Chapter Text
Josh tapped his fingers on his desk in a nervous twitch. He wasn't a bad kid at school, not really. Easily distracted was what one of his teachers had called it a few months back. That's the explanation most of them went for these days. He tried his hardest, he got mediocre grades and he was always on time but everybody seemed to think he had this deep unlocked potential. He didn't see it. He was content being mediocre. He wasn't entirely sure his mum would see it the same though, and tonight was parents evening.
His mum, Kate Donnelly, was far from mediocre. 'Greatest author of her time' was just one way he had seen her described in one of those columns in the news paper that old or smart people read. In the last 6 years she had topped the New York Times bestseller list with her sappy romance books. He wasn't allowed to read them yet. He was 12, nearly 13 but his mum said that for as long as he was under the age of 16 he could steer well clear. It hadn't stopped him trying, and getting caught, on multiple occasions though. The real beauty of his mums job though, Josh mused, is that she wrote under a pen name. Kat Flynn. Most locals didn't have a clue who she was; she didn't do book tours or television appearances and they lived their life in relative peace.
Mrs Boston, the head teacher, knew who his mum was. It was needed, in case any big meetings came up and Kate was running late, but she didn't let him or his mum become playground gossip which was one of the things he liked most about her. He was not at all ashamed of his mum, but he liked that despite her success they could still live a relatively normal life.
Since September he'd had a new literature teacher, Miss Davidson. She was a fan of his mum's work. She was often found with her head in one of her books of a break time, and Josh's one friend who knew of the situation, Harry, would never let the subject drop.
"Miss Davidson's been reading that book again mate, she must REALLY like it"
Or, Josh cringed, more often than not..
"Your mum is in to women ain't she? Recon when they meet Davidson could be your next step-mum!"
He shuddered at the thought. It wasn't that he didn't like Miss Davidson - quite the opposite actually - he had just got far too comfortable having his mum to himself. He also worried that if Miss Davidson knew who his mum was, it would get a bit fangirlish and people took it too far. Josh found it weird. There was this one guy that had camped outside their house for a week when Josh was 9 and they'd had to move as a result.
It was almost guaranteed that the one subject he would excel in was literature. It's why him and Miss Davidson got on so well he supposed. He wasn't one for being in big groups or being outdoors and from what he had seen she rarely went in to the staff room and mixed with anyone else. He knew she was gay too. She wore this lanyard in place of the standard black school issued one which he recognised as the lesbian pride flag. His mum had been out and proud for as long as he remembered, and he knew his Dad was called Mark and he had not been ready to be a dad. His mum had tried to contact Mark again last year when Josh had asked about him again but they hadn't received a response. They were okay with it. They were a 2 man team.
He had never approached Miss Davidson's sexuality with her, he knew better than that. There were boundaries as a student you just weren't meant to cross. They did have lunch together sometimes though, mainly on a Friday when literature was the lesson before the lunch period. Sometimes they'd talk about a book they had both enjoyed or sometimes they'd both get on with different work individually. When they were alone she let him call her Jo and he liked that about her. She was the most relaxed teacher he has ever had. Except for when she was telling him off about his grades in other subjects. She had heard through the grapevine that her lesson was the only one he seemed to be on target with and as flattered as she was she was partial to giving him a lecture and threatening to call his mother.
"It's just not realistic Josh!" She would tell him, the Scottish lilt coming through even stronger when she was agitated, "I just don't want you to get left behind or put in lower sets for classes when you have so much potential! You're going to go on to do amazing things and grades may not define who you are but there are times where they help!"
He knew she was right, he knew that deep down. He had just had a lot on his mind recently. He'd started taking notice of girls, and most of the time was more interested in impressing them in class than paying attention to his work. Then there was home. Mum had been more stressed with the upcoming release of her latest book and then there was parents evening tonight. It would be the first parents evening at this school that his mum had been able to attend and he was anxious. He didn't want to let her down, but he knew that he hadn't been putting his best effort in.
He worried about his mum a lot too. For as long as he could remember she had been on her own. She would always tell him that it was okay and that he was enough for her but he'd heard her talking to Uncle Steve last year about being lonely and wanting to meet someone but never having the time. He had seen notifications from one of those apps pop up on her phone a few months back too, the ones where you swiped and matched people, but unless she was going out during the day then she hadn't been on any dates that he knew of. Josh pondered on Harry's constant teasing about his mum and Jo getting along. He knew mum would fancy Jo as soon as she saw her. There was something about Jo that was so exquisitely his mum's type but a selfish part of him wished that they would never have to meet tonight. He definitely didn't want his mum knowing that he preferred spending his lunch times in a classroom with his teacher rather than being outside making friends. As far as she was concerned, he was a popular lad with tons of friends. She didn't need to know any different. His attention snapped back to the front of the classroom as he heard Miss Davidson call his name. He at the vely least had the decency to look apologetic for being so zoned out.
"We're on Act 2 scene 1 Josh, if you could take over reading out loud for us please." Josh shot her a grateful smile for not embarrassing and she discreetly nodded her head.
As the bell rang for end of the period, Josh joined the rest of his classmates in packing up his bag and making it look like he wouldn't be staying behind. Turns out he had no need to pretend as Jo called out to him and asked if he could stay behind so she could 'have a wee word'. Once the rest of the class had filed out for the day she gestured for him to take a seat opposite her.
"You've been distracted today. I know that's not unusual for you in general but it never normally happens in this class. Is there something on your mind?" She probed, getting straight to the point.
Josh hesitated, unsure how honest he should be with her. He wasn't sure if she'd take offence if he told her he was nervous about it. Josh knew he needed to bring it up at least, if only to ask her to not 'out' his lunchtime habits. Then again, she might take offence to that too and think he didn't enjoy the conversation.
"Just nervous Miss- I mean Jo. Parents evening tonight. You know I haven't been performing my best in other classes and I don't want to let mum down or have her think I'm not the kid she thinks I am." He confided, deciding to stick with basics rather than details. He felt Jo consider his answer for a moment.
"Try and relax Josh. I don't think for a second it'll be as bad as your head is telling you it's going to be. Anyway, I'm sure your mum will be proud of you regardless. You're a good kid, whether you want to believe it or not. I'm sure she knows that".
This was one of those lunchtimes where they both decided to work in relative silence. Josh knuckled down on his homework so he could maximise his gaming time on the weekend without having to think about school, and god knows Jo had enough parents evening related paperwork to keep her busy. The lunch hour flew by, and Josh stood to make his way out of the door.
"Thank you, Jo. For believing in me, I guess. I'll see you later?" He had a lopsided half grin, nerves still evident but not half as bad as before. Jo smiled and nodded in dismissal.
-
As the door closed behind Josh, she let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding and thanked her lucky stars that she had a free period now. She unlocked her desk draw and pulled out the iPhone that lay inside of it surrounded by the array of colourful stationary she had managed to acquire. Tapping her password in, she went straight on to her WhatsApp and opened up her most recent conversation and started formulating a message.
J: Hey you, Josh seems a bit nervous about tonight. I'm feeling the same. I think maybe it's time we were honest with him and the boss about what's been going on? X
It was only a matter of seconds before the contact appeared online and was typing.
K: Hey beautiful, hope your day is going okay 😊 you're right, we were daft to think that we would get through parents evening without it being awkward. I'll speak to J after school, take him for ice cream and if you get 5 minutes maybe just let the head teacher know the situation? I'm sorry if this has made it weird for you.
Jo smiled despite herself. She had only met Kate about 6 weeks ago. They'd matched on an app that Jo cringed even thinking about but there had been an instantaneous easy banter between them. They met for a coffee the next day during Jo's lunch break and a connection had been forming rapidly ever since. Jo had asked about Kate's job, and had blushed when she had to tell her that her novels were most of her recent reading material and Kate had told her about her son the second time they had met, and she remembers the waves of anxiety flowing over her when she realised just who that son was. She had told Kate of her relationship with Josh and had worried about the implications it may have on their relationship but Kate being Kate had been nothing but encouraging.
"He's spoken about his literature classes before but never told me your name, he clearly worships the ground you walk on." She had said as they lounged on the sofa long, Jo having snuck herself in long after he had been in bed. "Hopefully it'll make it easier when the time comes and he will accept it easier. It'll be weird for him, as it would for any kid, but he already trusts you and you've got stuff in common."
Still, it hadn't made Jo feel any less guilty in the 4 lunchtimes she had spent with Josh since. She had felt like she was leading him on or betraying his confidence as she led this double life. She never wanted him to feel like he was being lied to, but the relationship between her and Kate was still so new that neither had wanted to tempt fate so early on either.
Jo snapped herself out of her trance and tapped out a quick reply before heading down to the Head Teacher's office.
J: Sounds like a plan. I'll let you know how the meeting with Boston goes. Have a good day. X
The meeting with Mrs Boston had been largely uneventful, and Jo had sat and listened dutifully to the advice and guidance given. Josh would remain in her class for now, but once he had been told of his mother's relationship with his teacher both him and Kate would be invited in for a meeting with Jo and the head to discuss his options should that not be what he wants. The situation would be monitored by all involved but ultimately it was nowhere near as big a deal as Jo had thought it would be. Boston offered her congratulations to Jo on finding happiness as she left and Jo muttered a quiet 'thank you' and went to prepare for her last lesson of the day.
-
Kate stood nervously shuffling from one foot to the other outside the school gates. After her text conversation with Jo she had shot Josh a message and told him that she would meet him after his classes and they could go for ice cream before parents evening. He had been excited at the prospect, and Kate hoped that wouldn't change with the news she was about to give him. Josh had never known her to date or enter a relationship. Sure there had been a few cleverly disguised encounters where she had sent him for a sleepover at Steve's or his grandparents or once he had gone to bed but to her knowledge he was nonethewiser. She knew at nearly 13 he was approaching a difficult and hormonal age too.
She spotted him from a mile off, his small frame almost drowned out by his slightly too big blazer. His eyes lit up when he saw her and he picked up his pace to greet her with a hug. She loved moments like this, and loved that he still wasn't embarrassed to let her dote on him in public places. "What's the occasion then mother?" He enquired cheekily, linking her arm and nudging her in the direction of the cafe down the road.
Kate ruffled his hair and told him she just wanted to have a chat. If Josh noticed how nervous she was he didn't say anything. He spoke freely about his day as he walked, filling Kate in on the hilights as he usually did. She never asked too many questions in these moments, content to just let her son share what he felt happy to. It was only a 5 minute walk to their desired location and Josh went and chose a table by the window whilst Kate put their order in. She realised her hand was shaking as she held her phone out to pay contactless. On her lock screen a notification flashed up from Jo.
J: Good luck, hope all goes well. X
It was the confidence boost she needed. She took the ice creams from the cashier and turned towards Josh. She had never been more anxious in her life. She tried to plaster a smile on her face as she approached the table, but her resolve must have finally cracked as her son's face dropped and he appeared to be feeling her emotions alongside her.
"Mum what's wrong?" He questioned her as she sat down and passed his treat to him. He didn't reach out and grab it immediately as he normally would, instead opting to maintain eye contact wearing a concerned expression that made her heart melt. She took a deep breath.
"It's nothing bad kid, nobody died, there's just something I need to talk to you about that's happening in my life that ultimately will affect you too. I just don't know how you're going to take it." She knew she was stalling, and ultimately probably making it worse. She just didn't want to mess this up. Jo had only been in her life for such a short time but this... relationship that had formed between them was growing deeper and more intense by the day. She didn't want to say it was love, not yet, but the way she felt right now was like nothing she had ever experienced before. "I've been seeing a woman recently, and things are going really well." She finally managed to get the words out.
There was an immediate sparkle in Josh's eyes as a shit-eating grin took over his face. "MUM! That's incredible, I'm so happy for you! What's her name? Does she know about me? Is she your girlfriend?" He excitedly fired off questions one by one. Kate was overwhelmed.
"That's the thing Josh. You already know her." She sighed, knowing the moment was finally upon her. "I've been seeing Jo Davidson, she's your English literature teacher. I promise you I didn't know who she was to you when we first met. She didn't know I was your mum either. It just happened.." Kate stopped, silenced by the conflicted expression on her sons face. She couldn't read it. He wasn't smiling, but he didn't appear too upset either.
Josh could not explain what was going through his mind right now. He wanted his mum to be happy, but until a few seconds ago the idea of his mum and Jo was just a joke his friend made every now and again. Now it was a real thing. His mum and his TEACHER. He couldn't quite place why it bothered him so much. He liked Jo. He voluntarily spent his time with her. He took a guess that he felt betrayed, if he had to put a word on it. Was Jo only spending time with him because she felt like she had to? The question didn't have to leave his lips before his mum caught up with his train of thought.
"No Josh don't think like that. She was worried you'd think she was only trying to get you on side. You and Jo had already known eachother for a couple of months before we met and she has only known you're my son for the last month. I know it's hard and it's a lot to take in." Kate had tears in her eyes that she frantically tried to control. She didn't want Josh to feel any kind of guilt for his feelings. She knew he had every right to feel that way. He had every right to feel lied to.
Josh pondered on his own thoughts a moment longer, reassured in the knowledge that Jo was nervous too. He knew this wouldn't be easy, and he knew a lot of things were about to change but if there was one thing Josh Donnelly wasn't... He wasn't selfish. He thought back on all the times his mum had made sacrifices and faced situations she didn't want to for him and smiled. Then he turned his thoughts to Jo and how often she made him smile and reassured him. It wouldn't be easy, but it would be okay. They could make this work.
He took a deep breath and looked at his mum with a new determination.
"So.." he started, "when do I get to meet her as your girlfriend and not my teacher?"