KIDS AT THE ASSEMBLY CHAT LIVELY as Luke and I stand with Harp waiting for our introductions. It's been a week since the vandalism. Harp was able to file a claim and worked hard at fixing the place up. Luke and I got a good number of tips about the suspect but nothing concrete. He and I have rotated shifts at the fields and have come up empty-handed.

Harp shifts next to me and my eyes roam over her. She's in a black short sleeved blouse tucked into fitted grey slacks, and what's even more peculiar is seeing her in heels. She looks sleek and professional.

This is a Harp I'm not used to.

I've seen Harp in dresses. She was maid of honor at Matt's wedding. But something about this sophisticated, adult-looking Harp is making it hard for my eyes to turn from her. She moves a folder from one arm to another as she pulls her loosely curled locks to one side exposing her lightly freckled neck to me.

I can feel my eyes darken and the image of me kissing her there completely takes over my mind. The principal calling our names snaps me out of my tempting thought as my eyes peel away from her. Harp motions with her arm for us to walk to the center of the gym as kids cheer and clap their hands in excitement.

Principal Reed hands me the mic and I wave to the kids. "Good morning guys. Are you excited to learn about what we do and some safety measures you can learn about today?"

All the kids cheer yes and I chuckle. I give Luke the mic and he begins teaching the kids about what we do. "Alright kids, so quick question for you. What does a sheepdog do?"

Hands fly in the air and Luke heads over to a little curly haired girl who lisps into a mic, "They protect the thheep."

"That's right. You see sheep dogs and police officers are similar. Our job as police officers is to serve and protect just like how a sheep dogs protects the herd. What are some things that a cop does?"

More hands fly in the air and Luke holds the mic to an older boy. "You scare my parents when you pull them over."

Laughter echoes around the gymnasium and I glance at Harp. Her shoulders are shaking as her hand hides her face while she laughs. I smirk and take the mic form Luke. "It's not only your parents we scare, but also Miss Collins. I've pulled her over twice now."

The kids laugh and I wave Harp over. "Miss Collins why don't you share with the kids what you do when you're in trouble with a police officer."

Harp's laughter immediately stops and her face scrunches up in anger. She straightens herself and stomps over, the sound of her heels bouncing off the walls.

She takes the mic and shakes her head at me. "I made a mistake and was pulled over for doing something wrong. When we do something wrong we own up to it." My lips thin as I hold back my laughter at the memory of her trying to bargain her way out of a ticket. She continues, "You always be respectful of authority."

She points the mic at me as I smirk at her, while taking it and handing it over to Luke who's chuckling. "So kids, we don't just protect you from bad guys, but also at times from yourself. Miss Collins, for instance, did something wrong while driving. She could've injured herself and others around her if Officer Samuels, and myself on occasion, hadn't pulled her over."

Harp mumbles under her breath and I take the mic as our main point of the presentation starts. "As for when we protect you from the bad guys. Officer McCallister is right. We are like sheepdogs and we're trained to protect people from the wolves. Today we will be teaching about safety precautions. Now your school has rules you follow in case of a fire, earthquakes, tornadoes and school shootings. What we want to teach you guys is what to do just in case of school shootings and what to do if a stranger tries to abduct you. Unfortunately, there are bad people out there and they want to hurt you." I keep my voice light, despite the heavy issue. "But, that doesn't mean you have to live in fear. Let's first talk about kidnappers and what they do."

Kids hold their hands in the air and start shouting random things about kidnappers. I hold the microphone out to an adorable little girl with high pigtails that she fiddles with as she speaks. "You don't talk to strangers and if they try to pick you up, you run."

I nod at her. "Yes. Now, can I have a volunteer?"

Everyone shoots their hands up and I pick a boy wearing a Captain America shirt. He runs down the stands and gives me a high five. "What's your name bud?"

"Dillan."

"Nice to meet you Dillan. Okay kids, let's say my buddy Dillan here is about to be kidnapped, and let's say Officer McCallister is the kidnapper and he picks up Dillan."

Luke picks up Dillan and shouts, "How do you know I'm not just his dad? What should Dillan do to show that I'm a kidnapper?"

Hordes of kids yell, "Scream and try to run away!"

I interrupt, "How many times have you seen kids crying while their parents hold them?"

Almost everyone raises their hands and I continue with my point. "Kids scream and cry often, so if you are picked up by a stranger, like Dillan here, you need to use your words while you scream. What are things you can scream?"

I go to a little freckled faced girl. I can't help but think this is what Harp's daughter would look like. "You can say help or stranger danger or that they're not your daddy."

I nod and give her a high five. "That's right. Let's all yell together as if we're actually being taken, help this isn't my parent!"

I count down on my fingers and all the kids shout, "Help this isn't my parent!!"

"Good job, give yourself a hand." All the kids clap and Luke puts down Dillan who runs back to his seat.

The kids cheer for Dillan and I have to settle them down in order to continue. "Next is a pretty scary topic, especially with how school shootings have been happening more often lately. What has happened has been awful and tragic, and we need to take proper precautions. We always think it might not happen to us and it may be unlikely, but we need to be prepared." All the kids quiet. "First," I hold up my finger, "runaway. Your first instinct should be to escape, don't freeze. You need to take immediate action. Your teachers have a procedure they follow, you listen to them because they know the routes to take to get out of the school safely. Don't grab any belongings, just run."

I stop and let the information digest. Luke takes the mic and gives the next order. "Second, if the escape routes are blocked or the shooter is in your way, hide. Only take this action if running is impossible. If you're in a room turn off the lights and block the doors. If you have access to a phone call 9-1-1."

The kids nod and no hands raise. I give the last bit of the safety procedure. "Lastly, you kids are young so never, never try to be the hero. Let the teachers and police officers handle it. Your last option should be to play dead if you can't run or hide."

Luke steps in again. "Once you're out of danger and with the police listen to their instructions immediately and tell them everything you know."

The auditorium is quiet and I clap my hands to try to relieve some of the tension. "Okay, any questions for us?"

The next half hour is filled with kids interrogating us. This part of the job is one of my favorites. I love kids and giving them presentations on how to keep themselves safe.

One child raises her hand. Luke points to her and she directs her question to me. "Officer Samuels, my mommy told me you're a hero cop. What did you do to become a hero?"

My shoulders stiffen at the memory. "Well, I first want to say that any man or woman I serve with are just as much of a hero as I am." I pause and then begin to relay the incident. "I was in my first high-speed pursuit of a man who robbed a gas station. We ended up getting him, but he had crashed into a church. While my colleagues arrested the man, I helped people get out of the church and checked to see if everyone was okay."

My hand goes to my neck and I rub it trying to get the hair sticking up to calm down. "I noticed a little blue polka dot sneaker sticking out from under some rubble and I bent down to see a young girl pinned under it. I got the paramedics attention and crawled under to her and held her hand as everyone worked together to get her out. I stayed with her until they were able to safely get her out."

"Were you scared?" The girl asked.

My mouth dries and take a deep breath. "A law enforcement officers job is dangerous, but during those moments we have to forget fear and help the best way we can."

The principal comes over thanking us for our time and Luke and I walk out once the assembly is over. Harp follows us hitting my arm with her folder. "I can't believe you did that to me!"

I chuckle and Luke appears bored with our interaction. "My bad Harp, just thought it was a good Segway into our main topics."

She rolls her eyes, but then smiles. "Thank you both for coming. The topic was a little more serious than I thought it would be, but I'm glad you touched on it."

Luke and I nod and I cross my arms over my chest. "Well, we better be off. We're going by the fields to talk to Matt."

"Before you go I have something for the both of you."

We follow her to a room of offices and a huge smile takes over my face when I see Mrs. Newhouse. "Well I'll be, you look as beautiful as when I left, in fact you look even younger. I think I may be crushing on you all over again."

Mrs. Newhouse's head snaps up and a massive smile adorns her face. "Why Owen Samuels you stop that!" She waves her hand in the air shoeing me as she comes around the desk to hug me.

"Mrs. Newhouse it's good to see you." I give the woman my best bear hug.

"And you have grown to be so handsome." She pinches my cheek making me chuckle. "And Luke McCallister, I must say you are dashing in that uniform."

Luke grins giving her a hug. I turn to see Harp with a broad smile on her face leaning against her office door. My chest rises and falls at the sight of her finally giving me an authentic smile since the night at the pie shop.

I slowly walk over to her and those eyes of her sparkle and glow at me. My skin prickles from heat at the genuine gleam and my face becomes relaxed as I gaze at her. She blinks in confusion and blushes making me widen my eyes.

She clears her throat as I come in front of her. "We really do need to get going. What do you have for us?"

I lean on the door my arm brushing hers and she quickly shoots away. She turns into her office and I stride in as Luke talks with Mrs. Newhouse. She opens a drawer to her desk and my eyes fall on her ridiculous cat in the hat coffee mug. I had bought it for her on her seventeenth birthday. It's empty, but stained from obvious coffee use and I pick it up.

Harp pulls out gift cards and hands them to me, but stops when she sees me holding the mug. She bites her lip and gives a smirk. "Yeah, it's still my favorite mug."

I put it back down. "It barely cost me anything."

She laughs as she tucks a copper lock behind her ear. "Cost has never mattered to me you should know that."

I stare at her and she flushes and begins shoeing me out just like Mrs. Newhouse. "You guys have to meet Matt. Let me know if anything new has happened."

We both walk out and Mrs. Newhouse is giggling lightly and smacking Luke's arm. "You boys are charmers." Her eyes shine when she sees Harp. "Which reminds me, now I know, you told me you were done with the dating pool sweetie."

Harp thrusts her head back in dread as Mrs. Newhouse skips around her desk and comes back with an orange post-it note. Harp puts her hand up before Patty can hand it to her, shaking it away. "Patty, please I really can't take another date."

My head snaps up at that and Luke notices. Patty snatches Harp's hand and puts the post-it note in her pretty palm. "I know, I know, but we were talking about you at church and he is very interested. He loves sports and the outdoors. I really think you two will be a great fit."

Something inside me goes on high alert and I awkwardly clear my throat. "She 's busy right Harp? I mean do you really want to keep... um... well."

I'm shocked by my clumsiness and Luke snorts quietly next to me. I straighten trying to collect myself as Harp gives me an irritated look. "Um, what Owen?"

Don't say something stupid.

I scratch my jaw. "Go on dates with guys who never call you."

Stupid.

Her eyes flash and she points the post-it note at me. "Who do you think you are."

"Harp, I didn't mean it like that."

She snaps at me. "Yeah, and what would a sexy police officer know about rejection. You know what Patty?" She turns to Mrs. Newhouse and gives a bright smile. "Why not, I'll give him a call."

My blood runs cold and I hit Luke's chest. "Let's get going."

"Bye Harp." Luke waves and she gives him a sweet smile.

"See you around Luke." She turns hot on her heels saying nothing to me.

Luke and I walk out of the school and he chuckles, "Real smooth man, I must say it's refreshing to see you agitated."

I raise a brow and look at him in surprise. "What do you mean?" Luke and I have gotten close since I've moved here and I've learned he's extremely observant, nothing gets passed him. Now, I know why Harp would get so irritated with me.

He smirks then shakes his head. "You like her."

I immediately stop. "She's like my sister."

Luke opens our patrol car door and puts his arm on it. "I'm not one to talk about feelings Owen, but I should let you know. The way you look at her isn't how a brother looks at his sister."

He slides in and I stand there staring at nothing. Harp is like a sister. Harp is family. Harp is....

She's...

A/N: So what do you guys think? I'm really curious to know if I should continue posting this story or move on to another. Also, I'm going to go to updating once a week just during Christmas time because it is hectic around here lol! I'll try to update again this week if I can.

Please don't forget to vote and comment!

~ Living Red