Kerry McGrath is a shy teenage girl who believes she has nothing to offer because she isn't pretty, she isn't smart, and she isn't talented. One day, while walking home from school on the path of the old aqueduct that runs by her house, she meets Brian Donahue, the school's star athlete, who has recently broken his arm in a basketball game. Brian never noticed her before, but now for reasons she doesn't understand this boy who could have any girl he wanted is suddenly interested in her. As she gets to know him she discovers that he has family problems and a deep, unmet need for love. Her mother, who sees how Kerry could be badly hurt by her relationship with Brian, tries to stop her from getting too involved with him, but these efforts only strengthen Kerry's desire to help Brian as he becomes unable to live with his family. Believing she can save him with her love, she's willing to risk her life for him, and in a dramatic climax she faces the ultimate test of her love.
Excerpt
When they arrived at the party Brian stayed with her instead of joining the other boys, who were watching a basketball game. He talked with her and her friends in the kitchen, and when they put on some music he danced with her.
She hadn’t told him about the limit since she hadn’t wanted to put a damper on the evening, and she was having such a good time, she forgot about it. But later, while they were dancing to a slow one, holding each other as closely as possible with the cast between them, she suddenly remembered to check her watch.
“I have to go,” she told him sadly.
“What time is it?”
“It’s quarter to eleven.”
“What time do you have to be home?”
“By eleven.”
He frowned. “You didn’t have to be home by eleven last week.”
“I do now. My mother set a limit.”
“She did? Why?”
“She thinks I need one.”
“You mean with me?”
“With anyone,” she said, not wanting him to feel that he was being discriminated against.
“Do you want to stay out later?”
“Yeah. But I can’t.”
“Okay,” he said, looking dejected.
They left the party and headed toward the aqueduct.
“I really don’t want to go home,” she said, trying to reassure him.
Brian said nothing.
She didn’t know what else to say.
They arrived at her house with a minute to spare. They stopped at the foot of the back steps.
“Do you like me?” he asked as if his life depended on it.
“Yeah. I do.” She went further, saying: “I love you.”
But he looked as if he didn’t believe it.
So she proved it the only way she could. She leaned toward him and kissed him, putting her whole heart into it.
