Chapter Text
andre’s alarm goes off at 6:30 like it always does.
he lets it ring longer than he should, staring at the ceiling, already tired in that dull, familiar way that comes from doing the same thing every day.
shower. coffee. traffic. a job that pays fine, drains just enough, and means absolutely nothing to him. weekends are for beers with friends, the same stories, the same laughs. then it starts over again.
it’s not a bad life.
it’s just… nothing.
lately, though, there’s been an extra step in the routine.
thomas.
andre’s nephew is five, stubborn, and currently very unhappy about the concept of a baby sister. michael, his older brother, is out of state for work, sarah is about to give birth any second, and andre’s parents are too old to be chasing after a kindergartener twice a day.
so now andre does the drop-offs and pick-ups.
he argued, at first.
suggested a nanny. daycare extension. literally anything.
sarah shut that down immediately.
“i’m not leaving my kid with a stranger”.
andre almost laughs.
right, he thinks. that’s why he spends half his day at kindergarten with a bunch of teachers you didn’t know months ago and twenty other kids you’ve never met.
but he bites his tongue.
because arguing won’t change anything, and he’s already out of better options.
and, if he’s being honest—it’s not like he has much else going on after work anyway.
just going home, rotting on the couch, trash tv playing in the background while he eats takeout and half-heartedly cuddles mel.
he’s been single for about two years now, used to the quiet and the comfort of it—most days, at least, even if it feels a little too empty sometimes.
but maybe this is something.
so now, apparently, he is the trusted adult.
lucky him.
—
“i don’t wanna go”, thomas mutters from the backseat, arms crossed.
“you already said that”, andre replies, one hand on the wheel, barely glancing at him.
“no, i didn’t!” thomas shouts, kicking the back of andre’s seat.
andre huffs. “dramatic”.
they pull into the kindergarten parking lot, small and already loud with kids running around and parents juggling backpacks and goodbyes. andre parks, kills the engine, and turns around.
“out”.
thomas groans like he’s being asked to walk into battle.
andre walks him up to the entrance, already half mentally at work, running through emails he hasn’t answered yet.
and then, he sees him.
andre actually stops walking.
for a second, he forgets where he is.
the guy standing near the door is laughing softly at something a kid said, crouched slightly to be at their level. blonde hair, pale skin, blue eyes that catch the morning light like something out of a movie. there’s something about the way he moves: gentle, easy, like he belongs exactly where he is.
he smiles again, and—
yeah. okay.
andre’s brain short-circuits.
“are you looking at my teacher?” thomas mutters.
“shut up”.
the guy looks up.
their eyes meet.
andre forgets how to exist.
he straightens up and walks over, probably looking like an idiot, while thomas drags his feet beside him.
“hi”, the guy says, soft voice, polite but a little cautious. “can i help you?”
andre opens his mouth.
nothing comes out.
great.
“i—uh—yeah—i mean—” he clears his throat. “i’m dropping him off. thomas”, he gestures vaguely.
the guy glances at thomas, then back at him, still smiling but clearly trying to figure him out.
“i haven’t seen you before”, he says.
andre nods too quickly. “yeah, i—i’m his uncle”.
hearing that, the guy relaxes instantly, letting out a small laugh.
“oh, okay, that makes sense”, he says, relieved. “i was about to get suspicious for a second”.
andre lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.
“yeah, no, that would be bad”, he mutters.
the guy grins.
“i’m calvin”, he says. “but the kids call me mr. cal”.
of course they do.
andre nods, trying very hard to act normal.
“andre”.
calvin repeats it, like he’s testing how it sounds.
andre’s done for.
they talk for a minute—something about michael being out of state, sarah about to have the baby, how things might be a bit chaotic for a while. calvin nods along, attentive, kind, asking the right questions.
andre answers. barely remembers what he says.
he’s too busy noticing everything else.
the way calvin tilts his head when he listens. the way he smiles at thomas when the kid mumbles a reluctant goodbye. the way his dimples are visible when he does that. the way his voice softens when he talks to the other kids running up to him.
it’s too much.
“see you later, thomas”, calvin says, crouching slightly again.
andre stands there a second too long.
“uh. yeah. i’ll—pick him up later”.
calvin smiles at him.
“see you then”.
andre nods and walks away before he can embarrass himself further.
he makes it to the car. sits down. stares at the steering wheel.
“…what the hell”.
—
pickup time.
andre is ten minutes early, telling himself it’s because of traffic.
liar.
kids start coming out in groups, loud and messy. andre leans against his car, trying to look casual.
then he sees him again.
calvin, standing by the door, waving kids off one by one.
and then—
he waves at andre too.
just a small thing. casual, friendly.
andre almost chokes.
he lifts a hand back, awkward as hell.
what is wrong with him?
thomas runs up a second later, backpack bouncing.
“hi”, he says, already climbing into the car.
andre gets in, starts the engine.
waits.
“…so”, he says.
thomas narrows his eyes.
“that teacher,” andre says, trying for casual and failing. “mr. cal.”
thomas squints harder.
“i don’t know, like—” andre gestures vaguely. “how long has he been in your school”.
thomas shrugs. “i dunno.”
“is he nice?”
“yes”.
“does he—” andre stops himself.
thomas leans forward. “why”.
andre scoffs. “i’m just asking”.
thomas stares at him.
andre grips the wheel. “…don’t make it weird”.
thomas leans back slowly. “…i’m gonna tell mom”.
andre slams the brakes a little harder than necessary at a stop sign.
“you’re not telling anyone anything”.
thomas grins.
“what do i get?”
andre huffs.
“uhm, candy?” he says flatly.
“i want toys too”.
andre clenches his jaw. “…fine”.
thomas beams. “deal”.
andre drives the rest of the way in silence.
—
the change doesn’t happen all at once, it’s small at first.
andre leaves work a little earlier than usual. checks the time more often. doesn’t complain when thomas drags his feet in the morning.
then it gets… very noticeable.
he gets to the kindergarten way too early.
he sits in the car for a minute, staring at the building like it personally offended him.
“…this is fucking embarrassing”, he says out loud.
still, he gets out. waits.
kids start coming out in clusters, and andre tries to look normal, failing completely.
because the second he sees cal?
everything else just kind of fades.
cal is by the door like always, crouching to fix a girl’s shoelaces, smiling softly when she thank him.
andre he looks away, then looks back.
cal glances up, catching him staring.
andre freezes.
cal smiles, like it’s nothing.
like andre isn’t about to lose his mind over it. again.
andre forgets how to breathe.
he smiles back a little. cool. totally fine.
thomas runs out a second later, yelling something about dinosaurs, but andre barely hears him.
he’s too busy watching cal say goodbye to the last kid.
“you are doing that again”, thomas says, suddenly very close.
andre startles. “what”.
“staring at mr. cal”.
“i’m not staring at him”.
“you are”.
andre grabs his backpack and hands it to him. “get in the car”.
thomas doesn’t move.
he just looks up at him suspiciously.
“…you like my teacher”.
andre almost drops the keys.
“i don’t like—he’s—he’s a teacher, thomas”.
“so?”
“so nothing”. andre grabs his shoulder and steers him toward the car.
“i want double candy now”.
andre sighs in resignation, saying it all.
thomas grins, climbing into the backseat.
andre shuts the door a little harder than necessary, and when he looks up again, cal is still by the entrance. watching him and smiling.
andre swears his heart actually skips.
he looks away quickly, walking around to the driver’s side.
from the backseat—
“you are scary, uncle dre”.
andre doesn’t even deny it. he’s starting to doubt his own sanity
”…am i?” he mutters.
”mm”, thomas mumbles in affirmation, too busy licking a lollipop.
”shit”.
—
“you’re early”, sarah says that afternoon, leaning against the kitchen counter, one hand resting on her stomach.
andre stops halfway to the door, keys already in hand.
“…traffic”.
sarah raises an eyebrow, “you said that yesterday”.
“yeah, well”, he shrugs, not looking at her. “traffic’s unpredictable”.
she hums, unconvinced, “right”.
andre slips on his shoes like the conversation is over.
it’s not.
“you’ve been going a lot lately”, she adds casually. “like, on time on time. sometimes early”.
andre pauses.
“…i always go”.
“you used to complain about it”.
“i still do”.
she just looks at him.
andre avoids eye contact.
“…i gotta go”.
“andre”.
he sighs, turns around slowly.
sarah is smiling now. not sweet. not innocent.
“what’s her name”.
andre chokes.
“what?”
“the teacher”, she says, way too calmly. “or is it a mother? maybe an aunt?”
“i don’t—what are you talking about”.
“you suddenly care about being on time to pick up a five-year-old you tried to outsource to a nanny,” she says. “so. what’s her name”.
andre runs a hand through his hair.
“you’re crazy”.
“mhm”.
“i just—i’m being responsible”.
“andre”.
he groans.
“oh my god, he’s not even—”, he stops mid-sentence, realizing his mistake.
fuck.
sarah’s smile widens.
“so it is a guy”.
“i didn’t say that”.
“you didn’t have to”.
andre grabs his keys again, backing toward the door.
“i’m leaving”.
“bring me back details!” she calls after him.
“i hate you”. he mutters, already halfway out.
“love you too!”
—
one morning, andre gets there earlier than usual. again.
not on purpose this time. he just doesn’t feel like sitting at home.
so he drives. parks. waits.
for once, he doesn’t get out right away.
he watches.
cal’s already outside with the kids.
it’s one of those softer mornings—sunlight not too harsh yet, the air still a little cool. a few kids are running around the small yard, others clinging to their backpacks, still waking up.
cal’s in the middle of it all. like he belongs there.
andre leans back against his seat, arms crossed, telling himself he’s just killing time.
then, one kid trips.
nothing dramatic. just a stumble on the pavement, a soft thud, then that quiet, shaky inhale before the crying starts.
andre tenses instinctively, but cal is already moving.
he crouches down immediately, calm, steady, like he’s done this a hundred times.
“hey, hey”, he murmurs, gentle. “you’re okay”.
the kid sniffles, lip trembling, eyes already watering.
cal brushes the dust off his knee, checking the small scrape with careful hands.
“that looks scary, huh?” he says softly. “but it’s just a little one, i promise”.
the kid nods weakly.
cal smiles, warm, reassuring.
“you wanna know a secret?” he adds, lowering his voice like it’s something important.
the kid leans in. andre can’t hear what he says. but whatever it is, the kid lets out a tiny laugh.
the tears stop, just like that.
cal taps his nose lightly. “see? all good”.
the kid nods again, a little brighter now, and runs off like nothing happened.
andre just sits there, staring in awe.
but just like that—someone bursts his bubble.
thomas is already halfway out of the car. “we’re gonna be late”.
“…fuck, right. come on”.
he gets out quickly, following him up to the entrance.
thomas immediately spots one of his friends and runs off without a second glance.
cal looks up when they approach, a small smile already there.
“morning”, he says.
andre nods. “hey”.
andre hesitates.
then—
“you’re really good with them”, he says.
cal tilts his head slightly. “with who”.
andre gestures vaguely. “the kids. all of them”.
cal shrugs, a little shy. “i try”.
“no, like—” andre frowns, trying to find the words. “that kid earlier. he was about to cry and then—he just… didn’t”.
cal’s smile softens.
“yeah”, he says quietly. “sometimes they just need a little distraction”.
andre shakes his head. “that’s not just distraction”.
cal laughs lightly, looking down for a second. “it kind of is”.
andre studies him.
then asks, almost without thinking—
“why this?”
cal looks back up. “what do you mean”.
“this job”, andre says. “working with kids. i mean— no offense, but not a lot of guys go into this”.
cal doesn’t take offense.
he thinks about it for a second. then his expression shifts.
his eyes lighten up.
“i just… like it”, he says at first, simple.
then he exhales, like that’s not enough.
“i don’t know”, he continues, a little more open now. “it sounds stupid when i say it out loud, but—this is the only thing that ever felt right”.
andre doesn’t interrupt.
“like—yeah, it’s messy, and loud, and sometimes they cry over nothing and everything at the same time”, cal adds with a small smile. “but then they laugh. or they learn something new. or they trust you with something small that feels really big to them”.
he pauses.
his gaze drifts toward the yard, where the kids are still playing.
“i wouldn’t trade that”, cal goes on, softer now. “not for anything. not for more money, not for something easier… nothing, really”.
he smiles again, a little to himself.
“their smiles are kind of… everything”.
andre doesn’t say anything.
can’t, for a second.
he looks at cal, really looks at him this time.
and it hits him all over again.
thomas runs back over, breathless, grabbing cal’s hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“mr. cal! come see—”
he’s already pulling him away.
rachel appears in the doorway, amused, letting herself get dragged along too.
cal laughs, glancing back at andre over his shoulder, just for a second.
then he’s gone, back into the noise, the chaos, the kids.
andre stands there a little longer than he should.
then exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair.
“…yeah”, he mutters to himself. like that explains anything.
—
it slips out by accident.
andre and some friends are at the same bar they used to go to in college. sticky tables, cheap beer, music just loud enough to make you lean in when you talk. nothing’s really changed, which is probably why they keep coming back.
andre’s halfway through his second beer, a little more relaxed than usual.
not drunk, just loose enough to be an open book.
“so”, one of them says, leaning back in his chair. “how’s the babysitting gig going? you still playing dad every afternoon?”
andre rolls his eyes. “i’m not playing dad”.
“you kinda are, man”.
“i’m not”.
“you pick him up every day”.
andre shrugs. “it’s temporary”.
“sure”.
another one snorts. “how’s the kid taking the new baby?”
andre huffs. “like shit. won’t share anything, acts like the world’s ending—”
he takes a sip.
“—but his teacher’s been helping, so it’s not that bad”.
there’s a pause. small, but it’s there.
“…his teacher?” someone repeats.
andre doesn’t catch it.
“yeah”, he says, too casual. “he’s—”
he stops.
they’re all looking at him now.
“…what”, andre says.
one of them leans forward. “nothing. go on”.
“he’s…?”, another says.
andre shrugs, staring into his drink. “he’s good with the kids. like, really good. patient and all that. and he’s—”
he hesitates.
“…nice”.
“nice?” his friend echoes, already grinning.
“yeah”.
“anything else?”
andre scoffs. “what you mean anything else”.
“i dunno”, someone says. “you sound like you want to marry him”.
andre finally looks up.
“what’s he like”, one of them presses. “besides ‘nice.’”
andre exhales, dragging a hand through his hair.
he should stop.
he doesn’t.
“he’s just—” he starts, then pauses. “he’s… good, i guess. like—he actually cares, you know? about the kids. about thomas. he remembers stuff. little things people say. he’s—”
he lets out a quiet laugh.
“…kinda annoying about it, actually. like, he’ll just—smile at you out of nowhere, like he knows something you don’t, and then you forget what you were saying. it’s—” he gestures vaguely. “it’s stupid”.
no one says anything.
andre keeps going.
“and he talks all pretty, but he’s not. like—he doesn’t push, but he doesn’t back off either. and he laughs at the dumbest shit, like—” he huffs. “i don’t know”.
silence, they’re all staring at him. one of them sets his beer down slowly.
“andre”.
“what”.
“you hear yourself right now dude?”
andre frowns.
“you just went on about this guy like he hung the moon”.
“i did not”.
“you said you forget how to talk when he smiles”.
andre opens his mouth.
“…that’s not—”
another one leans in. “okay, real question—have you even asked for his number?”
“huh?”
“his number,” he repeats. “you got it or not?”
andre looks down at his beer. “nah”.
“have you asked him out?”
“no…”
one of them lets out a short laugh, setting his glass down. “so let me get this straight—you show up early every day, talk about this guy like he’s some angel, and you haven’t even asked for his number?”
andre shrugs, defensive. “it’s not like that”.
“it is like that”.
“he’s my nephew’s teacher”, andre says. “it’s… complicated”.
“it’s not, dumbass”, someone cuts in. “it’s a number. relax”.
“yeah”, another adds. “grab coffee, that’s it. you’re not proposing”.
andre rubs his face. “i’m working on it”.
they all groan.
“you’ve been ‘working on it’ forever man”.
“i just—” he gestures vaguely. “i don’t wanna make it weird”.
“you’re already past weird”, one of them says. “you’re in deep”.
“…shut up”.
“no, seriously”, he goes on. “if you like him, just ask. worst case, he says no, you move on. best case—” he shrugs. “you stop acting like a damn teenager”.
andre leans back, jaw tight, taking a long sip of his beer.
“just ask him out”, jason says, calmer now. “you’re overthinking it”.
andre stares at the table for a second.
then mutters—
“…yeah. i know”.
after a moment, they let it go, the topic dissolving. the conversation drifts into easier things —work complaints, old stories they’ve told a hundred times, random plans that won’t happen— jumping from one thing to the next without much thought, like it always does.
andre barely pays attention to whatever they’re talking about, until jason turns his phone around for half a second.
a picture, strangely familiar.
andre squints. “…wait”.
jason looks up. “what”.
andre points at the phone. “go back”.
jason hesitates. “…why”.
“just—go back”.
he does.
andre leans forward.
and—yeah. there’s no way.
“is that—” he starts, then stops. “that’s rachel”.
jason blinks. “you know rachel?”
andre stares at him.
“you’re dating ms. rachel?”
“she’s not—” jason stops. “wait, how do you know her?”
the table goes slowly quiet.
everyone looks at andre, as he leans back very slowly.
“…no fucking way”.
jason frowns. “what”.
“that’s my nephew’s teacher’s best friend”.
“…what”.
“the one he told us about, man”, someone else says immediately, pointing at andre. “the guy he’s in love with—”
“i’m not in love with him—”
“—mr. cal?”
jason’s eyes widen.
“wait—calvin?”
andre freezes.
“…you know him too?”
“yeah?” jason says, confused. “rachel talks about him all the time. they’ve been best friends since school or something”.
andre drops his head into his hands.
“oh my god”.
jason looks between all of them, then back at andre, slowly grinning. “you’re the andre?” he asks.
andre’s head snaps up. “the what”.
jason laughs. “rachel mentioned you! the guy who shows up early, stares too much at him—”
“okay, that’s enough—stop talking.”
jason’s still grinning, shaking his head. “this is fucking crazy”.
andre leans back in his chair, dragging a hand down his face.
“…i hate all of you”.
“so are you gonna ask him out or what?” jason adds, still way too entertained.
andre groans.
“…i said i’m working on it”.
jason just laughs, taking a sip of his beer.
“…man”, he says. “rachel’s gonna love this”.
andre already knows this is going to come back to haunt him in some way.
—
it takes him a few days to work up the courage.
thinking a little too much about his friends’ advice, he finally finds the nerve to ask. still hesitant, still second-guessing, but pushing through it anyway.
a few days of overthinking, pacing his apartment, rehearsing lines in the shower like an idiot. a few days of showing up early, leaving late, trying to catch cal alone for more than thirty seconds.
it’s ridiculous. he knows it is.
he still does it anyway.
that morning, he actually feels… ready. or at least ready enough.
“why are you like that, uncle?” thomas says from the backseat.
“like what”.
“like you’re going to throw up”.
andre exhales sharply. “i’m fine, thomas. i’m just—i have something to do”.
thomas leans forward slowly, interested.
“…with mr. cal?”
andre says nothing, which is answer enough.
thomas grins. “triple candy”.
“oh my god”.
he parks. gets out. fixes his shirt like that’s going to help anything.
he tells himself it’s just a question. just a simple, normal question.
hey, do you want to get coffee sometime?
easy. people do it all the time.
he can do it too. probably.
he walks thomas up like always.
heart already beating too fast.
eyes already searching, but something’s off.
it takes him a second to realize what it is.
cal’s not there.
instead, there’s another teacher by the door. he’s seen her before, usually talking with cal.
dark hair, bright eyes, laughing with a kid before straightening up when she sees them.
“hi!” she says warmly. “you must be thomas’ uncle, right?”
andre nods, a little thrown off. “uh, yeah”.
“i’m rachel”, she says, offering a small smile. “ms. rachel, technically”.
right.
he glances past her, instinctively. like cal might magically appear.
he doesn’t.
andre frowns slightly. “uh—mr. cal’s not here?”
rachel’s expression softens immediately.
“oh, no”, she says. “he picked up a cold. didn’t want to risk the kids catching it, so he stayed home”.
andre just nods once.
“oh”, that’s it.
just oh. like it doesn’t matter.
like he didn’t spend the entire morning psyching himself up.
like he’s not standing there with his chest feeling hollow.
“yeah”, rachel adds, gentle. “he should be back in a couple days, though”.
andre nods again.
“right. good”.
he doesn’t trust himself to say anything else.
thomas tugs on his sleeve. “bye”.
andre is confused, like he forgot he was there.
“yeah. bye”.
he watches him go in.
doesn’t really see it.
his mind is somewhere else.
later that day, the walk back to the car feels longer than usual.
he gets in, sits there, and stares straight ahead.
“…you didn’t ask”, thomas says from the backseat.
andre sighs slowly. “he’s not here.”
“yes”.
silence.
“…that’s sad”, thomas adds.
andre lets out a quiet huff.
“yeah”.
he starts the engine and drives off.
the excitement from earlier is gone completely, replaced by something dull and heavy inside him.
it’s stupid. he knows it’s stupid.
he barely knows that guy.
but still, he grips the steering wheel a little tighter.
“…he better come back”, he mutters under his breath.
—
cal is not oblivious.
people tend to assume he is: soft voice, gentle smile, the way he crouches down to talk to kids like they’re the most important thing in the world. he looks like someone who misses things.
he doesn’t. not really.
he notices the first time.
the new “parent”, andre.
the way he hovers just a second too long after dropping thomas off. the way he answers questions like he’s distracted. the way his eyes keep drifting back, like he’s trying not to look but can’t quite help it.
cal notices. he just doesn’t say anything.
he likes it.
“your boyfriend’s here.”
cal doesn’t even look up from buttoning a kid’s apron.
“he’s not my boyfriend”, he says calmly.
rachel hums. “right. the guy who shows up ten minutes early every day, stares at you like you hung the moon, and forgets how to speak when you say hi”.
“i don’t think this is something we should be talking about in front of the kids”. he finishes, smiling faintly as he pats the kid’s shoulder and stands. “plus, he’s thomas’ uncle”.
“mmhm”. she grins. “i’m just saying”, she says, leaning against the doorframe. “he’s cute”.
cal exhales softly, glancing toward the parking lot without meaning to.
andre’s there.
leaning against his car, trying very hard to look casual. he’s not doing a great job.
cal’s mouth twitches.
“…he’s nervous”, he says.
“yeah, no kidding”.
“you’re making it sound worse than it is”.
rachel laughs under her breath. “i’m making it sound exactly like it is”.
cal shakes his head, but there’s no real annoyance there.
just something else.
he notices other things too.
the way andre started coming earlier. the way he lingers at pick-up, like he’s waiting for something. the way he looks almost disappointed when cal’s busy with another parent.
it’s not subtle, but cal doesn’t mind.
“you should just ask him out”, rachel says one afternoon, out of nowhere.
cal nearly drops the stack of papers in his hands.
“…what”.
“what?” she repeats, innocent.
he stares at her.
“rachel”.
“calvin”.
he sighs. “i’m not— i’m not doing that”.
“why not”.
“because”, he says, lowering his voice slightly as kids run past them. “that would be wildly inappropriate”.
“it would be adorable”.
“it would be inappropriate”.
rachel shrugs. “you’re off the clock sometimes”.
“that’s not the point”.
she watches him for a second. then smiles.
“you like him”.
cal looks away. that’s answer enough.
rachel’s grin comes back instantly.
“oh my god, you do”.
“i didn’t say that”.
“you didn’t have to”.
cal exhales, running a hand through his hair.
“…he hasn’t even said anything”.
“yet”.
“exactly”.
rachel tilts her head. “so you’re waiting?”
cal hesitates, just for a second. “…maybe”.
rachel beams. “this is so fun for me”.
cal rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling a little.
one afternoon, after a long day, rachel leans against the wall, watching cal with that knowing little smile she never bothers to hide.
“you know”, she says lightly, glancing between them like it’s nothing, “it’s funny how some people take forever to do something really simple… even when they really want to”.
cal looks up from the scattered toys on the floor he was fixing, frowning slightly. “what?”
“nothing”, she shrugs, way too innocent. “just— sometimes it’s obvious when someone likes you. painfully obvious, actually”.
cal’s fingers still for a second. rachel recognizes that look in cal’s face.
“what?” she says, smiling wider. “i’m just saying. if someone keeps showing up, remembers little things, looks at you like you matter more than anything else…” she tilts her head. “maybe they’re not just being nice”.
cal sighs, trying to play it off, but there’s a faint warmth creeping up his neck now.
“you’re reading too much into it”.
“am i?”
cal doesn’t answer.
he just looks down again, pretending to focus on his task, but his thoughts are somewhere else entirely.
and when he glances up, just for a second, catching andre outside, messing with thomas’ hair before getting in the car—
yeah. there it is.
that fluttery feeling he can’t quite ignore anymore.
—
cal is back on monday.
andre notices immediately.
he’s barely even out of the car when he sees him by the entrance again, crouched next to a kid, smiling like nothing ever happened.
something inside him feels different. stupid.
“you’re spooky, uncle”, thomas mutters.
“i’m not”.
“you are”.
andre ignores him and walks up, trying to act normal. casual. like he didn’t spend the last few days weirdly off just because cal wasn’t there.
“hey”, cal says, straightening up. his voice is still a little rougher than usual, like the cold hasn’t fully left yet. “long time no see”.
andre huffs a quiet laugh. “yeah. you disappeared on me”.
the words slip out before he can stop them.
cal blinks. then warmly smiles.
“sorry”, he says. “didn’t want to get all of you sick”.
andre nods. “yeah, makes sense”.
there’s a small pause.
“you okay?” andre asks, gesturing vaguely. “you still sound—”
“i’m good”, cal says quickly, then softer, “better. thanks for asking”.
andre nods again. he still feels a little off-balance around him.
he always does.
“yeah—uh, you’re welcome”, andre adds, a bit late.
cal’s smile tilts, just slightly.
“so”, he says, light, almost teasing, “does that mean you’ll come back this afternoon too?”
andre stutters. “i—what—i always—” he fumbles, clearing his throat. “i mean, i have to pick up thomas”.
cal hums, clearly amused. “right. of course”.
andre can feel his ears burning.
cal just smiles at him like he knows.
later that morning, inside—
cal looks up from the pile of coloring sheets when he feels someone staring.
rachel is standing there, watching him with a casual kind of interest that immediately makes him suspicious.
“you know”, she says, like it just occurred to her, “your romeo was asking about you when you were out”.
cal blinks. “what?”
“mhm”, she nods. “first thing he said when he walked in. ‘mr. cal’s not here?’ all concerned and everything”.
cal’s fingers pause slightly over the paper.
“…he did?”
rachel hums. “yeah. looked pretty disappointed when i told him you were sick”.
cal tries to keep his expression neutral. fails, a little.
“i mean, i was gone for a few days”, he says. “it’s normal”.
“sure”, rachel says easily. “parents usually get that attached.”
cal gives her a look. “rachel”.
she just smiles, not even pretending anymore.
“just thought you should know”, she adds, pushing off the counter. “it was kind of cute”.
cal exhales softly, shaking his head like it doesn’t matter.
but for the rest of the morning, every time the door opens—
he can’t help but glance up.
pickup is worse.
because now that cal’s back, andre remembers exactly how bad this whole thing is.
how easy it is to get stuck looking.
they end up talking a little longer this time. about nothing, really.
kids, mostly. thomas refusing to participate in anything that involves sharing. cal laughing about it, saying he’s “working on it”.
andre finds himself smiling more than he means to.
then cal glances down at the clipboard in his hands, like he just remembered something.
“oh—actually”, he says, looking back up. “next friday, we’re doing a little activity for the kids”.
andre tilts his head. “yeah?”
“it’s just a small thing”, cal explains. “like a family afternoon. games, a bit of music… there’s gonna be a small dance too”.
andre nods slowly.
“they’re supposed to come with their parents”, cal adds, then hesitates just slightly. “but i know thomas’ situation is a bit… complicated right now”.
andre shrugs. “yeah. my brother’s still out of state and sarah’s—” he gestures vaguely. “about to give birth any second”.
“right”, cal says softly.
there’s a small pause.
then—
“i was wondering…” cal starts, voice gentle, almost careful. “if you could come instead?”
andre blinks.
“like—just so he’s not the only one without someone there”, cal adds quickly. “no pressure, obviously, i just thought—”
“yes”.
it comes out immediately, too fast.
cal stops.
andre realizes.
“…i mean—yeah, of course,” he says, trying to recover. “i can do that. absolutely”.
cal’s expression eases, relieved.
“thank you”, he says. “he’ll appreciate it”.
andre nods. “yeah. yeah, no problem”.
then, thomas comes from inside the kindergarten and runs straight to him the second he spots him.
andre should’ve had known that.
“look!” he says, shoving a crumpled paper up at him before andre even has time to say hi.
andre takes it, confused.
it’s a drawing. three stick figures.
one in the middle, smaller, with messy hair that’s probably supposed to be thomas. on one side, a taller one with darker scribbles. on the other, a lighter one, yellow all over.
they’re all holding hands. big smiles.
andre goes still.
“that’s me”, thomas says, pointing at the middle one, then at the others. “and that’s you. and that’s mr. cal”.
andre’s chest does something weird. he glances up.
cal watches a little surprised at first. “oh”, he says quietly, stepping closer. “that’s… really nice, thomas”.
thomas beams. “we’re a team”.
andre lets out a small breath, still staring at the drawing like it might change if he looks away.
“…yeah”, he says, voice a little rough. “yeah, we are”.
cal doesn’t say anything.
but when andre looks up again, he’s smiling at both of them like that means something more than it should.
andre is still holding the drawing when cal reaches out.
“can i?” he asks, gentle.
andre hesitates for half a second, then hands it over.
cal takes it carefully, like it’s something fragile, smoothing the wrinkled edges with his fingers. he looks at it again, really looks this time, and something in his expression gentles even more.
“i’m gonna keep this, okay?” he says, glancing at thomas.
thomas nods immediately. “yes!”
cal smiles, then looks back at the paper, thumb brushing lightly over the messy lines.
“i’ll put it somewhere safe”, he adds quietly.
andre watches him fold it just enough to fit into the front pocket of his apron —the blue one, the one with the little stitched cartoons— and something in his chest pulls tight again.
thomas is already talking about something else, but andre lingers for a second longer.
“…you don’t have to keep it”, he says, a little awkward.
cal looks up at him. “i know”, he says simply.
and then, “i want to”.
andre forgets how to respond again.
they stand there for a second longer than necessary.
then thomas tugs on his jacket. “can we go now”.
andre startles. “yeah—yeah, let’s go”.
he says a quick goodbye, walks back to the car, heart pounding faster than usual.
he doesn’t think about it. not until later that night.
he’s brushing his teeth when it hits him.
he slowly lowers the toothbrush, staring at himself in the mirror.
“…oh, you’ve gotta be kidding me”.
he can’t dance.
like… at all.
andre grips the sink.“i’m about to embarrass myself in front of him”, he thinks.
his phone buzzes. a message from sarah.
“can you go to thomas’ school thing next week?? pleasee”
andre stares at it.
his phone buzzes again.
“also??? he told me about the drawing he made”
“why are YOU and his teacher holding hands???”
“andre.”
he closes his eyes.
“he said you guys are a team???”
“what are you teaching my son”
he drags a hand down his face.
“it’s not—he just—kids draw stuff—” he types, then deletes it.
andre lets his head thunk back against the mirror.
what has he gotten himself into?
—
friday comes faster than andre would’ve liked.
he almost backs out twice.
in the morning, he stares at himself in the mirror. he doesn’t look bad.
actually—he looks really good.
nothing too fancy, just… effort. a clean shirt, sleeves rolled just enough, jeans that fit right. his hair’s actually styled for once.
he feels like an idiot.
once in the car, parked outside the preschool, engine off, hands gripping the wheel.
“…i can still leave”, he mutters.
“no you can’t”, thomas says from the passenger seat, already unbuckling. “i told mr. cal you were coming”.
andre turns his head slowly.
“…you what”.
thomas grins.
andre exhales through his nose.
“traitor”.
the dance wasn’t supposed to matter this much.
it was just… a school thing.
a small, slightly chaotic friday afternoon with music and kids stepping on their parents’ feet.
it was also the last time.
bella had been born two days ago: tiny and very loud.
everything was already shifting. michael was already traveling back, sarah busy in that exhausted way new parents get, the house louder somehow.
which meant: andre’s job was basically done.
no more daily drop-offs.
no more pick-ups.
no more… reasons.
he notices it the second he walks in.
cal’s wearing his apron. it’s a little worn, a little messy from the day, but the edges are decorated with small stitched cartoons. uneven, colorful, clearly handmade.
cal had mentioned it once, casually.
“my mom made it. said i looked too serious without it”.
rachel had laughed, adding something about how she got one too, back when they were still studying together, “so we’d match like idiots”.
andre remembers all of it.
cal is already there. of course he is.
andre’s brain just… stops.
cal’s dressed nicer than usual too. still soft, still him, but there’s something about it. the way the shirt fits, the way his hair falls, the way he smiles when he sees them walking in—
andre’s completely done for.
“hey”, cal says, stepping closer. his eyes flick over andre for a second, then back up. “you look nice”.
andre forgets how to speak.
“…thanks”, he manages. “you too”.
his face is burning. he can feel it.
this is humiliating.
cal crouches down in front of thomas, tying his shoelaces like he always does.
“so”, he says lightly, glancing up at him. “are you excited about your little sister?”
thomas doesn’t even hesitate. “no”.
cal pauses for a second.
then looks up at him properly, trying not to laugh.
“no?” he repeats.
thomas shakes his head, completely serious. “she cries a lot”.
andre snorts from behind them.
cal bites back a smile. “that’s… fair”.
“and she’s very loud”, thomas adds.
“also fair”.
“and now everyone is going to love her more”.
that one lands a little harsher.
cal’s expression shifts, gentler now.
“hey”, he says quietly, finishing the knot and tapping his shoe. “that doesn’t mean they’ll love you any less”.
thomas shrugs like he doesn’t believe him.
andre steps in, ruffling his hair. “you’re still the favorite, don’t worry”.
“am i?” thomas asks, suspicious.
“yeah”, andre says. “but don’t tell her that”.
thomas considers this, then nods.
“…okay”.
cal laughs softly, shaking his head.
“big brother privileges”, he says.
thomas straightens a little at that.
cal stands up, glancing at andre with a small smile.
“he’ll come around”.
andre watches thomas go, then looks back at him.
“…yeah”.
but he’s smiling too.
“we brought something”, thomas says suddenly.
andre’s head snaps toward him.
“you did?” cal asks, surprised.
“no we didn’t—” andre starts, but it’s too late.
thomas is already pointing at the small paper bag in andre’s hand.
andre closes his eyes for half a second.
“…it’s nothing”, he says quickly, handing it over. “just—i remembered you said something about a plant getting knocked over? so i just— happened to pass by a shop and—”
he trails off.
because now cal is looking inside the bag, and then back at him.
“…you remembered that?” cal says quietly.
andre shrugs, trying to play it off. “yeah, i mean— it’s not a big deal.”
thomas opens his mouth.
andre immediately reaches over and lightly presses his palm over it.
“shh”, he mutters under his breath.
thomas makes an offended noise against his hand, but forgets all about it the second andre lets him go, already running inside to find his friend like nothing happened.
cal laughs.
and it’s— warm, genuine.
“i love it”, he says, holding the small pot carefully. “thank you. really”.
andre nods, suddenly very interested in the floor.
“…yeah”.
“oh my god”.
andre turns.
rachel. of course.
she’s leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, looking between them like she just witnessed something life-changing.
“you must be andre”, she says, grinning. “i’ve heard so much about you”.
andre blinks. “you have?”
cal chokes slightly. “rachel—”
“all good things”, she adds quickly, not even a little sorry.
andre glances at cal.
cal looks like he wants the ground to swallow him whole.
andre smiles, just a little.
—
inside, the place is full.
parents chatting, kids running around, teachers trying to keep everything somewhat organized. there’s music playing somewhere, decorations taped a little unevenly to the walls.
somehow, though—
andre ends up in one of the classrooms.
alone.
with cal.
the noise from outside muffled just enough to make it feel close.
“i don’t dance”, andre confesses immediately.
cal laughs. “you don’t dance?”
“no”.
“like, at all?”
“like, at all”.
cal smiles, stepping a little closer. “that’s okay”.
andre raises an eyebrow. “it is?”
“yeah,” cal says. “i can teach you, before you embarrass yourself in front of everyone”.
andre hesitates, just for a second.
then—
“…okay”.
it starts awkward.
really awkward.
andre’s stiff, unsure where to put his hands, trying not to step on cal’s feet.
cal is patient as always.
“relax”, he murmurs, adjusting andre’s hand slightly. “just follow me”.
“…i’m trying”, andre says.
he is.
cal smiles. “you are”.
andre huffs a quiet laugh. but he tries.
and slowly, it gets easier.
cal’s hand is warm in his.
the room feels smaller somehow.
andre’s not really thinking about the steps anymore.
just—him.
“you won’t be coming around as much now, huh”. cal says, lightly and casual, but there’s something under it.
andre stills. “…yeah”, he says after a second. “i guess not”.
cal nods. looks down.
adjusts his grip slightly when they start moving again.
“that’s good”, he says. “for your family, i mean”.
andre watches him. “yeah”.
but it doesn’t feel like it.
not entirely.
they fall into the rhythm easier this time.
less awkward.
andre’s hands are steadier now.
or maybe he just doesn’t care as much about getting it right.
“can i ask you something”, cal says quietly.
andre nods. “sure”.
cal hesitates for a second.
“are you seeing someone?”
andre stares at him.
“…huh?”
cal shrugs, like it’s nothing.
“i just—” he exhales lightly. “i figured you probably were”.
andre frowns. “why would you think that”.
cal lets out a small, almost embarrassed laugh.
“because you’re…” he gestures vaguely. “you”.
andre stares at him. “that doesn’t explain anything”.
cal glances up at him.
then away again.
“…you’re attractive”, he says, a little quieter. “and nice. and you show up every day for your nephew. most uncles don’t do that, you know”.
andre’s heart stutters.
cal keeps going, words coming a little faster now.
“so i just thought—there’s no way someone like you is single. not really”.
andre stops moving. cal does too.
andre’s voice comes out lower than he expects. “…i’m not seeing anyone”.
cal looks up, really looks at him.
“you’re not?”
“no”.
a pause. something shifts.
andre exhales, running a hand through his hair.
“can i ask you something too”.
cal nods, still watching him.
“why didn’t you say anything”, andre asks.
cal knits is brows slightly. “about what”.
andre gestures between them. “this. whatever this is”.
cal lets out a quiet breath.
“because i didn’t think i could,” he says simply. “you’re a parent”.
“i’m not—”
“i know. but you’re technically one. you take care of him. i just assumed…” cal shrugs. “i didn’t want to make things weird. or cross a line”.
andre shakes his head, almost frustrated now.
“i was trying to ask you out the day you got sick”.
cal blinks.
“…you were?”
“yeah”.
“oh”.
there’s a pause.
then cal lets out a small laugh, a little disbelieving.
“wow”.
andre sighs. “yeah”.
they’re closer again without noticing.
hands still loosely in place from the dance.
but neither of them is really thinking about that anymore.
cal’s voice softens.
“i noticed you the first day, you know”.
andre’s breath catches. “yeah?”
cal nods, a little shy now.
“you looked so confused”, he says, smiling faintly. “you didn’t know what you were doing here”.
andre huffs a quiet laugh. “i didn’t”.
“i figured”, cal says. “but you still stayed”.
his gaze lifts, meeting andre’s again.
“i liked that”.
andre’s chest tightens.
“i kept thinking”, cal adds, softer, “that you’d stop coming. that it was just temporary”.
andre swallows. “…it is”.
cal nods. he knows. that’s the problem.
“i don’t want you to leave”, cal says quietly.
andre doesn’t know what to do with that.
with any of it.
so he just steps closer.
it happens without much warning.
one second they’re moving slowly, clumsily.
the next—it’s the perfect moment.
they’re really close.
andre looks at him.
cal looks back.
there’s a pause.
cal’s gaze flicks down, just for a second.
andre doesn’t think.
he leans in and kisses him.
it’s gentle and brief, it almost feels unreal.
cal leans into it, soft and warm and just as steady as everything else about him.
andre’s hand tightens slightly at his waist, like he’s afraid he might disappear.
and then—cheering.
andre pulls back immediately.
“…what—”
he turns.
the small windows. low to the ground and filled with tiny faces. a lot of kids watching, very excited.
andre just stands there frozen.
“…oh my god”.
cal makes a small, embarrassed noise and immediately hides his face against andre’s shoulder, laughing softly, a little breathless.
“oh my god”, he repeats, quieter.
andre’s brain is still catching up.
but his arms move anyway, wrapping around him, pulling him in without thinking.
somewhere outside, music starts up again.
someone calling for everyone to come back.
real life waiting.
cal doesn’t pull away. he lets out a quiet, breathless laugh.
“we’re gonna miss the whole thing”.
andre doesn’t move.
“…i don’t really care”.
and he means it.
he figures he’ll always be a little grateful to bella for showing up when she did— and, by extension, to his brother and sister-in-law for making her. it’s a bit ridiculous, but things might’ve turned out very differently if she hadn’t.
“so…” andre says, a little breathless, not quite letting go, “can i get your number now?”
cal blinks up at him, a small, amused smile already forming. “you’re asking me after kissing me?”
andre huffs a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck, ears still a little red. “felt like the right order”.
cal smiles a little shy—those dimples showing, the ones andre’s been a little too fond of since day one.
cal tilts his head just slightly. “…yeah”, he says, a little quieter. “i think i can work with that”.
there’s something certain in everything now.
from the doorway, rachel watches absolutely thrilled.
everything exactly as planned.
the kids are still cheering and laughing.
and for the first time since all of this started—
andre doesn’t feel like he’s about to lose something.
just maybe, like he found it a little too late.
or maybe—
right on time.