AN: Now that it's been about a week, I've decided to update. All those reading (and I know there must be) please, PLEASE review. I would really appreciate your input. Thank you so much for reading!

Disclaimer: Please note that I do not own Lara Croft or the Tomb Raider franchise. If I did, do you think I would be writing fan fiction?


Part One

The Aspiring Archaeologist

When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning,

by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing -- then we truly live life.

-Greg Anderson


Chapter One

An Announcement

9:26 A.M

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Lara Croft sat in her chair in archaeology class. She was 21 years old, and a promising student. She had a long, braided pony tail which stretched down to her back, and delicate features. She was a highly accomplished gymnast, and well taught in dialects of several languages. It was no secret that she was highly intelligent. As the sun shone through the windows of the University, Lara gazed to her right and saw Amanda Evert, her best friend and colleague. She sniggered and motioned to the professor, who's fly was open. Lara laughed quietly and turned back to the teacher.

Lara had left England after being accepted to His Majesty's University, a very accomplished school, sporting its prided archaeology department, a brief time after completing her secondary education at the Gordonstoun Boarding School. She also left partly to remove herself from the fame of being an orphan in the aristocracy of the well-to-do. Her father had died in Cambodia when she was only 15, leading to a largely publicized legal battle between her family and herself for the rights to the Croft fortune. There was also the shadow of her trek from the temple her mother had died in, and the story of the harrowing days she spent heading to the town of Kathmandu. Many had asked of what happened to Lady Croft, but Lara refused to indulge the secrets to anyone but her father and beloved butler, Winston.

This led to the downfall of Richard Croft in the archaeology field. He became obsessed with the phenomenon in Nepal, and researched anything that could have revealed an answer. Perhaps he had cracked at the loss of his beloved wife, but he refused to admit that Amelia had died. This, above all else, led to his disgrace among colleagues.

The professor, Dr. Fredrick Jason, finished his speech and said, "Before we adjourn today I have some very important news: a massive tomb has just been uncovered, possibly that of the Incan civilizations, in Paraíso, Peru. I have spoken with my colleagues and have decided that we will be going to help excavate. We leave next month. Class dismissed."

The bell rang, and the students got up and spoke excitedly about the prospect of going on a real archaeological excavation. "This is fantastic," Lara said to Amanda, as they got up from their seats.

"I know!" Amanda exclaimed, "I can't believe it! After all this time, we finally get to go on a real dig!"

"Ms. Croft, may I speak with you for a moment?" Dr. Jason said. Lara looked at him and then back to Amanda. "See you in a mo'," she said. Amanda smiled and walked out. Lara shouldered her brown backpack and walked up to Jason.

"Yes, professor?" she said.

"Lara, you know that you are my best student," he began, "and as such, I feel you should be rewarded."

"'Rewarded?'" Lara asked, incredulously, "I don't understand."

"As the head of the archaeology department, I have been given the task of choosing a leader of each class," he said, "and I have decided that you will be leader of this class on the expedition."

"Professor!" Lara exclaimed, "I don't know what to say!"

"Say yes," Jason said, smiling.

"Of course," Lara said, "oh, thank you!" She turned and ran out of the classroom. Amanda was waiting at the end of the corridor. "Amanda," she said, "you're not going to believe what just happened!"

"What is it?" she asked.

"Jason just asked me to be the class leader on the expedition!" Lara said. To her surprise, Amanda's face was not cheery at first, but sad, almost jealous. However, the face immediately changed to that of happiness and glee. "Oh, that's wonderful!" she said, apparently swallowing before saying this, "I'm so, so, happy for you!"

Lara, catching her previous expression, said, "Are you alright?"

"Oh, fine," Amanda said, swallowing again, "I just can't believe he picked you."

"What do you mean by that?" Lara asked, her tone stiffening.

"I mean, my best friend was picked," Amanda said, twisting her face into an unnatural smile.

"Oh," Lara said, not believing this, "alright. Look, there's Sarah!"

Sarah was Lara and Amanda's dear friend, and fellow student in their class. "Hi guys," she said, walking up to them.

"Did you hear?" Amanda said, still bearing the disturbing smile, "Lara was just chosen to be our class leader on the expedition."

"What? Oh that's fantastic!" she said, hugging Lara, "I can't believe it!"

"Neither can I," Amanda said.

"Oh, thanks," Lara said, still distracted by Amanda's expression of before.

"We need to celebrate!" she said, "we'll have a party at Kent's place tonight! Oh, I'm so excited!" Sarah ran off, possibly to talk to Kent, her boyfriend.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lara asked Amanda. Amanda finally returned her face to normal.

"Fine," she said. She turned and walked down the corridor, leaving Lara alone in the busy hallway.


Lara took a swig of her drink as she listened to "We Didn't Start the Fire" play at the party. Several party-goers were mingling around. She looked across the room and saw Kent and Sarah kissing passionately. Lara sighed and took another drink. Suddenly, a man with black hair thrown back into a mullet approached her. "Hey Lara," he said in a dazed voice.

"Hello Oscar," Lara responded. She could tell the man was drunk.

"Cool party, huh?" he said.

"I suppose," Lara said in a bored voice. She noticed Oscar's eyes were slanting downward towards her chest. She tapped Oscar hard on the shoulder and said, "I'm glad you appreciate my school sweater, but my eyes are up here." Oscar immediately looked up.

"Sorry," he said, "but you can't deny that you were shaped like a goddess."

"Piss off Oscar," Lara said. The drunken man shrugged and slouched off. Another man then came into view. He had brown hair that was shaped neatly, and was completely sober. "Hi Lara," the handsome man said.

"Hello, David," Lara said, blushing. She fancied him greatly, but couldn't muster up the courage to tell him.

"Nice party," David said.

"It is," Lara said, her voice squeaking slightly. She took a nervous drink.

"So," David said, "I hear you're the class leader on the trip to Peru. Congratulations."

"Thanks," Lara said, blushing more.

"Your parents would've been proud," he said. Lara, who had been looking down in nervousness, looked up into his eyes.

"David," she said.

"Yes?" he inquired.

"I… um… I--" she began.

"Lara! Come here, we want to make a toast to you!" Sarah said, grabbing Lara by the arm and pulling her to a table in the middle of the room. "I see you were able to pull yourself away from Kent," she muttered to Sarah; Sarah didn't catch it. She mounted Lara atop the table and grabbed her drink.

"Here's to Lara Croft, the Brit among Yanks, and a damn sight smarter than the rest of us!" she said. The room cheered and raised their bottles and cups. In the midst of the crowd, Lara saw David, with his bottle in hand, raising it to her.

At this moment, Lara could not be happier.