Meet The Teacher

Mary Margaret was late. She was trying to balance an armful of textbooks, a birdhouse, and her hot chocolate, as she ran down the hall toward her classroom. She should have known better. How many times had she called out for the kids to stop running in the halls? She never even saw him as she rounded the corner, just heard the grunt of breath leaving her as she hit him full force. Everything she was holding flew out of her arms as she was knocked backwards off her feet. Sprawled out on the floor, it took her a moment before she managed to catch her breath and look up. Her gaze was met with a mesmerizing blue. She lost her breath again as quickly as she had regained it, unable to look away. That was until her attention was drawn by his hand coming up to touch his chin and she noticed the blood.

"Oh my goodness!" She quickly moved to her knees and reached out to him. "Did I do that? I am so sorry!"

"No it's ok," he laughed, getting himself to his feet before holding out his hand to help her up. "Although maybe I should have you arrested for carrying a deadly weapon." He gave her an impossibly handsome smile, as he held up the now broken birdhouse, a mangled mess of splintered wood and protruding nails.

"Arrested?" For the first time she noticed his uniform. Her face turned red from complete embarrassment. "Oh, my goodness! I've assaulted a police officer." She put her face in her hands. "I am such a klutz!"

"Don't worry it's quite alright."

"But I've injured you. I think it might even scar."

"Don't worry, I will make up a very elaborate story about the dangerous bandit I apprehended getting it," he said with a wink.

"Dangerous bandit huh?" She finally allowed a small, shy smile to grace her features. For a moment David was held captive by her delicate beauty. It reminded him of a china doll, with her short dark hair, porcelain skin, and naturally red lips.

Mary Margaret removed a napkin from her purse and bent down to wipe up the spill on the floor. David quickly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and bent down to help her. Hot chocolate David noticed, along with something he couldn't quite place.

"Is that cinnamon I smell?"

"Yes," she said almost apologetically as she shrugged her shoulders. "It's a little quirk of mine." He was completely taken in by the look of half-amusement, half-embarrasment that crossed her face. She tilted her head, looking at him shyly through the bangs that had fallen in front of her eye, and absent-mindedly licked her lips. His breath caught as he wondered if those wonderfully red lips would taste like the hot chocolate she had been drinking.

The moment was broken as standing again she reached out her hand. "I'm Mary Margaret Blanchard, by the way."

David became awkwardly aware he had been staring at her...staring at her lips actually, and thinking about kissing her. What was wrong with him? He had just met this woman, not too mention that he was almost engaged. He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts.

"David Nolan," he answered, reaching to shake her outstretched hand.

"I'm sorry, I really need to go. I was already late, which is what caused our little accident. I knew I should have skipped the coffee shop this morning."

"Here let me help you carry these things to your classroom."

"Oh that's not necessary, I've already caused you enough trouble."

"Please, I insist, it's no trouble at all," he declared taking the books from her hand.

He noticed a slight smirk as she looked at him. She actually looked a little annoyed. David found himself thinking how adorable she looked, even when annoyed. In fact David was pretty sure there wasn't a way this woman could look at him that he wouldn't find absolutely adorable.

Mary simply sighed, "Well come on then Prince Charming. I've got a class to prepare for."

David laughed at the name and turned to follow her. Once they got to her classroom he placed the books on her desk, along with what remained of the birdhouse. "What was this for anyway," he asked?

"I've always had an affinity for birds and so I started teaching a unit on them. It's actually become one of the students' favorites, and every new class of fourth graders looks forward to it."

"I'm very sorry it's been ruined."

"Don't be. It wasn't your fault. And I have plenty of time to get a new one. We won't be using them for a few weeks yet.

She began placing books on the desks. He grabbed a stack of books to help her.

"Look Charming," she said, her voice edged with a slight hint of teasing, while taking the books from his hands, "my class should be here any minute and I'm sure you have somewhere to be."

"Oh yeah, I need to go find the kindergarten room. I'm sure they are wondering where I am. I'm talking to them about stranger awareness."

"A very important subject indeed. If you go out and take a left, it will be the third classroom on your right."

"Well then, it was a pleasure to meet you Ms. Blanchard."

"Please call me Mary."

"And you can call me David."

She met his eyes as she attempted to give him her most flirtatious smile. Mary Margaret was not someone who was normally a big flirt. In fact, it was rather out of character for her. She usually avoided it because she was so bad at it. It often just turned things really awkward, but there was something about Officer David Nolan that made her unable to resist teasing him.

"Actually, I think I'll just stick with calling you Charming, since you've been so helpful"

He laughed, "Well then princess, I bid you adieu." He gave her a royal bow as he reluctantly turned to leave.

She watched him exit. Charming from all sides she found herself thinking as her gaze lowered. He glanced back just before he entered the hall and was pretty sure he caught her blushing.