Funny How Love Is (Maylor AU)

Chapter 2

The rest of the day dragged on for Brian, his thoughts clouded by what had happened earlier. He gathered his materials and slung his bag over his shoulder, leaving his classroom and heading in the same direction he told Roger to go in before. He approached the door and peered in, seeing the headmistress at her desk. The corner of his lip perked up as he knocked, drawing her attention up from the paperwork she was focused on and bringing a smile to her face.

"Hey, you!" she greeted, getting up from her seat and walking around it to give him a hug and kiss on the cheek, "I've missed you. You missed our lunch date."

"I know, Chrissie, I'm so sorry," he apologized genuinely, a frown appearing on his face as he tucked a piece of hair that had come loose from her ponytail behind her ear, "I feel absolutely terrible about it. I've just been so distracted today; I have so much on my plate to worry about."

"Me too," the headmistress admitted, looking back at the pile of paperwork that had consumed her entire desk, "I have to finish this mess by tonight." She returned her attention to Brian and gently tugged at his tie, sadly confessing, "Appears I'm going to have to stay late..."

Brian nodded his head in disappointed understanding, knowing exactly what she was trying to say without actually saying it. He could've tried convincing her to leave the paperwork for tomorrow—after all, it wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, and she was the headmistress—but their relationship was relatively new: six months in. Granted, that's a long time and things were going quite well for them, but they made it clear when they first became involved that their careers would always come first—especially considering that it would be a conflict of professional interest if something were to happen.

"Catch me tomorrow morning, though?" Chrissie pleaded, pouting her lips out.

"Of course," the professor replied, leaning down and planting a quick kiss on her lips. "I'll even bring you some breakfast, yeah?"

"Sounds lovely," she replied, her cheeks reddening.

Brian gave her one more kiss—this one a little longer and just a little more passionate—before bidding his girlfriend a good night, adjusting the bag over his shoulder, and heading home.

As the professor broke through the front doors of the university, a pungent, familiar smell hit his nose and stopped him dead in his tracks. He turned his head left and right before seeing the blonde from before sitting on one of the benches outside of the school, head tilted forward, eyes closed shut, a burning cigarette pinned between his lips, and his hands moving rapidly—the drumsticks he held in them hitting his knees in a distinctive rhythm.

"Roger?" Brian called out, startling the young man and causing him to lose the cigarette from his mouth.

"Fuck," the blonde cursed, staring dejectedly at his wasted smoke. He slowly glanced up at the curly-haired man with narrowed eyes. "You owe me a drag."

The professor shook his head in disbelief before walking over to him, asking, "What're you still doing here? Shouldn't you have gone home by now?"

"I should have, but my ride hasn't shown up yet," he explained with a sigh as he pulled back his sleeve to check his watch, "He was supposed to be here four hours ago."

Brian couldn't hold back the chuckle that slipped past his lips, earning another glare from the blonde. He quickly collected himself and replied calmly, "I'm sorry about that."

Roger shrugged. "Not your bloody fault." The two stood and sat there for a brief moment before the music instructor asked, "What about you? What are you still doing here?"

"I was helping one of my students prepare for the exam," he answered, swaying back and forth on the heels of his feet.

The blonde simply nodded, not knowing how to respond. He'd never been a teacher before, nor did he ever imagine being one. He couldn't pass up the opportunity that was given to him at the university, though. It paid three times more than the previous job he had—or, at least, it would once he started getting students—and it gave him a chance to clean himself up, something he desperately needed though he'd never admit it. Especially to a stranger.

A minute or so passed by when Brian cleared his throat, attracting the young man's attention as he announced, "Well, I hope your ride arrives soon. I have to head off."

Again, all Roger did was nod, his leg starting to shake nervously as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, turning his head the other way. Brian bit his lip, a small part of him wanting to offer to take the guy home himself, but just as he parted his lips to propose his offer, a car swung up to the curb and slammed on the brakes. A shrill screech echoed through the university's courtyard.

"Just in time," the blonde muttered as he stood up and flashed the man who was only older than him by a few years a small grin. "See you 'round...man." He dragged himself to the car, the driver getting out and staggering around the front of the vehicle—barely being able to hold himself up. As Brian watched in horror of the situation his new acquaintance was getting himself into, he couldn't help but notice how Roger had addressed him and realized he'd never introduced himself.

"I'm Brian!" the tall man awkwardly called out, earning looks from both the blonde and his ride as his voice reflected off their surroundings and lingered in the air a little longer than he would've liked it to. He felt the blush rise in his cheeks as he repeated much quieter, but still loud enough for them to hear, "My name's Brian."

"Oh, cool," was all Roger said, waving goodbye—drumsticks still in hand—and slipping into the driver's seat while his friend struggled to get into the passenger's. The blonde rolled his eyes and reached over the center console, pushing the door open for him and annoyedly waving him in. Brian couldn't take his eyes off the scene, feeling sorry for the guy he barely knew.

It was strange, the interest the professor had begun to take in the young man. There was just something about him that kept him from looking away, that made him want to know more about him.