prompt: I’m a kindergarten teacher, and you’re the parent of the sweetest kid in class. And I know this is parent-teacher conference and we’re supposed to talk about your kid, but are you okay? You look overworked.
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The last bell rang and I helped all of the kids to their buses. "Bye guys! Be good!"
"Bye!" River Weekes, the last student and one of my favorites, yelled back to me.
"You did tell your mom about our meeting tonight, right?" I asked with a smile. "I want her to know how good you're doing!"
Her smile faded. "Actually I only have a daddy." I immediately regretted what I said and tried to fix it, but she interrupted me. "But I'll make sure he shows up! Bye Mr. Ross!" She turned away and I sighed. How did I not know that?
❍time skip❍
I heard a knock at my door and turned to look at the clock. It was around 5:15 and the conference was supposed to start at 5:30. I didn't expect them to be early, but I kind of appreciated it.
I opened the door and River smiled. "Hey Mr. Ross! This is my dad!" She pointed to the man next to her and he chuckled before holding out his hand for me to shake.
"Hi, I'm Dallon." I shook his hand and took a moment to plan what I was going to say next.
He looked dreadfully tired, but it suited him. I mean, I'm pretty sure even if he didn't look tired he'd probably look really cute.
And I'm checking out my student's father, not the best idea.
"Hi Dallon, I'm Ryan." I welcomed them in and we started our conference.
I showed him all of River's test where she had gotten at least a 98% and he smiled.
I still couldn't help but notice how overworked he looked. He seemed to hide it for his daughter, and it made me even more attracted to him.
"Alright look," I said, getting off track. They both looked up at me with a confused look. "I know this is a parent-teacher conference and we're supposed to talk about River, but are you okay? You look overworked and slightly overwhelmed." I asked in what felt like a second.
He chuckled for a moment before realizing I was serious. "Wait you were serious?" He asked. I nodded. "Is it that obvious." I laughed and he sighed.
"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked with concern. He nodded and sent River off to play.
"Well lets see doc." He started, causing me to roll my eyes. "Sorry bad humor happens to be my coping mechanism. I'm really nervous to tell you this." He chuckled again, and I figured out it was what he did when he was nervous. I nodded and he continued.
"River's mom was my first love. We were supposed to stick together through everything." He smiled at the thought and then frowned. "We were gonna grow old together, or I thought so." He mumbled the last part and I felt sympathetic for him.
"Don't judge me for this next part, okay?" He asked with a sad expression and I agreed.
"I became comfortable with being bisexual around the time River was born." He explained. I had been struggling with accepting myself since high school, an my ex-wife took it as me being tired of being with her." He sighed and continued.
"She also didn't accept me. In summary, she was really homophobic and made me feeling worthless through the emotional abuse she put me through."
"River doesn't know that, though. I won't even let her go near her mother. As far as she knows, her mom abandoned us." He laughed dryly. "I feel like a piece of shit for lying to her." His eyes started to water and he wiped them. "She's just my baby girl. I don't ever want her to look for her mom."
"I'm so sorry Dallon."
"Its cool." He smiled at me, but there was hurt beneath his eyes.
"This is going to sound really weird, but can I hug you?" I asked, unsure of what he would say. He nodded and I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around him. He seemed to relax and I smiled.
"Daddy are you guys done yet? I'm hungry!" River complained from where she was playing.
We both laughed and I nodded. "Yep! You guys can go." She smiled and ran over to hug me. "Bye Mr. Ross! Have a good day!" She stopped and thought for a moment. "Or is it nighttime?" I chuckled.
"Same to you, River!"
She started to open the door, but Dallon stopped her.
"Actually, would you like to come with us? I'll pay." He offered. I declined.
"Please? Its the least I can do for you listening to me today."
"Oh come on Mr. Ross! I'm hungry and McDonalds has Pokemon toys!" River complained. I sighed and decided to give in.
"Sure." They both cheered and I grabbed my coat.
"Great! Maybe we could go out to eat one day, you know, without River and all." Dallon suggested.
"Are you asking me out on a date?" I asked with a smirk.
"Maybe."
I kissed his cheek and he blushed. "Oh come on Dallon! You can't be straight-forward and then go all soft on me!" I teased.
"And to answer your question, I'd love to go out with you."
