am. She hated it when people called her that, so why did it feel so different being called it by this blue eyed stranger? She looked down at her dress and realized he was right, she was a little overdressed.
Blushing, she said "I guess I am a little. My friend and sister were the ones who suggested I wear this. I've never been to a party like this before."
The man nodded in understanding. "Me neither. I mean, its my first year here so I guess that makes sense."
"I'm a junior and I've never been to one."
Lucy chuckled. "The party life isn't for me, tonight was the perfect indication."
"Its not my scene either. My friends were the ones who dragged me here. They think I'm turning into a hermit or something." He shrugged.
Lucy's eyed bulged at his revelation. They were both here for the same reason. "My friend was the one who convinced to come as well."
The man laughed lightly. "Glad I'm not the only anti-social one around here."
"I don't mean to be anti-social, I would just rather be at home reading right now." Lucy said.
"Instead you are stuck here listening to me drone on about my pathetic social life."
"Its not so bad." Lucy replied before she could stop herself. "I..I mean…" she stammered nervously.
He smirked again, and damn it if that smirk didn't set her insides on fire.
"Wyatt." He held out his hand to her, offering his name even though she never asked.
Lucy shyly gave him her hand, finding hers completely dwarfed my his. "Lucy." She replied as he raised her hand to his lips.
"Pleasure to meet you, ma'am, I mean Lucy."
"Do you mind if I ask where you are from? There's not too many guys around here who call women ma'am." Lucy questioned.
"I'm from Texas originally. I moved here years ago though. My Grandparents have lived here for generations." Wyatt explained.
Lucy nodded. Of course he was from the south, that explained so many of his mannerisms. "And you're attending Stanford?"
Wyatt nodded. "My Grandfather and my father are and were alumni. It was the expectation of me to go there, although I kind of threw their plans to hell for a bit there by joining the military." He shrugged like it was nothing.
"You're in the military?" Lucy asked in surprise. He was so young.
"Was. I was discharged a few months back due to injury."
Lucy nodded taking it all in. He wasn't like other guys she knew. Most guys her age that she knew were rich kids with entitlement issues. Wyatt seemed like none of those things. He was intriguing to say the least.
"Lucy, there you are." She heard Jiya's voice call for her. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
"Figured you would be too drunk to notice me by now." Lucy sassed with a laugh.
Jiya and Rufus both looked at each other, feeling awful for seemingly ditching her.
"Well we are going to head out if you want to come with us." Jiya said not even noticing the guy sitting next to Lucy.
Lucy looked to Wyatt, slight disappointment on her face. "Yeah I should probably go."
Wyatt fumbled with his phone. "Could I get your number? Maybe we could hang out sometime."
Lucy was shocked. She didn't think he'd be interested in seeing her again. She looked to Jiya who was holding back a laugh and an obvious comment.
She quickly put her number into his phone and handed it back to him.
Wyatt gave her a heart-stopping smile. "It was great to meet you Lucy."
Lucy couldn't stop her grin if she tried. "You too. Text me soon." She said feeling rather bold.
"Sure thing, ma'am." He whispered it like it was a secret between them, and maybe it was. Maybe this was the start of something, maybe it wasn't. She couldn't wait to find out, and neither could Jiya based on the shit-eating grin on her face. She was so screwed.