Only Fools Rush In

Sitting in front of his laptop reading the newest email from his parents as comforting music filled the whole apartment, Alex couldn’t help but feel the pain of his family being so distant with him. The email he received once a month, if he was lucky, always made it more evident how detached they were.

The teacher wished it wouldn’t affect him as much as it did, but some emotions are easier to ignore than others. It was the fact the letter was so formal and vague that angered him so much.

To anyone else reading it, the email would appear to be from an acquaintance at best. There was no mention of missing Alex or to hopefully see him soon, nor was there many questions about his personal life. All were aimed at his work and the penthouse they helped pay for.

Yes, Alex’s parents were very caring…

The young male let out a heavy sigh and began his reply. He answered the questions they asked, commented on the new information concerning family and friends, and, hoping to possibly guilt trip his parents, added some personal tales.

Though he tried to think otherwise, Gaskarth knew the real reason he included stories of his personal life was to reassure himself that his family would actually care to know. He had many friends here in Baltimore, but sometimes he couldn’t help but feel immensely alone.

Pressing ‘send’ and shutting down his laptop, Alex was left with his heart aching for some sense of family connection.

Thankfully before he could dwell on his solitude any longer, the teacher heard the familiar sound of his cell phone’s ring tone. Fetching it from under a cushion on his sofa, he checked the caller ID before answering.

“Hey what’s up, Danny.”
They eased into a normal, mundane conversation, asking about how one another were and about any plans they had for the forthcoming week and such. One of the things Alex liked most about Danny; he usually got to the point of things quickly.

“So Mr. Music Teacher, are you going to have a social life and come to my party tomorrow night or what? It’s been too long since the whole gang hanged out.”
Letting out a breathy sigh, Alex ran his hand through his brown hair, giving the question some thought.

It was true, it had been a while since the guys were all together but that wasn’t wholly the young teacher’s fault. They all had careers that took some sort of hold on their personal lives, it’s just Alex had marking and planning work for his classes to worry over.

Speaking of marking, he really had to get on with grading the written assessments one of his classes completed a couple weeks ago…

“I’ll be there. I haven’t had a drink in forever.”

And as the words left the young male’s mouth, he was filled with a sense of liberation yet there was something, unease for what‘s to come maybe, that cautioned him slightly.

“There’s the Alex I know! Just come round whenever, and bring some drink.”
“Damn, I knew you were cheap Danny, but I didn’t think you would actually make your guests provide the alcohol.” the teacher teased down the phone.
“Fuck off!” his friend replied with a laugh. “Not my fault I’m poor. We don’t all get paid a teacher’s salary for babysitting children with instruments.”
“True that!” he grins, before the brunette’s friend carries on the conversation.

***

Swaying his hips along to the sound of John Mayer coming through the radio, Mr. Gaskarth pulled on a navy blue shirt and buttoned it up. It was a bright Friday morning and all Alex wanted was for the school day to pass quickly so he could drink himself to oblivion.

He was running on time for once so he leisurely strolled around his home, picking up things he needed to take to work before making his way to the elevator.

Walking into the coffee shop like he owned the place, Alex found there to be a small queue of two people at the counter. He spotted the familiar blonde girl at the till and felt the urge to use his charming manner to get a queue skip, but she was too occupied to notice him.

“Jake? Vanilla latte for Jake?” the blonde barista called out, looking around the coffee shop that only had a handful of customers in it. Then her eyes set on the back of someone’s head. “Hey, kid!” she yelled louder, doing the trick. The black haired male pulled out his headphones and looked around to the till with a blush spreading across his cheeks, and Alex instantly recognized him.

There’s only one guy he knows of who has eyes dark as night, that still hold a warm radiance.
Jack Barakat.

He worked on calming his thoughts while the lanky teenager got up from his booth and collected his hot beverage, frowning at the wrong name written on the cup. Alex watched as the boy shook his head and retreated back to his seat, head down and eyes to the floor to avoid everyone.

“Hey there, Alex! What can I get for you today?” Jenna, the barista, asked with far too much cheer for the early morning. She fluttered her eyelashes at him, though it still didn’t have any effect on the teacher.
“Uh, just my usual please,” he replied, not feeling like flirting back today which seemed to sadden the younger girl.

But Alex’s thoughts were somewhere else. They were sat with the shy kid who sipped his drink and looked intently at a newspaper.

Once the brunette paid and received his order, he took a deep breath and waltzed over to the empty seat opposite his student. He knew he should have left the café, but he just couldn’t. Alex wanted to spend some time with Jack…outside of the classroom.

Sitting down on the spare seat and relaxing, he took a moment to study the younger male who was oblivious to the teacher sitting with him.

Jack had his headphones back in, his head bopping slightly to the unheard beat, and casually mouthed along to the words of whatever song he was listening to. It made the young man’s gaze fix on the student’s lips, becoming entranced and filling with the desire to touch the soft flesh.

Before he could start to drool, the raven haired teen looked up and jumped in his seat, his brown eyes wide and a flush filling his cheeks, obviously shocked by the presence of his teacher.

“Fuck! A-Alex…I mean, Mr. Gaskarth…” he stuttered as he pulled out his headphones again and turned his iPod off.
Smirking at the teen, Alex replied coolly, “sorry for startling you, that wasn’t my intention. And we’re outside of school so you really can call me Alex, remember.”

Taking a sip of his hot drink, his eyes didn’t leave Jack’s stronge gaze. But after a few minutes, the atmosphere changed slightly and the teacher knew that if he didn’t do something to distract himself, he’d do something regrettable.

His brown eyes scanned over the newspaper stretched out over the table, making him curious. “You looking for a job?”
“Yeah. I was laid off from the restaurant I worked at so I need to get a new one.” Jack shrugged, his eyes looking back down at the paper and his brows furrowing.
Snorting at his statement, Alex shook his head. “Don’t bother yourself with finding a new job. You’re still at school and you’re young; enjoy life as it is.”

The teacher watched as his student’s eyes darkened.

“There really isn’t much to enjoy in my life, sir. I need to work so I have enough money to move away after school and, in the meantime, it gets me out of the house so I don’t have to deal with my parents. I need a job to keep me sane.”

The tension between them became deafening, making Alex wish he hadn’t said anything. “I’m sorry,” he murmured quietly.

The younger of the two frowned, “Alex, it’s not your fault. Besides,” his expression brightened with a hint of a smirk, “The new school isn’t so bad. Sure, there’s the usual douchebags but a couple people actually speak to me, and I have a pretty fucking awesome music teacher.”

The brunette chuckled and leant back into his seat, sipping his coffee while his eyes met Jack’s warm orbs. “Glad to hear. And you’ll have to introduce me to this ’awesome music teacher’ you speak of. I’m sure he’s overrated.”
“Are you questioning my judgement?” the raven haired stunner grinned.
Smiling back at him, Alex shook his head. “Never, Jack.”

The two of them continued their comfortable conversation, filling the cosy café with hearty laughter and excited proclamations. The student/teacher line had faded as they carried on like they were old friends. Maybe even more than ’old friends’ with the light-hearted teasing and flirting passing between them.

It wasn’t until they were about to order their third cup of coffee that Jack noticed the time. “Shit! We have ten minutes, we’re going to be so late!”
“Fuck!” Alex exclaimed once he swiftly checked his watch, the two of them jumping up and gathering their things.

The teacher grabbed the student’s rucksack as they rushed out of the shop, stopping on the sidewalk when Alex spoke up. “I’ll give you a lift to school.”
“Thanks for offering, but my car’s just across the street.”
“Oh, yeah of course.”

Then they were silently examining each other. Instead of moving, they were both fixed with their eyes ablaze, neither of them willing to break first; neither wanting to leave. The tension burned with a sense of longing.

All Alex wanted to do was reach out and pull Jack into a passionate kiss and forget the world around them. He wanted to forget about boundaries; forget about rules; forget about everything.

But just as the teacher was about to give into temptation, he let out a low groan and pulled his gaze away from Jack. He needed to clear his head and distract the both of them from whatever that little moment was.
“Wanna race?”

And instantly, Jack grinned and took his rucksack from Alex’s grasp and darted over to his car, leaving the brunette smiling as he hurried into his own vehicle.