Chapter Text
Ryland stares down at his phone with a scream bubbling up in his throat.
He has been looking at his phone for the past twenty minutes now, waiting to call Simon to tell him about the twins but he whenever he goes to pick up his phone he feels like the world might explode.
It can't be this hard to make one phone call.
He can totally call Simon up and say,
'Hey so I found out that I had two little brothers that I never knew about and now they are living with me! I hope this doesn't change how you see me forever!'
Ryland can totally do that.
He picks up the phone and gets into his contacts, further than he got the other times so that's progress, and finds Simon's name.
The contact picture makes him smile.
It's a picture of them at a bar with the rest of their coworkers. Ryland has an arm around his shoulders and is clearly not sober. Simon on the other hand is leaning back against the bar with a small smile on his face as he looks at the camera.
He had gotten so drunk that night because Rocky challenged him to a drinking game and Rocky always wins those. Simon had been sober that night and took him home to his apartment.
Ryland doesn't remember much of that night but he remembers being carried to his bed and a note waiting on his bedside table along with some aspirin. It was sweet and the day he realized that he wanted more than a friendship with Simon.
"Ryland?"
Ryland jumps out of his skin when he hears Simon's voice coming through the phone speaker. How did he not hear it ringing? He must have been really zoned out.
"Simon! Hello!" Ryland greets him in a higher pitched voice than he usually uses.
"Is everything okay?" Simon sounds so worried and it makes Ryland want to melt immediately.
"Everything's fine," Ryland clears his throat, his voice lowering down to normal. "I just wanted to talk to you."
"Well you have my attention-" There is a soft clink of something on the other end. "-half of it technically since I am making diner."
"Do you want me to call back?" Ryland asks, hoping to get out of this phone call.
"No," Simon reassures him. "I actually think that listening to you may make this process easier for me. I am dead on my feet after driving all day."
He must have just gotten back from visiting his mother who lives a couple hours away. Ryland knows that he stays the weekend every so often since they live further apart than they would like to.
"Okay well I have news." Ryland starts boldly before immediately wanting to hang up in pure panic.
"News? What kind of news?" Simon asks with a hint of amusement.
"Interesting stuff, you know how interesting my life is Simon." Ryland dodges the question with the ease of someone who has been doing it for years.
"You are stalling." Simon tells him, cutting effortlessly through to the meaning behind his words.
Ryland sighs and sits down on the floor, his back to his bed, "You're right. Do you remember that day last week when you found me in my classroom?"
Simon hums in agreement, giving room to choose his words and think.
"I got a call that my dad died."
"I'm so sorry Ryland." Simon says and the sound of him moving around stops.
Ryland shakes his head even though Simon can't see him, "No that's fine. He was a horrible person and I hate him that's why I never mentioned him but the thing that I wanted to tell you is that-"
He swallows before continuing.
"I have two little brothers that I didn't know about and now I am taking care of them."
"Oh." Simon says after a shocked silence. "Is this a good or a bad thing for you?"
"That's the thing, I have no idea." Ryland laughs to himself. "I think that they both hate me and a part of me hates the reminder that I am related to our father."
"Do you need my help Ryland?" Simon asks him gently.
"No- it's- everything's fine-"
"Even if everything is fine-" He says fine like he isn't the slightest bit convinced. "-I still want to help you out. They will be starting at Grover Cleveland right?"
"Tomorrow." Ryland's voice is small as he says it. "Courtland will be in your class."
"I will be excited to meet him."
Ryland wonders if Simon will be able to help Courtland in a way that he won't let Ryland.
Colt isn't as open as he lets on but he still asks for help with things. But Courtland glares at Ryland whenever he tries to help or gets too close to him, like a stray who would rather chew it's own injured leg off rather than let you touch it.
"I think the boys will like you." Ryland says.
And it's true, anyone would like Simon, he's just that type of person that anyone would adore.
The boys will be no exception for the gravitational pull that Simon Fisher has.
"I hope so because I will be helping you out when I can." Simon's tone is resolute.
"Simon." Ryland pleads with him. "You really don't have to."
"Ryland, I won't step all over your boundaries but you forget to eat often so I don't fully trust you." He tells him plainly and Ryland grows sheepish.
"I have been really good about feeding them." Ryland grumbles.
"I know but what about yourself?"
Ryland tries to think back to when he last ate. It was this morning- no wait- it last night he had dinner with the boys. Maybe he does need someone to remind him of small things like that.
"If you are really fine with helping out than I won't mind." Ryland feels like the words are pulled through his clenched teeth.
He doesn't like asking or excepting help because he doesn't want to look weak but a small voice tells him that Simon won't. Wonderful Simon who makes him tea and asks him if he is okay.
"Good." Simon sounds pleased and the moving around continues on his end.
They stay there like that for a minute, Ryland curled into himself on his bedroom floor and Simon cooking something on his side of the line. A warm feeling blooms in his chest, like a soft blanket was placed over his shoulders.
"How was visiting your mother?" Ryland asks.
"It was good, she did tut at me for not using my Korean often. She told me that I may lose it if I don't use it more frequently. I just don't have many people around me who speak it so there isn't a lot of use for it." Simon explains with a huff. "But I will probably start talking to myself so I can keep up on it since I don't want to lose it."
"I can learn Korean." Ryland mumbles out before he can stop himself.
Simon laughs, a deep rich sound that makes Ryland's face heat up.
"Well I can teach you a whole bunch of curse words that the apps won't." He tells him.
"I won't use them." He declines, "It's not good for the kids."
"You are the only person who never curses even when the kids are gone. Everyone else cusses like a sailor in the teachers lounge."
"If I slip back into that habit I will slip up and I really don't want the parents to get mad at me."
He can hear Simon roll his eyes, "Whatever you say Grace."
Ryland feels better now that he knows that Simon is still there even with the big upheaval in Ryland's life. He isn't going to leave him.
✮⋆˙
Colt looks down at his shoes as he and Colt sit in the office. Ryland, dressed in a suit and his glasses straight on his face for one, is talking with the receptionist. She is smiling up at him as he leans on the counter, looking down at the two papers in front of him.
"They should be alright to go ahead and go with you to your classroom until school starts Mr. Grace." She tells him.
"Great!" He stands up. "Thank you so much Lilly."
"Have a good day Mr. Grace." Lilly waves to him as he walks over to where Colt and Court are sitting.
Court stands up immediately when Ryland walks over and Colt is quick to follow. Their brother grins down at him, adjusting the strap on his messenger bag.
"Let's get going, we have about half an hour before you need to be getting to class." He ushers them out before giving a final wave to Lilly who returns it as they walk through the glass door into the hallway proper.
Ryland shows them their lockers, which are next to each other and the combinations for both of them. Then he walks down the hall for a few minutes before finding a room with a gold plate reading 'Seventh grade Science' and below it 'Mr. Grace'.
"Do you use Mom's last name for everything?" Colt asks then he thinks better of it because Ryland drops his keys. He bends down and picks them up before putting the key into the lock.
Ryland is silent as he opens the door.
"I do." He says quietly as he walks inside the room. "I had it legally changed when I was eighteen."
"Oh." Colt says and leaves it at that.
Ryland's classroom is a lot.
He barely has anything at home but his classroom is the exact opposite of that. Color and small knickknacks are everywhere. He sees paintings of stars and oft her things hung around the room. A miniature solar system hangs from the ceiling around his messy desk.
Court sits down at a desk and Colt follows him to give Ryland space. Their brother hasn't hit them yet but Ryland is an emotional person so Colt doesn't want to take a chance that he might.
"Here." Ryland gives them copies of the paper Adrian showed them two days ago and retreats back to his desk.
Colt looks down to refamiliarize himself with the list. He steals glances at Court and Ryland who are focused on their own things with the same slight down turn to their lips.
He hopes that he can make friends here. Not that he doesn't love Court but he also wants friends outside of the family now that he hopefully doesn't have to worry about hiding bruises.
The thirty minute wait is longer with the anticipation of the incoming new classrooms and people. Colt is not looking forward to being introduced in every class they go to but it's better than the tense silence the last week has been so he will endure it.
Colt just hopes to get through today.
✮⋆˙
The most dreaded part of Court's day is last period. He gets through the many introductions and the awkward first day questions without batting an eye. Court even manages to get through their lunch period without feeling like everyone is staring at them.
Colt decides to walk with Court to his class before going to his. It feels like Colt is babying him but deep down he knows that he couldn't leave Colt of his own volition so he is thankful.
"Everyone said that Mr. Fisher is great!" Colt tells him what the other kids have told him. "I hear that he looks pretty cool with scars he got in the military before he came to work here!"
Court's brows furrow. A former soldier working in a school? Why would he want to do that? Court hasn't met many soldiers but their dad was in the marines before he became a cop so he doesn't trust this guy already.
When they come to the classroom door, which is open with kids walking in, Colt stops.
"You got this Court!" Colt smiles. "I bet you can even make a friend!"
"I don't need friends." Court shakes his head.
Colt pouts, "You know that isn't true! I want you to make a friend!"
Court feels like Colt is trying to leave him and his chest seizes at the thought-
"Boys?"
A new voice has him turning to look up at a man in a more casual outfit than most of the teachers here, except the shop teacher who wears exclusively overalls from what he hears.
"Are you lost?" His voice gets softer as he now has their attention.
Colt shakes his head quickly, "I was just about to go to my class!"
Court narrows his eyes up at the man who is obviously making Colt scared. He looks the man over, his eyes settling on the scars peaking out from his sleeves and the few on his face.
"And you?" His black eyes turn to Court, assessing but not probing.
"This is my class Sir." He draws himself up in the way he did when he stood between Colt and their father.
"Good, I have an extra desk." He says.
Something clicks in Court's brain and he realizes that this is Mr. Fisher, his teacher.
He doesn't quite reassess him but he looks closer at how he is making himself smaller and how his lips are slightly up turned even at Court's bluntness which most people don't like.
"You should be getting to class, Mr. Gentry." Mr. Fisher says to Colt.
"You know my name?" Colt's mouth drops open as he points to himself.
Mr. Fisher has his lips pressed in a thin line as he tries not to laugh, "I take it upon myself to know all of my students and their siblings."
"Oh." Colt mutters. He is looking at Mr. Fisher with something close to relief as he says it. "I will go to my class then."
Colt gives Court a little wave before turning to run to his next class since it is almost on the other side of the building from this classroom.
Once Colt is gone Court looks back over at Mr. Fisher who nods his head to doorway to the classroom. He walks in and Court follows at a sedate pace.
"Here." He says and puts a hand on the chair of a desk near the back of the room. "You will be next to Zach."
Court turns to look at the boy next to him who is lounging back in his chair which is tipped back so the front legs are off the floor. He looks over at him with a grin and a wave, "Heya neighbor."
"What have I told you about sitting like that Zach?" Mr. Fisher asks, turning his gaze to Zach.
"Not to unless I want to go to the nurse's office." Zach says with a pout and lowers the legs.
"Good, now be nice to Courtland." With that Mr. Fisher walks to the back of the room where his desk is.
Court feels embarrassed as his brain repeats the last few words, 'be nice to Courtland'. He doesn't need anyone's pity or fake kindness. No one should be forced to be nice to him.
"Hey!" Zach leans over once Court is settled down in his seat. "Can I call you Court? Courtland is such a long name!"
"No." Court shakes his head but keeps his eyes on the front of the room.
"Come on! Courts a good nickname!" Zach pouts. "What about just C? That could be cool."
Court glares over at him.
"No C? Corey than?" Zach continues like Court hasn't given him multiple signals that he doesn't want to be talked at.
Irritation must show on his face because Zach grins like he won the lottery.
"I will call you Corey."
"Mr. Hightower, do I need to separate you from the class after only two weeks of school?" Mr. Fisher asks from the front of the class with a raised brow.
"No." Zach says solemnly and rights himself in his chair.
Court sighs as Mr. Fisher writes, 'The Civil War' in big letters at the top of the board.
This is going to be a long year.
✮⋆˙
Ryland is tired by the time the last bell rings and the kids go rushing from his classroom.
He grabs his stuff quickly so he can get the twins from their classrooms to go home. The kids were all good it's just that Ryland is adjusting to having the boys in the back of his mind.
He never really wanted kids so having two kids for the foreseeable future feels like a weight on his back. Maybe having Simon help won't feel like another thing added but someone helping to shoulder the weight.
Ryland puts the papers he needs to grade and his laptop in his bag, he had already planned on grading them at home to not make the boys have to stay over but it feels like an even better idea now that he is this tired.
Closing his bag, he finds his key ring before walking out to lock the door to his room.
Courtland finds him first since Simon's classroom is only a few doors down from his.
He looks fine, no injuries or problems presented to Ryland so he decides to leave him alone for now. Courtland doesn't really say anything to him as he walks over and Ryland nods at him in greeting.
"Let's go get Colt then we can go home." Ryland says and walks towards where Mrs. Green's classroom is.
Colt is waiting for them outside of the classroom with another kid. They both are talking animatedly about something that Ryland can't hear yet.
When they get closer Colt's words don't slow down, "-treasure planet is my favourite movie! Besides Night at the museum! The robot is so cool- and the space pirates-!"
The other kid looks just as excited at Colt does, his face alight with a wide eyed curiosity, "Space pirates?"
"Space pirates!" Colt confirms with pride.
Ryland can't help but smile a little at Colt's easy way of making friends. He hopes that Courtland can do the same in his classes but doesn't want to push him too hard.
"Colt!" Ryland calls and his brother looks over at him, a little disappointed to not be able to talk to his friend more.
"Hi!" He regains his sunny demeanor and waves to them before turning back to his new friend. "We can talk about it tomorrow."
The kid looks slightly disappointed, "Oh okay."
"Why the long face?" Mrs. Green asks the boy as she walks out out of her classroom, her purse over her shoulder and her arm filled with folders.
"I just-" The boy looks bashful as he looks down at the ground.
Mrs. Green seems to understand what he is saying because she smiles down at him, "You and Colt can talk tomorrow, we need to get home."
When she looks over her eyes light up, "Mr. Grace! Are these your boys?"
Ryland shakes his head immediately, "They are my brothers actually, they just moved in with me after our father passsed."
Mrs. Green gives him a sympathetic look before taking his hand, "My condolences Ryland, I am glad to see that the boys seem to be adjusting to life after that sudden passing."
"Thank you Amelia." He gives her a smile and she pulls back from the contact.
"Let's go Dan." She says and walks past him with Dan in tow.
"Bye Mr. Grace!" Dan waves at him as he goes.
Ryland gives the boy a wave.
"Alright, that's our cue as well." Ryland announces to the twins and they set off to Ryland's car in the parking lot.
They pile into his car, setting their bags on the floor in front of them in the back seat, as they get in. Court is still quiet but he is talking quietly to Colt when he asks him a question in between telling both of them about his day.
Ryland pulls out his phone and sees a text from Simon.
'Courtland was able to withstand Zach Hightower today.'
He holds back a snort because he is familiar with the seventh grade's biggest troublemaker. Zach is a good kid, gets really high grades but he goofs off often and isn't good with authority.
'He's very stubborn.'
'I think Zach has met his match since Courtland was stubborn enough to not even talk to him after he had too.'
'Unstoppable force vs Immovable object.'
"Who are you texting?" Colt asks, suddenly too close and Ryland jumps in his seat.
"No one! Colt don't do that!" Ryland snaps lightly in more fear than anger and rests a hand on his chest.
"Oh- okay." Colt's walls come back up immediately and Ryland feels like a monster.
"It's fine- it's just- let's just go home." Ryland sighs and pulls out for he parking lot.
He is messing this all up today.