Chapter 2

"Gwen! Listen to yourself," responded an exasperated Paula. "Not many girls your age would want to get off his hook, given the choice."

"Mother!" proclaimed Kate and Gwen simultaneously.

"I'm just saying!" laughed Paula. "It sounds to me like he was very determined to secure a date with you, Gwen. It might be prudent to formulate a plan B for Saturday. He might win that game all by himself, just so that he can take you to the dance."

Steve had gone to the mall to pick up a few items for the start of school. He was excited about attending a regular high school in the United States and about playing football in his senior year. He knew it would be a big adjustment, but it was one to which he looked forward. He was idly considering getting some fries at the food court when he first saw her.

Steve had seen lots of pretty girls in the mall. He recognized and appreciated beauty the same as any normal 18 year old boy would. That said, he was still pretty well flabbergasted when he saw the dark haired beauty sitting alone in the food court. She was wearing a Stanford sweatshirt and loose fitting jeans. As Steve appraised the girl more closely, he realized that the clothes could not totally conceal the nice figure beneath.

Her long dark hair was pulled back in a simple pony tail that hung more than half way down her back. Now and then she would gaze around the food court observing shoppers as they rushed about their business. More than a few times, Steve saw a small smile break out on the girl's face. She seemed bemused by the actions of the crowd. Gradually, Steve realized that it wasn't just the girl's beauty that had so enthralled him, but also her confident, good humored outlook on the world. She didn't appear to take herself, or life, all that seriously. She was comfortable being herself. Then he noticed the book she was reading and took a chance.

Gwen was killing two birds with one stone as she waited for her sister and mother to finish up their shopping. She was going to finish the final novel assigned for her honors English class as well as observe the people around her. She intended to become a doctor, hopefully a surgeon, and knew that the more she learned to notice what people were saying with their actions as well as with their words, the better she would succeed in her chosen field.

She saw him just before he pulled up a chair at her table. He had to be over six foot three and two hundred and twenty pounds. He wore his hair short. He appeared relaxed and confident. Then she looked into his eyes.

"Hi! I'm Steve Hammer. I see you're reading "Lord of the Flies" and I was wondering if you're in Ms. Summer's honors English class?" asked the boy as he held out his hand.

Gwen had no idea how long she was immobile, but she suddenly realized that she had been staring. She broke the trance and finally noticed the hand extended to her.

Taking the huge hand in hers, Gwen struggled to form a response. She had to replay what her mind had just heard to determine what she had been asked.

"Hi! I'm sorry about being so confused for a minute," apologized Gwen. "I was reading and you surprised me. To answer your question, I am in Ms. Summer's class. My name is Gwen Anderson. How did you know Ms. Summer assigned this novel for summer reading?"

Steve was reluctant to release the hand of the girl sitting across the table. Her voice was strong, yet feminine and her smile was intoxicating. He suddenly realized that he had been staring and quickly released the girl's hand. He went on to explain that he had enrolled at Sparta over the summer and had been informed of the reading assignment for his English class. One thing led to another, and soon Steve had learned Gwen had two sisters, the older of which was incredibly beautiful, in Gwen's estimation. That was when Steve decided to risk rejection and ask Gwen to the dance.

"Gwen, I understand that the fund raiser for Jim Archer's brother next Saturday," began Steve somewhat tentatively. "Could I ask you to go with me?"

Gwen was taken completely by surprise. No one had ever asked her out so soon after meeting her. In fact, only a couple of guys had ever even hinted that they would like to date her and she had quickly dashed their hopes. Gwen was very accomplished in her studies and was on track to graduate first in her class. She wanted to be a surgeon and she had long ago decided that fleeting emotional entanglements would not advance her career plans. She was also an avid reader and a born romantic. She was determined to not settle for some mundane romance. In fact, she would settle for nothing less than a love like Juliet had with Romeo. The boys that had shown any interest in her thus far had simply not measured up.

"I really can't, Steve. I have to study that night," replied Gwen weakly.

Even as she said it, Gwen realized how lame she sounded. Her usually calm demeanor dissolved as she struggled to think of something that would make more sense. Steve watched her closely for several seconds, and then smiled.

"If you have a boyfriend, I'll back off and apologize, Gwen. I didn't want to put you on the spot. If you just don't want to go out with me, say so. But please, don't try to tell me that you have to study the Saturday night before school starts," laughed Steve. "I'm not very good at asking pretty girls like you out, and that sure doesn't do much for my confidence. I'm asking again, Gwen. Will you go to that benefit dance with me Saturday?"

"Steve, the truth is that I don't think I want to go out with you. I have to wonder why a guy like you would ask the class nerd for a date. The only reasons I can think of are that either it's a joke, or that you just haven't met anyone else from our school yet. Once you do, you won't want to date me. We both know that," finished Gwen quietly.

"Okay, I see what you're telling me, Gwen. I'm an idiot because I asked out the first beautiful girl I met. She's really smart, funny, tall, sexy, and drop dead gorgeous, but I can do way better. I can probably find some blonde cheerleader with an IQ smaller than her bust line that would look good on my arm. I shouldn't try for a thoroughbred like you when I can have the horse that pulls the milk wagon."

Once again, Gwen had difficulty initiating speech. How could this boy rattle her so quickly, and completely?

"Steve, I'm no thoroughbred. I'm the plow horse. Look at me. There are only two girls in the class taller than I am, and they're both stars on the basketball team. I'm ten pounds too heavy, and I'm a braniac. Ask any guy in my class. You'll regret being seen out with me within a week of school starting," concluded Gwen.

"Or is it that you don't want to be seen with me, Gwen? Are your standards too high for me? I'm not in with your crowd? Is that the problem? Or is it my appearance? The way I dress? The way I get all goofy when I look at you?" grinned Steve.

"No! It's not you, Steve. It's me. I know what happens to girls that try to run with the wrong guys. They always get hurt. You'll be able to date any girl in our class, in the whole school. I'll bet some of the teachers will even go out with you if you ask! You won't want me after you see what's out there," asserted Gwen.

"We seem to be at an impasse here, Gwen. I propose a simple wager. We'll leave it to chance. Let the fates decide if we should go to that dance together," suggested Steve. "How about this? If Sparta wins the football game Friday night, you go to the dance with me on Saturday. If we lose the game, I won't pester you anymore."

"You do realize that we lost to Gifford by at least thirty points last year? They went on to win the league. We also had our quarterback and most of the starting offensive line graduate last spring. Sparta can't win that game, Steve. We'll be lucky to win any games this year," predicted Gwen.

"Then this should be a no brainer, especially for a 'braniac' like you, Gwen. Let's shake on it and we'll have a deal," urged Steve as he offered his hand to Gwen.

Steve and Gwen had just sealed their wager with a hand shake when Paula and Kate turned the corner in the mall and found them deep in conversation. Steve knew immediately that the two women approaching the table had to be the mother and sister that Gwen had mentioned earlier. The family resemblance was obvious. As they drew closer, it occurred to Steve that Gwen's mother would make a great ally in his, thus far futile efforts to impress Gwen.

Friday night found Gwen sitting with her mom and two sisters in the visitors section of the stands at Gifford High. It was the first football game of the new season. Gwen had mentioned that she might drive over to watch the game to her family the previous evening at dinner.

"I guess you will!" laughed her older sister, Lisa. "Rumor has it that you have a lot riding on this game, Gwen, like a date with an Adonis that suddenly appeared in Sparta. If you don't mind, I'll ride over with you. I haven't watched a high school game since I graduated. Besides, I want to look this guy over. The way Kate and Mom talk, he makes Brad Pitt look homely."

"Just wait until you see Steve," interjected Kate. "I know you think we exaggerated, but you'll see. Gwen has the best looking guy our school has ever seen chasing after her, and she's playing hard to get! It pays to be so smart. She's stringing this guy along before she snaps him up in front of all those prissy cheerleaders. There'll be legends about Gwen handed down from mother to daughter for years to come."

"I don't know why everybody's making such a big deal out of this," lamented Gwen. "We have no chance of winning the game tomorrow. There won't be any date, so there's no reason for all of you to go to the game with me."