The eighteen year old blushed as she noticed him walk by. Oh, how she envied the woman walking with him. How they held hands at they walked. If only she could feel him like that.
College was such an awkward time for a girl like Lucy Baker. She knew no one here at Gressenheller University, having moved to London a mere month before classes began. She had gotten adjusted quick, but the other students didn't shape so well around her. Especially the older ones.
Like one Alfendi Layton.
One day, while passing by the archaeology class, Lucy had seen him taking to the professor. She had heard about him from whispers of other upperclassmen. He had been put into Scotland Yard shortly after graduating a few years ago but he only came back here often because of his father, Hershel Layton, archaeologist and great detective, who lectured here.
Many say his father is the only reason he had gotten into the Yard so easily.
Lucy hardly believed that, but she barely knew him. From what she had heard though, he was a rude, self-centered man who hated his father and many others. He had a huge temper and rarely got along with people.
That was tough to believe either, always seeing him with that one lass, Hilda. Every time Lucy saw him, she was nearby, and they were usually eyeing each other and talking. They probably were a couple since they were in college. Snogging each other after classes, studying together, and telling each other how much they loved them.
That was loads of envy on her part.
Lucy knew she should focus on men her age, someone she saw more often and spoke to daily. Not some twenty five year old who already had a great career. But she hadn't gotten around to meeting anyone.
"Oh, Baker. You're just a lost lass, aren't ya?" She mumbled to herself, fixing her hat as she walked out of the campus at the end of her last class.
Unknowingly, she bumped into somebody. A yelp was her first response, having been startled out of her wits. "Oh 'eck! I'm so sorry! I weren't looking where I-" She froze after gazing at who she had bumped into.
Golden eyes flashed with a bit of anger, but a sigh came instead. "Just watch where you're going next time." Alfendi snapped, walking around her to get to the university.
She stayed locked in that shocked position until she shook her head rapidly. "Wot an idiot, I am! Freezing up like that!" Lucy put a hand on her head. "Probably thinks I'm an idiot too."
She knew one last thing about Alfendi. Something she hated about herself. Alfendi hated incompetence. Lucy had seen her grades on exams. She was a load and a half of that.
She'd never get to Scotland Yard at this rate. She just wanted to be a constable and arrest criminals. And maybe sneak a peek at Alfendi's work every once in a while. Just be a friend at least. Or a good coworker.
But no, she'd fail her exams and waste the rest of her life knowing she'd be the sad fool who loved a man she'd never have.
"Oh, Lucy lass. You'll never be where ya want to be." If only she were older, she thought. Or at least smarter. Stopped blending in with the incompetent crowd.
Then maybe she'd get the attention of the man she loved.