She always came to class right before it began. With seconds to spare- not ever late, but definitely not early. She just beat the professor walking through the door, and would take her seat as the door closed. Dan watched her arrive this way Tuesday and Thursday at ten. He watched her during class, too- the way she'd take notes anxiously and exactly, obviously hanging onto everything their professor said. He personally hated the class- it was a study of mathematics and how it evolved through the years- but she obviously didn't. She sat attentively, and when he thought of her, the words "smart as a whip" came to mind. Her eyes burned slightly- not angrily, but with a kind of passion he'd never seen before. It was intoxicating.

He didn't know her name. He scarcely knew her voice- she almost never asked questions, just listened. She muttered things to the guy sitting next to her- commentating on the class, it looked like. Dan wished he was next to her.

One Thursday in November, he woke with a horrible headache. When he stood, the room spun and he saw stars. Shit, he thought. There's no way I can go to class today.

He idly thought about the two hours of staring at the girl he would lose because he would be missing class, but he sat back down on his bed. Rolling over, he groaned in discomfort. He wouldn't see her till the next Tuesday. A whole week since he'd seen her last.

By Tuesday, he was feeling better. Fit and ready to go to class. Imagining what he'd missed from that awful class, he walked to the building. He didn't have any friends in the class and he needed the notes.

After class was over, it became apparent that he needed the notes- one day missed and he was already lost. After the professor dismissed everyone, the girl dashed out of the classroom as per usual.

Dan didn't let himself think about it, or he'd get too scared. He just ran right out after her.

"Hey!" he called. "Hey!" He wished he knew her name.

He finally caught up to her, and she turned to look at him. When she locked eyes with him, her gaze was sharp and cutting, but not cruel. More like it didn't miss much.

"Hi...?" she said briskly, raising en eyebrow. It took a moment before he realized what she wanted.

"Oh. Hi! I'm Dan. Dan Goodman," he reached out a hand, and she shook it. He tried not to look down and stare at their entwined hands. Instead he held her gaze a second longer than was necessary before continuing. "So I wasn't in class last Thursday, and I don't really know anyone in it. I was wondering if maybe I could see your notes?"

She bit her lip. "I have to run to a class right now- it starts in twenty minutes- and I don't like to lend my notes out to people..."

Dan looked at the ground. "Oh, sorry. Yeah. Well, ok... No problem. I'll just go ask someone else..."

"No, wait! It's ok. I can meet you to go over them tonight if you want."

Dan's spirits immediately went from dreary to sunnier than a perfect July day. "Great! Perfect! Where?"

"There's that burger place in the student center..."

"Sure. I'll be there. Is eight ok?"

"It's fine. See you then," she said.

"Wait- sorry, but, um, what's your name?"

She smiled. "I'm Diana."

Diana, he thought, but she'd turned and started walking briskly away to her next destination. With her, she took a piece of him, and he knew he'd never get it back.

He sat at the table with his hands on his knees, checking his watch over and over. True, it was only eight o'clock now, but he'd been there for ten minutes already-

There she was.

He stood up, and waved so she knew where he was sitting. She nodded and sort of rushed over to him- well, she sort of rushed everywhere. She was like a whirlwind, affecting everything she passed.

"Hi," she said. "So I've got my notes here," she started before she sat down, words pouring out of her mouth as she took her coat off. Dan let one slip out a couple times, and soon became more and more comfortable. He copied her notes, but only could concentrate on the fresh smell of her hair mixed with her perfume as she leaned in to explain the lesson. His writing hand shook a little, making his notes sloppier than usual. He hoped she didn't notice.

But as time went on, they never ran out of anything to say. They talked about the notes, yes, but then they moved to discussing the class. She loved it, he hated it- he'd been right about that. Then they moved on to majors- they were both studying architecture. He was a senior, she was a junior but graduating a semester early. Why? She didn't want to be tied to her parents for any longer than she had to. That sparked a whole other discussion. He bought her a beer, and nursed one himself. They sat at that table for three hours.

He'd never met anyone like Diana before. She was the perfect counter to his reserved nature- she was not reserved. She said whatever was on her mind and didn't care what others thought. Their attraction was undeniable- they fought to keep their hands off each other during the day, and every day after classes, would run to one of their dorms, lock the door, and rip their clothes off.

She was a force of nature. He was quiet and smart, someone who liked to make people happy. But yet, he thought they were perfect for each other. He loved her, and told her so as much as he could. He'd never been in love before, but now that he was, he felt like a stereotype. He wanted to shout it off the tops of buildings, tell anyone who would listen. That was one thing she kept quiet- she really liked him, but she never said she loved him.

Still, they spent every moment they could together. For four months, they were inseparable. They would meet up in the short breaks between classes to exchange a kiss and a few words. In the longer breaks, there'd be more kissing, less words.

Everything seemed perfect- he'd never been happier. For weeks, he thought of nothing but Diana. She fascinated him, and he had a faint obsession with her. Anything she did was wonderful, amazing, breathtaking... She was wild, and had no misgivings. Sometimes, her love of risk scared him a little, but she was invigorating and feared nothing.

One day, he was studying in his dorm when there was a knock at the door. He opened it, and there stood Di.

"Hey!" he said, slipping his arms around her waist and kissing her, pulling her into the room and shutting the door.

"No, not now," she said, sounding cold.

"What's wrong?"

She didn't answer. She looked away.

"I'm pregnant," she said after a minute, still not looking at him.

He had nothing to say at first. He didn't even know what it meant. But then he knew- would they finish school? He could- he had only a month or so left- but Di had a whole semester left... she couldn't stay. What would they do? Well, they'd find work somewhere, and make this ok. They could do it.

"I can't see you anymore," she continued. His heart skipped a beat.

"What? Are you joking?" he exclaimed, astonished.

She looked at him for the first time, fire in her eyes. He'd seen it before, but now she was angry. She'd never been angry with him before.

"This can't be happening, Dan. And I'm not going to be the stupid girl who got knocked up by her boyfriend in college, and then ran off to marry him. I'm just not, because everyone knows how those stories end," she said, looking at him coldly.

"I'm not leaving you," Dan said softly.

"How would I know that now?" she challenged. "I know what happens- you're all gung-ho for awhile, but soon it becomes too much, and I'm left here alone. I might as well get a head start."

With that, she left his dorm, shutting the door behind her.

He shook his head. There was no way he was going to let this end this way.

"Di! Diana!" he called, but she didn't turn back.

Every day, she brushed past him when she went to her classes and ran out of them quickly when they were over. She wouldn't let him get one word in when he tried. Finally, after a week of this, he ran after her, reaching for the strap of her pruse.

"Get off," she cried, shaking him away. "I told you before. Leave me alone-"

"You can't do this, Diana," he said angrily. Why did she think she was the only person calling the shots in this relationship? "It's my kid, too, you know. I'm still the father."

She didn't answer.

"I'm not going to leave you, Diana. I love you, and I love this baby. I think we can do it. I know you're not ready for us to be over."

He said he 'knew,' but really, he'd only hoped she felt the same way she did.

Diana let out a sigh, looking up at him. "Look. I don't want to end up like all the other girls, ok? But I'll give you a chance. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow at ten. You can come, if you want. Meet me at my dorm at nine thirty."

He smiled hugely, grabbing her hands and kissing them. "Thank you. I won't disappoint you."

She didn't say anything, she just walked away.

He knew he had one chance- with Diana, one chance was one chance. He wouldn't get a second one. He buried his resentful feelings about her treatment of him, and walked back to his dorm. Little by little, he'd prove that he wouldn't leave. He'd be there for her no matter what. Forever.

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