Teach me How (Baldi x Principal)

Chapter 13 - Sugar and Cream

I wake up to sunlight shining through the windows and the smell of coffee. The room is filled with a warm golden glow. Tiny particles of dust dance around in the filtered rays of light.

Wait, coffee? Confused, I open my eyes and sit up. I see Kenneth mixing presumably sugar and cream into two cups of coffee in the kitchen when he catches my eyes.

"Ah, you're up. Morning sleepyhead," he says sarcastically.

"Oh, good morning," I answer. "You're making coffee?"

"Yup. It's the least I can do. Didn't mean to snoop around or anything."

"Ah, thank you." I suddenly pause and do a double take on my memories of last night. Did it actually happen? "Last night, uhh..."

"Hm? What about it? You fell asleep on the couch and I covered you up, then went to bed on your other couch."

"Oh." My face goes pale and my heart feels like it's knots. I guess-

"I'm just kidding, I'm kidding! We kissed and cuddled. It was so gay."

I let out a sigh of relief and allow a raspy laugh to escape my mouth. Kenneth walks over to me with two cups of coffee and hands me one. He plops down next to me.

"So... should we talk about this?" he asks.

"Us, you mean?" I say.

"Yeah."

"I guess so. You can start."

"Uhh, sure. I, uh, I like you on a very... emotional level. You're a great person. I- god, this is too awkward for me."

"No, no," I protest with a chuckle. "Keep going. I like what I'm hearing."

"Sure- wait a second. Are you just using me for my compliments? I'll fire you!"

"No! No!" I object, laughing.

"Well, anyways, I think you're great. Inside and out."

"Out? I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm bald. How can you find that attractive?"

"Hey, there's lots of hot bald people out there."

"Name one."

"You, Howie Mandel, Bas Rutten, Billy Zane, The Rock-"

"Okay, okay, I get it."

"Anyways, I don't want to have to force feed you what I like about you. I want to open up over time."

"Yeah, I agree with that."

"Alright. What I kind of wanted to talk about is, uh, we're both, uh..." Kenneth trails off.

"...guys?" I say.

"Yeah. The fact doesn't bother me, it's just, it's just what others might think."

"Fuck what others think. I only care if they're on board with the idea of us."

"I wish I had your confidence."

"I'm just doing it for you."

He snuggles up to me and puts his head on my shoulder.

"Hey, let's make this official," he says. "Do you want to go out with me?"

"Only if you want to go out with me, so yes," I answer with a grin.

I pull him close to me and give him a kiss on the forehead as we both smile gleefully.

"Yesterday I told you I would take you out today to do whatever you want, remember?" he asks.

"Oh yeah!" I exclaim.

"It could be like our first date," he adds with a smile. "What do you say? Where should we go?"

"I say yes, and as for where we should go, I'm not sure."

I glance down at my coffee cup.

"How about coffee?" I suggest.

"Coffee, and dinner tonight?"

"That sounds amazing. Coffee at lunch, then dinner... man. You're an amazing boyfriend."

"Hearing you actually call me that makes my heart melt, babe."

"Oh, oh I get it now."

"Feels weird, doesn't it, honey?" bugs Kenneth with a smirk.

"The tables can't turn that quickly, it's not fair. Stop that."

"Fine, fine."

Kenneth's arms find their way wrapped around me, and before I know it, my arms are around him too.

#

"Mmm, oh yeah, that's so good," moans Kenneth with his mouth full. "That's a good omelet."

"For a moment there, I thought you were talking about-"

"Baldimore!" he exclaims, stifling a smile.

Kenneth and I sit at the kitchen table together enjoying a breakfast I whipped up – omelets and toast – along with the coffee that Kenneth prepared.

"I had to! I'm sorry!" I yell. "But I must admit, I do make a good omelet. And you make good coffee."

"Yeah, well, I live alone too. Got to fend for myself as well."

"You know, if I wasn't interested in you, I'd figure you'd live with a wife, or at least have a girlfriend. I mean, you're pretty good-looking guy. Girls must hit on you sometimes."

"Thanks, and yeah, they do."

"Does it... bother you?" I query worriedly.

"Oh, not entirely, but don't worry," says Kenneth with a smile. "I've found myself liking guys and girls over the years. I don't really lean towards one or the other – no preference. Mostly because I haven't had anything serious with either."

"Oh. Have you ever dated a guy before me?" I ask. Now, I'm just curious to learn more about each other.

"Only two in high school. You?"

"Oh, actually, you're... uh, you're the first guy I've dated," I say with a forced chuckle.

"What? I was sure that almost any guy would be gay for you," he says satirically.

"Ah, shut up!" I huff, stifling a laugh.

"Alright, alright. Have you at least liked any other guys before?"

"Yeah, a few. I was just sort of in denial about liking them."

"Aw. I remember going through that. I'm sorry, buddy."

"Thanks. It was especially bad when I started madly falling in love with you."

Kenneth smiles intensely and turns away from me a bit, his face becoming flushed. He squeals quietly with wide eyes.

"You're so cute," I say casually, gently placing my hand on his warm cheek. He tilts his head to face me and his eyes flutter tranquilly to meet mine. He lifts his hand and places it on top of mine over his cheek.

"I think I love you, y'know," he says softly.

"Yeah. I know how that feels right now." He gives my palm a kiss and we continue our breakfast in the glow of the sunlight.