Chapter Text
Grace yawned while he pushed open the double doors of Grover Middle school. Papers were half-hazardly slung under his left arm, with a coffee in his right hand. He took a sip as he entered the bright, florescent halls. He nodded at his fellow co-workers as he passed by, heading to his school room with a tired expression.
As Grace headed to his desk, he settled his coffee on top and carefully stacked his papers against the hard surface, collecting them in a more professional manner. He neatly stacked them at the corner, and grabbed one of his hacky sacks from one of the desk drawers.
He took a seat and squeezed the Earth hacky-sack in his hand, before he started grading papers as the first hour of his work day ticked by. All too soon, the bell rung, and his students piled in one after the other. They chatted happily as they took their seats. Their giggles and conversations had Grace glance up at them as they set out their things.
He clapped his hands easily, as the conversations immediately halted. He stood and gave a big stretch with his arms. His students mimicked him, giggling to themselves.
"Ha ha! Very funny." He teased.
"Alright, what did we learn this weekend? Sarah, you first." Grace said, tossing the little earth hacky sack to one the girls sitting near the windows.
"Umm...mom told me about the Artemis II going to the moon!" Sarah chirped, before she tossed it off to another student.
Daniel caught it in a moments notice, turning back to Mr. Grace.
"My dad told me all about how bananas are radioactive and can kill if you you eat too many." Daniel said proudly, before he continued to toss the toy to the next person.
As the kids continued to explain new facts they learned, Grace turned to the board and began writing the facts down. He drew little images for each new fact, and took the time to listen to each of the kids stories and exciting weekend activities.
The day continued on as Grace taught, taking the time to sit down with his kids and explain the next part of their big science program with their fellow classmates in other grades. As Grace explained, a knock at the door interrupted his train of thought.
The door opened slowly, and a shorter man entered the room. He smiled sheepishly, his touseled hair slightly covering his eyes. Grace immediately shut his mouth, eyes surprised as the man gave a hesitant wave to one of the kids.
"Uncle Simon!" Daniel squeeled, tumbling out of his seat and hurrying to the door.
Simon took a knee and opened his arm to Daniel, as Daniel threw his arms around him merrily.
"Sorry about that. I'm helping out my sister with Daniel, and I hope she told you he had a dentist appointment today." Simon said nervously, easily hoisting Daniel up with one arm.
Grace took notice of Simon's muscular physique, and the fact he had only one arm on his right side. He wore a Grey t-shirt, the sleeve slightly covering his left that was missing. Grace's face heated up as the kids began whispering to each other quickly.
"Y-Yeah. Yup! I got a call from Daniel's mom earlier, so..no problemo!" Grace said, immediately regretting his words.
Daniel giggled as the class immediately started asking questions about Simon and his missing arm, and Grace found himself awkwardly coughing and raising his hand.
"My hand is up!" Grace responded, before he moved past his kids desks to approach Simon.
Daniel clung onto Simon's neck, looking proud as he glanced at his friends around him. Simon adjusted him easily, as Grace smiled awkwardly.
"Good to meet you, uh, I'm-"
"Mr. Grace, hes my teacher. Hes the only teacher I like." Daniel responded for Grace, turning back to Simon with a determined expression.
Simon let out a laugh, and Grace's ears heard the chime of bells instead.
"Is that so?" Simon asked, looking back at Grace with a smile.
"Well! I mean, I try?" Grace said nervously.
Daniel moved his legs and gestured himself to be lowered to the ground. Simon kneeled down and set Daniel on the ground so he could pack up his backpack. Grace watched Daniel go with a smile, before he turned his attention back to Simon.
Simon stared at him with a curious expression, and Grace felt his ears turn pink with the attention.
Simon immediately reached his hand forward to greet Grace properly. Grace looked down to Simon's outstretched hand and took it into his own, giving him a firm handshake. Simon was warm, and so inviting, and it made Grace's head slightly spin.
"Good to meet you, Mr. Grace." Simon grinned, squeezing Grace's hand before he let go.
Grace felt his hand grow cold as he lowered it back to his side, and saw Simon caught his eyes again before he gave him a sly wink. Grace's face turned red as Daniel scurried to the door.
"After the dentist, can we get ice cream?" Daniel asked, as Simon turned to leave.
Grace felt a lump grow in his throat, taking a step after Simon for a moment. His students started whispering around him, and he fell back to reality.
He cleared his throat and let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"See you tomorrow Daniel, it was good meeting you Simon." Grace said, turning back to his desk.
Grace took a seat, and let himself relax. He watched the two leave out the door, and he finally turned his attention back to his students. Before he opened his mouth to continue, the door suddenly opened again.
Simon came back into the room, and quickly moved past the desks. Simon hesitated a moment, before going to Grace's direction. Grace looked up at Simon as he approached his desk, before he grabbed one of the pens sitting in his Best Teacher Ever mug. He scribbled something down on a piece of post-it-note, and slipped it into Grace's hand.
He winked again down at Grace, before he turned to leave. The students let out small gasps around the room, watching Simon go. They all turned their attention back to a reddened Grace, as he stared at the post-it note in his hands.
"Coffee?" Simon wrote, followed by his phone number.
Grace swallowed another lump in his throat, as he made eye contact with his students. Some leaned forward, as Sarah and a couple other girls talked in hush whispers.
"Um, where were we?" Grace mumbled, as he pocketed the note.
It took all of ten minutes for the kids to finally settle down, and for Grace to pick up his coffee cup and sip it again, letting the warmth fill his lungs.
'Cheese and rice' Grace thought to himself.
'I think this is simultaneously the best and worst day of my life.'