"Mr. Watson, your breakfast." His 45 years old maid woke him up. A groan escaped his throat before he said.

"Good morning, Suzanne."
"Good morning to you too, Sir." She replied with a smile.

His morning routine strictly followed all the rituals before his driver dropped him to school in his dad's black Porsche. He was attending St, Joseph high school. A school that was famous for giving a number of great civilians to this society. He never liked anything about this school because he knew he wasn't meant to be here. Just for three months more and he will be out of this county forever.

Their third lecture ended and he was busy talking to his friend Harry when a very familiar voice called him.

"Hello, Martin."

He looked up to find Lydia. She looked beautiful like always with her straight hair perfectly combed into a side braid. And lips tainted with some light pink lipstick.

"Hello, Lydia." He replied as his friend Harry left them to give them some privacy.

"I want to invite you to my 16th birthday party." She said while handing him a hand made invitation card.

Birthday party? Huh! Can they actually afford a birthday party? Where they will celebrate it. In their small backyard?

"I will try Lydia, but I can't make any promise." He tried to decline the offer humbly.

Her smile faded. And he almost felt bad for denying but he has to do this. Girls always followed him and tried their best to get his attention but Lydia was something else. He still could recall the day when they were four years old and he saved her from some kids who were bullying her. Sweet right? But for him, not anymore. She always invited him to her birthday parties but so does everyone else. He stopped attending all the birthday parties after he turned eight. Nothing excites him anymore besides the fact that he was the most perfect human being on this planet. And girls like Lydia were always going to be a bother.

"I hope you could spare some time. Have a good day Martin." She mumbled and left the invitation card on his desk.

He didn't attend that birthday party again. But the next day he was getting all the unwanted updates from Harry as he was trying to be focused on zoology.

"She actually waited for you a whole hour. A cake she was supposed to cut at 7 pm was not even cut even if it was 8 pm. You know her whole family knows about her little crush on you. Her dad is so cool, you know."

He didn't budge but then he heard Harry say. "Come on dude, if you are interested to make a move do it now because someone else is on the ground too."

"And Harry why I would make a move on Lydia of all the people?" He asked frustrated.

"Because she is beautiful and that butcher's son is making a move on her." Harry provided him the information he was itching to give.

"And who is that person?" He asked because he knew Harry would have told him even if he didn't ask.

"You don't know him, he never went to school," Harry said and retrieve a sarcastic laugh from Martin.

"Wow, and you want me to make a move on a girl who got pursued by just anyone on the street." Martin shook his head in disbelief.

"She is a lovely girl with an amazing family. You don't really know her." Harry commented.

"I know all of them, Harry, you come in a Porsche tomorrow and have a wealthy background, the next thing you will know that you are being chased by Lydia or by every girl in this town. It's really tiring....." He stopped in his speech the moment he noticed Lydia standing right behind him through the window pane.

He turned to see a tear that was sliding down her cheek. He didn't know what to say but the next thing he knows that she left running as she dropped a box having a piece of cake.

Things like these never bothered him but he was never caught like this before. He didn't know how to deal with the situation. So, he did what most of the coward human being does. Ignored the situation and told himself that it's not his doing.

The next day, their all class was informed that Lydia's father was run over by a truck and couldn't survive. He remembers seeing her father in an orange overall of some distribution company named Care Pharma.

The whole class was making a plan to give her a visit. He decided that he will visit with Harry. But as Harry was absent today he thought to talk to him the next day.

"What you were there?" Martin asked with a disappointment.

"They are my neighbors. I was supposed to be there." Harry replied.

"Why you didn't tell me?" Martin asked.

"I didn't know if you want to be there or not," Harry answered.

Silence prevailed but then Martin chose to talk about their ongoing situation.
"So, what they are gonna do? I mean they were already so poor and with their only support gone. How are they gonna survive?"

"Are you for real? Thank God, you were not there yesterday. They lost their father and you will talk about this." Harry looked disappointed.

"I don't know I mean I think this is what everyone else might be wondering." Martin tried to clarify.

"Don't wonder just go for the condolence and if you don't know how to do it. Just say that I am sorry to hear about your loss. No more no less." Harry taught him like he is talking to a kid.

The next day, he was standing in front of Lydia's house. Not having any idea what to do. He was about to leave and just took less than five steps when he noticed Lydia standing behind a tree. She had her hair open with only a thin binder on her head and was wearing a blue cardigan. He walked to her still contemplating what he is going to say while he could clearly hear to her little sobs.

What he didn't expect was a hug that she gave him once she noticed him. He hugged her back and whispered. "Everything is fine, Lydia. Everything is fine."

"I am sorry," she said leaving him once she realized how awkward she got around him. He noticed her swollen lips, eyes and a red nose.

He was still quite when a boy around four came and stood beside Lydia like telling him that she is not alone. "I am fine, Phill. We are classmates. He is my little brother." She introduced her brother to him.

"Hello, young man. So, Lydia how many siblings are you?" He asked because his mind was still stuck to think about their family expenses.

"I only have him and mom." She answered shrugging her shoulders. Her eyes again became teary and her lips trembled as she recalled how they used to be four just two days ago.

"I am so sorry for your loss." He tried to pay his regards because he wanted to be done from his duty as a classmate as soon as possible.

"Thanks for coming all the way." She replied back as she remembered how busy his schedules are.

"No, no it's fine. I should have visited earlier." He replied.

"Thanks, Martin, you want to come inside." She offered.

"No, no it's fine. I am in a bit hurry. See you at school." He said because the last thing he wanted was to get inside that small place when he can avoid it.

She didn't come to school that whole week. But from next Monday he noticed a commotion around her desk. As everyone once again was giving their condolence or was trying to cheer her up. He didn't budge from his seat. The whole day went like any normal day until it was 2 pm.

Because at 2 pm Harry, Juliana, Benjamin, and Carol had him under their burning gaze. They were requesting him to ask out Lydia for a movie night. The whole class arranged a get-together night to a cinema just to cheer up Lydia. But she was refusing the offer. Such a drama queen. He yelled in his brain but he knew that he can't voice his thoughts.

"Fine, I will ask her." He said and only then they let him go.

Like everyone expected she did say yes to his offer. Everyone decided on Friday night.

He clearly remembers that he asked her out as he was taking a cup of tea with the business associates of his father's company but there was no point in going there. All they wanted that she agrees to go. And she agreed. Now the rest can be handled by his classmates. They will cheer her up.

"Is something bothering you?" Sofia, the daughter of a very rich businessman in New York, asked.

"No, nothing at all. So, you know four languages. How much time it took you exactly?"

The very next week he was greeted by his school like every other day but in his classroom, the game was changed. No one said even a hello to him.

He didn't saw Lydia that day. And no one talks to him beside Harry. After all, he was his loyal friend. "It's fine, I know you are awkward. But it really got bad. She wore the same dress she was wearing on her 16th birthday. Everyone was falling for her beauty but you were not there." Harry gave him condolence.

Martin came home in very bad shape. He wasn't worried about his classmates or Lydia but about his farewell party. He still hasn't told anyone that he was leaving school. Not even Harry. He wanted to tell them when it's time so they all got emotional and then arrange a lovely farewell for him. With no farewell what he was gonna tell in his new school. That his old schoolmates didn't even give him an exclusive farewell.

He knew he needed to do something and the key was Lydia.

The next day he left a note on her desk.

I am sorry, something came up. Can I make it up to you? 5 pm but same place. Consider it a date.

Though he didn't receive a reply from her, he knew that she will be there. But then there was this doubt too. What if I go there and made myself look like a fool.

He decided not to be there before time. Even the thought of standing there and waiting for her was cringy enough for him.

As he was not so much enthusiastic about it he made it there at 5:30 pm. It was his first date too but he was never going to consider it a date ever. His car stopped in front of the cinema and the moment his eyes fell on her he was awestruck by her beauty. A young beautiful and fragile girl dressed in a light blue dress was waiting for him. But she looked so lost and sad. A lot of strangers were giving her a weird look. She was scared and it was so apparent. Maybe she is expecting me to forget about my promise. He thought.

Stupid. He muttered, getting out of his vehicle.

"I am sorry, Lydia. I got a little busy." He said and saw how her eyes instantly shine after seeing him.

"It's fine. I, myself just got here." He knew that she lied but let it go.

"I think we lost the opening." He said with a disappointing tone.

"There is a very good coffee shop here. We can go there." She suggested.

Though he didn't want to risk being seen with her. But he found himself out of options as it was his idea in the first place.

They went inside that coffee shop. He didn't know what to talk to her about so discussing her family's financial conditions was the only topic he could think about.

"So, who is earning at your home now. I mean, with your father gone."

She looked a little taken aback by his question but then answered. "My mother has found a job in the very same company, my father used to work for."

"Great, are they paying the same amount or less. Because your mother doesn't have the experience, right?" He asked another question.

"They are paying the same." She answered quite meekly this time. It was so evident that she doesn't want to talk about it.

"So, where do you look yourself in the next five years?" He asked another question.

"As of right now. I just want Phill to be able to complete his school." She replied timidly not knowing why they were discussing her personal household matters.

"And that will be after?" He asked.

"10 years." She replied.

"So, what you will be doing all this time." He asked.

"I am planning to join the same company. They are offering me a job right after my exams." She replied.

Before he could ask another question he noticed a large figure standing beside them.

"Jacob," She whispered.
Martin looked up and saw a guy with green eyes and hairs that reached his shoulders. He was more than six feet so looked very rough and serious wearing the dress of a waiter.

"You know him?" Martin asked.
"Yes, he is my friend." She replied with a half smile.

"Two lattes please," Martin ordered and that man left.

"You are a friend with a waiter? Come on, Lydia. You can do a lot better than this. And he looked like some goon. I swear he is involved in some mafia or do street fights for money." He complained.

"He is really nothing like this. I know him since my childhood. He is my neighbor. His father was my father's friend and work as a butcher in a tanning company." She replied.

His memory was never weak. He remembers Harry mentioning a son of a butcher.

"Are you dating him?" He asked.
"He is 20, Martin. And if I was dating him I wasn't going to be here. I am not interested in him. will never be." She replied with a disappointment in her voice.

"Yea, never date him. Are you listening to......" He was cut off by Jacob as he placed their order on the table.

"We ordered two lattes." Martin scoffed once he saw the other order to be a strawberry milkshake.

"I am so sorry but your date here doesn't like coffee." He said and left.

Of course, she doesn't like coffee because she is uncultured and some illiterate who doesn't have her future planned. These were his thoughts when he was trying to sleep that night.

But the next day everyone in his classroom was back to normal. But Lydia has become a problem as of now she officially considered herself someone important in his life. She started saying hello to him without looking for any reasons. There was not a single day when they didn't have some moment.

But the day he was paired with her for some stupid science project things become super awkward. She was always so sweet to him. Brought him lunch twice in a single week. One day when he was busy painting some sticks on the table she casually asked.

"What you want to be in the next coming years?"
"I will be a child specialist." He replied and the moment he looked at her she was looking at him with diamonds in her eyes. This much her eyes were sparkling. He doesn't even want to think about the fantasy she was imagining right now.

"Why do you want to be a doctor?" She asked.

"Well, my father is a doctor and my grandfather was too. We own three hospitals in New York, City. I am going to follow them and look after the family business." He replied while being focused on his work.

"Wow, it sounds amazing." She replied but then she looked at her wrist watch and said.

"Oh no, I totally forgot about it. It's my first day at work. Bye." She said and almost ran for her cycle.

He noticed her blue diary that she left behind. Picking that diary up he decided to return it tomorrow.

The project ended and he only saw Lydia if there was any lecture. She still brought him lunch almost every day now that he accepted always with a small smile. He would praise something about her hair or dress. And he always noticed the way she would smile.

Overstaying in school just to talk to her friends becomes a luxury for her as she was always found to be running all the time. And it was indeed a relief for him.

The days passed and Sofia came to stay at his place. He got busy in showing her around and was doing his packing nowadays too. Making the decision that he will inform Harry and the rest of the class tomorrow about him leaving the town, he slept.

The whole class pours their feelings out for him. Someone said they will miss him. Someone said, try not to leave. But Lydia was absent. And the same happened the next day. Though she was poor, she was the most beautiful. He would love to see the longing on her face about him leaving forever.

The class decided on Friday for the farewell party in a very famous restaurant. Everyone participated and talk about the theme. Everyone was so occupied that they didn't notice Lydia's absence. They thought that she doesn't want to see him leave.

Everything was perfect until Friday came out to be a storm alert. But everyone reached before it started raining. Weather was good. Martin was providing a ride to everyone who shows up. And for this, he arranged five vehicles. Sofia accompanied him and everyone there couldn't stop talking about how perfect they look together. Party was still going on when it started raining. All of them were looking outside where many people find shelter beside the restaurant's wall. In between those people it wasn't hard to find Lydia with her brother.

She was wearing the same highlighter orange overall having care pharmaceuticals monogram, her father used to wear. On her one shoulder there was a black duffel bag as with her other hand she was holding her brother's hand who was holding some flyers.

Everyone noticed her but no one uttered a single word until Julia said. "This is Lydia. Isn't she?"

"Yea, yes, I guess," These were the words everyone else whispered.

"Lydia, who?" Sofia asked.

"She is our classmate," Martin replied calmly with a smile.

"I think we should invite her in," Julia suggested.
"I don't think it's a good idea," Harry commented.

"Come on, she should be here too. Poor girl has a silly crush on Martin since she was, what four?" Benjamin blurted out.

"Then, she should be here," Sofia said and left her chair to get out to invite her in.

No one knows what she told her but they saw Lydia coming inside with her brother.

Everyone can see that she was a little taken aback seeing everyone there. But they all welcomed her warmly and she took a seat after making sure that her brother is comfortably seated. She didn't look at Martin even for once.

When the first person started with his speech, Martin saw how much shocked she was. Apparently, she didn't know about him leaving the town forever. She looked at him to find his gaze on her too. Though she didn't utter a word it was apparent that she wanted to ask so many things from him. It was so visible that she didn't want him to leave.

After the fifth speech, Sofia said holding Martin's arm in her hand. "Now, it's Lydia's turn. Come on, Lydia, tell Martin how much you love him. As we all are aware of your stupid crush, just voice your emotion before he leaves."

Everything became awkward as Lydia look at Martin and Sofia with her wide eyes and open mouth. Her lips trembled. The rain was stopped so Lydia said in a very trembling voice. "I am sorry but I am getting late."

She left without looking back and her brother followed giving an angry look to Sofia.

"Oh my God, did you see, Martin? They are so uncultured." Sofia complained but one look at his classmates and Martin knew that he is supposed to fix it if he wanted everything to go smoothly.

He followed Lydia and couldn't find her anywhere but then his eyes fell on her beside a large building where she was once again standing to distribute flyers.

"Sofia is a little bold. Don't mind her." He said once he was standing beside her.

"Why are you leaving? Please, don't go. Please." She said the words with so much effort.

"Lydia, I don't know what stupid fantasies you have in your mind but it's important that you let them go. I will never be interested in someone like you." He tried to be a little harsh. He never wanted this girl to ever try for him. It has to be ended today in every sense.

She looked at him defeated. One could see her every hope being crushed in her eyes. But he was Martin Watson. He has the courage to look into the eyes of a beautiful girl and reject her.

"Why it can't be me?" She whispered more like to herself.

"There are a lot of things Lydia. I don't know why YOU didn't notice it. But you are poor. Not brainy enough. And I will never consider a girl for dating who has the responsibility of a child for ten years straight or use his father's death to get sympathy from her class fellows. I will always prefer someone with a vision and who has her future planned out. With whom I can walk and move proudly. And the world would say that they are the most perfect couple. But Lydia, you! You don't fit in the criteria I have built. You will never fit. So, give up."

He stopped to take a breath and continued not even realizing what he was doing.

"The sooner you realize, the better it would be. Bye, Lydia." He said before leaving.

Coming back to the restaurant he informed everyone that everything is under control. The rain was already stopped. So, everyone was leaving Martin and Sofia with a bundle of gifts.

His driver started the car and he saw Lydia for the last time sitting under some shade. But what worried him was the same waiter guy with his motorbike not so far from her. Last time he helped her and she followed him until now. He couldn't make himself to make the same mistake again.

*******************

Thoughts on Martin?

Thoughts on Harry?

Thoughts on Lydia?

Thoughts on Phill?

Have you ever had a Sofia in your crush story? And if you are male any potential love rival who was already on the next level and seem more close to your crush.