"Why I fell for you"

First day of school

CHAPTER 1

"Thiago please."

Leo crouched in front of the small child, reaching out gently and taking a hold of his chubby hand.

"Please do it for me and mommy,she'll be very proud of you."

He assured,but despite this the small boy continued to stare at him with wide, frightened eyes. Leo hated that look and just wanted to stand up and take his son home right then and there - forget his first day of kindergarten, forget learning, forget everything. Yes,school was important ,but he could take Thiago back to school when he was ready, and if today was that day,then be it. Leo himself wasn't all that ready for thiago's first day of school, he was somewhat tearing up as we speak. He'd even called a few days ahead to thiago's teacher, Mr. Alves ,to make sure thiago would settle into class nicely,but now as they stood in the school's front lawn,all that seemed in vain.

Thiago still stood there,clinging tightly to his polo shirt. And by the looks of it he seemed to be pondering over something as he kept looking back and forth between the school and Leo's face.

He seemed so conflicted it caused Leo's chest to ache. Leo was ready to pull away and take his son home where he could bundle him up in blankets,and whisper comforts and sweet words to his beloved child. But his actions were stopped by a small tug at his shirt and a small huff from thiago.

"Papí..It's okay" He whispered,looking up with eyes full of determination. Leo hoped he'd be alright, but even now, parents were in similar situations, trying to soothe their anxious children while others dealt with teary eyed children.

But even with all the commotion around them,Thiago agreed to go in.

Smiling brightly,Leo ruffled his son's dark hair,and leaned forward to plant a tender kiss on his forehead.

"eses mí hijo." He praised and Thiago fondly hugged his arm In return. Leo stood up from his previous crouch and picked thiago up,making sure not to drop his backpack.

"Don't worry mijo,i promise you'll be home later and just think of how proud Mamí will be when you tell her about how you went to school today" he assured the young boy, as he walked through the school doors and made his way towards thiago's classroom. But the further they walked through the corridors the more nervous the small boy got as he eyed other kids being forced into their class by angry,frustrated parents.

Leo becoming slightly concerned with the fact thiago might change his mind at any minute, quickly hurried his pace towards class that he didn't exactly notice when he crashed into someone's back.

"Davi lucca!! You get back here this instant or I'm telling auntie rafa!!! "

The man didn't even turn and apologize to him,and instead began rushing off in the direction of a small blonde boy,not even sparing a glance back at him. Leo frowned at the man's lack of manners, and then looked down to check on Thiago,sighing in relief to see him totally unphased by the collision. Messi then guided him towards the classroom door and looked at the sign above it. The teacher's name was painted in large,boxy letters with the number 22A underneath. And patiently waiting at the door was a tall,stocky man with tattoos littering his entire body,which he seemed to try and cover up with a turtleneck but you could still notice them peeking out the end of his sleeves. And it somewhat surprised Leo because you wouldn't really expect someone with an appearance like that work as a kindergarden teacher,but he isn't really one to judge.

And as Leo drew closer,he seemed to sense the teacher's eyes on him,and looked up from thiago meeting his eyes.

"Your Mr.Messi...umm Lionel,correct? We spoke on the phone."

Leo nodded, and before he could say much else,Mr.Alves kneeled down in front of thiago,and gently held his hand.

"Hi,Thiago. I'm Mr.Alves,it's a pleasure to finally get to meet you. I hope you'll love this class and do your best here",he said with a smile gracing his lips-"Your dad has told me many wonderful things about you and I promise I'll make school as amazing as possible for you and I I'll make sure everything's okay. Why don't you take your backpack from daddy and go find a seat,okay?"Mr.Alves said guiding the young boy with a point of his finger in the seats' direction.

Leo gave thiago his backpack and watched as the boy toddled away to find his seat,carefully inspecting all until choosing the one closest to Mr.Alves' desk.

Fortunately for him, Thiago seemed okay with the whole concept of school and now it was time for Leo to fulfill his part and leave .But before he could even make it four steps to the doorway, he found his legs colliding with another clingy child. Leo stepped back to take a good look at the boy who apparently collide with him.

He looked down,and locked eyes with a familiar looking Blondie from earlier and then there was an all too familiar shout-

"DAVI GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW! !"

The same man he'd crashed into was standing in front of him again, this time reaching out to pull the blonde boys t-shirt, tugging him away from leo's legs with an angry huff. The small boy sharply turned on his heel, arms moving across his chest, and stuck his tongue out. Leo knew that look all too well,he had his fair-share tantrums from thiago as well.

"Give me my Binkie!" The boy shouted,uncrossing his arms to stick both hands out at the tanned male who stood in front of him. Green eyes flickered towards Leo as a silent apology of some sort and looked back at the boy. (who Leo guessed was his son, despite the total lack of resemblance).

"Davi we talked about this. Your to old to have your binkie" The man lectured, voice raspy and agitated. The boy however stomped his foot and began to pulling and tugging the man's shirt,"NO I'M NOT!!!GIVE ME MY BINKIE!!"he shouted. Leo stood frozen as he watched the transformation of a child into small miniature beast full of anger. The man cringed and quickly reached into his pocket and pulled a blue Binkie out.

"Geez Davi. Here!! Now stop whining !"he pleaded.

The boy instantly stopped and ran to give his dad a hug.

" Graças papai!!"he beamed planting small kisses over his dad's face. He then grabbed his backpack off of the floor and dashed off to find a seat,leaving both fathers to stand there awkwardly.

"I'm sorry about that.."He started,"davi's quite a handful to deal with at times."

Leo smiled and added,"My son too,but not exactly like what happened here."

The man chuckled at his remark

and Leo was struck by how ridiculous his laugh was,but he was more transfixed on the way his eyes scrunched up in laughter or the way his hair seemed so smooth and soft. Leo had the sudden urge to run his finger through.

Fortunately for him, the man didn't seem to notice Leo's apparent conflict, because he stuck out a hand and grinned so broadly Leo was blinded for a second.

"I'm Neymar da Silva Santos junior....but you can call me Ney. Is your kid in Dani's class too?"

It took a split second for Leo to register he hadn't said Davi,and he realized with genuine surprise that Dani was the first name of Thiago's teacher. With a nod,Leo reached out to take Neymar's hand and shake it as he replied,

"Yup that's him. I'm Lionel Messi....but you can call me Leo."

( TBC)