Students hurried to their classrooms, the late bell ringing loud throughout the school. In classroom 212, period 1, 26 students joked around in groups. Cliques of girls judging the loners, boys messing around shouting, "No homo!" The dutiful students -also called the ones that have the most common sense- were taking out their homework and checking the answers on the board or writing down the homework for tonight from the black board in the back.

A boy with dyed red hair, chains in his pants, and an earring sat on his desk laughing, "Woah, hey guys, isn't Professor Walker a little late? That old man gets super pissy when we're like, half a sec late, that pose-"

The door slammed open and a frazzled Eric swooped in. "Get your butts in your seats before I beat them black and blue!" He dropped his heavy bag on the desk and shouted at his students. Scared teenagers scurried to their desks, the life threatening glare he sent them giving the students goosebumps.

At the age of 27, Eric Neal Walker was a Math Professor at Blackthorne Academy. His third year on at the job, and his reputation of ruthlessness proceeded him to future freshman. The somewhat desirable man usually kept his hair slicked back, but today he had arrived late, having spent the whole night grading papers after having dinner in his room with Jem. Girls who had been calling him horrible and ugly before stared at him with longing eyes.

He let them skitter around, gathering the supplies they needed for class. "Joseph Lionade, you have been asked several times to do something about that unruly hair, that along with your earring and chains are against school policy. Along with the school's punishment, I expect the practice tests of both chapters 8 and 9 to be handed into me by Wednesday."

There was a moment of silence as the whole class stopped moving. They had just gotten half way through chapter 8 and he had to do both of them?! The dyed redhead fumed, his face going almost as red as his hair.

"What? With all the time you go slacking off, they should be plenty of time to study." If he had been anyone else, heads would have rolled.

Joe was quiet for the rest of the class and the Professor continued his daily cruelty of only calling on students who looked to be spacing out. The class ended, going into break and the students couldn't help running out of the classroom.

"Mr. Lionade, I trust you will think again before going against the rules again."

Oh! Eric needed to hurry or he wouldn't catch a quick chat with Jem.

---

---

Some students chattered away, other students sat in awkward silence in the seats of the auditorium. There were music rooms throughout this building but today, their teacher decided to have it here (most definitely because of the time of year). The more nervous looking kids were without a doubt First Years or Second Years that were not prepared to perform for the Christmas Concert. The older faces, which weren't many, were pretty laid back although they knew once their professor walked in they would have to sit up and pay attention.

Students knew to come into this class with an open mind and a willingness to do whatever their spontaneous professor told them to do. Anticipation filled their stomachs, as they waited for the bewitching man to arrive. This was a big feat to have been accepted in the elite COLOURS class, especially for the first years. Those who wanted to take their skills to the next level and test themselves competitively auditioned the Saturday before Blackthorne Academy's orientation, a few months ago. Many students were denied, but a few caught the music teachers' eyes (not including Jeremiah, who entrusted his subordinates to pick his group of young, talented singers having caught a minor cold). The students prayed that their Professor didn't miss this class. It was too close to the concert and they needed as much direction that he could give! The unnerving feeling of not knowing what it took to please their teacher fully made each and every one of them continuously restless throughout the semester. There had been contradictory rumors of this class, some students had tears of joy while others had major meltdowns. These particular group of kids were extremely stressed and wanted to crash in their beds.

Suddenly, footsteps were heard from behind the stage. It echoed throughout the large room.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

As the disheveled professor strolled out of the curtains with a straight face, the room fell silent. He wore a completely black outfit that made his golden hair and hazel eyes look especially striking. He didn't require his glasses so he left it by his desk upstairs. Taking a seat on the piano bench, the man felt his students' stares as they waited for the lesson to begin. Not looking at them, the tall man gently ran his fingers on the keys of the piano, his eyes felt distant even when he was very much present. Something about his eyes, always made people enthralled with him, like a predator leering at his prey. He didn't need to say words for the students to get lost in a trance while they were in his presence. Agonizing anxiety was their main feeling, at the moment. If they fucked up, they could lose their chances of performing and making their parents' proud.

Sure, Jeremiah was fun occasionally but he also constantly challenged them to go above and beyond their comfort zone. He proceeded to crack his knuckles and then asked all his students to come stand on stage around him. It was then when the kids realized he was wearing a point source mic around his ear so they could hear him over once the music would start.

The first day of class he scared them with his piano skills. Today, at least for the first ten minutes, he would go a little easy on them. As he waited patiently, Jeremiah stared at the song book in front of him. Closing it, he shook his head in annoyance. Some student or professor forgot their book. How irresponsible.

When all his students marched up and made a half circle around him, Jeremiah called out, "Ms. Jenna Pierce."

"PRESENT!... Professor Clarke" The little freshmen with red braids squealed. Turning his head toward her and meeting his golden eyes with her green, he surveyed her expression.

"It's your turn. Don't make it a Holiday song. We will be doing plenty of that after warm ups." He asked, waiting for her to pick a song that all her peers could know. Twiddling her hands, the girl doubtingly muttered, "Um... Rather Be by Clean Bandit? Nodding to himself, he turned back to the piano keys, "Good...good. If you happen to be that one student who doesn't know this song, improvise. As you should already know, when I call your name, you chime in and sing. If I do not hear your voice, you will be marked absent. I hope you all did your vocal exercises before I got here, I do not want a repeat of yesterday." One of the boy's blushed remembering his terrible croak...

Pressing onto the keys, Jem's fingers glided on it with grace even if he was playing a modern song, "Jenna, please start."

"Daniel"
"Luke"
"Beatrice"...

And with that, the music class commenced. Not once have their students heard their teacher's singing voice. He played a few instruments but they were curious how strong was his vocal range. Jeremiah could very well sing, with his soothing voice that could put anyone to sleep, but his smoking habits made him have to sing only on special occasions. One day, his poisonous habit would get him killed.

This month would be hectic for him, with the holidays approaching and the concert. How much free time would he really have?

Sighing, Jeremiah thought about his dinner with his best friend the previous night, they didn't talk about anything serious just random shit that happened this week and even joked around about Eric's future and the day he would find his special someone. Of course, Jem didn't think it would happen anytime soon and he would make sure his seal of approval was set on stone before Eric got too deep. Life wasn't terrible. Everything seemed fine and neither him or his best friend had anything to complain about, so he believed.

Peter came into his head and a rare smirk fell on the man's face. As the students' sang, the ladies couldn't help but go pink in the face. Seeing Professor Clarke smile was so rare at school but when he did, they couldn't help but swoon. All of them wanted to know what made him smile so genuine. However, that was something they were too scared to ask.

Soon he and Pet needed to go out for drinks. He missed his adorable science enthusiast. A light chuckle slipped out with just the thought. Jenna brought one of her hand's to her chest as she felt her heart go *Badamp*.

Whispers of excitement leaked through the cracks in the door frame of room 116. There was a sign taped upon the door, waiting for any outside spectator to stumble upon and read. It was crudely made: two pieces of sky blue construction paper taped together to account for the big block letters that spanned its surface. These large green symbols spelled out a playful message to anyone looking to enter into Professor Kalenki's world. 'No admittance allowed to persons NOT wanting to view something spectacular.' Students who had experienced his class the year before (the experimental year as Kalenki would call it forever afterwards) and those that were in it now knew from experience the true meaning of this periodically appearing message. Today was a lab day. That meant chemical reactions, flashes, possibly even flame or controlled explosions. The sharp smells of a perfectly balanced equation. The anticipation could hardly be contained within the classroom. Not only were these the students' favorite days, but also their ever smiling teacher.

Past the door and the sign, one would step into a classroom with a pleasant amount of disorganization to it. One would immediately be able to feel the buzz of every students' atoms vibrating together with the exhilaration of experimentation. On a counter across from the entrance way, a pile of books, planners and many assorted papers had been banished. The inexperienced teacher had required his desk for the purpose of this lab, just in case and spills or mishaps occurred. So, instead of cleaning off the space and finding a proper place for everything, he had decided a simple relocation would be easier. His students weren't much better considering their maturity. Upon the order to organize, multiple thumps sounded as every one of them simply dropped their bags into the floor's not-so-gentle embrace. Peter always cringed when this happened, wondering if these students knew the value of the objects they possessed and figuring no, no they did not.

Nicole Brene was the exception to the rule. With delicate fingers, she neatly placed her belongings into every carefully designated location. Then, she tucked the entirety of her possessions beneath her desk and sat up with her eyes focused steadily on Professor Kalenki. The dark haired man felt a wave of discomfort come over him as his scanning eyes (having been searching for any students still reading through the directions) met with hers. He was raw and inexperienced and still believed he should like every last one of his students no matter what, but this one tested his beliefs. She was always so serious, so intense, about school. Peter would find himself falling off into a tirade about the wonders of evolution, of what used to be versus what is now, and just how gosh dang cool it was -pardon his language. However, by the end, he would look up and see the coffee colored hand of Ms. Nicole Brene and she would ask him if this was going to be on the test. She didn't understand that information could be for more than just passing a class. She took notes directly from his words, not even bothering to put her own interpretation to things like he loved, he encouraged.

Clearing his throat, he smiled and ignored the prickles across his spine spurred on by her fixed stare. "So this experiment is a little tricky, easy to mess up if you don't follow the directions right, so I'm going to ask all of you to wear goggles-" There went Nicole's hand again, demanding attention and clarification. "Yes, Nicole?"

"How will we know if we mess up?" She asked, her eyes fixed on the wrong details once again.

Peter paused for a moment, thrown from his train of thought with a harsh force. Hustled off by border patrol, growling that he didn't have proper papers in a thick Russian accent. "Well, part of the fun is not knowing." Her gaze didn't waver from his. Waiting for a proper answer, he supposed. "Generally once you start smelling smoke, you've boiled it down too much. Since I never smell smoke, I guess I never mess up~" He grinned at his joke while bits of the class laughed and everyone else groaned. That joke, along with all it's variations, seemed to be getting a little old.

"How long should we boil it for?"

Peter sighed. He really wanted to talk with Jeremiah again. It was embarrassing, but he was really missing the sound of the musician's voice.

Eric had spent most of his break with Jem, his friend seemed to be a little antsy about his work, considering the concert was coming up. Nobody could really notice it but Eric, the way his shoulders were tensed up ever so slightly, or how he stared at you with his golden eyes a second longer than normal. Eric had gone and given the other professor a portion of the food he made, always making a bit extra for the guy. Afterwards, they talked about what was up with work, always sort of glossing over the topic of Peter.

Where was that happy-go-lucky dumb prick anyway? It was a surprise he hadn't come over to see Jem actually. The young professor must have been in his room, rambling about his experiments to some overachiever students again. Heh, Eric bet that's the only time he actually got to teach what he wanted to. The boy seemed to think that fun was the only thing to do in the classroom, but did laughter ever get work done? No.

Eric let out another yawn and finally realized that his bangs were still down. A burst of pink powdered his cheeks as he searched his bag for his blasted hair gel. That wasn't it, no... Where had he left it last? Ah, shit... He remembered why he hadn't had the time to slip any on this morning. Having gone to bed late last night, in the morning he knocked the bottle over onto the tile and it had burst open. The poor guy hadn't even gotten a chance to do more than clean it up before leaving.

"Shit... Hey, I'm heading back to my room. Let's have a smoke soon." With a small wave, Eric left Jem to go back to his room. This was so going to be a pain in the ass. Most of the students thought his hair was too silky and nice for a hateful man like himself. Creepy teenagers had even whispered something about... ships? What the fuck was that supposed to mean? All he had really heard was his last name and something about his hair. Definitely needed to buy some more gel on Saturday... But until then, he would have to grin and bear it. God, he hated girls.

A second later and Eric ran into the person he least wanted to see. Dressed a beige shirt and light blue tie along with that eternally youthful baby face of his, Peter, the man he despised much more than those meddlesome girl students of his appeared before him. Peter's collision with the 4 inch taller man seemed enough to push him to the ground. An instinctual reaction made Eric want to help him up, but he wouldn't dare do that.

"Professor Kalenki, good afternoon. I have to say the sign on your door is very... Embarrassing to put it lightly."


Lunch was just finishing up for the students as well. High school division second year student Joe Lionade sat on a step at the bottom of the far left school's staircase, a soon to be finished smog in his mouth. A crowd of fellow delinquents sat or squatted around him and he couldn't help but smile a wolfish grin, "I think that good ol' professor of ours needs a little bit of guidance, don't you?"

"Oi Lion, what do you think you're doin'~?" A cynically friendly voice was heard from behind him. Everyone looked up to see one of the older upperclassman stare down at the redhead, "Planning on having a good time? Am I invited?"

"S-Sure Alpha," The boy stammered, his head shrinking towards his body.

"Ah. Walker, eh? I'll let ya have him, have fun~" He gave his underclassman a pat on the back. All the other boys cheered nervously, no one wanted to mess with the self-proclaimed Alpha. No one went to the guidance counselor about him. To everyone he squished, everyone he hung out with, and everyone in between, he was the shadow that you only could see in the darkness.

Lunch was Peter's truest form of freedom. Many might puzzle at such a statement, wondering how a 45 minute period could lend itself the ecstasy of liberation. Those questioners simply didn't understand the beauty of lunch at a high school. Peter would spend all day teaching to an entire class things that had to be approved by an entire department of people It was a hideous censorship with emphasis on money and time. Entire sections of knowledge could be cut out on the whim of the so-called 'experienced'. At meetings, time became currency and Peter would auction away every last cent he had for the wonders of labs. Hands on science. His students' faces lit up in a combustion equation of hydrogen, oxygen and excitement whenever they heard they could actually do something with their knowledge. Would the music department simply give the students their music sheets to study, write out formulas of C D E, but never let them pick up an instrument or vibrate their vocal cords? You don't get the true sound of it that way, you can't feel the rhythm. Peter didn't want his students to grow deaf to the harmony of science. Lunch became so important to him because of this. He did't have to buy time when the time belonged to himself.

The students with the best ears came during this time. The ones that truly cared for the subject like he did. In class, he taught the introductory course to chemistry, the advanced placement version as well and then taught a single period of biology. At lunch, however, he could be whatever he wanted to be. On this specific winter afternoon, he was an ecologist, showing off the salmon eggs he'd gotten for the bio kids. He was in the midst of explaining the wonderful effect of these tiny scarlet orbs would have on their environment as adults when the time ran out.

Chattering happily with one of his most enthusiastic students, a brunette boy with hair much lighter than Peter's, he had started to walk out the door with him. Peter was hoping to see if he still had time to catch even just a quick word with Jeremiah. It was towards the final words of this conversation that he was knocked back by another teacher rushing down the halls. The student who was luckily both tall and fast, part of the basketball team, managed to keep Peter from falling back. A little frazzled, the science professor straightened himself up and swept hair from his eyes to view the cause of the collision.

The two teachers met eyes and easily recognized each other, Peter feeling his heart sink instantly. Harsh, unnecessary words slipped past Eric's lips. The darker haired man dropped his gaze for a moment wiggled his toes beneath the circulatory organ, where it had fallen upon his feet. His dismay was obvious on his face for almost a second. The basketball athlete could taste the tension with its gelatin-like texture and so quickly offered up his goodbye. ("See ya, Mr. K!" "See you tomorrow.") Biting into his soft lower lip, Peter watched the boy leave before he turned his light blue gaze to Professor Walker and forced a kind, practiced smile.

"That kid's name is Erin -with an E. I have two of them in my class. Erin with an E and Aaron with an A. It's crazy. But they're both great kids." There were those watching eyes again, staring with a humorless intensity. Just like back in the classroom, Nicole waiting for a real answer. A proper one. Except there was so much more hatred in this man's eyes and Peter's discomfort was much more intense.

Why can he just leave me alone? That thought would go safely unvoiced. Peter didn't have anything against Eric, except for his unrelenting anger. When they had first been introduced, Peter had been very happy to meet the taller man. He was obviously someone important to Jeremiah, someone who had been there for him for so long and so often. Peter wasn't even jealous of the obvious rumors he'd heard floating in his classroom, since such a bond was so rare and important. But then came Eric's sharp tongue and Peter still had the cuts from his first lashing. He still tried his hardest to stay civil, to be friendly towards Jem's important friend. No matter how goddamn hard he was making it for him.

The younger man held onto his own wrist loosely, tracing the ghostly raised line that spanned its width as a nervous habit. He glanced to the sign in question and laughed. There was no humor in such a sound, just an anxious bubble of air escaping from the intensity of the situation. "Embarrassing? I don't find it embarrassing. I think it's a great way to get the kids excited for the labs." Peter sucked his cheek in slightly, chewing on it. "Don't you like to get your students excited?"

It wasn't meant to be accusatory. It was truly an inquiry, a young inexperienced teacher always looking to learn from his fellow professor. Perhaps, however, now was not the time to b hunting out lessons...

A collab between @AimeChambers and @KiwiBaer.

It had been a while since any student had willingly walked down the hallway with Eric. He and Jem were quite the commodity when they had first arrived at the school... Well, until they found out what a slave driver Eric was. Back then, a lot of the female students would stalk him and his best friend. Eric felt so annoyed by this that he started using hair gel to slick his hair back.

The only person who accompanied him in the hallway now was Jem. Seeing the athlete walk alongside Peter, he couldn't help but feel a pang in his chest. It wasn't like he wanted those lazy brats chatting with him anyway!

"If he has so much freetime, he should focus on studying all of his subjects during lunch, not spending them all with you." Yes, Eric had noticed the boy hanging on Peter all the time.

"Get kids excited about labs? It was clearly unprofessional. What's the use trying to get your students so excited when, instead of doing the assignment, they go on their phones everytime you turn around? Professor Kalenki, disciple is essential for the class. If you show off such a flippant attitude, you will get trampled under their wake. I would highly recommend that you work on organizing your work habits and not spend all your thoughts on romance." A slight blush had sprouted on the man's cheeks as he reprimanded his coworker. What would it look like for him to do something so juvenile to get the students excited? Why, he would be a laughing stock!

Peter slid his hands into his pocket with his shoulder slightly raised. He was quite obviously discomforted and his hands formed into fists in his pockets. Those gentle ocean blue eyes stared forward with just a bit of frustration leaking into the normally patient orbs. Eric was really going to get in the way of him talking with Jem again, how awful. Bitterness tainted Pet's lungs, making his chest feel terribly compressed. "Maybe," he said with a sharpness to his tone that even he wasn't used to, "Maybe they wouldn't be on their phones 'every time you turn around' if you actually engaged them." The young teacher wasn't comfortable with letting his irritations get the best of him like this. He took a deep breath and then tried to bring back his smile. "I would really like to go meet with Jeremiah now, if you would excuse me...". He used Jem's full name as a sort of courtesy to Eric, hoping that kindness brought out kindness.

Peter just really wanted to leave.

If Eric hadn't been trying to keep his face entirely neutral, the Professor probably would have flinched at Peter's comeback. How did one even make Math fun anyway? He'd like to see Peter try it. The smaller male seemed to be on edge because of his disapproving glare, but was actually making some rather painful returning statements. Eric knew that his coworker was one of the students' favorite teachers, him and that extremely unprofessional, somewhat distasteful guidance counselor, and that had always yanked at his heartstrings. Was what he was doing really best? All of these disheartening thoughts were sending him into a fury. Why couldn't Peter see that he was the man for Jem, he was the man of stability.

His face went redder and he closed the distance in between him and Peter. The only place the other professor could go was backward, his back meeting the wall. It was lucky that all the students were still eating lunch, this might have caused some kind of riot from those hooligans. With one hand he blocked off Peter's right means of escape, the way to Jem, with his other hand he braced himself against the wall over the smaller man's shoulder.

"I would not advise getting catty with me, Professor Kalenki." Before his blush had been prominent as he made his outrageous move towards his coworker, but now his expression was a cold mask with a distinguished frown, "You may think you are better than me when it comes to exciting your students, but know that you are nowhere near half as good when it comes to knowing anything about my best friend. A spineless boy like you is not anywhere near fit for him."

Peter's jaw stiffened and he leaned back against the wall with a slight thump. His hands slid from his pockets, gripping his fists even tighter as his nails dug into his palms. He swallowed hard and stared into the other man's eyes hard. Pain was hidden behind his mask as he murmured quietly. "You are an intolerable person..." He stood up a little taller then, which didn't mean a whole lot as Eric had a few inches on him. His voice turned cold. "You say you're so much better than me and yet I'm still the one who's with Jem. What does that say about you?" He was so fucking sick of Eric's shit.

Somebody's voice came from behind Eric and a hand clamped down on the professor's shoulder. He suddenly realized how this must look to other people and froze.

Math and science were supposed to be best friends forever, that was a hoot! The hand that was blocking Peter's right hand side fell down to Eric's side, giving the smaller male a chance to escape. Eric kind of hoped Peter would take that chance, he didn't want to make even more of a mess of things then it was going to be.

He glanced over his shoulder and saw that it was the guidance counselor of all people. The man who never seemed to wear proper attire and was always trying to extend his lunch... that must have been what he was trying to do now. This was such bullshit, he really didn't want someone psychoanalyzing him right now! Eric sincerely hoped the counselor wouldn't bother. What was the man's name again? Something uncommon that started with an I... Oh, Nicolas Ishiguro, his surname had always stood out to Eric.

Wait a minute... That bastard had not only used Peter's first name, but he had also used his own. The two men hadn't ever had a casual conversation, yet the counselor was talking to Eric on a first name basis!

While Eric was raging about this, he felt movement underneath him. Peter seemed to be shaking underneath him, his face a deep blush and his teeth clenched. It made even Eric feel slightly concerned about him. His eyes shown with the pure form of misery before he slightly started to move out from under Eric. Walking away with seemingly with no direction in mind.

As soon as Peter was out of sight, Eric shrugged Nico off, uncomfortable that the counselor had touched hum. It wasn't like he was in any dangerous situation, yet his face went a few shades paler. His cool exterior had given away as soon as Peter was out of range, his juvenile anger leaking through slightly over his professional vocabulary.

"Dr. Ishiguro, I will not take this opportunity to criticize your attire, but I would suggest you check yourself. Both Professor Kalenki and I were out on break, the students are nowhere near this area, and if I may speak for both the Professor and myself, I would say we both would not like you engaging in our personal business. I will give you that you may have wanted to get Professor Kalenki out of a compromising situation, but you didn't have to, pardon my language, be a dick about it. I'm sure Kalenki can fight his own battles without your sass."

Eric stood a good three feet away from Nico, keeping a clear distance between them. The man didn't feel even slightly intimidated by Peter, even if his words did hurt, but he felt quite the predator vibe from the guidance counselor. Even if he wanted to chew Nico out for barging in, he would keep a safe distance.

Lunch was mediocre at best. Usually, by the time Jem got home he was too tired to make something extravagant, so he quickly threw a salad together or mooched off his friend's lunch. His eating habits were atrocious even if he could cook fairly decent. Before he had arrived in the teachers' lounge, Jenna needed assistance with the new song she was writing, like what notes to use that could help her transition to the chorus. The freshman was quite the gifted girl with a promising future if she kept applying herself. Of course, young adolescents would always find their way into petty dramas, peer pressure, and fantastical dreams. The wise professor wanted his students to know they had someone to help them if they ever sought his guidance. There was a method to his madness. He could be a tough ass or he could be vibrant entertainer. At the core of his teaching technique though, Jem believed the mind needed to be challenged, always. There was never one way of teaching, which was part of the beauty of being a teacher.

People in general had a formula they lived by. Part of why this scruffy man was able to pass school was because he could read his teachers like a book and knew exactly what they wanted. For example, one professor he had, if he mentioned a major current issue before class started they would never call on him during their lectures assuming he did all the work because he was well versed in the world around him. Since Jem was aware of how the student mind worked, he chose to be the anomaly. Someone they couldn't pin down or figure out. By doing that, they never fell asleep in his class, they never forgot an assignment, even if some of them bullshitted their homework, and they were always involved, whether they liked it or not. He didn't think he was the best teacher but he did think his teaching methods were his own, which separated him from the rest of the staff members. As long as he came to terms with who he was and how he preferred to work, that would reflect in his strategy and he would grab the attention of his students. Confidence was key.

No matter how scary or not a teacher was, if they believed in themselves, their students would notice that. Teens were filled with angst. They needed strong role models that could direct them and help them see the positive in their life. Of course, there would always be those students who refused to open their eyes, like he was growing up. Those were the students that more often than not needed to figure things out in their own time. They would have to fall before they understand what was needed of them. The professor didn't want his students to feel like they were less than. If anything, they were all important to him and one day, to themselves. Experience is what they needed to come to terms with, but sometimes it takes a lifetime to figure things out. Their actions will have various results but those actions will always be their own. They are the conductor of a beautiful orchestra, and the performance is their life.

During his lunch with Eric, he couldn't help but think about his schedule for the next couple of weeks. When would he have time to go Christmas shopping? He would have to make time to see what Peter and Eric wanted, but not be blatantly obvious that he was thinking about the holidays more than the concert itself. Jem's attention was brought to the pink-face Eric when the dark haired man realized he didn't have his hair gel on his person. Playfully rolling his eyes, the blonde professor waved at his friend as he left the room. Cleaning up the table but not throwing away his 20 oz water bottle, Jem had one thing on his mind: he wanted a cigarette.

Making his way outside the school building (with his bottle), not bothering going back to his office for his jacket, the handsome blonde pulled out his poison and placed a stick in between his lips. After he took out his golden zippo lighter, he lit the addiction and enjoyed his moments alone in silence. Jem placed his lighter back in his pocket and looked up at the sky, taking in the fresh air and the nature around him. His cheeks faintly gained a rosy color from the brisk wind. Letting the smoke slither down his throat and into his lungs, the tired man kept the noxious fumes in his body for a good while before releasing it in a large filthy cloud. Inhaling, exhaling.

At this rate, he was bound to get lung cancer. C'est la vie. There wasn't much on his mind. With no one in his current vicinity, the professor observed his surroundings, filling his mind with the beautiful imagery of the school grounds.

Once he was done with his last drag, Jem put the cigarette butt in his water bottle, not one for littering. Going to an outside garbage can, he dumped the ashes into the garbage and then went inside to wash the water bottle (so he could recycle it). Accomplishing exactly that, the professor's hands were free, as he checked the time on his brazen watch in a hallway. Ah, I should get to class...

The man's ears perked at the sound of small footsteps coming down the hall toward him. A smile automatically fell on his face when he saw Peter, at the end, walking aimlessly. His keen hazel eyes couldn't help but catch sight of the dismay on the young professor's face. Pet wasn't looking at where he was going either... The tall lover took the next opportunity to send a quick text to one of his subordinates: Can you lead choir? I'm behind in grading.

Within seconds, Jeremiah received a text from one of his go-to teachers, who happily replied: Absolutely! We're here to help!
She was one of the newer music teachers, whose schedule was conveniently available most days. When he finished his actions, the worried man slowly walked toward his destination, glancing inside the classrooms to find an empty one.

Finding one at the center, he quietly went to check if it was unlocked. Yes! For glory!

Patiently, he waited. Pet made his way but seemed to be too dazed out to notice the professor by the classroom door. Was this the science department hallway? The next moments flashed by like a hurricane. Grabbing a hold of his boyfriend, Jem eagerly pulled him into the classroom, the door shut behind them, and he wrapped the small man in his warm embrace. An embrace that would have not been taken so kindly if the student body were to witness it. Yep, science... They were in an obvious lab room. The room was dark and unnervingly quiet. The sound of breathing was the only thing that could be heard.

"How's my Puppy doing?" Some of Jem's main pet names for Peter were Pup or Puppy because of his strong desire of wanting a dog, but it also helped that Pet was incomprehensibly adorable.

They didn't have much time but he kept the small one in his arms and buried his face in Pet's hair, taking in the scent that was part of what made Jem crave him.

"Lets do something after school. Just me and you. Whatever you want. We can go out to TasteofThai? I know how much you like their spicy food~. Or, I can take you to my place and make you some dinner. Watch a movie, maybe have some sundaes?" This would be the first time Jem has offered to bring his boyfriend to his humble abode.

The main thing that was on the man's mind was: I want to make him feel better.

@KiwiBaer

Peter had an excruciating numbness to his mind. He heard the sound of a metric crap-ton of waterfalls crashing and consuming his mind, filling it with freezing, sluggish water. So many -too many- emotions flooded into the pool, swirling and smashing against his limbic system. First, he was embarrassed. So horrendously, torturously embarrassed to have been caught in such a childish situation. That man, Peter couldn't even remember who exactly that was that interrupted, but that man had been correct in labeling his behavior as sophomoric. Getting into a conflict, insulting the other professor and showing unnecessary cruelty. Next, he would be going to the guidance and complaining about his current crush. And the things he had said to Eric! As a man who prided himself with making people smile above all else, as trying to bring everyone at least a little bit of joy, to go against that and be so horrendous... His shame burned away at his face. It was absolutely against his own morals! After embarrassment and sweltering shame, he was wounded. He may have spouted his own hurtful words in the head of the moment, but that didn't erase the sharp incision Eric had made along the dip in his rib cage. It stung and strained his lungs. 'Spineless' he had been called, the word yet another blade formed of Eric's hatred. He didn't even dare disagree, only confirming his lack of vertebrae. Still, that hadn't cut nearly as deep as Eric's harshest implications: that Peter wasn't good enough for his best friend. Again, could the scientist really argue with this? He barely knew Jeremiah or his history or anything personal about him. Eric knew everything, having years on Peter where he could do so much more for the musician that Peter ever could.

R-right?

It was while Peter's mind was so focused on his faults, his shortcomings and everything he despised about himself that Jem caught ahold of him and hauled him out from the waters. Pet's savior pulled him from the collapsing waterfalls and held him in a tight, much needed embrace. At first, Pet was completely limp as he adjusted to dry land and the silence of his mind. Luckily, his boyfriend's words seeped into his stupor before long and filled the empty space with music. After Jeremiah finished talking, life returned to the smaller man's frame. Peter wrapped his arms around Jem, his palms gently pressing between his shoulder blades. His trembling had finally stopped as a sigh joined the notes swirling in his mind.

It's so good to hear your voice. I like it a lot. Peter was incredibly embarrassed thinking such sentimental thoughts and would never voice them aloud. He did manage to relax however and pushed his face into Jem's neck. His breath was gentle and quiet as he inhaled slowly. He couldn't actually smell his partner's scent, but he liked to imagine that he smelled like the nice things he heard about. Like vanilla, which Ava had told him smelled like a small open kitchen with cream colored walls, or honeysuckle which was a spring breeze that fanned gently across your face. Sensations he did know. He found these thoughts comforting. The reality of Jem's killing habit was never allowed into these line of fantasies.

Eventually Professor Kalenki realized he hadn't said anything in response and pulled back his face to look up at the other teacher with wide blue eyes. "I think going to your house would be super cool!" Knowing their positional (and thereby financial) differences, Peter had images in his mind of mansions and three story building. A duck swimming through mountains of gold. "I bet it's huge!" He eyes flowed with radioactive excitement, nearly bouncing.

Sometimes the puppy comparison was too spot on.

Peter couldn't help but start to get elated, already thinking about what he might get his companion as a 'thank you for inviting me to your home' present. The encounter in the hallway faded from his attention span as he then thought about the various activities they could do at Jem's house. Like work on lesson plans side by side or fall asleep in each other's laps. How cool would that be?

Eric

The counselor had the audacity to chuckle at him! His face went a little angrier as Nico laughed seemingly not even the slightly bit irked by the things Eric had said to him. Woah, woah, woah, wait! He was getting closer, and Eric involuntarily took steps back to counter Nico. Now it was the Professor's own turn to be pushed against the wall, a shudder ran through him.

Yeah... Eric had been going a little overboard with Peter before, and would have definitely had hell to pay if they had been caught... But no way was he going to admit it to this scruffy looking loser! And no, there was no way in hell he was going to thank him.

Eric flinched as Nico put a hand on his shoulder. The close proximity was making the other male dizzy. This wasn't dangerous or anything, they were both male after all! But... he couldn't help getting goosebumps.

FURTHER HUMILIATION?! Who was the one humiliating who here?! BASTARD!

He started slightly shaking, though Nico might have thought it was from rage, his unconscious trauma was coming to bit him in the butt at the worst time. And the sick guy was enjoying this!

"Y-YOU-"

Something about... pants? FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT WAS HOLY- Eric needed to throttle him before the pervert sicked upon the students here.

"Pervert!" He whispered-yelled, the rat bastard had gotten so under his skin, he was still shaking with his fists clenching the sides of his pants. This could very well wrinkle his suit as well... how undignified. And before Eric could say anything else, the bell rang to start the next set of classes and he couldn't curse the Counselor into oblivion with all the students coming into the hallway.

Eric hurried off of the wall and composed himself. His glare could have slaughtered the lot of them as he went back to his classroom. The students in his next class were going to get the blunt of his anger, the poor souls.

Now why wouldn't he stop blushing?!

Touching Peter's face gently with the back of his pointer finger, the musician rested his striking golden orbs on the face of a man that made him feel something he was still coming to terms with, "Well, I hope I can impress you with my cooking. I'm a bit rusty though... so don't judge me too harshly, Pup." He playfully smirked. The small professor was in for a surprise but Jem wasn't going to ruin his excitement. His late parents' house wasn't tiny, don't get him wrong, but it also wasn't terribly extravagant either. It was a comfortable size with room for a possible family. Over the years, the blonde man had made changes to the interior since it would be rather creepy having furniture from his childhood, but the house was in perfect shape--why sell it? Plus, he spent the first years of his adult life paying off the mortgage, so the only way he would let go of that house is if it burned to the ground. Knock on wood. This house was some of the last pieces of his past and his parents had put time and effort into it that Jem didn't want to throw away. Sure, this notion may have been silly of him but the house filled with memories, good and bad, gave him a sense of security.

Occasionally, the loneliness did settle in but thankfully he was a busy man and didn't have to think about such hindrance. He was in a good position in his life, but that didn't mean from time to time he felt the lifetime emotions he had to battle in order to get where he was today. His sentiment on his humble abode was: Live a life his parents could've had, maybe having children one day, but ultimately filling the house with precious memories. Mind you, Jem didn't expect to fall head over heels for a man, but there were ways around that if they did end up becoming truly serious about each other. By serious, the musician meant when 'Marriage' and 'Family' became a topic of discussion between the lovers. He was very much dedicated to Peter, though he didn't know how well he showed it. They've only known each other for a couple of months but this adorable man gave the disheveled professor a new delight in his life.

When he taught his students, Jeremiah couldn't get those yearning, blue eyes out of his mind, that desperate stare that made him feel needed.

When it came to his best friend, Eric, it seemed like Jem needed him more than the other way around. Even with his friend's past with the car accident, and that son-of-a-leech-rapist-bitch, Eric still stood strong for... him. The mysterious professor was too childish in high school to make Eric's life better in a more intimate way. He's never told Eric this but he did get the bitch back for him... but probably not in ways that his friend would have appreciated. Fear tactics was something Jeremiah became a professional in, midway of his high school career. Batting her car. Blackmailing her. Making her absolutely paranoid of being alive. Yeah, that was good times. That could also be why Eric's father and stepmother divorced. Some things were meant to be left in the dark.

"Today one of my students had fascinating lyrics in her work-in-progress song. It made me think of you. She's only a freshman yet she understands the concept behind my lessons." Waiting a moment or two, the professor never let go of the excitable current in the ocean gaze. The strong urge to kiss his boyfriend's lips compelled the man to lean in closer, but he wanted to hold off for just a little longer. Along with the lean, rather than go for the alluring temptation, Jem brought his kind lips to Peter's soft forehead. After the memorable minute, he returned to his train of thought, "The gist of her song was how science is the music of the intellect, while music is the science of the heart. Your passion, Peter, is the door that leads to understanding the symphony that hides behind it."

Unfortunately the school bell rang, which brought both professors back to reality, "I guess it's time to go back to being responsible adults." Rather than rush for a passionate kiss, Jem decided to hold off until after school hours.

Exiting the door, the blonde muttered, "Just come to the auditorium when you're all set." Looking to the right, the man took noticed of Eric rushing to his class with a faint blush on his face. Hm, interesting. He waved, but Eric seemed too distracted. Shrugging to himself, Jeremiah turned left with his Puppy. While their backs faced Eric, the musician and the scientist walked down the hall to get to their classrooms.

@KiwiBaer@AimeChambers

The music in Peter’s mind was thrumming. Every vibration of Jem’s words, of his every sound, buzzed against his skull. He could feel every noise as they created a pleasant kind of haze in his mind, shaking away all of the darkness that clung there. The melody only rose in volume whenever his boyfriend and he shared a touch or even neared him. Jeremiah’s presence had an effect on him that was both incredibly embarrassing and also intoxicating. It still amazed the young teacher that Jem had chosen Pet to play his music for.

He didn’t blame Eric for being upset that his music was of a completely different genre.

Along with the music, excitement played in his chest as he bounced along side the choir director. Since they were returning to the civilized world where rumors were born, Peter kept his hands to himself, carefully tucked away in his pockets. Still, he couldn’t resist standing close enough for their shoulders to brush as he turned slightly into Jem to chatter happily. ”That’s really cool! She should sing it to the science board, remind them that our days aren’t just one lesson plan after another!” His eyes were bright and his words were fast. ”Should I bring anything to dinner? I don’t get invited to people’s houses a whole lot. I could probably make a side. Bring a plant maybe? Schlumbergera truncata blooms in the winter, so that would be pretty cool…” He shook his head and gave up with a shrug and a grin, showing the idea had left his mind. They arrived at his classroom door then and Pet glanced up and down the hallway for a quick moment. Then, he moved in for a very sudden kiss, pressing his lips to Jem’s for a fleeting moment. When he pulled back, he could feel the music against his skin as he smiled. ”I’ll see you after school, alright~?”

With that, the now thoroughly flushing professor slipped back into his classroom, now ready for biology.

Warning: Mild Attempted rape implications.

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The boys gathered outside the back side door where Eric usually exited from, one of the freshman greenies had done a little stalking to find out the route he took everyday. Next to the door was a heavy dumpster that Joseph made two of the jocks move enough in front of the door so no one could move it.

"So Joe, What are you going to do to him?" Alpha asked, his arm slung around the terrified second year's shoulders.

"I-I was just going to rough him up to warn him not to mess with us every again."

Alpha frowned, "Aww, you're just gonna beat him up? What's the fun in beating up a teacher unless he squeals. If you want to humiliate him, this is what you should do..."


The bell rang, Eric's class sighing in unison as they hurried to the room. Of course, a minute before, Eric had chewed the whole class out about getting up before the bell rang. Now it was his turn to sigh, sitting down at his desk, he had a quick talk with Nicole Brene, that girl had a good head on her shoulders when it came to math, and waiting for all the scared shitless students to come to him. Sure, Eric was never lenient on his grading, but if they actually got up and asked him for help, he would give it too them. The brats just needed some bloody courage already! So while he waited, Eric switched between papers, gathering problems he could use for the math test that was coming up.

2+4 cos 3/2x... The Professor looked down at his watch and realized that counseling hours were over. Looking to see if anyone was around, he slipped his feet onto his desk. Memories of lunch time swirled around in his head. The harsh remarks that that cowardly homewrecker had made and the new found perverseness of the Academy's counselor. If he and Jem didn't break any of the rules, which they only broke a few, then he might have gone to the Board... well, actually probably not.

After a few more minutes, Eric sat up, his some of his papers falling onto the ground. He groaned before squatting down to pick them up. Besides those papers, he also needed to bring some home. There was a meeting in the morning that he needed the papers he had prepared for it, plus the recent quizzes he needed to grade for. Slipping everything into his briefcase, he left his classroom, locking the door and checking the handle a few times before walking away. Eric once or twice had had to deal with some students breaking in for the answer key to one of his tests. All he had to do was punish the perpetrators and make a new test, but that took way too much of his personal time.

With no chatter to from the cafeteria like a lunchtime, the hallways had an eerie silence that was only disturbed by the periodic interruptions of his footsteps. He hadn't planned anything with Jem today, which meant he would probably either spend the rest of his night grading, or clean out his fridge and straighten up his kitchen for the hundredth time, anything to keep him busy.

He reached the one of the farthest hallways where he usually used the back side door to leave the school. This was a better alternative from going through the front door since his car was always parked at the back of the Professors' section of the parking lot. But Eric was surprised to find that the door wouldn't open. The back door wasn't designed to have any windows, so even though the handle would move back and forth fairly easily, it seemed as though something was pressed up against it on the other side.

Puzzled and slightly annoyed, Eric walked around the school to find a dumpster that was usually a good four feet away from the door to be pushed in front of it. Of all the ludicrous and idiotic things those hooligans could do, what was the use in doing-

Someone kicked him in the back from behind, forcing his stomach against the edge of the dumpster and knocking the wind out of him. His briefcase went sliding to the right and before he could react, someone grabbed his arm and swung him around to face them. The force uncomfortably knocked the back of his head against the dumpster, the sound of the collision making his ears ring. There stood six students. Some of whom looked to be rather muscular and probably bench athletes from the football department while the rest just looked like the normal troublemakers, though they all looked like they could pack a mean punch. In the midst of them stood Joseph Lionade. The student he had so curtly punished, humiliating him so that he would realize the error in his ways.

With an amused grin on his face, the second year walked up and squatted in front of Eric so that he and the professor could see eye to eye, "Look at that! Our Proud Professor Walker can't even catch his breath!" All the boys around him chuckled, "You see Professor, ever since the start of the school year, you've really gotten under my skin, so I thought I'd make you feel the same~ Oh, don't worry, we won't rough you up too bad. Well, if you cooperate anyway."

Eric was still in shock from the wind getting kicked out of him and the suddenness of it all. Eric hadn't gotten into a fight like this since his last years of middle school, and even then Jem mostly took the lead. His face had grown pale from the pain and only when Joseph starting talking did he really realize the situation. The gears in his head finally started shifting and with a pissed off expression, he spit in Joseph's face. Cussing out his teacher, he wiped at his face and motioned to him. Eric tried to get unsteadily to his feet, a hand on his stomach, only for one of the Jocks to throw an arm over his neck and pull him to the ground, closelining him. Eric let out a strangled gasp.

The boys moved quickly to restrain him, one of the boy moving to his head, pulling his hands up, while two of the others pinned down each of his legs. Traumatic reflexes made him struggle for all he was worth, his whole body shaking. Joseph watched from a ways away with an amused chuckle while the last two boys started walking over. Goofy grins on their faces and... the fuck?! They looked... happy to see him. Sick, sadistic bastards! He struggled even harder and the boy holding his arms clocked him over the head, though not too hard.

Stars flew around his eyes as one of the boys started loosening his tie and the other went for his belt. All of the traumatic memories came flooding back to him, his body involuntarily starting to sweat and uncontrollably shuddering. His memories were pushing him out of reality and remembering his stepmother's lustful smiling face. Joseph smirked, thinking that Eric had given up.

This was what Alpha had told him to do, even though they didn't know about Eric's past.