Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ All Star Dreams (Ver. 3) ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

All-Star Dreams: Chapter ThreeBy Bekka Mouri-Hibiki
© Bekka Mouri-Hibiki 2007


It was a lazy afternoon in late August. Robert Hughes relaxed next to the swimming pool in his backyard. He was dividing his time between watching his wife play with their five-year-old son in the pool and skimming an entertainment magazine. Downtime was something he savored more than anything.


Though it was just the prep league, he stayed pretty busy during the season. He often took his time off seriously. He felt his free time was precious and, with training camp starting in a few weeks, he wasn't going to miss a minute of relaxation or family time. He felt very content with the sun on his shoulders and the sound of his son's laughter in his ears.


He flipped through the pages of the magazine just looking at the pictures when he stopped abruptly. Staring back at him was a face he knew he had seen somewhere but it was hard to place. He read the caption and muttered the woman's name under his breath as he read the accompanying article. The woman named Melissa French had written a few novels that had hit the bestsellers list with the intensity of a firestorm.


According to the article, her writing had impressed her publisher so much they had released all three books at once and they were all tied for the number one position on the chart. He wracked his brain but he still couldn't place her. He was trying so hard to remember; he didn't hear his cell phone ring until the third time. He grabbed it up without looking at the caller ID, " Hughes. "


" Robert! " It was Daniel Hill, point guard for the Reno Supernovas. " Have you gotten the latest issue of Vivacious? "

" I'm looking at my wife's issue yes, " Robert replied then realized something. He had never given Daniel his phone number. " How'd you get my number? "

" Branslav left his cell phone here, " Daniel explained. " He got this new one that's got his instant messenger on it so he took that one instead. "


" Oh yeah right, " Robert rolled his eyes. He knew that was bullshit. Daniel had probably found his number written somewhere at Branslav's house and decided to call him.

" Check the damn caller ID. I can tell by the tone of your voice you think I'm lying to you, " Daniel snapped.


Robert pulled the phone away from his ear and found Branslav's number staring back at him. He sighed, " Okay. I believe you... but he never leaves his cell phone behind. "

" He did this time, " Daniel was more than likely smirking on his end of the line. " I came over to get his mail... "


" Could you please get to the point? Why did you call me? " Robert had caught the glare his wife was giving him. She had told him not to take any calls while they were in the yard. For being only five feet tall she could keep his six foot five self in its place. She had a firey temper and he did his best not to spark it.


" Vivacious. Pages 41, 42 and 45. "


Robert looked down at the magazine, " Yes. Well, I've only looked at 41 and 42. I was going to page 45 when you called me. "


" Okay. Read the third paragraph, where Melissa is talking about when she got the call from her publisher. After I read that, I decided to call you and tell you, " Daniel said.


Robert cleared his throat and started to read from the page he hadn't gotten to, " 'I couldn't believe it. I had gotten fired from my job of almost thirteen years working at the Maltese Gardens the same day I mailed the manuscripts. I was as low as you could get when, three and a half weeks after the hotel fired me, and I get this call. My publisher said they loved my writing and wanted to publish all three of my books at once. Just like that, my life turned around. I am still numb and my heart races every time I think about it even though it's been five months since they were published.' "

" Wait, " Robert put the magazine down. " Isn't Maltese Gardens where we had that banquet from Hell where the waitresses were all slobbering fangirls and we got them to leave us alone by telling them we were gay? "

" Yeah. Don't you remember the ONLY girl that was working her ass off that night? " Daniel asked. " The one Martin said he was going to get canned because she was supposedly flirting with us? "

" Uh-huh. She was flirting with those dirty dishes more than she was flirting with any of us. I think her name was... " Robert's eyes went wide as he realized who he was looking at in the picture, " Holy shit! That's that Betty girl? "


" Yeah man, " Daniel sounded satisfied with himself. " I recognized her instantly. I remembered her eyes. "


" Really? " Robert thought back to Betty's deep dark blue eyes, darker than the deepest midnight or so Branslav had referred to them. He couldn't shut up about her for about a week after the banquet. He looked at the magazine again, the depth coming across in spite of being photographed and most likely airbrushed in an attempt to dampen the effect.


He recalled that her eyes had haunted his thoughts after the mishap as well. He had caught himself wondering what the woman would look like if her jet-black hair had been let flow free and her glasses removed. The picture looked about like what he had imagined, his heart beating a little faster as he realized just how pretty she was. He had fought the thoughts he had about her off but they were back with a vengeance.


It didn't help that the magazine had dressed Betty in close fitting clothes that showed her form much better than the waiter's uniform she had been wearing the night he first saw her. His thoughts started to wander when Daniel said, " You still there man? "


" Yeah, " Robert said absently. He stared at her long legs and curves that had been obscured by the wait staff uniform she had worn that night. He noted she was dressed rather conservatively by Vivacious' standards but she still looked sexy. The most provocative thing she wore was a low cut blouse that showed off her ample chest that had been only slightly concealed by the stiff uniform.


" Then what are we going to do? " Daniel said. When Robert didn't answer, Daniel sighed. " Robert? Hellorrrr? "


" I'm here, okay? " Robert snapped out of his trance.


" So what are we going to do? " Daniel was sounding exasperated.


Robert sat up straight, " We promised her that she wouldn't get fired so we have to apologize. That bastard... OW! " Robert shouted in a combination of shock and pain.

" Language! " Pauline, Robert's wife, growled as she threw down the rolled up magazine she had smacked him with. She didn't like him using cuss words around their son and often hit him when he did. He didn't like getting hit but he did see her point so he never argued with her when she smacked him.

Daniel laughed after hearing the exchange, " Now I know where you get it from. "


" Look, " Robert rubbed the back of his head as he leaned forward. " Are you going to be hanging onto Branslav's phone for a while? "


" Until he gets back. Why? " Daniel sounded puzzled.


" Let me call you back in a few hours, " Robert could feel Pauline's eyes burning holes in his back. " I'm involved in a family thing right now but we have to get to the bottom of this. "


" Will do captain, " Daniel said and hung up.

**


Pauline was pouting on the couch in the living room as Robert looked at the newspaper at the kitchen table. She had started an argument with him over answering the phone but had told he wasn't thinking when he did it. They had a bit of a fight and then she started her pout. Deciding she would rather die than speak to him again for at least an hour, Robert had picked up the paper and retreated to the sanctuary of the kitchen. He really didn't have anything he was looking for in particular but he wanted to waste some time before he called Daniel back.



He heard Pauline get up off the couch and looked over at her. " Where are you going? "

" Upstairs if you're going to ignore me, " Pauline shouted then took off up the stairs.


" Ignore, " Robert scoffed under his breath. " She doesn't want me to talk to her when she's in a pout then she says I'm ignoring her... "


He came across the book review section of the paper. Eyes darker than the darkest midnight stared back at him from the front page and he instantly began to scan the by-line. He learned that 'Melissa French' would be signing her books at a local bookstore the very next day. " I have to find out if it's really her because if I tell Branslav Betty got fired... "


The phone rang and stopped Robert from talking to himself. He grabbed it up and found Daniel had gotten antsy. He answered, " I told you I'd call you. "


" Well I had to tell you that she's going to be in Taos tomorrow, " Daniel started.


" Know that. I'm looking at the paper right now, " Robert replied.


" I'm on her website, " Daniel retorted as if the Internet were any better than a printed paper. " It says she's coming from the Oklahoma City stop on her book signing tour. "


" Then she's going to El Paso, " Robert finished. " She'll be back in your town by the end of the week. "


" Yeah. She'll be back in Reno, " Daniel agreed as Robert heard him clicking to scroll down her page. " Branslav won't be back for the signing though and I can't see how he'll get to see her otherwise. Martin's got our schedules all filled up with media and practice as soon as season starts. Should we tell him when he gets back? "


" Oh hell no, " Robert shook his head. " When he finds out she got fired after all we did he'll go ballistic. "


" But she's doing better than before, " Daniel sounded confused. " Wouldn't Branslav be happy? "


" You know Branslav. He'll hear she got fired and won't let us finish telling him the good part " Robert sighed. " He's got that temper remember? "


" Then what are we going to do? " Daniel implored. " He'll find out sooner or later. "


" I plan on going to that book signing thing tomorrow and see if she's really Betty THEN we'll tell Branslav gently. I don't want him killing Martin if it's the wrong girl, " Robert stopped and thought about what Branslav would really do if he found out Martin had gotten Betty fired after they promised they wouldn't. " No. Death is too good for Martin. We have to keep this quiet for as long as possible. "


" You still think it's some other chick? " Daniel asked. " Come on man, look at the details. How many other six foot five girls were there that night? "


" You have a point but I need to be one hundred and ten percent sure, " Robert sighed.


" Whatever man, " Daniel said. " It's her. "


Robert growled, " And I'm going to make sure tomorrow. "



" Fine man, " Daniel replied. " You call me when you find out, okay? "



" I will, " Robert said. " And I'LL call YOU, understand? "



Daniel growled, " Whatever man. "


**


Branslav Korbel sat on the edge of his bed in his old bedroom. Although many things about his village hadn't changed he found quite a few things that had. His town had gotten Internet service and his younger brother had convinced his parents to get it. It was slow but it worked so Branslav had hooked up his compact-sized laptop to it and waited for it to connect.

He stared at the screen as his instant messenger logged onto the network. For at least three months he had been communicating with the author of his new favorite books. He had sent her a fan e-mail complimenting her on her writing and was surprised when she had e-mailed him back with her actual e-mail address. As it later turned out, it had been a fluke on the part of her manager who hadn't edited it of the return message.


Melissa French had been more than gracious, letting him continue to contact her though she regularly made allusions to him being some kind of sick stalker. He didn't dare tell her that he was a prep league basketball player because she probably would have not believed him. He had led the Reno Supernovas to their first championship in the prep league finals in just their fifth season in the league. He hadn't seen any pictures of her since she had declined to have one put on the back of her books or on her website so he didn't have a clue what she looked like.


She had told him that she had finally conceded and allowed a few photos to be taken but he hadn't seen them. She hadn't allowed them to be posted on her site but she told him that she was in the magazine Vivacious but it too was out of his grasp. The website had been down because of technical difficulties so he couldn't even go there to see her picture. He wanted to though because he wanted to see if she looked like how he imagined her.


His fingers trembled as his 'friends' list loaded, his heart jumping when he saw her name. He took a deep breath and steadied his shaking fingers before he began to type, " Please stay on for more than five minutes tonight, " He muttered as he wrote his message...


SlovLove9982: Hey there. How are you?
CherokeeNorweigian: I'm good. How are you?
SlovLove9982: Tired. Been with family all day. Played with my little brother and his friends.
CherokeeNorweigian: Sounds like fun. I've been on tour signing my books. Do you have plans to come see me when I come to your city?
SlovLove9982: I'm not in America. Are you coming to Slovenia in the next month? LOL.
CherokeeNorweigian: LOL. No way. That's a little out of the way. Sorry. I have to go... my manager is calling me.
SlovLove9982: It's okay. I'll catch you later.
CherokeeNorweigian: Later.


Branslav kicked the floor as she logged off. She never stayed on for very long when she did get on and it was making him wonder if she didn't like talking to him. ~No. She's probably just busy... ~


Branslav logged off and looked at the time. He decided it was late enough and started getting ready for bed, still wondering just what Melissa really looked like.

**


" Where are you going? " Pauline narrowed her hazel eyes at Robert as he picked up his car keys from the hall table. She noticed he had a section of the newspaper from the day before under one arm. He had ran upstairs as soon as he was finished with breakfast like his ass was on fire and returned fully dressed almost as quickly.


" I'm going out, " Robert picked through the keys on his key ring. He knew which one went to the car but he was trying to not to snap at Pauline. Things were getting rough but he tried to love her in spite of her growing suspicions. She had even started going through his things while he was away as if he had the time to do anything.


" Where? " Pauline stressed the word like she wanted a map.


" To a bookstore, " Robert picked through the keys again. " There's this new author and she's signing autographs today. "


" She? " Pauline arched an eyebrow. " It wouldn't happen to be Melissa French, would it? "


" Maybe. Why? " Robert was surprised Pauline knew something about it. She usually wasn't interested in much outside of high society things. She was also usually to busy running around with her girlfriends when she wasn't at home riding Robert like a show pony about the things she suspected him of.


" I saw it on TV yesterday, " Pauline had a certain sound of derision. " You go right ahead and stand in line with the other perverts. "


Robert rolled his eyes, " Just because she's pretty doesn't mean there's going to be a line full of perverts. "


" That has nothing to do with it, " Pauline sneered. She then scoffed, " You have no clue at all. "


" No clue about what? " Robert was perplexed. He could tell by the look on Pauline's face there was something he didn't know.


" I'm finished with you for right now. I have to get Alex to his play date, " Pauline stood up and went to the living room to retrieve their son.


Robert took his chance to leave before Pauline came up with something else bizarre to say. She had went through phases of accusing him of things he would never do or had time to do the entire time they had been married. He never knew when the jags would come on or how long they would last but he was getting tired of playing wait-and-see. He got into his convertible and spread the newspaper out on the steering wheel to read the address of the bookstore.


" Oh yeah, " He muttered. " I know that place. "


He set the paper aside and put his keys in the ignition. He started the car and backed out of the driveway, straightening the car out just as Pauline walked out the front door with Alex. Robert waved to his son and Pauline but she didn't wave back, obviously still angry over his outting. ~I wonder what she meant... ~ He pondered as he headed down the street.



It took him about ten minutes to get to the small bookstore, finding a parking place not far from the door. He picked up the paper again to get the names of Melissa's books then got out of the car. He walked to the door, stopping to look at the poster announcing the book signing. The bookstore had used the same picture as the newspaper and he found out he was right on time for the signing would starting in less that three minutes according to his watch.



He went inside and found about three dozen other people who were already in line had beaten him. He looked towards where the table was set up, his eyes fixing on Melissa French instantly. In the moving crowd of people, he didn't keep a good view of her for long though.



He decided to move around some more to see if he could get a better view from somewhere else. He wandered around the store, his eyes only leaving Melissa when she'd look up to glance around. She caught him staring a couple of times and started looking unsettled. He moved to where her books were stacked up, grabbing a copy of each before heading to the cash register.



He paid for the books then got in line with the other autograph seekers. He scanned the line, finding most of them were men. He glanced at one of the books, reading the synopsis on the back cover of one. It sounded intresting enough and he decided he'd read it once he got home.



**



She was always nervous at the beginning of an autograph session. She was still having trouble signing her pen name the publishing company suggested she use to maintain her privacy. With each progressive autograph her hand would steady but she was afraid her online friend would show up to surprise her. Although he had told her he wasn't even in America the night before something kept nagging at her that he wasn't telling her the whole truth about something.

She had glanced around at the men and few women that had lined up for her autograph but she didn't see anyone that looked like what she thought he looked like. Some were too tall while others were too handsome or too ugly. She gave up, reminding herself that he said he was out of the country for the rest of the month. She suddenly felt like she was being watched and let her glances stray from the line to find the one responsible.

It didn't take long for her eyes to fix on a rather handsome, very tall man with short dark blonde hair and light blue eyes towards the end of the line. His hair was cut short but there was something that looked a bit familiar and she could picture him with longer hair. When she looked up he'd look away but when she looked down, he felt his piercing crystal blue eyes on her again...



**

After what seemed like forever, he was at the table. She still seemed nervous and he wondered why. Everyone she signed for, she asked what he or she wanted her to write. Some had requests while others didn't.



" What would you like this to say? " She asked, her voice trembling a bit.

" Dear Robert, I know you said you'd do your best for me not to get fired but it wasn't enough. I promise not to hate you forever. Betty, " Robert said. He hoped it really was Betty because he knew he'd look like a crazy person if it weren't.

Melissa dropped her pen and looked up at the man, " Oh my God, " She whispered. She looked a little scared as she said, " How do you know that? How do you know my name? "

" Ah damn, " Robert sighed. " Daniel is never going to let me live this one down. "

Betty looked at him and blinked, " You're that guy... "

He nodded, " Yeah. Robert Hughes from The Taos Turquoise. We met..."

" Move it, pal! You're holding up the line! " Someone shouted from the back of the queue.

Robert waved in the direction of the shout, " I'll move when I'm done. "

" Look, " Betty said. " I don't mean to be rude but can you come back after this is all over? We can talk then. "

" No problem, " Robert put his hands up. " Are you still going to sign my books? "

Betty nodded, " Yeah. "



Robert watched as she signed the books then motioned to an older man with white hair in a suit. When he came over, he leaned down to Betty. She whispered something to him. He stood up and looked at Robert, " Would you come with me, sir? "



" Sure, " Robert nodded and followed the man.

**


" Where are you? " Pauline growled as soon as Robert answered his phone.


" Bookstore, " Robert replied as he checked his watch. The autograph session would be over in about five minutes and Betty's manager had put him in the employee break room because customers had started to recognize him from the local commercials he had done.

" For two hours? " Pauline hissed back. " I've went to Alex's playdate and the grocery store and you're still not home! "

" The line is really long and I'm barely halfway through it," Robert was telling the truth for the most part. The line had gotten to the point where it was out the door when he had peeked out to check. " I'll be home as soon as I get out of here. "

Pauline snorted, " Okay. Whatever. "



" Really, " Robert said. " I will. "



Robert snapped the phone closed and slammed it down on the table after Pauline hung up on him. He was tired of Pauline accusing him of lying all the time. He had done his best to be a good husband but she didn't seem to notice at all. It seemed that she felt like she could do anything she damn well pleased but he had to suffer the third degree just of going to outside except for games and practice.


" Mr. Hughes? " Betty's manager called through the closed door. " Melissa will see you now. "

" Okay, " Robert called as he put his phone in his back pocket. He gave Betty a half smile when she opened the door and walked into the room slowly. She wore slim fitting blue jeans that had rhinestones down the legs and fluffy black poet's blouse. She eyed him warily as she approached the table.

" What's the matter? I don't bite, " Robert smiled a little more to calm her nerves.

" This is weird, that's all. You're the big local sports star and you're waiting to see me instead of the other way around. "

Robert laughed, " Yeah. It is strange considering the circumstance we first met under. "

Betty nodded, " Yeah. So... "

" You're wondering why I'm here, " Robert said matter of factly.

Betty nodded, " Exactly. I mean, how did you know it was me? I look different with my hair down and my glasses off. Everyone says I do anyway. "

" I didn't know. Daniel and I saw your picture in Vivacious but I wasn't sure if it was really you so I decided to come check it out though Daniel swore up and down it was you. Daniel, Branslav and I all wrote two pages each about how wonderful you were at that banquet but I guess it didn't do any good. "

Betty shrugged, " I would have had to quit anyway so it's okay. I needed something to get me out of my rut anyway. Do you know I had submitted those books the day I got fired? "

" Yeah, " Robert nodded. " I read that. You just never know what the future holds huh? "

Betty chuckled, " That's what I kept telling myself. I knew it was all part of a much bigger plan but I never expected this. "

" Nothing can be expected to happen exactly as you want it to, " Robert sighed. " Look at me. I was going to play soccer for a Canadian team... or so I thought until I got that full scholarship to a school that didn't even have room for me on the soccer team. It was either basketball or lacrosse and I guess you can tell what I picked. "

" Yeah, " Betty nodded.

" And of course I never thought I'd be a dad at twenty but hey, " Robert shrugged.

Betty shook her head, " Life is indeed stranger than fiction. "

The two of them sat quietly for a few long moments, as they both seemed to contemplate their situations. Betty glanced around the room nervously as he scrutinized her again. She seemed to have come a long way from the humble busser he had met only seven months before. He found she was much more attractive without her glasses and with her hair down.

He had noticed it in the magazine but it was much more striking in person. " So, " Robert was starting to feel a little uncomfortable with the silence and the things he was noticing about the woman. " Have you got any plans in about... oh six weeks? "

Betty blushed up, " What do you mean? "

" The season starts then. Since you were so good to us back then I want to offer you some free seats to our first home game, " Robert reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his phone again. " It's the least I can do. "

" Oh you don't have to, " Betty put her hand up.

" I know I don't, " Robert smiled. " I want to. Now, give me you number so I can call you when it gets closer and we can make arrangements. "

" Okay, " Betty nodded and told Robert her number. She usually gave her manager's number but there was something about Robert that made her trust him with her personal number. She couldn't put her finger on it but she just knew it would be safe with him.

" Great, " Robert smiled. " I'll see you then. "

" Yeah, " Betty said. She looked at her watch, " Look at the time. I have to get going if I want to make my flight. "

" I won't keep you, " Robert stood up. " I have things I need to do too. "



They both stood up and Robert offered her his hand. She took it and shook it gently, " It was nice to see you again. "



Robert held her hand as he looked into her eyes, the feel of her skin on his sending electricity through him. He didn't want to let her hand go, it was so warm and inviting. He pushed away the thoughts that were threating to come into his mind as he looked at her. " And it's nice to see things worked out for you, " He said quietly.



Betty's manager stuck his head into the room, " Miss French. It's time to go. "



" Yes sir, " Betty replied. She waved 'goodbye' to Robert and headed out of the room.