So like, do you think Ryland Grace would be like kinda nosy?
I think he’s too curious for his own good and he’s constantly wanting to know, know, know. And in a way I think that’d be so cute.
“How are your lesson plans coming along? I know you start your new modules Monday,” Ryland Grace sits his butt on the table next to where you have your planner laid out. “They’re more than fine Dr. Grace, and yes I did take your suggestion from last time.” You look up to see a cheeky, full grin on his face. He was loving that you knew him well enough to guess what he would say next. Grace stumbles to the faculty room’s refrigerator and opens it to retrieve a bottle of water. You can hear him poking around at a plastic bag. “Did you bring a gyro from Papa’s? You’ve got great taste!”
He would constantly stop by your classroom during semesters when your lunch hours didn’t align to be shared in the break room. The kids started to tease about it. Mostly just getting too hyper when he was around though, some of the girls were convinced you were secretly married to Grace.
“Mr. Grace is back!” You heard one of your students snitch in a sing song voice. Turning around you expected to see Ryland in the doorway but instead he was sat in one of the back desks waiting to hear your explanation of ratios and how they relate to fractions and decimals. A couple students were giggling at how awkward his tall body looked in the chair. It took everything you had not to laugh with the kids, their sounds contagious as ever. The corners of your lips noticeably quivered with the effort and it only made Ryland’s own smile grow wider.
After about 12 or so minutes of him still being there, playing with your compasses and protractors and digging through the supply drawers in the back as ‘quietly’ as he can, you cave and address him. “Can I help you, Dr. Grace?” He gives one of his cocky little grins, “Who me? Oh no, no, you can just, yknow, keep doing your job.” A couple of ‘ooo’s sound from the kids and you roll your eyes. You announce that you will be awarding students with extra credit if they can focus on your teachings and not the man who is playing with your base ten blocks and feeding answers to them as you ask questions.
He truly was just enjoying the refreshers on middle school mathematics, at least, that was the reason he gave when asked for the millionth time why he randomly sits in on your class periods. Or, maybe he was admiring you as you worked. He loved the soft tone you got when you caught a student struggling during quiet time. He loved that you would take time to do fun little drawings on the whiteboard during lessons to keep the kids happy and focused on being better. Even as their world died around them. He loved that you color matched your glasses chains with your outfits; down to what color accessories you were wearing in your hair.
“Did you know that orange is my favorite color?” He asked one day as you were both waiting for the gymnasium to settle down for an assembly. Ryland is eyeing the 70s look you dressed up in for the Friday Fun-Day assembly. There are floral clips in your hair and attached to either side of your glasses is your black cord chain with varying shades of orange and brown beads decoration them. Dark brown flare pants hugged your legs comfortably, accompanied by burnt orange flats, a tassel cardigan and a matching burnt orange button down to complete your outfit.
“I did not.” You respond with a polite smile, taking in his bright green shorts, light blue bomber jacket, neon pink sweat headband, and bright purple fanny pack. What a choice, truly. “Well I implore you to ask me why it’s my favorite.” He gets sassy with his tone, a little pouty too. You chuckle in response and bite, “Why is it that orange is your favorite color?”
He immediately jumps into explaining his favorite animal, his favorite chemical reaction and how it’s resulting color was orange, how his favorite drink in the morning is orange juice and how he’s more than happy to drink it after he brushes his teeth. (he’s a psychopath) When he asks for yours you say you don’t have one. And maybe that’s true or maybe you only said that so the man would keep asking you questions.
Eventually you two are left alone after school. For once you’re in his classroom, walking around inspecting his supply drawers the same way he does to your module packets, learning equipment and calculator stash. You’re looking at his solar system model on the ceiling when he speaks up.
“Why aren’t you married?” This question rips your eyes away from the red ribbon connecting the Sun and Venus. You look back at him, his legs crossed on his desk just watching you. “I’m just not really dating anyone at the moment.” You turn back to look at the ribbon and feel your stomach twist. It’s not worth it to start a family in your eyes. Not with how afraid you are. The sound of plastic wheels rolling on linoleum reverberates around the room and a few seconds later you can feel Grace standing next to you. He looks down at you, practically reading your thoughts on your face.
“Do you want to get married?” That was enough to make you really laugh, it almost sounded like he was seriously asking you for himself. “I guess I wouldn’t be opposed, but what’s the point of searching for something I’ll lose so soon?” His response comes back quick and quiet, “what’s the point of avoiding it?”
You turn on your heel, the blue beads on your glasses string getting caught up on each other. Before you can reach up and untangle the mess you see Ryland’s hand come up in your peripheral, then you feel his warm skin brush against your cheek as he gently untangles the dangling cord.
“Can I change your mind? Let’s say, tonight at 7?” You feel your face get hot and for once you are sure that you are truly and irrevocably charmed by this man. Ryland leans down and places a gentle kiss onto your cheek. He moves away and pauses a short distance from your face to consider pushing boundaries like always and kiss you properly. You nod your head and blush like you’re in a drunken stupor, words failing your drying mouth.
Ryland Grace decides that boundary pushing will be best saved for later when he wants to know about how your cat is reacting to her new medicine or what you thought of Mrs. Thompson’s new dye job or if he could stay the night after he walks you home.
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Hey y’all 🤭🤭 I got bored at work and decided to write this very short cutesy thing of Ryland Grace bc I rewatched PHM last night and I just cannot get enough of this man. It’s probably slightly out of character with how confident he is in his behaviors but oh well 🤷🏽
