A/N: Based on decembertiggerX's lovely comic on DeviantArt, the link to which is in my profile. The story idea is all hers...I just gave it words. ;) Hope you enjoy! It's not exactly the same, but it's pretty close. Also, two (completed) parts are involved just like the comic it's based on, so don't worry about me abandoning this. ;)

Gerald was a typical offender—big, loud, stupid, and lazy, Luke was a prime target for his abuse being the exact opposite of all of those things. Normally it did not deviate from the occasional public humiliation, but it sure was annoying! Today was no different. Luke had just discovered a puzzle he was sure the professor hadn't heard before and was therefore busy scribbling it down as quickly as he could put his pen to paper.

But it was all for nothing, for as soon as Gerald and his long-time goon Laurence showed up, the puzzle would be lost forever. Luke didn't hear them coming, but he did feel Gerald knock into him on purpose, causing him to sprawl into the ground. "Oh sorry! 'Didn't see you there, Small Fry!" he mocked, chortling with Laurence as they scurried away.

Luke could've blown up the world for how angry he was—now he couldn't exactly remember how the puzzle went and it was just so perfect too! He made his way toward the professor's flat in a huff, not really paying attention to his surroundings because he was so upset. Gerald would pay one day! He would pay…and Luke would be there to inflict all the pain and humiliation and suffering and—

Suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder. Luke didn't even try to reign in his emotions like the professor might suggest had he been there. He whirled around enraged, thinking that perhaps Gerald had returned for round two, and snarled ,"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"

But it wasn't Gerald. It was a small girl in a cute green dress, a basket full of flowers in her arms. "Hi!" she said cheerfully, seemingly unaffected by Luke's anger or brash manner. "I know of a field not far from here and I've spent all morning picking these daisies…I thought you might like one. Here you go!"

Luke felt himself turning red. "Oh, uh…thank you—"

"Hee hee, you're welcome! My name's Analise. What's yours?"

She grinned at him, and Luke was beginning to feel like the worst gentleman-in-training in the entire world. "I'm—I'm Luke," he managed.

"Oh, I like that name," Analise said, smiling at him. She was so cute with short, mousy brown hair and a daisy attached to her headband. "I think it really suits you, Luke."

"Erm…thank you," Luke repeated bashfully.

"Now I'm sorry, but I really should be going now…I have this whole basket to deliver!" Analise waved and left Luke standing there on the pavement, feeling quite at a loss. He was so angry earlier…but now he was just confused. Also, he felt a bit strange—was it…normal to feel like this? Luke thought for a few minutes and decided that when one was in doubt, it was best to ask someone who was smarter…someone like the professor.

.∆.

Fortunately, Luke didn't have to wait very long for his advice. He let himself into the professor's flat as he always did and sat, stone-faced at the kitchen table but not before carefully laying the flower on top. He knew the professor would be there very soon as his last class on Thursdays finished up around this time. And consistency proved its value as not five minutes later, the professor stepped through the door.

"Ah! I'm glad you're here Luke, I—"

The professor broke off as he took in Luke's appearance. "My boy…whatever is the matter? I would expect you to be feasting about now…"

Luke sighed. "I'm sorry, Professor," he apologized, feeling very contrite indeed. "I don't much feel like eating."

"Are you ill?" Hershel asked, immediately concerned.

"No, I—" Just then, Hershel spotted the flower on the table.

"What a lovely daisy," he commented gently.

Luke looked up at him. "Professor I—" and at the questioning look on Hershel's face, Luke looked away and admitted, "Someone gave it to me. A girl."

"Oh?" To his benefit, Layton managed to keep his voice even.

"Yes, I've seen her around town before, but we never spoke until…well, until today that is. I was just having a terrible day, Professor, and I had no idea how to fix it…and then Analise was just so nice to me and gave me this flower. And well…"

"Everything's alright now?" the professor deduced with a small smile, his head cocked to one side.

Luke quickly spun his head to face him again. "How did you know that?"

Layton chuckled. "My boy, you do look terribly confused. I was merely putting the pieces together."

Luke nodded as if this explanation made sense, but then he continued. "But…the only problem is that…not everything is alright because I decided—or maybe I realized—that I really," Luke took a deep breath and tried again. "I really like this girl, Professor, and I…What should I do?"

The professor was quiet for an abnormal amount of time, at least for him. He started gathering the ingredients for making a proper pot of tea for himself and the boy, and when the kettle was finally situated to boil five minutes later, the man sighed, adjusted his hat and leaned forward slightly over the counter, facing away from his young apprentice. "I believe you should tell her, Luke," he said quietly.

And though the silence had been a bit lengthy, Luke did not comment on it and instead chewed over his mentor's advice. "But," he finally began to say when the tea was just about ready, "we've never really talked until now and…" Luke was nervously rubbing his left arm, "and don't you think it's a bit well…random to tell her I like her?"

"There's only one way to find that out, my boy," the professor said as he brought the steaming kettle to the table and produced two tea cups.

"Yes, I suppose you're right," Luke admitted gloomily, taking his tea and sipping it. Maybe this just wasn't an area of the professor's expertise. He was brilliant, certainly, but Luke had expected his advice to help a bit more than this. From what he could see, he was back at square one—having all of these feelings for this girl he barely knew and still not knowing what to do with them…

So Luke did the only other thing a gentleman-in-training did when he wanted to know something.

He began asking questions.

Lots of questions.

"Professor, have you ever…been in love before?"

The professor proceeded to choke on his tea. Luke inwardly sighed. Maybe he wasn't the best person to ask after all…