I Loved Her

1

You think getting up on a Monday is hard? Well try getting up on a Monday and then waking up a ten-year-old on a Monday. Let's just say it involves multiple threats, multiple scoldings.

'Leo Jackson, you are on my last nerve right now. Quit chucking cheerios at me and instead try chucking them in your mouth.' Edward said as Leo glared back at him, arms crossed.

Edward raised his eyebrows and threw him a look before Leo huffed and begrudgingly put a spoon of cheerios in his mouth and threw Edward a withering look that Edward ignored.

He instead bustled about the kitchen, trying to pack up everything he needed for the day. He then threw Leo's lunch box in his bag ,when he swore under his breath. He hadn't made himself lunch. Oh well, he'd get lunch at the school.

Edward taught at the nearest Secondary school, teaching English and History. He was known for his sarcasm. Even if he did gave out a lot of detentions, he wasn't hated at the school. Kids got along well with him. Leo was in Yr6 and was dreading going to the same secondary school his dad taught at.

'So you can swear and I can't? How fun!' Leo said, rolling his eyes.

'Do you work a full-time job, take care of a cranky 10-year-old and make 3 meals every day? When you do, you can swear.' Edward replied, giving the best alecky answer he could think of on the spot.

Leo stuck out his bottom lip and pouted as he walked out of the kitchen to get ready.

Edward chuckled as he turned back to what he was doing. Sometimes he wondered if Leo was actually his with their contrasting personalities and looks but Leo took after his mother.

Hallie was always so outgoing and bright always trying to get Edward to do the most bizarre things like skydiving or simply dancing to the weirdest tunes. Sadly she had passed due to a rare condition she acquired when Leo was born. She had battled so hard until Leo was 2. It had been Edward and Leo ever since and they had their moments- some good and some bad.

'SHOELACES!' Leo cried, rushing into the room with his school shoes on but with untied laces. 'Please?'

Edward sighed before kneeling in front of Leo and propping his foot on his. 'Who do you ask at school?'

'Cam. He's good at laces.' Leo said. Cameron James and Leo were insperable since Yr1. Edward liked the James' family. He taught both of Cam's uncles, one in his final year of school and the other off in University studying architecture. Anthony was kind enough and they had met up several times, parent-teacher meets and play dates.

'Well you need to learn how to do your own, you're in Yr6. Or I'll get you Velcro.' Edward threatened and he hoped Leo learned soon. He hated Velcro.

'I hate Velcro. It's sticky.' Leo said, wrinkling his nose.

'You think I do?' Edward questioned before grabbing a comb and then running it under water. He then proceeded to try flatten down Leo's unruly hair.

'Dad! Your hair looks the same!' Leo whined as he wriggled out of his father's grasp and then stuffed his hat on top of his head so Edward wouldn't touch it anymore.

He had made a good point.

'Fine. Get in the car. I'll be out.' Edward said as Leo ran outside his bag on his shoulder. That kid was going to give him a heart attack one day.

~~~

'Good morning, Jackson!' Clara Harrison said, way too energetic on Monday Morning. Edward had just entered the English office. He had 10 minutes before he had to go to his mentor group. His first ever mentor group were now Yr13's and he now mentored a Yr8 class.

'Not now, Clara. Not now.' Edward whined as he walked up to his corner of the English office and sat down, opening his laptop and checking his timetable. He had Yr10's and Yr8's the same day. Just great.

'How's Leo, Edward?' Miss Baker asked, sipping on her coffee. The worst bit of teaching English was that the whole team were female. If only he taught Science or Computing. But Ed loved English. He loved hidden meanings and the millions of possibilities behind a sentence. History was just a side subject he taught when the History teachers didn't want to teach the Yr7 History Class because they were too bratty.

'I actually don't know, miss. He might still be sane.' Edward responded, making many of the other teachers laugh. Some of the English teachers were older women, some were young and married, and some were student teachers who had just graduated.

'Your boy is an absolute wonder, Jackson.' A teacher said and Edward grinned.

'You'll see how much of a wonder he is next year.' He replied, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

Leo was quite the celebrity in the English department and pretty much the whole school. Since he was a toddler, he'd come by once in a while, when Edward needed to finish up some work and Leo would  talk to the other teachers. Most of them were really sweet but one teacher had sent in a complaint that he shouldn't be bringing in his kid to work.

But they didn't know, Ed had sent an email to the head of school, asking for permission and explaining the circumstances he was in. They had no problem with it.

It hadn't been easy being a single dad but he had many people helping him. He was grateful for that as he knew many people wouldn't have anyone with them. He wondered how people did that.

The rest of the day blew through, with Edward handing out a record of 15 detentions before lunch. Now those kids knew not to mess with Mr. Jackson on Monday morning.

He finished up his work and drove home. Leo would normally already be home and he had a friend over today.

'Hey Cam!' Ed said as he took of his shoes and entered the apartment. The two boys were on the couch watching Gilmore Girls. They would watch the most random things and then debate about them or muck about... It's just what they did.

'Hi Mr. Jackson.' Cameron James replied, smiling at Edward before beginning a debate with Leo on who Rory Gilmore should date.

'Dad?' Leo called out as Edward was about to leave the room. 'I love you.'

'What have you done Jackson?' Edward asked sternly, crossing his arms and stared at his son.

Leo huffed as he turned to Cam, 'See? Told you.'

Cam sighed before turning to Edward, 'Sir, with all due respect, was there no chance you could've said something like 'I love you too?'

'Nope.' Edward replied. 'Too suspicious for him to say 'I love you' out of the blue.'

'Looks like it's only my dad who's a sop.' Cam said, slamming a sweet in Leo's hand. 

'I actually love you father.' Leo said, unwrapping the sweet and sucking on it.

Edward shook his head as he walked into the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves to cook dinner. This was his life. It wasn't the dream life many would wish for but it was Edward's and he liked it the way it was. For now.