Why I ever decided to be a teacher I’ll never know. It’s a super boring job. All I did was once in a while explain a new assignment and then sit back as they completed it. I would get the occasional question, sure. But compared to all the down time I had, that was nothing. And the best part was I wasn’t allowed to do my own projects in school. The board was afraid my talent would “discourage the students.” As if. Most of them didn’t want to be in there anyway.

The only good part was that little Frankie (he was quite little) started staying after school every day to clean up after the other students. I never asked him to, he just did it. I was fine with it, because it gave me more chances to marvel at him. I grew very accustomed to his attitude. When I was in high school I did my best to blend in even though I knew people could see me and hated me for the way I dressed. Frank seemed to flaunt his differences. I often had to tell him to quiet down and get to work…When I had him sitting by himself.

The kid apparently didn’t have an artistic bone in his body. When I did my rounds everyone would have an acceptable piece of work except for him. I of course I was required to tell him it was good anyway, but I think we both knew I was lying. One time I had them draw an apple to practice painting. His came out looking more like a super deformed alien blob thing. That’s really the best way I could describe it.

Still, I enjoyed having him in class. I found myself growing really fond of him. In a way that a teacher should not be fond of a student in. I knew that I had to stop, but I just couldn’t bring myself to. I soon found myself fantasizing about a different universe where I hadn’t become a teacher…Or one where he was just one year older. I probably would have eventually met him through Mikey if that were the case.

About a month into my teaching career I lost a little control. The students were finishing up their painted landscapes. Frank’s was looking absolutely atrocious. I bet abstract lovers would have eaten it up, but in my eyes it was only good for the garbage can. I could tell there was nothing left for him to do on it, but I let him keep faking business until the bell. At that point I was going to tell him I was grading it that night, but he beat me to the punch.

“I’m finished,” he said dimply by my shoulder.

I looked up and put on my best supportive teacher face, “Very nice, Frank. Put it on the drying rack and I’ll grade it tomorrow.”

He did so and then started in with his cleaning. He went straight to the sinks this time, facing his back toward me. That, of course, gave me a very nice view of his ass. I tried not to look. I really did. But the temptation was too great. He probably didn’t realize it, but he was swaying his hips ever so subtly back and forth. And lesson plans are just so boring…

I got a really bad urge then. And I mean bad as in it was strong, and it was wrong. I wanted to touch it. Such an unprofessional though, but it snuck its way into my mind anyway. I mean, that back and forth motion was really hypnotizing. I knew I could get away with it. i just had to come up with a cover story. And that really couldn’t be too hard.

I walked over to him purposefully, grazing my fingertips across the back of his jeans as I passed. I hoped he didn’t notice, but judging by the red in his cheeks I assumed he did. He looked up at me with uncertainty in his eyes. I made sure to keep a straight face. Say nothing unless called out.

“Mr. Way…” he trailed off before chewing on his lip ring. Something in the way he called me that sent shivers down my spine. It shouldn’t have, but it did.

“Yes, Frank?”

He looked away with a muttered, “Never mind.” He wasn’t going to push the subject, which meant he either didn’t care or he thought he imagined it. a part of me hoped it was the former.

I watched him work for a bit before placing a hand on his shoulder. I felt him tense up, but didn’t move it. It was time to express my gratitude to him, “Thank you for doing this every day. You really don’t have to.”

He shrugged without looking at me, “I don’t have much to do at home, so this fills up some time. Plus I can’t stand lazy people. You wouldn’t think it by looking at me, but my room at home is virtually spotless.”

He was right. I didn’t expect that from him. He was too much like me, and my room even then is trashed. It made me laugh, “It wasn’t too long ago that I was in your situation. Had people making fun of me daily for my eyeliner and black nail polish. Just…I want you to know that if it gets too rough ever you can talk to me. I’ve been there.”

I had no idea where the words came from, but they felt true enough. I did want him to talk to me about his problems. We could grow closer that way. He looked like I just ate his grandma though.

“You? A social outcast? But all the students love you!”

I shrugged, “What can I say? I’m the new, young, ‘cool’ teacher. I get the kids more than the old farts do so they feel a connection with me. Especially the ones that knew me when I attended this place.”

“Yeah, I heard about that. You were a senior when I was finishing up junior high, right?”

“Yeah. Technically I don’t even have my degree to be teaching yet. The school was desperate and told me that as long as I finish my courses by the end of this year I can stay.”

“I envy the kids that’ll be here for that. I would’ve been way more into the art scene if you were always the teacher.” That surprised me. I would never take a class I hated just for the teacher. Except for that one time when I took home economics because the teacher was hot. She ended up leaving halfway through the first semester.

I nodded at him, “No offense, but between you and me that would have been a pretty bad idea. You’re pretty shit at art.”

I had just cussed at a student. And judging by his face, he had noticed. I was really on the fast track to getting fired.

“Are you this supportive of all your students?” he said in an attempt to ease the awkwardness.

I chuckled, “Only the ones that I know can handle it.”

I left it at that and went back to those cursed lesson plans. Frank did a little more work before leaving. I sat back in my chair and reflected on the events. I had just started down a path from which there was no turning back.

Notes

he's a bit pervy lol