68Chapter One
"Time is too slow for those who wait,
too swift for those who fear,
too long for those who grieve,
too short for those who rejoice,
but for those who love, time is eternity."
Toni could comfortably say to her friends that she would be willing to marry Hunter. A year and a half, she was in love with him, no doubt about it, and she would love to see them in a family picture together, it just seemed so right to her. Right indeed!
"Hey babe, what are you thinking about?" Hunter walked up behind Toni and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him, resting his chin on her shoulder. This was love, if nothing else.
"Just crazy things my mind can come up with!" Toni remarked softly. Her voice was playful and her eyes recommended it too.
"Ah, that beautiful thing is being put to work again?" Hunter childishly tapped the side of Toni's head. Yes, he loved her and who she was; he also loved her mind and the way she thought. Toni, to him, was beautiful. She was smart, great personality, and, yes, physically attractive. Hunter would love to lay next t her in bed one morning after having made love to her, but he knew what she believed in and, for all that he loved her, he respected it and loved her even more for it.
Twenty four, Toni still had one more year of college left and she would officially be in the working field, but Hunter was twenty seven and had already started his career. Marriage was something that was constantly on Toni's mind nowadays. The only thing, it seemed. Her friends kept telling her how perfect she and Hunter were for each other and she always agreed. If she had to lose her virginity to her husband, then she would definitely want it to be Hunter.
Looking down at her watch, Toni saw she had ten minutes to get to her class.
"Crap! Stupid Philosophy!" she cursed. Turning around in Hunter's arms, she kissed him, "Sorry babe, I gotta get to class!" she kissed him again, this time longer.
"Fine, but one because your education is important!" Hunter added playfully. Toni pulled out of Hunter's arms and began gathering her things from around the room.
"Are you staying here or are you going out?" she asked.
"I was going to stay in," Hunter began, as he peered into Toni's refrigerator, "But seeing as you need groceries…" He trailed off and smirked at Toni.
"Okay," she kissed him, "Thanks!" she kissed him again, "I" again, "love", yet again, "you!" once more, "See you later!" with that she pulled away and walked out, followed by Hunter, who grabbed his car keys on the way.
Deryck Culler ran out his dorm room and through the hallway. He was almost late for Philosophy again, something he just couldn't afford. He zipped past the people in the hallway and down the stairs, out the doors and across the campus field. By now he was panting, as he turned into the school building. He hated being late like this but he had a rough night, A really, really rough night. His four-month girlfriend, Samantha broke up with him, she didn't even have the decency to do it in person, she did it over the phone. True it was such a short period of time, and there shouldn't be much to be depressed about, but Deryck was close to certain that he loved her. If she had to hold through for only a few more days Deryck would have known for sure. Well good riddance to bad rubbish! If she wasn't willing to wait then why should he. He wasn't completely sure; he was just trying to figure it out. Why do the guys always have to be the ones who wait for the girls to acknowledge the love? Why can't it be the girls who wait for once? It did make sense. Well whatever the case now, he had to move one, she already had.
She was cold and ruthless over the phone, more heartless that Deryck could have ever imagined. "I don't think things are going to work out between us, I just don't see us going anywhere. Anyway, I think four months is a long time, don't you?" silence. "Look, I don't know exactly how to tell you, but I've been seeing Philip!" Oh yeah, Philip, Deryck's best friend, scumbag. "I just needed something that you weren't giving me! I mean" oh yeah, she started to laugh, mockingly. "I've never heard of a guy who didn't want to have sex till he was married!" and with that…she hung up on him. Hard as nails, and twice as tough! Well the only way he could deal with the pain, 'Good riddance to bad rubbish!'
Deryck had just recently transferred to this college; it was a little hard on him as it is. He had to catch up with the rest of the class and all the lectures and that was enough stress on him, Samantha's news just kind of bummed him out completely. After last night, he just sort of gave up hope on life and drank down all his depressions. Not the best idea, he knew that, but sometimes a person is allowed to be irrational and make stupid mistakes. Just consider it a good thing he didn't shoot himself, right?
Taking that as an excuse, Deryck was in the classroom in record time and sitting somewhere amongst the back row. He was, luckily, just in time. Unfortunately, the girl who walked in next wasn't.
"I'm sorry Mr. Beacon, I got-uh- caught up by a previous teacher!" everyone could tell she was lying, but at least she tried right? And damn was she gorgeous! She hastily apologized to the teacher and walked down the room, along the numerous amount of steps, and took her seat somewhere in the middle rows. Deryck just couldn't seem to take his eyes off of her. Something about her, besides her beauty, drew him to her.
Philosophy was the most boring of all, to Deryck anyway. But in order to be what he wanted to be, a lawyer that is, he would have to take this class, and of course, somewhere down the line, put up with boring people as such. The lecturer began his talk about the time old question 'which came first, the chicken or the egg?'…how about this…who cares?
Instead of actually listening to lecture, Deryck found himself staring at the back of that beautiful girl's head. She had some sort of aura that drew him to her, that had to be it. But Deryck immediately assumed that it was just him on the rebound and he would take the first thing in a short skirt, and a push up bra. Which would only service as a pretty thing on his arms though, what with the whole premarital sex issue. Why was it so wrong for a guy to have a belief like that?
"Yes Ms. Dermel?" okay the professor was pointing to that beauty. She spoke, her voice more elegant than ever, not to mention her argument. What a mind! Even though her answer was wrong, in Deryck's thoughts, not even Samantha could think like that. She was a ditz and a bimbo when it came to brains, none whatsoever! He had to get this girl's attention; he just had to for reasons unexplainable even to him. So his hand shot up right after she finished speaking.
"Mr. Culler, you have an argument I suppose?" said Mr. Beacon.
"Why yes, yes I do!" and he spoke proudly as he fought that beauty's argument. He even noticed that she was turned around in her chair, staring up at him, and listening intently. Yes, he had her eye.
What a mind! And he seems genuinely interested in Philosophy too. And his arguments actually make sense. Hmm…I'm going to have to sit and converse with him sometime. It'll be fun, a meeting of the minds! Toni amused herself as she watched this boy speak. He really did have a head on his shoulders, and she admired that. He spoke very well, fluently, and with a great amount of pride, but not the bad kind…the sense of pride of accomplishing something, she liked seeing that in this day and age. This just might be an interesting class after all! And Toni's hand shot up in a counter argument.