A/N- I uploaded the new and improved version of this story, called Off Limits. If you thought this version is too much like a soap opera, I think you will find Off Limits to be a lot more realistic.
If you liked this version, please feel free to check out the other story. The plot is a little bit different, but it has the same main characters. :)
xoxo Daphne xoxo
Chapter One- Cartoons and Cards
He sat on the couch, calmly smoking his cigarette, sipping his Miller Lite, and watching Nickelodeon. He didn't especially care for this TV channel, but it seemed to be keeping his best friend's, Andy's, kids quiet. Besides, this wasn't his house, it was Andy's. Seeing as how it wasn't really his TV either, Aaron didn't exactly feel like he had free reign of what channel they watched. He took another drag on his cigarette as he watched SpongeBob run around with a starfish named...Peter was it? Paul maybe? Not like he really cared anyway.
Aaron sighed quietly and got up to see what Andy was up to, although he knew that Andy was probably on the computer, playing D&D. He walked over into the dining room and, surprisingly enough, saw Andy sitting at the table sorting Magic cards.
"Need any help, Andy?" Aaron asked.
"Are you kidding? I can always use help sorting cards. This is the most tedious job ever," Andy replied.
Aaron sat down at the table, across from Andy, and grabbed a small stack of cards to start sorting.
"Hey, guys. What's up?" he heard a voice ask. He turned around and saw Molly standing casually in the dining room doorway, her long, black skirt fluttering slightly as the spring wind filtered in through the open door.
"Hey, Molly," Andy said, barely looking away from his cards.
"Hey, weirdo," Aaron joked.
"So, what's up?' she asked, nervously tucking her long, blonde hair behind her ears.
"Eh...not much," he replied, "Just sorting Magic cards."
"You can help us, if you want," Andy said, smiling. Molly smiled back and sat down, next to Aaron.
Aaron handed her a small pile of cards and went back to sorting.
"So, how are we doing this, exactly?" Molly asked.
"Well, the first thing you do, is sort the cards by lands, creatures, and spells. Fortunately for us, Andy already took care of that step. Now we sort each color of cards by casting cost," Aaron explained.
"Okay, gotcha," Molly replied.
For the next few minutes, the three of them sat there in silence, concentrating on sorting the cards. Molly was the first to break the silence.
"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm thirsty. Any one else want a soda while I'm up?" she asked.
"I want a Pepsi," Aaron stated.
"I'd like a Diet Coke, please," Andy said.
"Sure thing," Molly said, smiling.
She went into the kitchen and headed over to the refrigerator. As she looked at its white door, she couldn't help but notice all of the prominent pictures of Andy and Dorothy's kids, especially this one incredibly adorable picture of all five of the kids. It showed them all sitting on the front steps to the house, making silly faces. Molly gently shook her head, and opened the fridge's door, smiling. She took out two Diet Cokes and a Pepsi and then headed back to Andy's dining room table.
"Here you go," she said, handing them each their soda.
"Thanks," Andy said, smiling briefly.
"Yeah, thanks," Aaron said.
"No problem, guys" Molly said, sitting on the brown bench next to Aaron. She picked her small pile of cards back up and resumed sorting, sipping her Diet Coke every once in awhile.
"So, Molly, how's school going?" Andy asked.
Molly groaned. "Horribly. I absolutely hate school. I'm so glad that we only have about two weeks left."
"Well, you know that if you need anything, that you can come to me, right? After all, I think of you like a niece," Andy said.
Molly grinned. "Thanks." She paused. "You know, I do have a question I've been meaning to ask you, though."
"What is it?" Andy asked, looking up from his card-sorting.
"Well, when and how exactly did our families meet? It seems like I've known you guys forever!" she said.
"Well, let's see...we moved in next door to you guys back when Dorothy was pregnant with David. So, you would have been...about four years old, I think. The first day that we moved in, your mom came over and gave us a batch of chocolate cookies. After that, we just became really good friends," Andy stated.
Molly was silent for a minute. "I can't ever remember not knowing you guys. It's weird," she said softly.
"I know. That's why we think of you like family...because you are like family," he said, smiling.
Molly smiled back. "Thanks."
Aaron groaned. "Come on. Quit the sappy, Hallmark greeting-card talk."
Molly playfully punched him on the arm. "You wuss."
"Ow! Andy, she hurt me!" Aaron complained, grabbing his arm.
Andy groaned. "My, god. Quit it. You guys sound like my kids."
Molly and Aaron grinned at each other.
"Speaking of which, where are your kids?" Molly asked.
"They're at their grandmother's house," Andy replied.
Molly glanced at her watch. "Oh, my god. It's six o'clock. Hey, guys...as much as I'm enjoying sorting cards with you, I need to go home. Mom wanted me back by supper time."
"Okay. Thanks for helping," Andy said.
"No problem," she replied. "See you guys later."
"Bye," Aaron said, doing a sort of half-wave.
Molly laughed. "Bye guys!" she said, walking out the door and heading towards her car. She slid into her small car and drove home.