Chapter One

Reed's Gym
Austin walks into the bare gym. School will be out any moment and he knows that as soon as it is, the place will be packed. First the High Schoolers will show up and then the upper Elementary kids. He smiles to himself, life was much better now. He had never expected his life to be like this. But he enjoyed it. He climbed up onto the ring and walked to the center. He looked around amazed at what he had built. Not only a successful career as a boxer and manager but now he was able to give his community something back.

"Yo, Reed!" Called out a voice behind him breaking the daze.

Austin turned around and smiled when he saw his sister Billie standing in the doorway. "Well hello to you to." He said with a laugh as he got down from the ring.

Billie walked over to the ring and smiled as Austin leaned against it. "After school crowd should be here soon huh?"

"Yeah, But as you know I love it."

"And the kids love it to." She smiled and then gave him a look, "Yet you spend all your time on this, which isn't bad. Yet ever plan on dating again. It's been a while since you've been on one."

"Yeah well you know work took over for a long time and the right woman hasn't come alone at all. So until she does I'm single."

"So your not waiting for Sami and Lucas to break up?"

"Not at all. I'm happy they found each other. Though I guess it was there the entire time, it just wasn't time to know it yet."

"So you think the right woman might just walk through those doors one day?"

"If that happens you can paint the gym tickle-me-pink." He said with a laugh as the alarm on his watch went off. "Time to get things pumping." He said as he made sure things were set up and ran to the office and turned on some music.

When he came back Billie smiled, "Well at least you know what and if your looking for something."

"Hey, it's all right for you not to want anyone. You loved Paul with all your heart. If the time is right it will happen. If it's not, it won't."

"Thanks, I should get going. Work to do. I just wanted to see how things were going. We should meet for dinner soon though so call me." She said as she started to leave and several teenage guys came in.

Salem High Drama Department
Belle Black shook her head as she re-read the scenes her students had written. "You would think asking for drama would defer them from comedy just once." She said aloud to herself.

Her classroom door opened and she stood up and her hand took hold of the letter opener. A man her age walked in. He was physically fit, and had dark brown hair. Something about him was so familiar.

"I'm looking for Miss. Black, I'm the new Handy man who's going to help with the sets, stages, risers and whatever else the Drama and Music department needs."

"I'm Miss. Black, you would be?"

"Douglas Williams." He said with a smile.

That Smile! It was so familiar. "So Mr. Williams." She said trying to keep her composer. "I was thinking of having a performance area put over here by the black board. There fore giving the kids more dimension to their work. It can also help with rehearsals in small groups. Think you can do that?" She asked.

"Yeah I think I can." He said his voice had a hint of attitude to it.

Belle rolled her eyes and sat down at the desk and took out a piece of yellow paper. "This is a list of what I want for the auditorium. They have to be very stable and have to be able to have several people on them at once."

"I'll get right to it tomorrow morning. What hours won't you be in here?" He asked.

She pulled out a white piece of paper and handed it to him. "This is the bell schedule. The periods highlighted are when I have class and they list what room I'm in then."

"Thank you. I'll start in the morning then." He said folding the papers.

"See you then." She said putting the scenes in a folder and then in a book bag before picking up the bag.

University Hospital
Craig and Mike both walk up to the Nurse's station together. They're both going over some paperwork for the hospital when Mike say's, "Do you think we could get the board to approve a pediatric emergency medicine section. I mean think about it, this way children won't have to see the gunshot wounds, and other things that have been coming in."

"I think we can if we remember to make that point. I believe the board would prefer to have parents more happy."

"And more trusting." Mike said leaning against the counter. "The meetings Friday afternoon right?"

"Yeah in the boardroom. We can make this happen and if it doesn't we'll find somewhere else where we can." Craig said.

As they were talking David Jenkins walked over to them, "Gentlemen." He started his British accent sticking out, "How are you today? Craig how's the job treating you? Mike how's your lovely wife Carrie?"

Both Mike and Craig rolled their eyes and looked at David, "Fine, Fine, and Fine." They said simultaneously.

"We have work to do." Craig said as he and Mike started to walk away.

David leaned against the counter and smiled, "I always get what I want."