The Babysitter - Frank Iero X O.C.

2: Rainy Day

Frank and I had kept up our little good-morning-chat thing for the whole first week of the semester. It became one of the highlights of my day.
I'd wake up, be grumpy for a while, then remember I get to see him first thing. It made getting up that little bit easier.
We were about halfway through the second week. The weather was not good at all that morning. I decided it'd be best if I took my car to the college that morning.
It's only a fifteen minute walk, but the rain was plummeting down.
Rachel got in the car with me and we headed on down to school.
She went off to her morning class and I walked to my favourite English class, fifteen minutes early this time.
Mr Iero was there, scrolling through his phone.
His hair was drenched and his clothes were all damp.
"Hey, Professor," I chuckled as I walked in, "Rainy day, huh?"
He smiled up at me when he heard my voice, "You're early. And yes, a friend needed my car."
"Do you live far from here?" I asked, sitting down.
"About ten minutes on foot," he said, "Though it feels longer when you're drowned from head to toe."
I giggled at him, "Poor thing."
"Miss King, are you laughing at me?" Mr Iero grinned.
"Not at all, Professor!" I started laughing properly, covering my mouth with my hand to try and stifle it.
"You are so mean," he gave my ankle a light kick under the table and started giggling.
"Okay, okay," I grinned, stopping my laughter, "I'll give you a lift home later if it's still raining."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, it's no problem, my car's just outside."
"Thanks, Andrea," Mr Iero smile gratefully at me.
"Please, call me Andy," I smiled back at him, "That's what all my friends call me."
Mr Iero smirked, "We're friends, Andy?"
"Of course we're friends, Mr Oreo!"
He rolled his eyes and people starting coming into the classroom.
Mr Iero ran his hands through his wet hair and stood up.
His white shirt was damp enough that you could almost see the outlines of the tattoos on his torso.
His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, too button undone and he wasn't wearing a tie.
I couldn't help but notice that he was looking absolutely drop dead sexy.
'Stop it, stupid,' I thought, 'That is your English professor, that is GROSS.'
I tried to shake it off. It WAS gross. Mr Iero was my teacher. Even so, I allowed my eyes to travel around his torso, his wet hair dripping onto his skin.
He flicked his hair back every now and again as he spoke.
I could barely concentrate on anything he was saying. Something to do with Emily Brontë? Or was it Charlotte?
Then, his eyes flickered down towards me.
Our eyes met. He smirked slightly. He could tell that I was completely zoned out staring at him.
I cleared my throat and managed to peel my eyes away.
'Calm yourself, Andy, jeez,' I thought.
A wave of relief splashed over me as the class ended. It was agony sitting there with him right in my eye line.
I didn't want to admit it, but I was absolutely and without a doubt getting a crush on Mr Iero.
I mean, we were both adults. Technically there was nothing wrong with it. But the fact that I was his student made me certain that there was absolutely no WAY he'd ever think of me that way.
Once the class was over, I started gathering up my stuff as quickly as possible.
Mr Iero sat down at his desk, "Enjoy the class today, Miss Andy?"
I felt myself blush a little, and strung together the words: "Yeah... it was... yeah. The Brontë's are... yeah."
Poetic of me, I know.
"You okay?" Mr Iero leaned forward slightly in his seat.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and smiled, "Fine, yeah."
Then, I sped walked out of the room, almost stumbling over myself.
The rest of the day was spent silently hoping and wishing that it wouldn't be raining at 4:30 and I wouldn't have to sit in a car with Mr Iero.
But, as expected, it was still lashing when the day was over.
Rach had decided to go out with a girl named Ashley she'd been talking to for a while.
Meaning she was leaving me ALONE with Mr Iero.
I almost strangled her, but she was so excited it was adorable.
So, I strolled down to his classroom, took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
Almost immediately, Mr Iero opened it.
"Hey, Andy!"
He was all dry now. I thought this would make it easier. Maybe I just thought he was hot in the moment.
Unfortunately this was not the case. The second he walked out full and smiled down at me, I felt it again. Stupid fucking butterflies.
We got into my car and I started driving.
"Andy?" Mr Iero said after a while.
"Yeah?"
"What happened earlier?"
I sighed. Oh brother.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I don't know, I just..." he sighed, "Maybe I'm just overthinking, never mind."
"Yeah, maybe," I shrugged, trying to shake off the sudden overwhelming shiver I felt as he almost asked the blunt question that was hovering in the air. I responded again with, "I overthink all the time."
Disgustingly painful silence fell for a few moments.
"I like calling you 'Andy'," Mr Iero said quietly, smiling, "Suits you. Makes it feel less like I'm talking to a student and more like I'm just... talking to a girl. Not that you were ever just a student... or... no, that was stupid."
I laughed, "Why, thank you, Mr Iero."
He giggled, "Call me Frank."
"Frank?"
"Yeah, it's my name, Miss King."
"I gathered as much, yeah," I rolled my eyes at his blatant sarcasm, "It's a nice name."
I saw him smirk out of the corner of my eye.
"Thanks," he sort of mumbled happily.
We pulled up outside his house a little while later.
"This is where I leave you, Andy," he unbuckled his seatbelt.
"How I shall miss you, Frank," I giggled a little.
The butterflies seemed to have settled themselves. The air felt more comfortable.
"Andy?" he turned to me suddenly.
"Yes?" I said, feeling hope rise in my chest.
Andy, will you go out with me? Andy, I'm in love with you.
"Andy... I need a babysitter for tonight."
I don't know what I was expecting, but I can assure you it was not that.
"Uhm... ok?" I said, slightly confused.
"I know, it's last minute, but if you're free tonight-"
"It's not a problem, Frank," I reassured him, "I'll babysit. You have kids?"
'Please don't be married,' my idiotic mind started hoping.
"Three," he sighed, "No mother. She... uh... she passed about seven years ago."
"Oh, no," I felt a pang of guilt for pining after this poor widowed man, "I can't imagine what that's like, I'm so sorry."
"That's alright," he smiled at me, "We were young, stupid. But I'm moving along. So are the kids."
I smiled back, "Y'know, you don't seem old enough to have three kids."
"29," he laughed, "The oldest are 9 year old twins."
"You had twins when you were 20?!" I chuckled slightly in disbelief.
"Hey, we were adults," he laughed, "Andy, how old are you, if you don't mind my asking?"
"22," I smiled, "Much younger than you. No kids, though. Although you probably think I should be a mother of four at this age."
"Shut up," he scoffed, "22 is still a grown up. I had my third at your age."
"That is a terrifying thought," I chuckled.
Frank laughed, "Fair enough. You are an adult though, young as you may feel."
"As are you, old man," I rolled my eyes.
"Old?!" Frank pretended to be offended.
He made me laugh so hard I snorted by impersonating an old man getting out of the car.
He then ran around to my door and opened it.
"Shall we, Miss Andy King?"
"I'd be delighted, Mr Frank Iero," I giggled, stepping out of the car.
I could barely contain my excitement. I was going into Mr Iero's house. I was meeting his KIDS. Maybe he does see me as more than just his student. We're just two grown ups who might have an interest in each other. Let's hope.