Early September marked the start of the new academic year at UCLA, and the campus entrance was buzzing with unusual energy. A swarm of reporters, armed with cameras and microphones, lined both sides of the road, scrutinizing every student entering the school like security guards. Nearby, a group of young women held up support signs and banners, adding to the chaos.
Most students were baffled, wondering what all the fuss was about. But those in the know understood: the reporters were there to catch Roy Black, the youngest Olympic heavyweight boxing champion in history. Roy wasn't one for interviews, and his unpredictable whereabouts made him a tough target for the press. Even inquiries to his studio yielded nothing but shrugs. Today, UCLA's opening day was one of the few times his schedule was predictable, so the journalists had descended on the campus entrance to ambush him.
As for the young women, they were Roy's fans, drawn not by his boxing prowess but by his striking looks. After his Olympic win, American media had hyped up his charm, turning him into a heartthrob for countless girls who might not care for violent sports but definitely cared for his face. Hence, the circus-like atmosphere at UCLA.
"Talk about madness," Marian remarked, arriving at the entrance with Mike and Franklin. She'd been a star-chasing fangirl in her student days, but since entering the workforce, she'd channeled that energy into her career.
Mike shrugged. "This is tame compared to the forums. Those fangirls are wild online."
Franklin looked at Mike, surprised. "You're into that stuff?"
"It's not like I want to see it," Mike groaned. "Those crazy fangirls invaded my usual forums and took over Roy Black's section. They're posting nonstop—it's driving me nuts!"
"Let's focus," Marian said, eyeing the swarm of reporters. "With this crowd, forget an exclusive scoop, let alone a bombshell story."
Mike and Franklin fell silent. Without an exclusive, their trip here was pointless.
Just then, Franklin's sharp eyes spotted a vehicle in the distance. "Look! It's our station's van!"
Marian's face fell. "Crap, hide!"
The trio scrambled into the crowd, trying to blend in. Thankfully, the ABC News van drove straight into UCLA without stopping at the entrance.
"Damn it! The station got Roy Black's interview rights!" Marian fumed. She prided herself on being the best reporter at the network, but some assignments weren't about skill.
"Did you see who was in the van?" she asked Franklin, whose eyesight was the sharpest of the three.
"Looked like… Gretchen?" Franklin ventured.
Marian's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? That old hag actually gave in to that sleazy boss?"
Mike lit a cigarette, chuckling dryly. "You're overthinking it, Marian. Gretchen's been at the station way longer than you. By seniority, this gig was hers. The manager probably dangled it in front of you to see if you'd bite."
Marian's frustration grew. "Ugh, I hate seniority systems!"
Mike exhaled a smoke ring, shaking his head. He was a beneficiary of seniority himself. "Talent's hard to measure objectively. It's not an exact science."
Marian bit her lip, knowing he was right. Without seniority, promotions could come down to a boss's whims, turning everything into a game of favoritism.
"Let's drop it," she said. "We need another way to sneak into UCLA. Waiting here's a waste of time."
Franklin's eyes widened. "Marian, that's illegal!"
She shot him a look. "What, you just met me? When has Marian Megan ever played by the rules?"
Her bold personality had been clear since the Cosmic Demon incident—she was a fearless journalist willing to take risks for a story. Mike and Franklin exchanged a resigned glance as Marian dragged them off.
At that moment, a group of one guy and three girls approached UCLA, catching some attention. The three girls were stunning, each with a distinct vibe, but the lone guy, sporting dorky black-framed glasses, was completely overlooked.
Yep, that's our hero, Roy Black, heading to school with Jennifer, Nidi, and Ashley.
Given his changed status since enrollment, Roy had pulled strings to get Ashley into UCLA too. While her brother, Mike Parker, was a straight-A genius, Ashley was a certified academic disaster—her test-taking strategy was basically rolling dice for multiple-choice answers. Yet Roy got her in. She'd have to stick to an arts major, though—anything else, and she'd flunk out.
"Smart move, Nidi. We really couldn't roll up in Bumblebee," Roy said, eyeing the chaotic scene at the entrance. If his rabid fangirls spotted him, his "virtue" would be in serious jeopardy. Wait, do I even have virtue?
Nidi beamed with pride. "Told you! I infiltrated your fan club ages ago. They planned this whole ambush at UCLA's gate!"
Luckily, Fallwater Town was a secluded Texas enclave, tough for reporters to infiltrate. So, Jennifer, Nidi, and Ashley's connection to Roy hadn't been exposed. With his magical black-framed glasses, Roy could stroll into UCLA with the girls without a hitch. The reporters and fans waiting at the gate were doomed to disappointment.
Bumblebee, however, was a problem. Roy's signature ride—model and license plate—was well-known, so he'd have to ditch it for a while.
"Senior Melly, we're here!" Roy called out.
Not far inside the campus gate, a short-haired beauty was anxiously scanning the crowd. Hearing Roy's voice, Melly broke into a radiant smile. "Phew, Roy, you made it! I was worried you'd get mobbed at the gate."
She rushed over and hugged him tightly, as if trying to meld into him. If any law school guys saw this, their hearts would shatter—Melly, the coldest flower in the law department, was smitten with this plain-looking guy in glasses.
Ever since she'd opened her heart and started dating Roy, Melly had been counting the days, missing him constantly. But then she noticed the three girls with him, all strangers to her.
Jennifer, exuding big-sister energy, introduced herself confidently. "Hi, I'm Jennifer Morgan. These are Nidi Lesnicki and Ashley Parker."
Melly's smile faltered. Her personality made it hard to fully embrace Roy's playboy ways, and seeing his other love interests in person stung a bit. "Hi, I'm Melly Hill," she replied politely.
"Hey, Senior!" Nidi chirped cheerfully, while Ashley eyed Melly warily, her rebellious streak making her suspicious.
Roy took Melly's hand, his gentle words melting her unease. "I've been thinking about you these past few days."
Melly's face softened, and she smiled sweetly. "Me too."
Some women, like Madison, craved action. Melly, though, melted at sweet talk. Composing herself, she slipped into her role as a senior, leading Roy and the girls to register—a standard task for upperclassmen during orientation.
Melly was a great talker, honed by her ambition to become a lawyer. She usually avoided chatting with unfamiliar guys, but she quickly hit it off with Jennifer, Nidi, and Ashley.
"Roy, Coach Alan Berg already handled your registration—you just need to show up. Jennifer and the others still need to go through the process," Melly explained.
Nidi had picked her major early: the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. With her angel-blood-enhanced memory, spirit, and will, she wasn't just a straight-A student anymore—she was a learning goddess, planning to stack multiple degrees, all the way to a PhD.
Jennifer, set on being Roy's right-hand woman, was applying for an MBA at the Anderson School of Management. MBAs weren't as prestigious as people thought—the real value was the price tag. Harvard's MBA cost at least $70,000 a year, with a degree totaling around $300,000, not counting living expenses. Most families couldn't afford it, even with loans, so MBA students often came from wealth. The degree's true worth was the elite network it provided—a filter that weeded out anyone without a privileged background.
As for Ashley, the academic underachiever, the School of Theater, Film and Television was her only option. She wouldn't survive in any other program. With Roy's backing, she could aim for a role like Black Widow or at least become a producer.
Roy was also joining the film school—not because he was a slacker like Ashley, but because he had no time to study. Between juggling his many women and dealing with occasional supernatural incidents, academics took a backseat. With a memory attribute of 74, he could learn anything if he wanted, but a film degree was an easy way to coast while keeping an eye on Jennifer and Nidi.
Melly gave them a quick campus tour before splitting up to handle registrations. The engineering and business schools were in one direction, but the film school was on the opposite side, so they'd need to loop around.
"Hey, Melly!" a voice called out.
Melly turned to see a striking brunette with bold, distinctive eyebrows. Roy blinked in recognition—Lily Collins?
"Clary?" Melly said.
(Clary Fray, played by Lily Collins in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.)
Clary? That's way too close to Claire, Roy thought.
"Melly, didn't you say you weren't doing volunteer work this year? Why are you guiding freshmen?" Clary asked, eyeing Roy's group. The three girls stood out, but Roy, with his nerdy glasses, seemed utterly ordinary. Yet, in a trio of beauties, his plainness made him intriguing.
Melly smiled. "I didn't sign up to volunteer. These freshmen are my friends—I came to meet them at the gate."
"Got it!" Clary, clearly close with Melly, offered to help. "Need a hand?"
Melly hesitated. Clary's help would cut their time in half, but she glanced at Roy to gauge his thoughts. Clary noticed, realizing this "ordinary" guy was the group's anchor, sparking her curiosity.
"Let's split up," Roy suggested. "Senior Clary, could you take Jennifer and Nidi to register? Melly, you take me and Ashley to the film school."
Melly nodded. "Clary, please look after my friends."
"No problem!" Clary agreed.
As they walked, Roy's curiosity got the better of him. "Melly, who's Clary?"
Melly's tone carried a hint of jealousy. "What, got your eye on her already?"