Someone to Love

By Nancy Hendry-Riggs

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Nancy Hendry-Riggs
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4520-9645-2

Chapter One

It was a warm autumn day. The sun was shining and the leftover heat from the summer was still hanging around. Donna found herself standing at the edge of her new campus. She was now a college student. She was independent for the first time in her life. The air smelled like freedom to her. She held her used worn books in her arms as she headed down the pathway to the building of her very first class. She loved this college. It was far enough away from home to keep her "parents" away. They probably wouldn't drive the three hours it would take to visit her, anyway. Her father had died when she was still a small child and her mother couldn't wait to remarry again.

"You have to have someone to love you," she would always preach to Donna. "Life is nothing unless you have someone to love."

Gretchen, Donna's mom, didn't let any grass grown under her feet. Within a month after her father's death, Gretchen found herself a man. He wasn't a handsome man, nor was he even a very kind man. But he had a job and lots of money so Gretchen thought she was in love again. That marriage lasted almost 4 years and by the time Donna was 7 her mother had moved on to another "love of her life." That marriage lasted just over 2 years before she pushed him out the door. This time her mother vowed to wait until the true love of her life would come knocking. That took almost a half a year before Donna found herself in yet another wedding. This one was shaky but at least it had lasted longer than any of her other LOVES. They were just about to celebrate their 9th wedding anniversary. Her mother would probably be loaded, either uppers or beer or maybe a little of both. Her "daddy" would be at the local bar celebrating with the Love of his life—whiskey with several of his drunken friends. No, there would be no visits to her this far away.

Donna was able to go to college on a full scholarship and she worked hard last summer to get enough money saved for these used books and other expenses of being a college student. Life was never easy for Donna but the hard work made Donna strong. She was personable, smart and had strong features that made her extremely attractive to most people. But even with all this going for her, Donna never had any close friends. She didn't date and never invited anyone to her house. Her routine all these years was to get up early before anyone else stirred. Very quietly she would make herself breakfast, pack a sandwich for lunch, then leave for school. She was usually early so she would stop at the nearby park and sit and think. Sometimes she would get on one of the swings. She would shoot for the trees, climbing as high as she dared. The cool air blowing through her hair would excite her senses and she would be off in a daydream. This daydream usually consisted of her being in a loving family. A family that would hug her when she was sad, kiss her on the nose and say "I love you." That sounded like heaven to Donna.

When time came for her to go to school, she would collect her books and with her head looking down, she would head in the direction of school. After she arrived in school, she would attend her classes and immediately leave as soon as the bell rang. She barely talked with anyone and NEVER looked anyone in the eye. She felt they would be able to read the fear in her eyes if they looked closely enough. She would take her school book with her at lunch and, if weather permitted, go outside and sit on a bench under a tree and study. If weather was bad, she would find a seat off in a corner, stick her nose in a book and hoped no one would bothered her.

The building loomed in the distance. Wow, it looked so big. not like her small local high school. As her eyes gazed the building, it reminded her of pictures she had seen in magazines; the old brick and stone building with ivy gracefully trailing it way to the heavens. A couple of students trying to pass, bumped her as her mind was miles away. One of them stopped to ask her if she was okay.

"Oh, I'm fine," she stated as she immediately lowered her head. "I just never saw a building as beautiful as that one."

"I'm Jason," he said as he held his hand in her direction.

"I'm Donna," she replied as she briefly shook his hand without looking up. "I'm going to be late," she murmured as she started walking a fast pace toward the building.

The doors were big and massive and a little heavy. Donna fumbled with her books and one fell to the ground as she tried to open the door. Jason, who had caught up to her, stooped and picked up the fallen book.

Standing again, he read the title of the book and queried, "So you're taking Geometry. It looks like we're in the same class. Are you smart? I may be needing help with some of this math stuff. We might have to study together."

For the first time, Donna lifted her head and looked into the brightest blue eyes she had ever seen. "Math is one of my favorite classes. Maybe, I could help you, sometime."

She saw his ample lips turn up in a giant smile and his cheeks were bright red, she lowered her head once more. He helped her open the door and pointed to where the room for Geometry was being held. He found a seat at the front of the class and she went quickly to the back corner. Her heart was fluttering and she could hardly think for a few minutes. She was jolted back into reality with a loud voice booming.

"Hello class. This is Geometry 101 and I am your teacher." He finished his sentence writing and drawing out his name, "Mr. S T R A I G H T." When he finish he turned to face his new class.

The class suddenly fell into a complete silence. Everyone was staring ahead at the new teacher. He was extremely handsome with his sandy color hair slightly ruffled and one strand drooping towards his incredibly bright green eyes. He looked down to get his lesson plan and heard a few twitters of laughter in the back of the room.

He looked up and announced to the class. "This is NOT going to be an easy class. If you signed up for this class to get an easy A, you had better get reassigned. I'm tough but I'm fair. I want to start now with chapters 1-3."

This was Donna's favorite class by far. She excelled in math. She did love to go to her literature class. She was interested in learning to write. She had no idea what she wanted her major to be. She would have to make a decision pretty soon but for now she just wanted to learn as much as she could. The other students didn't really know Donna but they heard rumors that she was very smart. They started grouping off into study groups and several of them wanted Donna to join their group. Donna declined them all but secretly inside she was dying to make some new friends.

Jason caught up with Donna a few weeks after their first meeting. "Hey, Donna. Wait up," Jason called after her. Donna turned to see who was calling and saw Jason running down the path waving his hand.

"You never stay around long enough for me to talk to you. I have been trying to catch you all week. A group of us are forming a study group and I would really like it if you would join us. I know you have been approached by others but their just using you for your brains. I, on the other hand, want you in our group just so I can look at you. You are very pretty you know," Jason threw in.

Donna, with color running up her cheeks, looked at Jason and laughed. "You just want to look at me, huh?"

"Well, it doesn't hurt any that you are...