Tangled Hearts And Classroom Smiles

Chapter One: First Impressions

Fourth always woke up to his daughter's laughter, a sweet sound that dragged him from even the heaviest of sleeps. For a five-year-old, Nan had boundless energy, and every morning was an eager race to get ready for school. Today was no different.

"Papa! I'm ready!" Nan called, standing in the doorway with her backpack slung awkwardly over her small shoulders.

"Almost, sweetheart," Fourth replied, hurriedly packing her lunch while sipping from his coffee. Mornings were always a rush, but after five years of doing this alone, he had a rhythm down.

Raising Nan by himself hadn't been easy, but being a kindergarten teacher allowed him to keep a close eye on her and spend more time together. That was what mattered most—providing her with stability.

"You excited for school today?" he asked as they walked toward the nearby kindergarten.

"Uh-huh! I made a drawing for Teacher Gem. Do you think he'll like it?"

Fourth tensed slightly at the mention of Gemini. He had only known the man for a few months since the alpha started working at the school, but Nan had grown attached to him almost immediately. And for good reason—Gemini was great with kids. He was sweet, attentive, and had a knack for making even the shyest students open up.

"Yeah, I'm sure he will," Fourth replied, keeping his tone neutral. It wasn't that he disliked Gemini. He just... didn't get him. The guy was always hovering just a little too close, offering smiles that seemed warmer than necessary, and—was it his imagination?—flirting.

That was the part that unsettled Fourth the most. As a single omega, the attention was nice, but Gemini? He wasn't sure how he felt about the man.

When they arrived at the school, Nan immediately spotted Gemini standing by the entrance, greeting the kids with his usual sunny smile.

"Papa, there he is!" Nan beamed, tugging at Fourth's hand.

Fourth followed her gaze, his heart doing a weird little flip as he saw Gemini. The alpha waved as soon as their eyes met.

"Good morning, Nan!" Gemini crouched down to greet her, and without hesitation, Nan handed him a crumpled drawing. "Is this for me?"

"Yup!" Nan grinned proudly. "It's us at the park!"

Gemini's eyes softened as he unfolded the paper, smiling warmly at the scribbled figures. "Wow, this is amazing! I love it. I'm definitely putting this on my desk."

Nan giggled, pleased with herself, while Fourth hovered awkwardly behind her, trying to figure out what to say. Gemini stood, his gaze shifting from Nan to Fourth.

"You've got a talented artist here," Gemini said, his smile lingering just a moment longer than Fourth was comfortable with.

"She loves to draw," Fourth muttered, adjusting Nan's backpack.

"And clearly, she gets it from you." There it was again, that subtle flirtation in Gemini's tone, so light Fourth almost thought he was imagining it.

"Maybe." Fourth shrugged, keeping his voice nonchalant, though he couldn't quite shake the flutter of warmth that came with the attention.

Gemini's smile widened slightly, and he leaned casually against the doorframe. "Maybe you could show me your artwork sometime."

The comment was so unexpected that Fourth blinked, unsure if he'd heard right. "I... I don't really draw."

Gemini chuckled softly, his voice dropping just a notch. "Maybe you should start."

Before Fourth could respond, Nan tugged at his sleeve, her impatience clear. "Papa, I want to show you the new toys in the classroom!"

Relieved for the distraction, Fourth nodded quickly. "Right, let's go."

As they walked inside, Fourth tried to ignore the way Gemini's words replayed in his head. He didn't have time for this—not with his daughter, not with work, and certainly not with a man like Gemini.

Throughout the day, Fourth found himself glancing at Gemini more often than he cared to admit. He didn't want to give him too much thought, but the way Gemini interacted with the kids—especially with Nan—made him feel things he wasn't ready to unpack. There was something about the alpha's easy smile and the way he seemed so at home with the children.

But Fourth wasn't convinced. Flirting was one thing. That didn't mean anything serious was happening, right?

He caught himself staring at Gemini during lunch, watching as the alpha sat on the floor with his students, letting them braid his hair while he listened intently to their stories. He was so... different from other alphas Fourth had known. He wasn't pushy or overbearing. In fact, he was gentle, almost too gentle for his liking.

But Fourth wasn't naive. He'd overheard things. People at work whispered about Gemini, but no one knew much beyond the surface. It was always something vague—rumors, mostly. It didn't help Fourth's unease, though.

By the end of the school day, Fourth was more than ready to leave. Nan ran over to him, babbling about her day, and he knelt down to help her with her shoes when Gemini's voice interrupted them.

"Rough day?" Gemini asked, his tone teasing but light, as always.

Fourth straightened, trying not to look flustered. "Not really."

Gemini stepped closer, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "You seemed lost in thought earlier. Anything on your mind?"

"Just lesson plans," Fourth replied a little too quickly, already regretting how defensive he sounded.

"Sure it wasn't something more interesting?" Gemini asked, leaning in just enough for Fourth to catch a whiff of his cologne.

Fourth swallowed, unsure whether to feel annoyed or flattered. "No, just work."

Gemini chuckled, stepping back with a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, if you ever need a break from all that hard thinking, I know a great coffee place nearby."

Fourth raised an eyebrow, unsure if he was more annoyed by the flirting or the fact that he was tempted to say yes. "Maybe another time."

"I'll hold you to that," Gemini said with a wink before turning to say goodbye to another student.

As they left the school, Nan chattered happily about her day, oblivious to her father's inner turmoil. Fourth listened, half-distracted, still thinking about Gemini's words.

He wasn't sure what to make of the alpha, but one thing was clear: Gemini was starting to take up more space in his thoughts than he cared to admit.

And Fourth wasn't sure how he felt about that.