Chapter Text
Ever since that day in Naim’s class, he couldn’t escape Ryan. The little “hey” he would give him in the halls, finding him during lunch, and Naim’s personal favorite, when Ryan would walk the kids to art class on Friday’s. It wasn’t part of Ryan’s job, but since the students had sports right before art, he was able to talk Mrs Martin into letting him walk them down the hall. Naim remembered Ryan’s reasoning was something along the lines of “it’ll just make her life easier,” but a part of him hoped this change was for something more.
This switch up didn’t go unnoticed. The students were more than happy getting to spend time with their two favorite teachers at once, getting to tell Naim about the fun they had in sports class while also showing off their art to Ryan. After a few weeks though, some students began to pick up on something between the two.
Ryan arrived to class just like he had any other Friday, saying bye to the kids, but not before striking up conversation with Naim.
“Hey, before I go, I wanted to ask you something?” Ryan began.
“Yeah, what is it?” Naim asked.
“I was just wondering if you were free at all this weekend? There’s a place I’d think you’d like with great drinks,” Ryan said as he played with the snake ring on his finger.
“Oh,” Naim said, stunned that Ryan would ask him something like this. “Yeah! That’d be fun, I’d love to go.”
“Ok great! I’ve got to go set up for my next class, but I’ll send you the address and time,” Ryan said as he waved and walked out the door.
Naim took a breath and before he turned to his class, he stopped in his tracks. On his desk was Ryan’s snake ring. He figured he must’ve forgotten it so he looked at the door, Ryan nowhere in sight. Glancing back at his desk, his hand reached out to the ring and put it on his finger. What was the harm?
Naim’s attention turned back to his class, telling them to get out their materials to finish their Mondrian paintings. As he was walking around, Naim heard giggles at his side. Turning, he found Olivia and her friend Madison at his side with hands over their mouths, trying to contain their laughter.
“Girls, is something funny?” Naim questioned.
“Are you and Mr Whelan married?” Olivia asked, clearly trying not to burst into giggles.
Naim could feel his face grow hot as he said, “No, of course not. We’re good friends, that’s all.”
“Then why are you wearing his ring?” Madison blurted out.
Naim looked down at his finger and then moved his hands behind his back so the ring would be out of their line of vision. “Now how would this be Mr Whelan’s ring?”
“He always wears it during class and when you were talking with him, we saw him take it off and put it on your desk!” Olivia said with a little too much excitement in her voice.
“I was just keeping it safe for him since I know it’s important to him,” Naim said, lying straight to his students' faces.
“My parents have rings together and that means they’re married,” Madison said, clearly trying to back Naim into a corner.
“When two people get married, they each have their own ring. I’m just wearing Mr Whelan’s ring to make sure it doesn’t get lost, so the next time I see him I’ll remember to give it back to him,” Naim said, trying to diffuse the conversation. Olivia and Madison looked at each other with a look on their faces that said they didn’t believe him, but the two couldn’t think of any other talking points so they dropped their argument.
“Ok Mr Reid. But when we see Mr Whelan in the hall we’ll tell him that you’re wearing his ring to give back to him!” Madison exclaimed.
“No!” Naim said with panic in his voice. “What I mean is that I’ll give it to him myself later today. There’s no need to find him.”
“Ok,” the girls chimed in unison, but not before breaking into a fit of giggles.
“Alright, I’ve got to go check on your classmates so let’s start wrapping up the paintings,” Naim said as he got up and walked away. The rest of class went on without a hitch and he eventually bid goodbye to his students as he walked to his desk, beginning work on his presentation for the next unit.
A few hours passed and Naim was still at his desk, taking no breaks and rarely checking the time. As he was downloading photos, Naim heard a knock on the door. His head shot up and he recognized the familiar blonde curls in his window. Naim got up and walked over to the door, swinging it open to find Ryan leaning against the wall, a smirk on his face.
“Where were you at lunch?” he questioned Naim.
“I was working on my new unit for next week. Come in though,” Naim said as he stepped to the side. Ryan walked in, his eyes flitting around the room as he was able to take it all in for the first time without twenty year threes all clambering for his attention.
“Cute,” Ryan said as he pointed to a painting Naim made a few years ago of ravens.
“Thanks. That was for my junior year final at university,” Naim explained as he sat at his desk.
Ryan turned away from the painting and focused his attention back on Naim, “I heard from someone that you have something to give to me?”
Naim’s stomach instantly turned into a pit as he stuttered, “W- What do you mean?”
“Honestly, I’m not too sure myself,” Ryan laughed. “Olivia came up to me in the hall and said that you had something for me and ran away. I’m sure it’s just a silly prank she’s trying to play.”
“Yeah. I’ve been a victim of a few of those lately,” Naim said, nervously laughing.
“They’re a lot sometimes,” Ryan said. “I didn’t come here though to talk about strange student behavior, I wanted to ask what time would be best for you this weekend? I thought about it and didn’t just want to spring a random time on you if it didn’t work.”
“Oh yeah, totally. Would Saturday at 8:00 pm work? I’m a bit busy tonight.”
“That’s good. Oh and would you just want me to pick you up? Gas is a lot right now so it would be better in the long run,” Ryan said with a cool tone.
Naim’s brain short-circuited at this. Ryan offering to come pick him up? He couldn’t believe it. “Ok yeah! I’ll send you my address later,” he replied.
“Awesome,” Ryan began. “I gotta go to a meeting but-,” Ryan stopped as he looked down. Naim followed Ryan’s gaze to his hand. With Ryan’s ring on it. “Nice ring,” Ryan teased.
Naim’s stomach instantly dropped out as he began to explain himself, “I just saw it lying on my desk and picked it up so I would remember to give it to you-”
“Relax,” Ryan said with a smile. “It looks good on you; keep it.”
Naim could feel his heart skip a beat as he replied, “Thanks.”
“Alright,” Ryan said as he turned his attention back to leaving; “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 8:00.”
“Yup, 8:00!” Naim replied.
“See you then,” Ryan said with a wave as he closed the door behind him. Naim sank back into his seat, fiddling with his fingers before eventually playing with the ring on his finger. He was in for a long night tomorrow.