Best Player: A Romantic Comedy Series (Dreaming of Book 1)

by Anne Thomas

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  Molly grabbed her bag and walked down the school hallway and swung in to the classroom that was Marty's. "You ready?" She asked when she saw all the kids gone.

  "Yup, just a minute and then we can go to lunch."

  "Is Harry coming?"

  Marty looked up at her in surprise. "What, didn't you hear the girl talk today? Harrison is already out to lunch with a new girlfriend."

  Molly's eyes widened. "What? No, I didn't hear that! But...but it's been less than a week since he was whining outside my door about Amber he already has a new girl?"

  She shrugged. "You know Harrison. He don't fool around when he don't have a girl in his life. He goes from one to the next as fast as possible. And look at the guy he sure has the goods to pull it off."

  Molly groaned, kicking the floor and leaving behind a black mark from the sole of her shoe. "I can't believe him. You see? This is why I don't help him anymore he don't really care about these girls. He don't love them. He just wants his fun. And when it's done being fun...he's done with them and it's on to a new girl. I can't stand the way he treats women!"

  Marty shrugged. "You know him better than anyone, so I know you don't need me to go in to a false comforting talk about how it won't last and that he really does care for these girls and all that such."

  Molly swallowed her anger and started to walk out of the classroom and towards their car.

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  The next day, as Molly busily set out to grad the tests that were just taken, Harrison came walking in.

  "What's Principal Redford doing here?" She heard one of the five students that had stayed behind to wait for their test results, whisper.

  "I don't know...anyone here in trouble?" Another one replied.

  Molly nodded. She was.

  "This isn't a good time, Principal Redford. See, I have to finish grading these tests for the students"

  "It can wait a minute." He said instead, taking the red pen from her hand and gathering the testing folder in his arms so she wouldn't be tempted.

  "I think we need to talk about that event a few days ago Radcliffe, now that there's not a locked door between us."

  Molly blushed, vividly remembering this man, now in a respectable suit looking very suave, standing in hardly anything other than a hot pink towel. If any of the students ever found out, he'd have a hard time getting their respect again. Or stop their bouts of laughter.

  "Sure. What do you need? To discuss your wardrobe tastes or your begging techniques?"

  He scowled at her. "Not funny. I'm serious."

  She crossed her arms. "After seeing you in that towel outside my door for hours...eh, so am I." She whispered, but his eyes flamed in anger, and she knew it was time to stop the jokes. "Alright, fine. What do you really want to talk about? Because I meant what I said the other night. I didn't change my mind. I won't do it."

  Harrison put the test folder down on a filing cabinet and took her hands in his. "Please? Molls, you know me. I wouldn't ask you to do something I thought was going to hurt you in any way. I just thought...I needed help!"

  "Help? You're dating a new girl already, Red!"

  "Because Amber dumped me."

  "Not even week ago! Four days!"

  A smirk crossed his face. "You know I wouldn't have to bother with any of these silly women if only you'd just finally say yes."

  It was a joke that they made when they were having relationship problems, never taken seriously. She laughed and slapped his arm.

  "Out of here I got work to do! Now scoot!, Red!"

  He cupped her cheek and smiled, then walked out.

  Indeed, what he had told her was an old joke. But as she looked around her, she saw that her students, whispering and looking vastly interested, hadn't caught on to that part.

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  Eighties music blasted from the radio, the time flashing angrily once again. Morning had come and Marty was already yelling from the door so they could take off to work. And once again, she had to rush around to get ready and run. Once sitting in the passenger seat, Marty handed her a breakfast bar. "Because I know you couldn't have had time to eat."

  Molly flashed her a grateful smile. "We're going to have to go shopping after school I'm near out of food and I'm craving all kinds of ice cream right now..."

  Marty laughed. "Then come over to my apartment you know I'm always stocked with your food cravings. And the best part? I'm right down the hall!"

  "Oh yes, that indeed helps."

  "Ya know...I know for a fact that Harrison has plenty of your food craving goodies and he's right above you..."

  Molly rolled her eyes. "Red and I are going through a bit of a...hard time. Today we made it all better on the surface, but we both know nothin has been solved. And until it is solved, that's going to be an uncomfortable barrier between us."

  "And meanwhile, you're both going to ignore it and he'll act completely casual and you'll act like you have no idea what could be wrong between you until you had enough and you explode on him. Then it'll be a whole fit, you two will swear never to talk again and one of you will threaten to move out. Every time...you two are getting to be utterly predictable." Marty rattled off.

  Molly rolled her eyes. "Just get us to the school and I'll worry what to do with Harry."

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  But when the two teachers reached the school, they were in for a big surprise. As in, every student surrounding them were smiling, giggling and whispering. So much so, in fact, that when she called her class to order, they simply didn't hear her.

  "Alright!" She shouted over the multiple conversations. "I want to know what's so fascinating for all of you that you can't concentrate on what I'm saying!"

  A boy in the first row that she knew as Tommy Benskin smirked. "Maybe because we're too busy concentrating on something Principal Redford said yesterday."

  This took her by surprise. "Well...what did Principal Redford say?"

  A girl stood up, a slow, mischievous grin appearing on her gloss smeared lips. "Well yesterday, the two of you were conversing in here...and we heard him say...well he said that he wants you to say yes. So fill the blanks in and tell us how did he propose? And when?"

  Molly's mouth fell slightly ajar. They had to be kidding! Surely they wouldn't have spread such an innocent joke, that wasn't meant to be overheard by other ears, all around the school! Instead of staying and fumbling through something coherent and allow them to witness her cheeks growing more and more scarlet, she swung open the door to the adjoining classroom next door, where the student were all busy with a test already. "Marty, can you watch my students for me quick? I have some...immediate business to take care of with Harrison Redford."

  A chorus of "ooohs" came from behind her and Marty rushed over to the door.

  "Students, everyone keep focused on your test. You have fifteen minutes left."

  "But...but is Miss Radcliffe going to go accept Principal Redford's proposal?" One of her students asked eagerly.

  Marty's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she whipped around to look at Molly. "Do these kids know something I don't?"

  Her fellow coworker rolled her eyes and sighed. "Of course not! Just...just watch these guys. Class, start reading chapter three of Persuasion by Jane Austen. Keep going until I return."

  And with that, Molly started to run down the hallway until she reached the office. Swinging in, she was quickly stopped by the secretary, Mrs. Swiesser. "Mr. Redford is currently busy in his office right now. He won't see anyone."

  "Oh, he'll see me." Molly said with determination, then marched in to the back office that was her friend's.

  "Have you heard yet or am I the last to know?" She asked him.

  Harrison looked up from his papers and
took off the glasses he was always embarrassed to be seen in, though Molly always thought they suited his office look. "That would depend...what are you talking about?"

  She held up her left hand. "You may not be able to see it, but everyone else can. I have an imaginary ring on this finger," She pointed to her ring finger, "and apparently you're the one who gave it to me."

  An eyebrow quirked up. "Huh, how about that? I get more accomplished when I sleep walk and talk than I thought."

  She groaned. "Come on Red, this isn't a joke. None of my students will study because they think you proposed to me yesterday."

  His eyes looked in alarm. "Oh..." He said, the wheels in his mind spinning out of control.

  "Oh? That's all you have to say?" She asked softly, sinking in to one of his leather plush chairs in the corner of the room.

  "I'll fix it, Molls, don't you worry. Just give me to tomorrow and I'll have everything cleared up."

  "Thank you. We certainly can't have my students being distracted from their studies because of this."

  "Of course not. That...and if I'm engaged, I'll have one hell of a time getting dates from now on." He teased her, his eyes the color of a lake in the early winter, glittering as he ran a hand through his shaggy, thick brown hair, taking his long bangs out of his eyes. "You and Marty go hold down the fort for the rest of the day. I have a lot of business calls to make today, and then I'm all yours to solve the problem."

  Molly smiled. "Good. And by the way...for now on, watch what you say in front of the kids...Principal."

  He laughed at her mischievous look as she left his little office and made her way back to her own room.

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  Harrison Grier Redford, a teenager himself in a manly body, was more than met the eye. But what met the eye was certainly enough for most women. Harrison laughed each time Molly would roll her dark brown eyes at the idea, wondering what was with the entire female race that had such weaknesses from broad shoulders, a tall build, thick shaggy hair that hung haphazardly to frame his face, and a particular shade of royal blue eyes. But beneath good looks and plenty of muscle laid a complicated soul who's biggest habit was running away or ignoring his problems. Not that he had anything major. He had skipped out on a real college education to join the marines at eighteen and stayed there until he turned twenty two. He considered those years to be some of the best and the most thrilling of his life. He was doing something worthwhile. He was helping people other than himself. It was a change. And it had felt good. But he had come home when his brother had fallen ill, contracting some kind of disease he still couldn't pronounce, nor understand. And after the two years it took for his brother to make it through, Harrison couldn't get himself to find the rapturous adventure that he had once held inside him. Instead, he settled down. Made plans with his lifelong friend Molly to move out of their parents' houses and in to apartment buildings. He took Molly two years after he left, as soon as she was ready. With getting that apartment, he needed a job. The first one that opened to him was his father's. He had taken some college courses in teaching when he was still in high school, as soon as Molly had expressed interest in doing the same field. Somehow, he managed to qualify, thanks to his dear father. Father Redford retired and bought a nice big yellow boat, and Harrison started his life living in the real world on his own.

  Now here he was, twenty eight years old and dating every woman in the Nevada state, some from California as well. He knew Molly disapproved of his dating techniques, but he considered them better than hers, seeing that she hadn't had a date since...well, maybe she never did. It wasn't that she couldn't Lord knows even he knew of all the guys over the years that had asked her for dates, but she always refused. The feisty five foot seven woman of his nearly his same age and that he towered over with his six foot four frame, shared more traits from the reddish part of her hair heritage rather than the brunette strands. Molly Radcliffe had a horrid Scottish temper, a loud Italian voice that also allowed her hands to cook the most amazing of meals when she wanted to, and the sassiness of her French side. With curly auburn hair that reached just below her ribcage and eyes of dark chocolate brown, she was a beauty. Not to say she was completely out of the ordinary. Not runway model gorgeous or stop on the street to gawk looking, but it was something special. Unique. Completely hers. If Harrison bothered to stop and think about his best friend, he'd realize she was those things more because of her great confidence in her own self. He was a big, strong marines man that was trained to save a person in multiple situations, but Molly never took advantage. She wanted to save herself. No damsel in distress for her. Though even she had to admit that she needed more adventure in her life. More fun. More danger to toy with. Her life was still so safe and easy going. She needed to shake it up a bit more. Make it as feisty as her attitude was. But her schedule of a teacher and a friend to many never seemed to allow her that release.

  One day, he'd have to show her how. If only she'd allow herself to see his side of things. The good side. She'd become looser then.

  But for now, she had come to him to make him stop the rumors that he had apparently started. And he needed a damn good, convincing way of making sure her students, and all the others, knew that there was no connection of that sort between him and Molly. Just like there never would be.

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  "Are you ready? After all, you never know what kind of surprises await past that door." Marty said, unsuccessfully trying to hide a grin. Really, she couldn't wait to find out what Harrison was doing to fix the problem that had spread throughout the school. Her mismatched eyes, one of a strange hazel and the other blue, were dancing with excitement. "That boy better not let me down."

  Molly just shook her head, opening the glass door, leading the way to their classrooms, holding her breath in silent prayer that Harrison wouldn't make a fool of either of them. She was wasting that breath...

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  It was five minutes before lunch period and Molly was putting up the assignment.

  Read chapters five through seven in Persuasion. Write out summary and your viewpoints on these chapters.

  Test on Monday start studying now!!

  She was still copying this from her assignment book when there was a knock at the door. Before she could even turn around, Harrison came in the room. And on his arm, was someone who made a shiver run down her spine and anger spark in her eyes.

  She looked towards the door that conjoined the two classrooms and saw Marty peering in through the window, her jaw gaping.

  For on his arm, was the woman with platinum blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. With the height of five eleven without her trademark four inch heels on, it was easy to see that she was once a model, back in the day. She made the stereotypical views on models being snobs come true. She was worse than stuck up she was better than everyone else in this place. Better than anyone...but the man she had her eye on for months, whom she was determined to get. Well, she had gotten him, obviously.

  "Principal Harrison, Miss Candice Greybill...to what do I owe this pleasure?" Molly asked, trying to keep her voice even.

  Harrison looked around the room, making sure all eyes were on him. They surely were.

  "Oh, I'm going to take off. I just wanted to say I couldn't make it to dinner tonight with you and Miss Lewison tonight. Miss Greybill and I are going out. You understand, don't you? It's kind of a last minute thing..."

  There weren't any supper plans for tonight. There never were. When you wanted to eat with one of the three, you came over around dinner time and plopped on the sofa until it was time to cook or call in. But despite the fact that he wasn't really breaking any previous dinner dates to her, it still made her blood boil at the thought. She wanted to release her burst of fury, to tell him that this wasn't the way he should have done it. But she was an Engli
sh teacher, standing in front of her class. It was her duty to remain calm no matter what in front of those children.

  So instead of allowing her claws to show, she gave them a curt nod. "Fine with me." She said stiffly, then addressed her room.

  "Make sure you copied the assignment. Class dismissed." And with those words, she hurried towards Marty's classroom, of whom she'd already dismissed when she had started gawking, knowing she'd need to hear all about this as soon as possible.

  Harrison watched her retreat, stepping aside the door to let the flood of twenty students out of the room. The pretty little blonde on his arm that was the high school's art teacher and scrapbook leader, tugged on his sleeve, reminding him that he should be moving too. But there was something about the way Molly's eyes glistened over for a moment before her fury interfered that held his thoughts captive. What was wrong with her now? He doubted he'd be able to find out. There was just some things Molly never told him. Privacy was her friend. Or at least, until the screams rose too high in her throat to keep down. Yet usually those were masked with lies as well. A mysterious creature, that one was. With a shrug, he walked out of the room, shutting off the lights and closing the door.

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  "You know...for someone as talkative as you, it's never a good sign when you fall completely silent after something that happened like it did at school." Marty rattled off, busying herself with getting drinks for the two of them.

  Molly shrugged. "I'm completely fine. Why would you think I wouldn't be?"

  Marty groaned. "Because I know you. Lets see, Harrison went and dumped his new girl for this one, just to prove that he's not with you. I know you heard the new talkings of your students that you must be below Harrison's tastes and that's why he don't date you not the other way around where you won't date him. And then, to top it all off, he goes and dates Candice Greybill the woman we both despise." Molly shook her head. "I don't despise her..."