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Simon closes the lid of the piano, watching the heavy snow falling outside the window.
He’s never been fond of winters in Sweden. It’s always just too cold for him, no matter how used to the temperatures he’s got now. There’s also too much snow, which the current blizzard only seems to be proving. He is not looking forward to coming back home in such weather. He sighs as he gathers his stuff from the classroom, throwing one last look around the place to make sure it’s in order once he starts work tomorrow again. Satisfied with the state of his classroom, Simon turns off the lights and leaves.
It’s getting late but Simon just couldn’t resist staying for a while and playing the piano. The classroom is the only place where he can actually practice since at home, he can only do so on a shitty keyboard he’s owned since he was a kid. And if he thinks about it, him practising is just as much for his own sake as for his students.
Simon loves teaching music the most, but he also just loves teaching kids in general, whether it’s math, science or reading. It’s a very fulfilling, even if demanding job. But he just loves coming here every day to see these kids’ smiley faces. And he does love a challenge sometimes, which being an elementary school teacher surely provides for him. The kids keep him on his toes and manage to amaze him each day.
Walking along the hallway, Simon can basically only hear the echo of his own steps. He’s sure he must be here alone by now, which is not particular since it is quite a late hour. It’s so weird to see the school like this though, since usually the hallways are so full of children running around. Simon might have only started working here at the beginning of this school year but still, he’s managed to get used to some routines here.
Entering the teachers' room to grab the rest of his things, Simon realises he’s not alone after all. Here, at one of the tables sits Wilhelm.
Simon barely resists the urge to let out a heavy sigh.
It’s not that he doesn’t like Wilhelm, he doesn’t really know him. But from what information he’s managed to gather about the man, he doesn’t really feel quite fond of him.
Wilhelm is a traditionalist, a truly typical, or stereotypical even, history teacher. Simon’s surprised he doesn’t actually wear some sort of historical period-themed outfits but that would probably be too much fun actually. He’s the opposite of laid-back, kind of strict and rigorous. He teaches only the older grades, thankfully because Simon can’t imagine letting his babies attend that guy’s classes. Maybe he shouldn’t judge, he hasn’t actually witnessed Wilhelm’s teaching. He’s just heard stories. Mostly, that his classes are just boring.
He and Simon couldn’t be more opposite it seems. Simon is all for innovation, trying new things each day, attempting to surprise the kids, bring out their creativity and curiosity. While Wilhelm… well, Wilhelm goes by the book. Which is not necessarily wrong, it just can be a bit dull in the long run.
And also, Wilhelm is sort of the school’s nepo baby since his mother is the headmistress.
But besides all that, Simon can just somehow feel that the man dislikes him. He’s not sure why but well, as much as Simon would love to make friends here at work, he’s actually already made some though, he’s here mostly for the kids.
“Hi,” Simon still greets politely, offering a smile as he steps into the room and towards his shelf.
“Oh, hey,” Wilhelm looks up from some papers in his hand, only noticing Simon once he spoke it seems. He barely spares Simon a glance actually as he instantly returns to his work.
“I thought I was alone here,” Simon’s not sure why he’s trying to chat him up but well, the silence just feels weird.
“Mhm, me too,” Wilhelm hums, his eyes still focused on the papers. “Or I wished to be alone for some peace since I have some works to grade but apparently, that’s not possible, even after hours in school.”
“What do you mean?” Simon frowns.
“Well, I couldn’t really focus with all that twanging.”
Simon keeps frowning until a realisation hits him.
“You mean me playing the piano?”
“It was you?” Wilhelm inquires, kind of surprised. Or maybe panicked even.
Simon nods.
“I was just practising. I was told I am allowed to, after hours.”
“Right, of course,” Wilhelm just returns to his work, clearing his throat a bit awkwardly.
Simon lets himself roll his eyes only after he turns away from him. He doesn’t really feel eager to stay here any longer so he just grabs his stuff and with a mumbled goodbye, which he’s not actually even sure if is returned, he heads towards the school’s exit.
Just as he lays a hand on the doorknob to escape this place, a voice stops him.
“I wouldn’t do that if I was you.”
Simon turns to see Malin, the janitor, leaning against a broom in her hand.
“Why not?” He frowns.
“The snowstorm,” the woman points with her head outside slightly and damn, only now Simon is reminded of the raging blizzard. He glances at it through the glass part of the door and yeah, it doesn’t look too good.
“I’m just going to get to my car, I’ll be fine,” he tries to assure. It can’t be that bad, after all.
“And drive in this weather?” Malin prompts unimpressed and then shakes her head. “I don’t think so, Mr Eriksson.”
“I told you to call me Simon, Malin,” Simon reminds. He doesn’t like how it sounds as if she was below him when she addresses him so officially.
“Still, I think it’s safer to just wait it out, it may pass soon,” the woman retorts and yeah, she kind of makes sense.
Simon takes a look outside again, where the white fluff is swirling in the air dangerously, blocking basically all the visibility. Yeah, even if he made it to his car, there’s no way he’d be able to drive and make it home safely.
“What’s happening here?”
Simon turns to see Wille marching towards him and Malin, appearing confused by their little meet-up here.
“The snowstorm is bad,” Simon points outside. “Malin says it’s not safe to leave.”
“Because it is not, Mr Eriksson-”
“It’s just Simon, please,” Simon says almost pleadingly but just smiles at the woman. She returns it shyly.
“It can’t be that bad, can it?” Wilhelm questions as he moves towards the door.
“See for yourself…” Simon trails off and lets him see. The way his expression drops is very visible. He lets out a sigh and Simon is sure he can hear a low curse escaping his lips. “I guess there’s nothing else to do than wait.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Wilhelm agrees, eyes still fixed on the situation outside.
“Well, I’m going to need coffee,” Simon retorts with a sigh. “Malin?” He offers but the woman shakes her head.
“I still have some work to do. Better to catch up so I can leave as soon as the weather lets up,” she says and Simon nods.
And well, he’s not impolite so next he turns to Wilhelm.
“Wilhelm?” He prompts and the man eventually snaps his gaze away from the blizzard outside.
“Mhm, I have work too,” he replies.
“Well, the coffee machine is in the teachers' room so are you sure I can have coffee then?” Simon questions, only half-mockingly. “I wouldn’t want to disturb your focus, you know,” he can’t help but add a bit bitterly.
Wilhelm opens his mouth but it seems that he’s not sure what to say as he closes it swiftly.
“You’re welcome to have a coffee,” he states eventually. How generous of him. “And I’ll just… keep grading my essays.”
“Sounds like a deal,” Simon sums up brightly and he’s almost sure he can see some hint of a smile passing through Wilhelm’s face.
But maybe he just imagined it, he tries to reason with himself as they walk back to the teachers’ room.
Coffee in hand, Simon actually doesn’t have anything else to do than catch up on work too. He asked his students to write a short paragraph about their hobbies, accompanied by a drawn picture of said hobby, so he dives into the work to look them over. His kids are smart, besides some minor spelling mistakes, there’s nothing he can’t really cling onto that would be wrong. And he’s not the one to judge them on their hobbies. Even if he finds beetle fighting weird, he’ll just keep it to himself.
He has his whole set-up spread on the table, stickers and stamps with positive messages that he always leaves on the kids’ work. This along with some more personalised comments as well. He always takes his time to be thorough with his students’ work, to try to remember as much as he can so he can engage with their passions later on, but also not just slap a grade on the work and call it a day. That just doesn’t seem very progressive to him.
Surprisingly, Wilhelm and him fall into some peaceful pattern of working alongside each other. They don’t mind and don’t bother each other it seems. Wilhelm is seated at the other end of the table, his red pen in hand as he keeps correcting his students’ essays. Simon tries not to peak but he manages to steal a glance on some of the works he’s already gone over. The grades themselves seem good but the point is, that just the grade is there. No comment, no feedback, not even a good job or well done. And Simon really doesn’t want to stick his nose into someone else business but it’s just… he’s always thought those kids deserve better, something more, something to see that their efforts are being appreciated.
“You can have some of my stickers if you want,” Simon tries to offer casually as he moves on to the next work. This one supports a picture of what Simon supposes is a horse. He hopes the text will make it clear.
He can see Wilhelm arching an eyebrow at him in the corner of his eye.
“Stickers?” He questions, sounding apprehensive. “For my seventh graders?”
“Why not?” Simon puts his piece of paper away and shrugs. “They are fun.”
“For kids, yeah.”
“Seventh graders are still kids, Wilhelm.”
“I know, I…” the man sighs. He begins to rub at his temples as if he was supporting a headache. “I’m not telling you how to grade your students’ works.” He adds with some hint of irritation.
“And I’m not telling you how to grade yours, I’m just suggesting. Offering.” Simon defends with a shrug. “All I’m trying to say is… that the kids put their time into this. They deserve the same sort of effort to be given back.”
“You think I don’t know that?” Wilhelm asks, his eyes sharp.
“I don’t know, do you?” Simon asks just as cuttingly.
They hold each other’s gazes for a while, both of them full of some sort of fire that’s beginning to ignite between them heatedly.
But it must only be the frustration. Nothing else.
Wilhelm sighs.
“I do know that,” he drops his gaze but now he sounds much calmer. “I guess I just… I’ve been having a tough time recently. I guess I may be a bit burnt out.”
“Burnt out?” Simon frowns. “How long have you been teaching? You can’t be much older than me,” he notices but Wilhelm shakes his head.
“Yeah, it hasn’t been that long but…” he ends up just shrugging. “It’s just that some things that are happening are kind of leaving me exhausted so…”
As he says it, Simon does notice that he looks tired, hunched over the table with fatigued and weary eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Simon says genuinely and offers a sympathetic smile. Wilhelm glances at him and returns it faintly. “You can talk to me about it, if you want,” he’s surprised himself that he’s offering but… well, there’s nothing better to do than talk now. Schoolwork to be graded can wait.
Wilhelm eyes him suspiciously at this suggestion for a moment. But then as he sighs, it seems that he gives in.
“My mom is thinking of retiring,” he confesses. “And she wants me to take her place.”
“Isn’t that good?” Simon questions, not sure if he’s following.
“In some ways, yeah,” Wille agrees. “But it’s also… so much. Like, it’s a demanding, stressful job and I… I’ve always been struggling with anxiety and stuff. I’m just not sure if I can put that much stress on myself now.”
“Well, you can always refuse her offer,” Simon points out tentatively. The way Wilhelm looks at him does tell him that it may not be an option though.
“She’s made herself clear. I am to take over,” he says. “I don’t think I have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice,” Simon urges. Wilhelm lets out a snort.
“This is that kind of a thing you can tell your students, Simon. Adult life works differently.”
“Oh, come on,” Simon rolls his eyes. “It’s literally the truth. There is always a choice. Sometimes you just have to be bold enough to take a risk.”
“So you’re calling me a coward then?” Wilhelm prompts apprehensively. Simon almost lets out a groan.
“No,” he shakes his head. “All I’m saying is that such a position can be great. I mean, look how much good you can do for the kids with that kind of power of being in charge. But you are right that it is demanding and stressful. But there is a choice. To take it or not. To go against your mother or not, I guess. But you’re the only one who gets to decide that.”
“That’s helpful,” Wille chuckles bitterly. “You always have an answer for everything, right?”
“I work with kids, I have to,” Simon retorts. The laugh Wille lets out then sounds more genuine.
“I'm just not sure I’m fit for this job,” he admits then. “Not the way my mother thinks I am.”
“Well, you can either prove her right or prove her wrong. There’s nothing wrong with choosing what’s better for you though.” Simon retorts.
“You’re such an… idealistic thinker.”
His comment makes Simon frown.
“What do you mean?”
“That in your head everything always turns out fine, right?” There’s some weird note in Wilhelm’s tone. Something bitter and also sort of envious.
“Should I be sorry for trying to look on the bright side of things?”
“There isn’t always a bright side to everything,” Wille shakes his head.
“Sometimes maybe you don’t see it right away but-”
“Right, this is exactly what I’m talking about,” Wilhelm retorts frustratedly and stands up to pace the room in some nervous manner.
“What’s your problem?” Simon finds himself getting up from his seat now too, growing more angry. “You’re the one who started telling me all this and now you’re trying to turn it into… what exactly? Criticising my opinions or beliefs when all I did was offer some advice?”
“I’m just pointing out-”
“It feels like you’re attacking me though,” Simon doesn’t let him finish. He tried to lend an ear and hear Wilhelm out but this is what he gets in turn. Damn. “You know what, I shouldn’t have offered to talk. It’s clear you don’t even like me so I don’t know why you’re opening up to me now.”
“I don’t not like you, Simon,” Wilhelm shakes his head.
“Well, it feels like-”
“You don’t know what it’s like,” Wilhelm’s voice grows in volume, startling Simon a little. He stops his pacing to look right at Simon now. “Okay? My whole life I’ve been told that this is going to be my thing, my future. I can’t just throw it away. It’s been weighing on me. For so long now. And then you showed up at school, so enthusiastic and full of energy and damn, you’re right, I haven’t even been teaching that long but I already don’t feel like this. And when I saw you and the way you are with those kids… I wanted to feel like that again. Feel this passion that you feel. I don’t hate you, Simon, I’m impressed by you. Envious of you even. And you,” he lets out a trembling exhale. “You don’t know what you’re doing to me. With all of your charisma but also… by being you. You’re so gorgeous that I get distracted each time you enter the room. I can’t focus when you’re close, you’re so… infuriatingly beautiful that it drives me insane. And I don’t want to hate you but it’s easier like this since I have to keep my distance because…” he trails off.
“Because what?” Simon asks, he feels all the air leaving his lungs as the tension grows between them. He can’t even wrap his head around everything Wilhelm said because it’s a lot but some parts of his confession still linger in his head, replay in his mind. Because he’s been feeling just the same.
He was struck by Wilhelm basically on the first day, charmed by his beauty but also by his approach to students and the other teachers. Only later his spark began to darken and he began to withdraw so Simon didn’t want to push. More than once he felt that Wilhelm was trying to avoid him so he let it happen, not wanting to put any pressure on the man. Sometimes things are just not meant to be.
But what if they are now?
Wilhelm is breathing heavily, still looking at him with an almost wild intensity in his eyes.
“Because I may do something I shouldn’t.”
“Like what?” Simon dares to question.
“Don’t make me say it,” he shakes his head.
“Don’t say it then” Simon states and swallows thickly. “Show me.”
For a second, Simon thinks he’s just read it all wrong. That whatever Wille confessed is no longer true. So for a second, they just keep staring at each other as if both of them were frozen. But then Wille launches himself across the room to step right into Simon’s personal space and pull him into a kiss.
And damn.
There’s something desperate about it, something longing as if both of them were craving it but were too afraid to reach for it. For a moment Simon’s brain can’t really comprehend that it’s actually happening. But once it comes online, he can so strongly feel Wilhelm surrounding him. His hands on Simon’s lower back, his lips on his, his hair underneath Simon’s fingers from where he tangled them into the silky locks.
It’s intense and it’s everything Simon didn’t even know he wanted.
They pull apart from the kiss breathless, bodies still pressed together and staring at each other as if in shock.
“I’m-” Wilhelm begins after a moment, trying to step away but Simon stops him.
“Don’t say you’re sorry,” he shakes his head as he feels a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I don’t want you to be sorry.”
“I’m not sorry then,” Wilhelm retorts, smiling tentatively too. “I really wanted this.” He confesses.
“Me too,” Simon wraps his arms around his neck to still keep him close.
“Does that mean…” the other man starts hesitantly and Simon rolls his eyes.
“Yes, I like you too, Wilhelm.”
Wilhelm lets out a relieved breath that makes Simon chuckle.
“Please, call me Wille,” he requests them.
Simon leans in closer so he can basically brush his lips against Wille’s again.
“Okay, Wille,” he whispers.
He’s not sure who kisses who now, but it doesn’t really matter. Not when Simon finds himself being pushed against the table with the force of their kiss. Not when they keep trying to reach for more, to get lost in each other completely. They’ve wasted enough time. This is what they could have been doing since the beginning.
Well, maybe not against the teachers’ room table but still.
The sound of the doors opening makes them break apart, both of them trying to act oblivious to what was just happening here.
It’s Malin who stands in the door, taking in the scene and Simon can tell that she somehow knows. Their rumpled clothes and messy hair must speak for themselves but although Simon can notice a trace of a smirk on her lips, she doesn’t comment on anything she might have witnessed.
“The storm got better,” she just informs. “So I’m heading home. You can too… if you want to,” her eyes trail from Wille to Simon a few times.
Wille clears his throat.
“Thank you, Malin,” he still doesn’t sound unaffected though. “We’ll be on our way soon.”
“Take your time,” the smirk is now fully visible on her face as she steps away back in the hallway.
Once the door closes behind her, Simon can’t help but start laughing.
“Shut up,” Wille tries to chastise but he’s failing as a chuckle escapes him too. “You think she saw something?”
“Oh, she definitely did,” Simon says but he’s not really worried about it. Malin is great, not really a gossip type too so he doubts she’d spill anything to anyone. Well, maybe to her wife at home but here at school, they are safe. “But don’t worry. I’m sure she won’t tell anyone,” he assures Wille who nods slowly.
“Okay,” he breathes out. “We should go though.”
“Yeah,” Simon agrees and they gather their stuff to leave.
The atmosphere is kind of weird now as they leave the room to head to the exit. Not exactly tense but also not so easygoing. Malin is there by the door offering another smirk and a nod as they exit, so she can lock the school for the day. They say their goodbyes to her but still kind of stand by the exit bit awkwardly.
It’s still snowing but just a little. The only evidence that’s left of the blizzard is the excessive layer of snow currently on the ground. Simon shivers a bit in the cold as they just keep standing here. It’s probably time to leave.
“So uhm,” Wille starts before he can take the first step though. “Are you doing anything now?”
Simon bites down on his lip, trying to conceal a smile.
“No, I don’t have any plans. Why are you asking?”
“Would you like to grab dinner together?” Wille offers and even if Simon wanted to mess with him, he can’t. He’s sure the joy is clear on his face.
“Yeah,” he nods. “I’d love that.”
“Great,” Wille exhales a relieved breath, as if he was dreading rejection. After what happened between them, he really needn’t have been that worried.
Wille offers his hand and Simon swiftly takes it with his gloved one as they step away from the school and towards Wille’s car. He may not know what’s next, what’s in the cards for them, but he hopes that he’s just taken the right step to find out.
There’s a lot to discuss when it comes to what they could mean together like this, but Simon is not too worried. He believes they can be professional and although they are co-workers, they can make it work. He hopes Wille shares a similar opinion.
Judging by the way the man is looking at him, he supposes he might be right. Neither of them seems eager to let go of this, whatever it is forming between them. And if Simon is one, then it’s determined for sure.
And well, as Wille starts the car and Simon can finally feel a tiny bit of warmth beginning to course through his body, he’s glad to realise he’s finally making some pleasant, winter memories. No matter how this day began and how it’s been going, it’s definitely one to remember, as it may be the start of something beautiful.