bsumone | ❝ You fairies love where love is wise and just ❞

James nodded with a soft hum. There was a lot of pressure on high school seniors. Was there ever a time in their lives before this when they faced so much pressure? School work, extracurriculars, final projects, boatloads of testing, all for the hopes of a GPA and a CV that will get them into a good college. Not to mention trying to balance something of a social life in the process and the drama of just being a teenager.

Oh, wait, Eli's still speaking. Pay attention.

"I... what?"

"You're looking really nice today. New haircut?"

Great. The distraction worked. Eli smiled warmly up at him as he stayed on this path. This would be great because he could flirt a little but it wouldn't go anywhere and he could distract his teacher away from the nap in the library.

No need to pay attention to that. Everything was fine. He definitely wasn't burning the candle at both ends.

That's what he thought Eli said. Of course, at this point in time, he didn't think the boy was trying to flirt. He's just been caught doing something he was supposed to be doing, so sucking up seemed like the most natural reaction, and therefore James thought little of it.

"Uh, no. It's the same as always." He's something of a creature of habit. "You look tired. You've got a little less than ten minutes left of free period. You should go splash some water on your face and get ready for class."

"I do? Well that's not good! People might worry!"

He laughed a bit as he got up and grabbed his things so that way he could have them for his next class. This teacher's class luckily. Reaching out, he patted the man's arm.

"Thanks for having my back. There's a reason you're my favorite."

It's always nice being someone's favorite. Eli's always been a good student, stayed out of trouble, got good grades. He seemed to get along well enough with his fellow students. A model student, really. Maybe that's why James felt a touch of concern. This boy was doing his best without any external support. That couldn't be easy.

Maybe that's what prompted James to take more an interest. He heard from other teachers about Eli seeming tired, cramming all his work in during class time and sleeping during his free period, during lunch, whenever he could it seemed. Now that he was 18, the laws regulating how many hours he could work didn't apply, so James would only presume he had some night job that he went to after his dance classes.

He even asked his daughter if she knew anything, which she didn't. They were in the same grade so he thought maybe she'd know... But that hinged on the basis that they might be friends. Oh, yes, she said she knew him but they weren't close. Which, he's learned from his years of teaching teenagers meant they weren't really social at all.

The Friday following the sleeping-in-the-library incident, James asked Eli to stay after for a moment. Once the classroom emptied, James waved Eli over to his desk and stood leaning on its edge. "You're not in any trouble, son. I won't pretend I know what's going on in your life, but I'd like you to know that -- should you need it -- my door is open to you." Sometimes talking to a favorite teacher was easier than going to the guidance counselor.

Eli was headed for the door when Cooper had him stay. So he waited for the others to leave, smiling and waving at them before going to his teacher's desk with his bag over his shoulder. He was pretty sure his report had been good so...

Oh. This was about the sleeping incident. Though how was it fair of the man to sound so sexy calling him son? Talk about big daddy vibes. In the sexy way.

He smiled brightly at the man.

"Really, I'm okay. I am going to be late to the academy though. Is there anything else? Because I should seriously go if I don't want to miss out on the stretches I need to do. It's an advanced day today."

And if he got out of there then they wouldn't have to...talk about this.

"That's it." He gave a gentle smile and nodded toward the door. "Go ahead. Don't be late."

He doesn't think much of it now, but that comment about stretches will come back to haunt him eventually.

Waving, he ran to the door then out. Though he did come back a moment later to pop his head in. "Oh! I read the book you recommended! It's great! Thanks!"

Another smile and he was gone again. Running almost full tilt to head to the bus in order to make it to his tiny studio apartment to change so he could get on it again to get to class. In his bag was clothes for that night too, hidden under everything else so no one would know.

At least his class went well but he was definitely sore from learning new moves. Something he hoped wouldn't show that night as he hopped off the boss in a rougher part of town, shouldering his back as he headed into the alleyway for the Rainbow Lounge where the backstage door was, waving at someone in passing before darting in because he had to get changed fast. Makeup and everything.

Since it wasn't his weekend with Malory, James didn't really have a lot going on. A fellow of his age and temperament wasn't really the type to go to clubs and certain types of bars (like college bars). But there was this one little hole-in-the-wall place in a sketchy part of town he enjoyed. It had Strongbow on tap.

That's not what he was drinking tonight, though. He was tipping back some whiskey when he caught a glimpse out the bar's front window of... The glass was immediately set on the bar, James' brows drawn. It couldn't be. It must be a mistake because he's had the kid on his mind lately.

For a few minutes, he did nothing, trying to push the thought from his mind. A good kid like that wouldn't be in a neighborhood like this, at this time of night, going into that place. But it gnawed on his brain, so he finally finished his drink, huffed out a breath, and paid his tab.

James was sure he was wrong. Probably just someone with a similar build since he hadn't really gotten a good look, his brain was just filling in the gaps. But he knew he'd be thinking about it all weekend if he didn't go verify it for himself. So he tugged on his coat and stepped out into the night to cross the street for the Rainbow Lounge.

Don't get him wrong. He has no problem with sex work or sex workers. It's just the environment that leaves some people trapped in that lifestyle that's the issue. So he wasn't embarrassed or ashamed about heading into the club. It wasn't much nicer inside than out, but the flashy lights and, of course, half-naked men dancing around easily distracted from ugly carpet and a little dinge.

James' eyes swept through the room, not lingering in any one place too long lest he attract any unwanted attention... He wasn't here to spend money, after all. And then he saw him. The person he was sure he saw in that alleyway... the person who was most definitely his best student... mostly naked and doing something untoward to that pole...

Makeup on, hair ruffled, costume revealing, Eli checked himself one more time before nodding. Perfect. And just in time to get out to his pole. Which he did right away as and was soon smiling sweetly at people who were eager to offer him money for peaks of his athletic body.

Spinning around the pole, he slowly slid down it when he thought he saw... No way. It couldn't be. Probably just someone familiar.

So he moved his way up the pole, making a show of looking like he was sensually gliding his tongue up it before twirling around it and... The lights had shifted and he could really see the person now. That was... That was Mr. Cooper. He felt ice run through him as terror set in.

Only he couldn't run because he was on the clock. Forcing a smile on his face, he shoved his gaze back down to the men trying to get his attention so he could get down on his knees and crawl to them instead. Focus on the job. Don't look that way. That was all he should do right now...

That was most definitely Eli. The hair and makeup wasn't normal (at least, not normally what James saw), but there was no mistaking him. James' mouth went dry and he couldn't help his dumbfounded staring. That boy was a lot more chiseled than he would've thought... Not that he thinks about his students like that!

That's right! This was his student! James is quite literally old enough to be his dad! He couldn't sit here and stare at him like this! It was... it was... It was inappropriate! Yet his feet didn't move him to the door and his eyes couldn't tear themselves away. Wow, he was flexible and...

It wasn't until one of the hosts asked him if he wanted a table that James blinked back to the reality of what was happening. God! He could get fired just for being here! "No, no" he assured. "I was... just leaving. Thank you. Good night."

Cooper was still there. He was staring at him. Holy shit, he was losing everything come Monday. His place at the academy, this job, his home, his reputation, and, worst of all, the respect of someone he truly liked so much. Eli wanted to throw up even as he kept pretending to be fine, using the pole to get him back up to his feet.

He never saw the man leave. He wasn't sure he wanted to.

The rest of the weekend was a literal nightmare for him as he spent every waking moment when he wasn't doing something in terror of school on Monday. Of being called to Cooper or the administration and told that his life as he knew it was over. Shit!

Still, he packed his bags on Monday anyway and went to school anyway just to see what...would happen.

The rest of the weekend wasn't exactly peaceful for James. One word from Eli and his job was under threat. Damned moral turpitude clauses! Damn his own curiosity for prompting him to go into that club in the first place!

When he wasn't called down by administration by mid-day, there was some relief. Maybe Eli wouldn't say anything. If he did, they might ask why he was there. Though it wasn't like they could kick a student out just for that. This wasn't some fancy private school, after all.

At least everything seemed fine. Until last period came and Eli shuffled through the door with the rest of the students in that class. Shit, James could barely look at him. He'd spent too much of the weekend trying to banish the memory of him swinging around a pole and crawling seductively... Stop!

Everything when fine during class. And after, as the students were filing out... "Eli? A word, please."

The entire day was miserable. And then his class with Cooper happened and he felt like his life was over when the man asked him to stay after. Shoving his things in his bag, he slowly made his way to the front and forced a smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes.

Eli looked like someone ready to accept a death sentence.

The door clicked shut to leave them alone. No one would hear them now and he was so sure he'd throw up. "Is this where you tell me you're going to tell someone about my job? Can you just...say it? It's hard continuing to wait for everything to fall apart around me."

"That's... not what I wanted to discuss, precisely." He reached for a steno pad on his desk. He jotted something down and tore the page out, handing it to Eli.

"That isn't a safe part of town, especially after dark." Half the reason he went to a bar there; less likely he'd run into his students' parents. "That's my cell. If you ever need a ride home because you don't feel safe waiting for the bus..." He didn't finish that sentence. "Promise me you'll be careful and that will be the end of this."

"It's not?"

Confused now, he clutched the straps of his bag tighter. But the other shoe didn't drop. Instead, he was given Cooper's personal phone number. Something he'd always dreamed of having but never like this. It had always been some wild fantasy that the man would take him out on a date and would hand it to him for that reason.

Looking up from the paper, Eli stared at his teacher. "I'm not... I don't have a choice, you know. Nothing else pays enough for me to get by. I used to have a scholarship from the academy but that ended the day I turned eighteen. With the tips I get..."

Why was he explaining himself? His gaze dropped. "...thanks."

James was about to wave a hand to cut him off when he stopped on his own. He forced a smile despite this somewhat heavy, if not awkward, topic. More than a topic. It was something that was going to hang between them now and color all their interaction going forward.

He stood up from his desk and, with only the slightest hesitance, laid a hand on Eli's shoulder. "You don't owe me or anyone else an explanation, son. You're juggling school, your academy, and a difficult job. Your grades aren't suffering here. I'm sure whatever measure they use at your dance school isn't slipping either. You're working hard."

Oh, but he had so many concerns. A strip club in a seedy part of town. Some of those workers didn't just stop their work on the stage. Eli has such a bright future, he'd hate to see that in jeopardy.

"Tell me you'll be careful and you can get on with your afternoon."

"I'll be careful, Mr. Cooper."

Shit, he was so sure he might cry with relief that his favorite teacher didn't hate him. That he still had his respect. After all, the man was more than just a teacher to him and had been since day one. There was a reason why any relationship he'd tried didn't last more than a week. He only had eyes for this man in front of him.

Someone he couldn't have. Wasn't that great?

Lifting his gaze again, he gave him one of his winning smiles. "I'll add your number to my phone and call you if I need a ride. Promise."

"Alright." He accepted that promise and hoped that, should it become necessary, Eli would actually call. He'd rather have a short night of sleep than risk something bad happening to his kid. Who else was out there looking out for him?

"Go on, now. You don't want to be late." He's assuming Eli has more dance classes. James doesn't know his exact schedule, he's not som creepy stalker.

"Yeah. My teacher today is really strict about that."

With a wave, he headed for the door then suddenly swung around and ran back, pulling something from his bag. The book he'd borrowed from Cooper. Holding it out, he gave a grin now that he felt better about things. Everything was going to be fine and he was grateful for that.

"Here. I finished it. Seriously it was great. If you have more recommendations next time you can lend me those too."

With that he ran out of the classroom so he could go about his life again. Now with his crush knowing what he looked like mostly naked but it was what it was.

That didn't go badly, but James was relieved when it was over. Now that they've put the matter to rest, they could go on with their lives.

And that was just what happened. Eli continued to be a model student. He also continued to slip in naps whenever he could and James overlooked it, only making sure he was awake in time before his free period ended to gather himself and get mentally prepared for class. Maybe he was a little biased because the class right after Eli's free period was his.

Everything was fine, perfectly normal for about a week. James could even look at him without feeling uncomfortable. No, he was relieved that Eli was still working hard when he could just as easily at his age drop out. And he was relieved that the boy knew he had someone he could turn to if he needed it.

After that week? Things got weird again. Little flashes of memory of Eli on stage. Too clear images of lines of muscle and the way he moved to music. Then it got harder to look at him again. Not without a lump forming his through. Jesus, he was turning into a such a cliche: older teacher lusting after one of his students. His eyes always sought him out, in the halls, when the students were reading in class or doing their work. Hell, even when he was at his little hole-in-the-wall bar he found his eyes drifting to the club across the street.

It all became too much to bear the night James was home in bed, dick in his hand, thinking about... Eli. With his face done up with makeup and hair styled like it had been that night, his athletic body barely covered, putting all that lean muscle on display. The next day, he actually sought the boy out before class, so he wouldn't risk being late to his dance lessons. James found him in the library at the start of his free period, well before he had a chance to fall asleep.

"I'm requesting to have you transferred to another English class."

Eli was actually reading a bit while he had the chance. Some poems that he'd seen Cooper reading the other day. It was something of a habit of his since sophomore year. Spy on what Cooper was reading then immediately go find it to read it himself. Proooobably was a bit creepy but he figured it wasn't doing any harm to want to enjoy the same books as the guy he liked.

Said guy who came to sit with him at the back where they were alone.

Said guy who said the worst thing possible.

His heart fell into his stomach as he stared at him. Then he looked over the top of the divider to see if there was anyone around. But everyone hated this part of the library because it was so quiet. No hushed whispers or anything.

Looking back to him, he swallowed then spoke in a whisper. "Why? I don't understand."

He could see the color drain from Eli's face, the disappointment in his eyes. It made his chest ache to see the boy so... unhappy. James cleared his throat and looked away.

"It is... becoming increasingly difficult for me to be your teacher when I've seen you..." He had to stop himself in case anyone else was around. "As I have," he finished pointedly.

What? But they were fine. Cooper was great and all but Eli knew that the whole feelings thing was one sided. Always had been. A little panicked, he looked again but saw that no one was around still. Just them here.

"What does that even mean? You don't even like me that way. Why is this a problem? You know why I have to," he hissed back to him desperately, not wanting to lose his favorite class of his senior year.

What can he say to that? What can he say that's appropriate for the place they're in, for the ocean of years between them, for the inherent imbalance of their roles right here and now? He gave up so much in his divorce just to avoid a custody battle, so he could still see his daughter somewhat regularly. This job was about the only thing he had left. He had to tread carefully if he wanted to keep that.

So he said nothing.

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