Dan McBride had just about given up on finding a soul mate, especially since he quit a high paying corporate job to become an eighth grade English teacher. But when he meets Emily Dwyer and her two teenage children, he suddenly feels optimistic about the future. He'd like to spend a lot more time with them, but if he quits his part time jobs, he'll have to abandon a lifelong dream. Emily wishes she could convince her fellow faculty that she and Lars are 'just friends.' She'd like to quit bringing Pete a brown bag lunch every day too, but the only way to avoid Pete is to sit beside Lars in the cafeteria. It's not easy to explain these non-boyfriends to the handsome new English teacher, especially after warning him not to throw her a rope, even if she's stuck in quicksand. Something strange is going on at Roosevelt Middle School. Why would the superintendent choose a home ec teacher to serve as temporary principal? Why was Mary Wells hired to fill a position that doesn't exist? Emily would love to discuss the situation with her principal and mentor, but Dr. Box is bedridden after a heart attack ... or is he?