Chapter 1
Jimmy Lee stared in disbelief as Mitch strode off. They had been together ever since her sixteenth birthday over a year ago, and now he was walking a way from her.
How could this be? She was willing to admit that lately things had been difficult between them. Mitch wasn’t LDS, and he had no interest in the church. For the last couple of months he had campaigned for a more physical relationship. Those things had bitterly disappointed her, but that didn’t change her feelings for him. She loved him, and she had always believed that they would work out their problems. Now that chance was walking away from her.
With unblinking eyes, she watched as he left the library and walked into the hall. She still sat in the far corner of the library, where he had asked to meet her. It was one of the few places on campus where they could have a little privacy. When Mitch had asked to meet with her she had thought nothing of it; he probably just wanted to firm up Friday night’s date, she supposed, or maybe he was struggling with one of his new classes. She tutored him in math. But in the library she had sat in stunned silence and listened to his carefully rehearsed speech about needing space and wanting to date other girls.
Jimmy Lee had no rebuttal. She wasn’t prepared. So she had leaned against the table in mute shock. Then Mitch had risen from his chair and walked away. The whole monologue probably took three minutes, and yet it had left her devastated.
Jimmy Lee jumped as the tardy bell rang. It was the first day of the winter semester and she wasn’t even sure what class she was supposed to be attending. Swallowing hard, she searched her notebook until she found her schedule. She looked over the list of classes. Chemistry III. Great! One of her tougher classes! Sighing, she stood and straightened her books. She was too stunned to cry. It still felt unreal.
With deliberate steps she walked out into the almost empty hallway. A few students were scurrying to their classes. A couple of them flashed Jimmy Lee a smile but she didn’t smile back. Instead she concentrated on getting to class. A few minutes ago it had been just another class, but now just walking in the science building was a monumental task. It was the habit that kept her moving.
Finally she made it to the right room. The teacher, Mr. Bradley, gave her a long look as she walked in, but he continued with his lecture. Quietly, Jimmy Lee settled into the seat next to another student. Without much thought, she set her books on the table. They tumbled onto the floor with a loud racket.
Mr. Bradley gave her a harder look. “See me after class,” he said before continuing with his talk. Her mouth went dry as she nodded. Then she bent over to pick up her books—and cracked skulls with the boy sitting next to her, who had also bent over at the same time to help.
She didn’t cry out for fear of angering the teacher even more, but tears came to her eyes. She willed them away, afraid that once the tears got started they would never stop. She was right. Slowly the tears leaked from her. She saw the concern in the student sitting next to her, a red-haired kid with freckles. He kept glancing at her, and when she fumbled around her notebook, looking for a tissue, he deftly handed her a handkerchief. Jimmy Lee took the piece of cloth and wiped her eyes. She wished she could blow her nose but didn’t feel right about using his handkerchief for that. She settled for wiping her eyes and tried to concentrate on the lecture.
After class, Jimmy Lee waited for the students to disperse before walking up to the front of the classroom. Mr. Bradley sat at his desk. Jimmy Lee knew he was waiting for her to make her excuse for her tardiness and disruptive behavior.
Jimmy Lee cleared her throat. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I got distracted. It won’t happen again.”
Mr. Bradley’s features softened. “See that it doesn’t,” he said. “How’s your head?”
She rubbed the spot where a lump was beginning to form. It was tender. “It’ll be okay,” she said.
“Maybe you should see the school nurse and get a bag of ice. I wanted to tell Kody that too, but he left before I got the chance. The two of you really smashed into each other.”
“If I see him, I’ll mention it,” Jimmy Lee said.
Jimmy Lee said good-bye to Mr. Bradley and walked out of the science lab. Her head felt like a cracked egg and it throbbed with every heartbeat. She didn’t even see the red-haired boy leaning against the wall.
“You okay?” he asked as he pushed himself away from the wall and fell in step with her.
She nodded. “I’m fine. How about you?”
Kody grinned. “My head is as hard as cement. I’m sure you got the raw end of our collision.”
“If your name is Kody, Mr. Bradley suggested that we got to the school nurse and get a bag of ice. Do you need one?”
“My name is Kody. Kody McLaughlin, and you’re Jimmy Lee Donovan. I don’t need a bag of ice. How about you?”
“No,” she lied. A bag of ice would feel good. Maybe it would numb the pain in her heart as well.
Kody squinted at her. “Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t look so good. Maybe you have a concussion or a fractured skull. We hit pretty hard.”
She noticed that he looked genuinely worried. She shook her head. “No. Only a fractured heart. Thanks for letting me borrow your handkerchief. I’m sorry it got so wet.”
You weren’t crying over our accident, were you,” Kody said quietly.
Tears surfaced again. No.” her voice was shaky. “Mitch and I broke up.” Just saying the words made her wince. They sounded so new and foreign.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Kody said softly. “I had no idea.”
“Neither did I,” Jimmy Lee said dryly.
“Kody changed the subject. “What’s your next class?”
“Sociology. How about you?”
“Same,” Kody said.
They managed to walk into the classroom together, just as the tardy bell rang. In spite of Jimmy Lee’s throbbing head she was glad she wouldn’t have to do any explaining to Mr. Sandival. She and Kody managed to find two seats, but they weren’t together.
Kody hated to leave Jimmy Lee. She might need his handkerchief again, or maybe his shoulder to cry on. He didn’t know Jimmy Lee very well but he did know her reputation was impeccable.
Jimmy Lee was a strange name for a girl but it somehow fit. Her light brown hair was cut short, and her clear skin had a scrubbed look about it, suggesting that she didn’t wear much makeup. Baggy jeans, flannel shirts, and cowboy boots with polished brass tips added to her tomboyish look. She wasn’t the prettiest girl in school. In fact, she was plain. Still, everywhere Jimmy Lee went she seemed to spread fresh air and sunshine. People were drawn to her. Kody wasn’t the only one to think so. Mitch had always been by her side, and whenever Kody had seen them together it looked as if he adored her.
Kody didn’t know Mitch, except by sight and reputation. The tall, muscular senior’s ability to play basketball wasn’t the only reason why Kody admired him, but it was the most important. All his life Kody had longed to play team games. Instead he was a read-headed runt who played the oboe in the band. His unruly red hair and freckled complexion might be conspicuous but his frame was a non-draw.
After class was over, Kody found Jimmy Lee. She looked worn out. “Feeling any better?” he asked.
“I think I’ll go home,” Jimmy Lee said quietly. “My head is really starting to pound.” She rubbed her forehead. Her skull did hurt, but she didn’t know whether it was from the accident or the pent-up tears.
“Can I get you anything?” Kody asked, feeling helpless.
“No. Thanks for everything. I appreciate your help. Will I see you tomorrow?”
Kody grinned. “Absolutely.”
With a final wave he hurried to his next class, but it didn’t seem right to leave her. He hesitated for a moment and turned to search the milling crowd, but she had disappeared.
Hurrying to her locker, Jimmy Lee scribbled a note for her locker partner and best friend, Reanna Lewis. She stuck it to the inside of the door with a piece of gum she had chewed for that very purpose. Reanna always took her home after school, and Jimmy Lee wanted to make sure her friend would know she had already left. She didn’t go into any details. The way the rumor mill worked at Pinecrest High School, it was very possible that by the time classes were over Reanna would know more about the breakup than Jimmy Lee.
With slow, deliberate steps, Jimmy Lee went to the office to phone her mother.
When she climbed into the car a few minutes later, Jimmy Lee allowed her body to sink into the seat.
Beth Donovan immediately placed her hand on her daughter’s forehead. “Are you ill? You sounded terrible on the phone. You don’t have a fever.” She placed the back of her hand on Jimmy Lee’s cheek. “What’s happened?”
Once again the unwanted tears began to surface. Jimmy Lee allowed them to run down her cheeks. She couldn’t hold them back any longer. “Mitch…” she tried to frame her words but the grief was overwhelming. She tried again. “Mitch wants to date other girls,” she finally stammered out before the sobs took over.
Beth reached across the emergency brake and pulled her daughter close. “Oh, honey! I’m so sorry. You must feel awful.”
Jimmy Lee nodded against her mother’s shoulder as the sobs racked her body.
They sat there for a long minute until Jimmy Lee’s cries finally subsided. She pulled away from her mother and slumped against the seat.
Beth put the car in gear and pulled out into traffic. “Why don’t you tell me exactly what happened.”
With a halting voice, Jimmy Lee told her mother everything.
Beth covered her daughter’s hands with one of her own. Jimmy Lee squeezed her mother’s fingers.
“Tomorrow is going to be hard,” Jimmy Lee said quietly.
“Yes. But it’ll be the worst day. Each day will get a little easier.”
Jimmy Lee looked out at the rain-soaked landscape. Nothing would ever be easy again.
