Hopeful and Hopeless

Six.

"If people want to find things, they find them themselves." - Jimmy Page

Monday, March 19th, 2018

I HAD ALWAYS INTENDED to go to University. That was before my life turned on its head. All I wanted to do was graduate from high school and just run away from everything and not stop. That was what I did, sort of. I graduated, grabbed my certificate then packed up my bags and moved halfway across the world.

Right now, stood at the front gates of Berkeley University I wonder where I would be if my life went according to plan. Who could I have been? What would I be doing?

I'm happy with where I am in my life though. The cafe is doing well and I have never been so close to Tilly. But today opens up the possibility for something new and exciting. I am meeting with Joseph Berkeley to discuss the gala that he wants me to bake for. Jitters rush through my body as I make my way through the regal gates and onto the school grounds.

Berkeley's grounds are well-known to be beautiful. The grass out the front of the school is bright green and students are scattered around, standing and chatting. Lying down in the grass, reading a book. Berkeley is very alive and bright, just like its pristine reputation. It is #1 ranked University in America and just by looking at it, you can see why.

I receive a few looks from students as I make my way through the grounds, trying my best to navigate. This is a very big school and it must be obvious to people that I'm a fish out of water here. I stop in my footsteps and look around, desperately trying to figure out where I am. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a sign with a map of the entire school. I walk over to it, squinting at the sign, trying to get a good look.

"Do you need any help?" A familiar voice sounds from behind me and I jump, startled. I whip my head around and there stands Lukas, in all his glory. He is grinning down at me and I adjust my bag on my shoulder nervously.

"Yeah, actually. I have a meeting with your Dad and I have no idea where his office is." I tell him. I would normally make a sassy remark about how I'm perfectly capable to handle things myself but in this case, I'm not, and I do need help.

"Right, of course. For a second there I thought that you were just stalking me." Lukas winks, "Follow me," He says and I do as told. He steps forward in long strides and I have to do a little skip to catch up with him.

"Don't flatter yourself, Lukas." I retort, following closely next to him so as to not get lost. "Your head may get even bigger and Lord knows we don't want that happening. There would be no more room for the rest of us." I joke. There are a lot of people here and they all look to know what they're doing and where they need to be.

"Very funny." He says sarcastically and I manage to stifle a laugh, "Why do you insist on calling me Lukas? Everybody calls me Luke, except for my Mum." He tells me. I open my mouth to reply but we are quickly interrupted by a guy, about the same height as Lukas and blonde.

"Luke!" The guy is running up to us with his hand out, trying to get Lukas' attention.

"See." Lukas nudges me.

"Hey, Finn!" Lukas sports a wide smile as he approaches us and they do that 'guy handshake' that I can never seem to figure out. "Finn, this is Emilie, Emilie this is my best friend Finn." He introduces the two of us and I give Finn a smile. He holds his hand out and I willingly shake it.

"Ah, Emilie. I've heard about-" Lukas quickly cuts him off before he can say anymore.

"I was just taking Emilie to my Dad's office, she has a meeting with him." He tells Finn, earning a grimace.