warnings: whiplash reference because I can, got lazy at the end. not proud of this one.
You stood in front of the class of about 120 students. Vocalise Choir, is what it was. In only 3 weeks was the End of Year Concert, and you still had some students falling behind on music.
Standing behind the piano, you called off, “right on the beat, 1, 2, 3, and-”
You waved your hand, the ensemble erupting immediately into the chorus,
“omnia sol, temperat, absens in remota…”
You wave your hand, signaling the ensemble to stop.
“Tenors, remind me, how do we say that fifth word?”
“Een,” the tenors repeat back.
“Good, let’s try that again!” You wave your hand, giving beats as the ensemble picks up from where they left off.
“A - ma me fi - de - li-ter, fi - dem me am no - to”
You raise your hand once more. Once there’s silence over the choir, you sit on the bench in front of the piano. You were about to give a small lecture on vowels and soft palette placement again, but Mr. Ryland Grace appeared in the door of the choir room before you could continue.
Grace and you had been acquaintances for some time, only recently becoming something between friends and more. It was a blurred line, something you two assumed would figure itself out.
Mr. Grace held some bags of food, as it was his prep period. He, however, had completely forgot that they did not share said prep period. Grace was in the doorway, frozen, as students waved at him.
You eventually turn around and see Grace. Your face softens into a smile.
“Ryl— Mr. Grace! To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Grace, looking like a deer in headlights, simply holds up the food bag, “food.”
Your Vocalise students laugh loudly, some students calling for Mr. Grace’s attention. He was everyone’s favorite science teacher.
Despite the calling, Ryland walked over to the piano where you were sitting and placed the food bag on the piano.
You looked at him, gave him a smile, and then asked him,
“Wanna join choir?”
“…What?!”
“Do you want to join choir?”
“What- no!”
But it was too late, you were turning to the class with a clap of your hands.
“Students, welcome Mr. Grace to the class! He’ll be joining the tenors today.”
You gesture to the tenors. Grace made fearful eye contact with you before walking to the tenor section. As he walked past, you handed him a copy of the music Omnia Sol.
You sat back down at the piano, playing the beginning notes of the song. You looked to the ensemble.
“Remember vowels! Mr. Grace, follow along if you can!”
“Somewhere far from nowhere I grew both strong and tall— longing to become but knowing not the path at all…”
“Bases, not quite my tempo!”
You teased before the next verse, “but the footprints of the winter melted to fields of spring, once last embrace before I cross the threshold”
“To life we sing!”
—
“Omnia Sol, huh?”
After the period was over, you and Ryland sat in your office eating the food he brought. His face was still bright red from being personally invited.
“Yeah. It translates to ‘the sun warms everything.’ We sing it every year,” You add before stuffing another bite of the sandwich into your mouth.
“Why that? It’s in Latin, hard to understand.” Ryland admits with a shrug. He didn’t hate the song, he was just curious.
“‘The sun warms everything, even when I am far away. Love me faithfully, and know that I am faithful.’”
There was silence, only eye contact. Then you added, “And it makes everyone cry. So that’s a bonus.”
Ryland laughs and leans back in the seat he was in. He placed down his own sandwich before folding his hands in his lap.
“Well, it would make me cry too. It’s a beautiful song.” He adds.
“You’re a great singer, Ryland. The choirs love you and you have such a unique voice-”
You only stopped when you noticed his face turning red. You gave a smile before leaning back in your chair, the same way he did.
“I um… I got tickets to a jazz concert. I know music isn’t your thing but… I thought you’d maybe wanna go with me…” You offered gently, totally ready to back out if he showed any sign of disapproval.
Then there was silence. Again. He looked at you, cheeks still flushed red.
“…Are you asking me out?”
“…Maybe…?”
“Crap!”
Ryland stood, scrubbing his hands over his face with a groan. You stood up as well, totally panicking now.
“I mean- we don’t have to-! It was just an idea and-”
“No! I was- I was gonna ask you out tomorrow. I bought flowers and everything-”
Now your face was red. He was still embarrassed as hell… but you began to laugh as well.
“What- why are you laughing-?”
“Because this is funny! We like each other but we’re so afraid-”
It was another moment before he began laughing too.
I hate the lack of teacher!Grace x psychology teacher!reader.
Like listen, my psychology teacher is the coolest person ever. She has the funniest stories and can read BODY LANGUAGE!
So like imagine Ryland trying to flirt with psych teacher!reader in the teacher’s lounge and you’re just standing there like “🤨” because you can understand Ryland’s body language.
And sometimes during his prep period he’ll walk into your class while teaching, and you’re talking about throwing a cat into a can and since he’s here, he’s now the prop (this is actually a true story my psychology teacher told).
Like he’d spend months practicing because he KNOWS he will be a nervous wreck.
And after all that, he’s down on one knee, ring box open, tears in your eyes…
And he just BLANKS.
It’s so funny and cute and adorable and you stay patient despite the urge to jump around and scream and be giddy. You wanna hear what he has to say
And he’s on the verge of tears from affection and love and maybe a tinge of embarrassment, but he manages to get his words out with the slip of a few tears.
But then after he slips the ring onto your finger, he’s standing and catching you in his arms, spinning you around like a Disney princess.
amandla
pixelskylines
prguitarman