Summary: Ford gets a break from his study time to unwind, thanks to his friends insistence he should. However, Ford was unaware of what his friend has in store for him as he’s introduced to someone named Lucina Evergreen who may change his life forever.
A/N: Hey there, guys! Writing this late at night to contribute for @forduary in this week’s theme: College. Also, I wanted to take this chance to introduce two of my own characters, Lucina Evergreen and Annabelle McGucket (my own interpretation of her), for an au I have in mind where Ford finds someone to love. Don’t know what to call the au yet, though. Hope you all enjoy!
In Ford and Fiddleford’s dorm, 1972….
Stanford was at his table, stacked with a large variety of textbooks he needed to study for upcoming exams, wanting to have high grades on all of them to get through Backupsmore University as quick as possible and earn those PHD’s. Of course, he studies as if he was running out of time with the all-nighters he’s pulled so far into his first year. He was leaning back in his chair, something menial to do to help him focus, not being aware of anything else happening in his surroundings.
He was well into one of his books with a pen in his mouth when his roommate and best friend, Fiddleford McGucket, comes inside the room, looking rather happy about something.
“Hey Stanford, I’ve got somethin’ ta tell--”
The sudden opening of the door made Ford lean back further on his chair, making him fall with a thud, but thankfully, he wasn’t harmed, though rather annoyed. Ford gets up and repositions the chair he was sitting in, grumbling from having been disturbed in his study time.
“Is it important, Fiddleford?” Ford asked with a slightly raised brow while placing his book on the table. He was curious nonetheless what his friend was so cheery about.
Fiddleford smirks a tad, excited to tell him for what he has in store for his friend, “~Weeeeellll…~ Mah girlfriend, Annabelle, has a roommate she wants ta introduce ya to. I’ve met her and boy will you two have loads to talk ‘bout!”
Ford was unimpressed and inquired, “Really? You want me to go out on a double date with you? With a woman I haven’t met myself yet?”
Fiddleford sighed, bringing up, “Ford take a break from studin’ fer at least one night. The exam isn’t for awhile and ah just think, as yer friend, ya need ta unwind. If this here night doesn’t go well fer ya and her, then ah promise ah won’t try ta set ya up again. Deal?” He extends his hand for a handshake. To humor his friend, Ford returns the gesture, knowing Fiddleford means well in what he’s doing.
However, Ford questioned if a girl could ever accept him fully -- flaws and all. Ford hadn’t pursued a relationship since high school and it was a trainwreck for him, nor has he since coming to college. He thought back to how Stanley tried more than once to help him get a date, but end up failing one way or another. Why would this time be any different, he wondered. Ford took a deep breath, just this once, he’ll give the benefit of a doubt.
“Can I know some about her to get an idea how she’s like, at least? And where we’re going too?” Ford asked, leaning against his bed to give Fiddleford his undivided attention.
Fiddleford nodded with a bright smile, elaborating, “Glad ya asked! Her name is Lucina Evergreen and she’s ‘bout yer age. She studies in philosophy and cryptozoology. She’s polite, if a bit shy with people, like someone I know. Can mostly be found studyin’ outside in that big ol’ tree near the wooded area with a book in hand. Plus, she has complete Heterochromia Iridium: her right eye blue while her left eye is brown. The rest ya gotta know yerself,” Fiddleford grins a tad when he finished.
Ford’s eyes widened slightly from the intriguing details he’s hearing. Perhaps meeting Lucina herself would yield a promising relationship once he gets to know her more. Her fields of study were an interesting choice; someone who ponders about the world and shares their thoughts and feelings about life itself, with the addition she is interested in the paranormal. At the mention she has a physical anomaly does give him confidence that Lucina would know what it’s like to be different compared to everyone else; a smile forming on his face at the thought. At the same, he was nervous and anxious about meeting her, hoping he somehow doesn’t screw up that would make her turn away from him, like all the other times before.
“Also, we’re goin’ to the roller disco place close to the college.”
“What?”
At the roller disco place...
That night, the whole building was alive with music and college students having a grand time, well almost everyone as it wasn’t Ford’s preferred destination to be. Ford didn’t plan on roller skating, but knowing Fiddleford, he would coax him into it. The music playing was a good selection that even Ford finds himself nodding his head.
Further into the building where the tables and chairs were near the snack bar, Fiddleford guides Ford to one table where two women their age, Annabelle and Lucina, were conversing. Annabelle had a head full of long curly, chestnut brown hair wearing a flower crown Fiddleford made for her earlier.
Annabelle wore a dark purple jumpsuit with a pair of boots of a lighter shade and pink-rimmed glasses; her caucasian skin dotted with freckles on her face and the brightest smile to light up a room in the void, so it seemed; possibly how Fiddleford fell in love with her not too long after meeting her.
However, Lucina was clearly different, she seemed more reserved by her posture. Her smile was pleasant and shy upon her seeing Ford for the very first time. Lucina wore a short brown sweater vest over her yellow long sleeve top, wearing blue bell bottom pants and black boots. Lucina’s physical features included her medium toned skin with light freckles under her eyes -- those eyes one would see on a husky dog where her right eye is blue, while her left is brown -- and her long raven black hair in a feathered fashion. For once, Ford was excited to know her more. Lucina being the same when she sees him and his unique hands with the extra digit.
“Oh there ya’ll are!” Annabelle chirped, getting up to greet her boyfriend with a big smooch on his cheek, “I was just tellin’ Lucina ‘bout yer friend. I swear by my mother’s name they’re good things.” Annabelle peaked over Fiddleford’s shoulder to see a sheepish Ford with a nervous smile. Fiddleford and Annabelle exchange knowing looks, putting their plan into motion. Fiddleford grabs Ford’s hand, guiding him over to have a seat next to Lucina, the poor man and woman not knowing what’s going on.
“How ‘bout you two chat while Annabelle and myself go groove it on the floor,” Fiddleford gently takes his girlfriend’s hand, the two heading over to the counter to go get roller skates and getting to dancing like pros.
Ford and Lucina didn’t know what to say to the other first, the two already learning each other’s names before having the chance to make proper introductions.
“Thanks a lot for putting me on the spot”, the two thought in unison regarding their respective roommates.
Ford tapping on the table for a moment to think before he spoke with a small smile, “So Lucina, I… um… what got you interested in your fields of study?”
Lucina brightens up a bit and shares with him, although a bit shy to say in case he may find it too weird to his liking, though finding the courage to bring up in her soft spoken voice, “Well… I’ve always been curious by all that’s around me and what wonderful, yet dangerous things may lurk in the land, sea, sky and beyond what we can see,” she chuckles a bit in thought before continuing, surprising herself she’s holding a conversation, “Comes from being born and raised in a sleepy town in the deep woods of Oregon.”
Ford found himself in awe of what the woman’s sharing with him, beginning to grow more and more comfortable with talking to her about their shared interests. Thinking about his own “anomaly” he asked her, “Lucina, do you sometimes feel insecure about your eyes? I think they’re gorgeous personally--” Ford blushed, the thought being blurted out of his mind.
Lucina blushed back, hiding away her eyes behind her bangs out of habit, but then smiles pleasantly from processing what he said, slowly revealing her eyes once more as if they were curtains.
“Th...Thank you, Stanford. I do feel insecure about my eyes sometimes. Some people don’t like to look at me for too long, thinking my eyes stare into their soul and judge them or something. But in the woods where I live, I don’t feel the need to hide them away. Where I feel at peace and free. Basically my life story, just about. Sorry that I droned on, I haven’t even gotten to ask you about anything to know you yet,” she nervously laughs, glancing away.
“Don’t worry about it, Lucina, I’m patient. Ask away,” Ford said. Neither of them could believe they’re bonding, but they are as they continue to talk more about one another, completely toning out the sound around them as if they weren’t at a roller disco anymore.
Fiddleford and Annabelle looking on with bright smiles on their faces, glad to have found that their plan worked without a hitch.
