A Teacher's Heart

Chapter Three

"What are you making?" Millie asked Matthew, leaning over her desk to see his drawing. "Oh wow!~ That's amazing!~"

"You really think so?" Matthew asked her, looking unsure. "It's for my brother, so when he goes home on Sunday, he will remember me."

"And he's going to love it!~" Millie promised him.

Michelle, or Millie as she was more commonly known by, had become great friends with Matthew instantly. She was from France too, so that definitely helped to bring Matthew out of his shell a little bit, especially since it was his first day at the daycare.

"Merci!~" Matthew smiled, thankful for his friend's reassurance. "I think your maman will like yours, too!~"

"I think so, too!~" Millie agreed.

"You two seem to be getting along well!~" Arthur complimented them. "What are you drawing today, hm?~"

"I'm drawing a beach scene!~" Millie answered, holding up her artwork for Arthur to see.

"And I'm drawing my brother a family portrait of us!~" Matthew explained, showing Arthur his picture as well. "That way he can always smile when he sees it if he feels sad!~"

"I'm sure he'll love it," Arthur replied, "and your mother too!~"

Matthew's happiness suddenly faded, and he frowned.

"Non, she doesn't deserve it," he spoke quietly. "She's mean."

Arthur immediately felt bad, and he quickly tried to cover up his mistake.

"You're right, I'm sorry!" he apologized. "Let's not talk about her, then. How about that?"

"Okay," Matthew nodded, changing the subject as well. "When's lunch? I'm getting hungry."

"We'll eat in thirty minutes, I promise," Arthur told him. "Some of it still needs to cook in the kitchen."

"Okay," Matthew repeated, going back to his drawing after that.

Arthur quickly moved onto the next pair of students, checking their art as well.

Matthew is going to be a tough boy to crack, he thought with worry. I hope I can get him to open up around me soon. Who knows what Francis will think if I don't?

~~~~

"Hey, Francis, which shirt looks better with these boots?" a model asked the blue-eyed blond, also holding up a blouse and a cropped top. "The casual one, or the fancy one?"

Francis hummed in thought, looking at the woman and her shirt choices.

"The blouse," he finally decided. "It's almost autumn, so the flowy sleeves will match your heeled boots better."

"I was thinking the same thing, actually!~" she replied flirtatiously. "Has anyone told you that you are as smart as you are charming?~"

"I'm not interested," Francis immediately shot her down. "Go get dressed. The photoshoot is going to start soon, and I don't want you to be late for it."

The woman huffed and pouted as she walked away, trying to get sympathy from Francis, but he wasn't going to give it to her. Besides, she wasn't even his type, and Francis sure as hell wasn't ready to jump into a new relationship after his divorce!

I need to do what's best for Matthieu, he thought with determination. And dating someone is definitely the opposite of that!

Once all of the models were ready for the photoshoot, Francis stood by and watched them with intensity. He needed to make a list of styles to draw for the upcoming season, and they were going to give him his inspiration.

After the event was done, Francis immediately started to draw. He made shirts, pants, scarves, boots, and jackets, also making sure they had style as well as functionality.

"Fashion needs function, after all," he told himself, looking at his work with approval.

He brought his drawings to the sewing department, then, showing them what kind of fabrics and patterns he wanted them to use for his designs as well.

"And I want them ready by the next show," he added. "Can you do that?"

"Of course, sir!" a man nodded. "We'll have them done before then, I promise!"

"Merci." Francis smiled. "I really appreciate it."

He checked his watch, then, realizing that it was almost five o'clock.

"Well, I have to go now," he informed the other man, "but I'll see you tomorrow."

"Have a good night, sir!"

"You too."

~~~~

When Francis came to the daycare to pick Matthew up, he noticed that the little boy was ready to go at Arthur's side, with his coat and shoes on perfectly.

Just like he wanted.

Wow, he really pays attention to the details, Francis thought, taking Matthew and Arthur in for a few more seconds before finally greeting them.

"Bonjour," he nodded at them politely. "How was your day? I hope Matthieu wasn't any trouble?"

"Papa, papa, look!~" Matthew cheered, holding up his drawing for Francis to see. "I made a family picture for Alfred!~"

"He was wonderful." Arthur smiled at Francis. "I think you might have a little Van Gogh on your hands as well."

"Oui, he's become really fond of art recently." Francis smiled back, also looking at Matthew and his picture. "Alfred is going to love it, mon cher. I just know it."

"Yay!~" Matthew replied happily. "I can't wait to give it to him, then!~"

"Well, we should go home," Francis announced. "It's getting late."

"I'll see you tomorrow, then," Arthur answered.

"Oui, you will," Francis confirmed. "I'm glad Matthieu did well today, too."

"Goodbye, Arthur!~" Matthew waved at the green-eyed blond. "See you tomorrow!~"

"See you tomorrow, Matthew!~" Arthur waved back, watching the father and son walk out of the building as well.

He gathered up his own belongings, then, heading home soon after as well. Once he arrived at his house, he noticed that his two friends were gone.

"That's right," he said to himself. "I forgot they had the graveyard shift tonight."

Arthur, Antonio, and Gilbert had been friends since high school, and they even went to the same university together. They were roommates back then, and they were roommates now. They didn't have the same jobs, however, due to their different degrees. Antonio and Gilbert both got medical degrees, while Arthur got a teaching degree, hence their different shift times.

Knowing that he was going to be alone for the rest of the evening, Arthur made himself dinner and got ready for bed. It had been a long yet fun day, but Arthur was ready to relax now. After he was done cooking his food and in his pajamas, he walked into the living room with his plate to watch some TV before he went to bed.

"Time for some me time," he announced, turning on the television and starting to watch Sherlock immediately. "There. Now everything is perfect."