Chapter Text
Grace did NOT want to wake up today. He knew he looked so messy at the moment, and he knew it was a bad idea to pull an all nighter, but he just had to. No-no-no don’t blame this on him. Blame it on his mile a minute mind.
Currently grace is sitting at his desk in his classroom just looking at his students papers he needs to grade, while tapping a pen on his desk. School finished up not too long ago, and he knows he needs to get these grades done, but his mind just won’t focus. He honestly can’t tell if it’s because of lack of sleep or the fact his brain is running crazy again. This has happened before. His brain going haywire. Well his brain always does that but some days are just worse than the others. He could use a distraction.
*knock knock*
Wow that’s convenient…
“Come in!”
The door opens- well more like burst opens. Rocky, the math teacher, comes running in the room with a big smile plastered onto his face. “GRACE! HI GRACE!”
“Hey rocky!”
Grace and Rocky are practically best friends. While Rocky has worked here longer then Grace they were attached at the hip since day one.
“What’s got you all you excited?”
Yes, Rocky is always energetic, but Grace can tell Rocky got told something exciting because Grace hasn’t seen Rocky this over-ecstatic about something since Adrian, Rocky’s husband, and him got married. Which wasn’t too long ago surprisingly the wedding was only about a year ago but still.
“Yes, yes got told something very important that I want to share with you! Also I didn’t get to see you this morning because you ran late again.”
Rocky shakes his head clearly marking his point of un-surprise but mocking shame towards Grace clear.
“I know, I know I just had a long night..”
“Grace brain go crazy again?”
“Maybe..”
“Understand. Well Rocky has news that will make Grace’s brain probably go crazy worse!”
Grace sighed. Of course the universe wants him to implode. “What’s the news Rock?”
“New teacher arrive tomorrow!” He said while making jazz hands.
New teacher? Wait in the middle of the school year? What? “Uhm Rocky. It’s the middle of the school year. Why is there another teacher coming tomorrow?”
Rocky looked at Grace with confusion.
“Grace…don’t tell me you don’t know that the old art teacher walked out.”
….Silence….
“Oh by the stars above Grace doesn’t know.” Rocky said while staring at Grace with disbelief.
“Hey! I just.. don’t pay attention…” Rocky started laughing at him. Grace felt so embarrassed right now. He’s been so out of touch with the work place drama.
“Grace, the classroom is literally across from yours!!” Rocky said between laughs.
“Oh shush!” Grace waves his hands in a shoo motion. Rocky soon calms down from his giggle fit and looks at Grace.
“Ok-ok I’ll let you be. I gotta go home to Adrian! We are going out to eat tonight!” Rocky said with much excitement. Grace always found their relationship so adorable. Rocky and Adrian being almost polar opposites, but loving each other to the moon and back.
“Ok Rock, I’ll see you tomorrow!” Grace waves at his best friend and Rocky waves back as he leaves. Grace is now left again with his mind and the papers he has to grade.
——————
Somehow, about a hour later Grace finished grading the assignments. The time was now 4:56 p.m. he signed and stood up. He so can’t wait to go home. He grabs his bag that sat beside his chair and puts it on.
Then he feels his phone vibrating, and playing a ringtone.
Why does the universe hate him? He’s so tired.
He picks up his phone, and answers. “Hey Colt.” Luckily Grace cares for his brother, but if this was his boss..he might have almost lost his marbles.
“Hey Ry! How’s my brother doing?”
“Tired, but going-you?”
“Not so bad myself. I just wanted to check in on you. It’s been a while.”
Grace couldn’t help but smile. He appreciates when his brother cares.“Yeah, it has… thanks for checking in it’s been pretty boring. You know same old things. How’s you a Jody?”
As the conversation ran on Grace made his way home. He talked to his brother about a lot. It was nice. Colt talked on how him and Jody were doing good and what films he was doing, Grace talked about his work and what his students learned today. The phone call ended once Grace reached his apartment. The twins were close for the most part. Yes, they had their own lives, but they still made time for each other and made sure the other was ok.
The rest of the night for Grace was uneventful. He microwaved some dinner, watched TV, and went to bed. Although during all of that one thing was on the back of his mind. The new teacher.
——————
So far Grace had a better day this morning. He got sleep last night, his brain is going a little slower, he didn’t have to rush to work, you know the good simple things.
Rocky and him were walking through the halls. Grace needed to go get some copy’s of a work sheet and Rocky just tagging along. That’s when Grace spotted him. It was for a split second, but gosh that man was beautiful. Now, Grace will save his full opinion on this man when he sees the guy for more than a split second, but still.
After Rocky and him got the paper copy’s he really wanted to go say hi to the man, but the bell rang. Just his luck.
—————
Grace sat at his desk again. The bell just rung and he waves to his students as they walk out the door. Today he talked about boiling points, his students so far like this unit, he’s glad.
He sees the door of the new teachers classroom open as a few students file out. That reminds Grace that he should go say hi. Grace stand up from his desk and makes his way over to the room. He does three light taps on the door. “Hello?”
He scans around the class room and sees the new teacher sitting at his desk in the far right corner.
The art classroom is what one would expect. A organized but colorful room with paintings and drawings hung up or put on a small rack to dry. A bunch of paint bottles, clay, scissors, markers, you name it decorating shelves, counters and drawers. A beautiful, colorful room.
“Hi.” A rough, low voice comes from that same right corner.
Grace can so far say him this morning was right. This man was beautiful. The teacher had shoulder length, black, wavy hair put up in a half up style, he also had some facial hair. But what took Grace the most was the man’s eyes. A dark-dark brown, they almost look like a void in space. Grace notices the man’s built and a bit short but he does note the scars he can see. The man’s left side of his face had a big discolored scare by his mouth, he could see some scars on his right hand- his left hand was metal. Did he have a prosthetic arm? Grace wonders what could have happened to this man, his brain running through different scenarios that probably never even happened.
“Are you…ok?” The same voice said.
That was when Grace realized he was staring. “Yeah! Yeah..I’m good I just uhm.” He needs to Breathe Grace thinks, “I saw you this morning and I didn’t get to say hi.” Grace walks over to the man’s desk. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Grace. Well Ryland but people just call me Grace. I’m the science teacher across the hall.” Grace nods his head toward the door that was still open and looks out to his class room.
“What’s your name?” The man looks at him. He looks amused? Maybe?
“Simon. My name is Simon”