You can just drop me off at the front and I can make it inside on my own,” Gloria said as they reached the village.

“No way,” Jake said chuckling. I’m helping you inside,” he said getting out of the car as soon as he parked. Before Gloria had time to object, Jake was out of the car and helping her out.

“You really don’t have to go through all this trouble,” she said as she handed him the crutches. “I can manage on my own.”

“I’m sure you could but I’m here and there’s no way I’m leaving you to fend for yourself,” he said as he walked next to her making sure to catch her if she lost her balance. “It’s the least I could do.

Gloria let Jake help her inside her apartment. “I live on my own,” she said as they entered it. “I chose not to have a roommate this year. You wouldn’t believe the type of roommates I’ve had in the past. I just didn’t want to deal with a roommate on my last year of school, plus I like my alone time,” she said as she plopped down on the couch.

“So you’re a senior?” Jake asked as he grabbed the crutches and put them against the wall.

“Yeah, finally, my last year.” She said smiling.

“So you’re a senior who likes to be alone, like a loner,” he said in a teasing voice.

“Yeah, something like that,” she said chuckling. “I do like my privacy and peace and quiet,” she said blowing out a breath. He was so tall, she thought. She was craning her neck up at him. He must be at least 6’2.” She was a short 5’2”, so next to him she felt like a dwarf.

Jake grabbed a chair and cushion and gently rested Gloria’s foot on it. “They say it helps with the swelling if you keep your foot elevated.”

“Thanks,” she said. “You really don’t have to do all this.”

“I feel kind of guilty because it was actually my fault that your ankle got sprained,” He said.

“So you’re only helping me because you feel guilty?” Gloria teased.

“No, no,” Jake stammered. “I want to help you. I like you and I want to be here…” he said running a hand through his hair nervously.

“You like me?” Gloria asked coyly smiling.

Jake looked like he wanted to earth to swallow him up. “No, I mean, yes.” He stammered. He let out a deep breath and looked away. “Yes, I like you, Gloria,” he said looking back at her.

Gloria turned red. She hadn’t expected him to say that. She looked away and changed the subject. “You were in such a hurry when you walked out of the classroom. Where were you going anyway?” she asked trying to sound nonchalant. “You had a very intense look on your face.”

Jake looked intently at Gloria then said, “I was actually looking for you.”

“Me?” Gloria almost choked on the words. “Why were you looking for me?” She asked blushing.

“Because I saw in you in class and you turned and gave me the most gorgeous smile I’d ever seen,” he said. “I want to get to know you more. I want to take you out on a date,” he said matter of fact.

Gloria wasn’t sure what to say. She hadn’t expected Jake to be so upfront with her. Of course, she had noticed him in class. She bet all the female students had noticed him. He was tall, dirty blond, and Gloria was looking at his strong and muscled body. He had deep blue eyes and wavy blond hair, just her type. She didn’t like men who were skinny and brittle and looked like they might break if they lifted anything heavy.

She looked at his big hands like he wasn’t afraid of getting them dirty and doing hard work. She liked that he had a bit of a rugged look about him but not too much. Just enough to look sexy. Her father always told her that you could tell what kind of life a person led by looking at their hands.

“So what do you say?” Jake asked expecting an answer.

Gloria had been admiring his physical attributes so much she hadn’t been paying attention to what he was saying. “About what?”

“About going out with me?” Jake asked.

Gloria hesitated. She would love to go out with Jake but she wasn’t a big dater. She had only gone out with a few guys in her short dating history. Some had been okay but others had been punks. She wasn’t sure if she should open herself up for heartbreak again. Plus, she would be graduating this year and needed to focus on her studies. “I’m not sure,” Gloria said. She could see the huge disappointment in his eyes. “But,” she added quickly, “I mean, I’m flattered. “But isn’t there some kind of rule about teachers not dating students?”

Jake smiled and leaned into her. “I won’t tell if you don’t,” he said in a teasing voice. “But seriously, I’m not that much older than you. Plus, I’m only an assistant professor anyway and I know of no official rule that says assistant professors can’t date senior students,” He said winking.

“How old do you think I am?” Gloria asked feigning offense.

Jake looked at her. “I bet you’re not much older than 21 or 22.” He sat down next to her and moved a strand of hair that had fallen in front of her face behind her ear. “I’m 26 by the way. I graduated from here and also got my master’s here. This is my second year teaching as an assistant professor and so far I’m enjoying it. I’m looking into getting my Ph.D. but want to save some money first. Now, your turn,” he said matter of fact.

“My turn?” Gloria asked. “I didn’t realize we were telling each other our life story.

“Why not?” We have to start somewhere,” Jake said.

“Well, what would you like to know?” Gloria asked a little embarrassed. She wasn’t used to a guy being so forward and direct.

“Everything,” Jake replied. “I want to know everything about you; your likes and dislikes; your favorite color, your favorite food; your hopes and dreams; what you plan to do after you graduate?”

“Whoa, hold on. That’s a long list of questions,” Gloria said laughing. “It would take a long time to tell you my life story. Plus, some of those questions are personal and I don’t even have the answers to some of them yet.”

“I have all the time in the world,” He said leaning back can stretching his arms.

“Don’t you have another class to teach or something?” She asked.

“Nope, I’m done for the day. I’m all yours,” Jake said smiling broadly.

Gloria let out a sigh. “Okay, okay, what would you like to know first?”

“How about you start with your age. That’s easy enough.”

“Well, I’m 22,” she began. “I have two favorite colors – blue and pink. My favorite food is Mexican food. I’ll have to get back to you about my hopes and dreams because I have many. I’m not sure yet what I plan to do after I graduate but I know I want it to be something I enjoy,” she finished saying.

“You don’t have a plan for what you’re going to do after you’re done with school?” Jake asked surprised. “Where will you live? How will you support yourself?”

“Gosh, you kind of sound like my parents,” Gloria said.

“Sorry, I guess it’s just surprising to me that you don’t have a plan all set out,” Jake said. Most people I talk to already have their next five years planned out. My life was planned out for me since I was a kid so I just assumed that everyone had a plan.”

“Well, not me. I want to take it one step at a time and really think about what I want to do with my life. There’s so many possibilities out there. I want to do something meaningful with my life that I enjoy. It may sound corny but I want to make a difference in the world. I want to help people. At the end of my life, I want to have no major regrets. I want to go in peace and feel complete and satisfied that I tried my best in life, you know what I mean?” Gloria said without expecting an answer. “It can get overwhelming, the planning and the decision making. I mean, I do have a basic plan about what I’m going to do immediately after I graduate, like go home and just enjoy doing nothing for the summer. I’ve been going to school nonstop since I started. I didn’t even take a break during breaks. Plus, I’ve been working two jobs to have enough money for living expenses. I think I deserve a well-earned break after I graduate,” Gloria finished saying with a smile.

Jake looked at Gloria admiringly. “You’re parents are good with that? I mean, they’re not pressuring you to find a job?”

“Not really, they know I’ll eventually find one but I think they’re just happy for me to go back home for a while. I’m an only child,” Gloria said.

“Hey, that’s one thing we have in common already. I’m an only child too,” Jake said smiling.

Gloria smiled at him. “You hungry at all? I was on my way to grab something to eat when you ran into me. I can order a pizza or something?”

“I can take care of that,” Jake offered.

“You sure?”

“Yes, I want to.”

“As long as you don’t think of it as a date,” she said smiling.

“That reminds me, you never answered my question.”

“What question?” Gloria asked even though she already knew what he was referring to.

“If you’ll go on a date with me?” Jake asked seriously.

“Let me think about it, okay?” She said smiling.

“Think about it, for how long? Will you give me an answer after dinner?”

“You’re so impatient, Jake. Alright, I’ll let you know after dinner.”

Next Chapter: Chapter Three - Should or Shoudn’t?