At 6:00, Kozmotis came bursting through the door, hair disheveled and out of breath. "I am so sorry! My babysitter called in sick, so I had to find someone to watch Seraphina, which made me late to my conference and now I'm late meeting you for dinner. Forgive me?"

Jack looked up from his desk and took in the man's appearance with a chuckle. How does he manage to look that good even when so disheveled? He stowed away the papers he'd been sketching on in his backpack. "No worries. You're only ten minutes late. It's no big deal. Would you like some water?" He got a cup of water from the dispenser and held it out to him with a smile. "You look a little out of breath."

"Thank you." Kozmotis took the cup and plopped down onto one of the small chairs, his long legs stretched out. "I feel like I should have your number, just in case something like this happens again."

"Let me see your phone then. I'll put it in for you while you calm a bit."

Kozmotis handed Jack his phone. "You look nice, by the way."

"Thanks. It's tradition to look nice on a first date. I guess it also helped that I already had to dress somewhat nice for conferences." He chuckled. "There. You have my number now." His fingers typed out a quick message to himself, and a few seconds later his own phone sounded off. "And now I have yours."

"I'll believe most of it's because of our date, and not because of the conferences," Kozmotis joked.

"Believe what you will. Are you calmed enough to head out?"

The shop owner nodded and stood, pushing the chair back under the desk and throwing the empty cup in the trash can. "Well, as the one who asked me out, what did you have in mind?"

"There's a nice little Italian restaurant just outside of town I was leaning towards. Do you like Italian?"

"Italian is perfect."

"I can drive." Jack locked up the room behind them and walked his date out to the parking lot. "This one's mine." After tossing his bag in the trunk of the little blue sedan, Jack hopped into the driver's seat. The inside of the car was in pristine condition except for the blue hoodie he tossed into the back seat.

"I'm guessing blue is your favorite color?"

"How'd you guess? It's not like a wear it all the time or anything," he teased.

"Blue suits you."

"Thanks. Your favorite color has to be black with how much you wear it." Jack grinned over at him.

"It's a versatile color. Everything goes with black."

"That's true. I can't blame you for it. It looks good on you too. You wouldn't do well in my house. My cat is pure white."

"As are you. Does that mean we won't do well with each other?"

"No. We might do wonderful. Your clothes won't come out unscathed, though."

Kozmotis lifted an eyebrow and chuckled. "Please Mr. Frost, at least buy me dinner first."

"You know what I mean," Jack blushed.

"I know. I'm sorry for teasing you."

"It's okay. I suppose I'll have to get used to it if this date goes well."

"Perhaps the first date is a little early for flirting."

"Flirting is alright. I'm just...out of practice, I guess?"

"Then we'll take it slow. Learn each other, see if this goes anywhere."

"I'd like that a lot." Jack turned to give him a brief smile as he pulled into a parking lot. "Here we are."

"Cute place." Kozmotis opened the door and stood.

"I thought it would be a good place for a first date." He walked around to stand next to Kozmotis.

"I like it."

"The food's pretty good too." Jack headed for the door, holding it open with a smile. "After you."

"Thank you. You're such a gentleman."

"I try." After requesting a table for two, they followed the hostess back to a table in the corner. "So what's your favorite food?" he asked as they opened their menus. "I think I know more about your daughter than I do you."

"Everything looks good," Kozmotis laughed. "You can ask me questions if you want."

"Alright then. Hmmmm…" Jack thought for a moment. "Well, your accent is clearly not American, so how did you end up in Burgess?"

"I was born in London, and went to university in Oxford. For a time, I actually did live in Burgess. I went to the same elementary school where you teach, but then we moved back to London. While at university, I met a girl from America. We dated and ultimately married. She told me she was from Burgess too, so we ended up moving back here a few months after we married."

"Whoa. Wait a second." His brow furrowed in confusion. "You went to Burgess Elementary? How old are you?"

"Thirty in a couple months. Why?"

"I knew it! I knew I recognized you from somewhere. We were in the same class; do you remember?"

"I don't think so." Kozmotis looked at Jack, his eyes tracing over every feature carefully. "No, I do. You had more freckles back then."

Jack nodded with a chuckle. "And our friends had us marry each other at recess. I know you changed your name, but I can't believe I didn't realize it was you right away!"

"Looks like we've both changed a little," Kozmotis chuckled. "I remember that. You gave me a ring and kissed me. I cried when I had to say goodbye to you."

"I wanted to be pen pals but I didn't think about it until it was too late and then I didn't have your address. Why did you change your name? You used to go by Pitch when I knew you."

"As I grew older, my name became a bit of an annoyance." Jack gave him a confused look. "If you change one letter it becomes a rather inappropriate name to be called. A fact that certain children took every chance to advantage of. A few years after I moved away, I started going by my middle name."

Jack frowned when the reason dawned on him. "Well, that's a shame. I really liked your name. Thought it suited you and was unique. Would you mind if I called you Pitch? Now that I figured out who you are, it's a bit hard to think of you by another name. Not saying Kozmotis isn't a cool name either," he chuckled nervously.

"I don't mind at all." Pitch give him a reassuring smile. "You were my best friend."

"And you were mine. I'm sorry about your wife."

"She was my best friend for years." Pitch looked down at the table, fascinated by the cutlery. "I should be over it, but it's hard, you know?"

"A loss like that isn't easy to shake. There's no need to feel like you have to be over it already."

"Thanks. So what about you? What have you been up to since we got married?"

Jack laughed at the thought of their childhood marriage. "Just living a typical teacher life. Went through school like anyone else, dabbled in some writing and art here and there, then became a teacher."

"Were you any good? With the writing and art?"

"I was alright." He shrugged. "Nothing much to really brag about."

"I feel like you're being overly modest."

"Teaching was my real calling. Writing was more of a hobby."

"What would you write about?"

"Short stories for kids."

"Maybe you're the Jack Frost," Pitch chuckled teasingly.

"I thought you said that he was some spinster in the Midwest."

"Could be a teacher in Burgess."

"Or you could just be wishfully thinking."

"What can I say? I'd love to meet the author."

"Maybe someday they'll come out of hiding."

"Maybe. Maybe not."

Jack looked up when their waiter came by to take their orders. "Are you ready to order?"

"Spaghetti marinara for me, thank you." Pitch gave Jack a smile. "Is the first date too early for a bottle of wine to be shared between elementary school spouses?"

"Not at all. I'll take chicken fettuccine alfredo, please. Do you have any preferences on wine?"

"Bring your best bottle of red, please."

The waiter nodded and shuffled off. "I hope you haven't changed too much from the boy I married. I rather liked him a lot." Jack beamed across the table at him.

"He's only grown taller. And what about my husband? Has he changed very much?"

"Still the same awkward and playful guy I used to be."

"I'm glad. I think I had a crush on you back then."

"I'd sure hope so! You married me, after all." Jack laughed. "Then again, I'm seeing now that you have an awful lot of crushed on people. Maybe it didn't mean anything to you?"

"That's the challenge. When am I joking?" Pitch looked at Jack with glittering golden eyes. "And when am I very, very serious?"

"You do definitely have a very a good poker face." His eyes narrowed playfully at the man across from him.

"Your wine, sir." The waiter stood next to Pitch with glasses at the ready. He poured them each a glass before heading off again.

Pitch lifted his glass in a toast. "To childhood romances."

Jack chuckled and met his glass. "And to future ones."

"To future romances." He smiled and took a drink.

"Hopefully with the same person from the childhood romance," Jack added before taking a sip of his own. "Not a bad choice."

"You're a very flirtatious man, Mr. Frost."

"Only once I get to know someone."

"But you barely know me. I could have a torture dungeon in my basement or a murder kit in my car."

"That would be very disappointing. Also that would make you a liar. You said you haven't changed much, but I'm pretty sure that little kid I knew didn't have a murder kit."

Pitch chuckled. "You caught me. I don't have a torture dungeon or a murder kit."

"That's good to hear."

"I do have quirks."

"Such as?"

"I'll tell you once you've decided if you want to date me officially."

"Well, I feel like I deserve some answers, being your husband and all." Jack leaned back in his chair with a smirk, swirling the wine in his glass. "Who knows? Maybe they'll make me like you even more."

"I don't like tomatoes unless they're in a sauce or soup. Raw tomatoes, nope."

Jack covered his mouth with a chuckle. "Not so odd."

"Birds freak me out."

"Okay, that one's a little silly."

"I have to sleep with at least one fan on, even in winter."

"I'm the same way. I hate the heat."

"What about you? Any quirks?"

"I have the fan thing like you; I can't stand still air. Playing off that, I prefer to ride my bike almost everywhere. Or, if I have to drive, I either roll the windows down or blast the A.C."

"That doesn't sound so bad. Any food quirks? Something funny?"

"No food quirks I can think of at the moment. Um...I hate shoes. The second I walk in my house I'm barefoot."

"That's understandable. I do that too."

"Let's see...I can't stand perfumes or colognes. They're too strong and just give me a headache." He smiled and nodded at the waiter when he came by with a bread basket. "Thank you. I also have this thing where I have to brush my teeth when I get out of the shower. Doesn't matter if I did it right before, I have to brush again."

"Huh, that's...odd. I wonder why?"

"I can't explain it. I also have this need to know what's around me. Like, if I go to someone's house, I have to open all the cabinets. Not to be creepy, but otherwise I'll be on edge the whole time. It's weird."

"I'll make sure to have my cabinets open when you come over." Pitch poured Jack another glass of wine. "I'm happy to know I'm not alone in my oddness."

"Everyone's a little odd, whether they like to admit it or not. My past experiences have proven to me that odd people make for the best company." He smiled across the table as he munched on some bread.

"You just seem so organized, so put together. Perfect."

Jack snorted, having to clear his throat after his wine went down wrong. "Far from it. Organized, maybe. Definitely not perfect."

"That's my opinion of you."

"Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I won't fault you for that. But I'll just wait to see how long it takes for that opinion to change as you get to know me better."

"I don't think there's anything you could do to change my opinion. Unless you have a torture chamber or a murder kit?"

"I would never reveal such deeply personal secrets on the first date." Jack leaned on his elbows to whisper conspiratorially, "That's for the second date, if you stick around long enough."

"Are you asking me for a second date, Mr. Frost?"

"We'll have to see how the first one ends first."

"Well then." Pitch smiled and took a bite of bread. "Are you planning on asking me, Mr. Frost?"

"Maybe. You'll find out later."

"Very well, Mr. Frost. You may have your secrets."

"Much appreciated. Ah, the foods here. I'm starving." Jack shuffled his stuff around to make space for his plate.

Pitch thanked the waiter and began twirling spaghetti around his fork. "I would like this to work."

"I'd say our chances are looking pretty good. We've already survived almost twenty-five years of marriage, after all." He took a big bite of his alfredo.

"I can't believe I married my wife, considering I was already married."

"Shame on you. You were already taken, but I suppose I can forgive you."

"Thank you for your mercy."

"I have the patience of a teacher, remember? I can forgive a lot of things. How's your food?"

"Delicious. Perfect for a first date."

"I'm glad you like it. I've always enjoyed their food."

"I bet you bring all your first dates here."

"Totally. My many, many first dates," he drawled sarcastically.

"You're a very handsome, charming man. It's entirely possible."

"No, this is not where I take all of my first dates. I don't go on many dates, thus my being unused to flirting yesterday."

"I found your awkwardness to be charming."

"Thank goodness someone does."

"I think you're being modest."

"Usually my awkwardness leads to me standing awkwardly and making everyone feel weird."

"I'll have to remember that if we ever appear together at a social event."

"Consider yourself warned. You should have ample time to prepare yourself."

"I shall have to practice how I'm going to apologize for your strange awkwardness."

"Wise choice." Jack took a big bite of pasta and washed it down with some wine. "Put me in a room of kids, and I'll be set for hours. Adults are so much more difficult."

"Maybe you are the Jack Frost," Pitch teased. "You understand children so well."

"Are you sure you don't know the author? Because you sure seem to insinuate it's me an awful lot. Kids are easy. They're honest about their feelings, and they just want gratification. Adults," he sighed. "Adults are way too complicated. There's always something being hidden or some secret, which isn't a bad thing. I have secrets of my own just like anybody else. But I much prefer kids."

"I like your honesty. And even if you are the author, or you aren't, I still like you more. You're real, you're honest, you're fascinating. Jack Frost is just a name."

"I like that you seem to appreciate a lot of what most people usually dislike about me. Maybe this will work out between us after all."

"You sound almost surprised. I did marry you, didn't I? I wouldn't have done that if I didn't like you."

"An elementary school marriage. People change when they get older even if they don't think so."

"You haven't changed much. Other than the freckles, you're pretty much the same."

"Thanks."

"I meant it as a compliment. If I married you then, I'm sure we could be happy dating each other now."

"You don't know yet how much I've changed. I hope you're right. Either way, I look forward to spending more time with you to find out. If you're still interested after all this," he joked. Jack was quickly finding that he wasn't sure if the wine loosening his lips was a good thing or if it would come back to bite him in the ass.

"Why, Mr. Frost, I think you're flirting with me," Pitch hummed, leaning on the table.

"Perhaps. To be frankly honest, I'm not too sure what I'm saying anymore." He finished off his glass with a chuckle, waving Pitch off when he tried to refill it. "No more, thank you."

"You're drunk, Mr. Frost," Pitch chuckled.

"Not drunk; just tipsy. When I'm sober and nervous, I don't talk. When I'm tipsy and nervous, you can't shut me up."

"Then perhaps we should finish here, and I'll take you home."

"No, no. We're not going to leave because of me. I'll be fine. Just no more wine for now." Jack laughed and sipped from his glass of water.

"You sure you're alright?"

"Positive." Satisfied he'd convinced Pitch, he returned happily to his food. "I know it's silly, but I'm just nervous. I'd really like this to work out."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you want this to work out? Do you already have a crush on me, Mr. Frost?"

"Maybe. I really liked that kid I married once. I'd like to think that we could still be best friends and grow off that. I like to stay positive if possible."

"You're very romantic, Mr. Frost."

"Thank you. Another one of my quirks I guess."

"You're very fascinating."

"That's a good thing I hope." Jack twirled his last bit of pasta onto his fork.

"I like fascinating things."

"So do I. So what do you do for fun? Besides reading, of course."

"I knit, I enjoy listening to music while cleaning, I have a fondness for long drives, and I like researching interesting topics. That's just to name a few."

"You like long drives?" Jack's nose crinkled. "I'm the opposite." He quickly added, "Not that I don't like traveling. Driving makes me sleepy if I do it for too long, so I usually avoid long trips if I can."

"I prefer driving. Seems we make the perfect pair," Pitch chuckled. "You should take trains. Seraphina and I traveled across the country on trains, and it was fantastic."

"I've never been on a train."

"It's magical. You can see everything. The world looks beautiful when you can just watch it."

"It sounds pretty nice. Maybe I can convince some really good looking guy to go with me."

"Perhaps during a later date, he might be willing to take a train ride with you."

"I'll keep that in mind. Are you interested in dessert, or did you fill up on your spaghetti?"

"Do you think this date has earned dessert?"

"If it means a couple extra minutes until we have to leave, then yes."

"I'm flattered."

"I'll take that as a yes for a dessert." Jack flagged down the waiter for a dessert menu.

"Is this only the beginning of your flirtation, Mr. Frost? Will I be treated to this every date?"

"The dessert or the flirting? I would assume you'd be calling me by first name by now. I think I'll get the gelato. What about you, Pitch?"

"I'll have the same." Pitch smiled at Jack as the waiter walked away. "Both, Mr. Frost."

"I can guarantee at least one of those every date. I have an insane sweet tooth." He grinned.

"And the flirting?"

"May come or go depending on how much alcohol I get."

"I'll have to remember that, won't I?"

"That doesn't mean try to get me drunk every time. I'll loosen up as I get used to dating someone again."

"I wouldn't do that to you, Mr. Frost. I'd rather use my own charm than alcohol."

"Nice to hear. What is your favorite dessert?"

"Cherry pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top."

"Delicious! Are you any good at baking?"

"I manage. My wife was the baker."

"I'll have to have you try my chocolate cheesecake sometime."

"I accept, Mr. Frost."

When their gelato was set in front of them, Jack's smile grew. "What do you think?" He asked after taking a bite.

"I think you're very handsome and that I'm glad I accepted your invitation."

"I meant the gelato," he laughed. "But thank you for the compliment."

"I know what you meant," Pitch hummed, meeting Jack's eyes as he put a spoonful of gelato in his mouth. "Delicious."

"For what it's worth, I'm glad you accepted the invitation too." Jack blushed a little under the scrutiny but continued eating his dessert.

"We probably shouldn't be doing this. My daughter is almost like a student to you."

"You're probably right," he sighed. "If you want, we should end it sooner rather than later."

"You misunderstand me. I said we shouldn't, not that we won't. I enjoy your company, Mr. Frost. I shouldn't, but I do. Very much."

"Do you make it a habit of doing things you know you shouldn't?"

"Only when it seems worth it."

"I see." Jack's spoon twirled around in his dessert for a few moments. "I assume you think I'm worth it?" He finally looked back up with a teasing smile.

"I'm beginning to think so, Mr. Frost. I'm willing to risk it. Are you?"

"What if I become her teacher next year?"

"We'd have to keep our relationship a secret."

"I don't do secrets very well. I have very few of my own, and even those are difficult for me to keep hidden. If by next year we've fallen in love, are in a relationship and all that and they move me to 2nd grade, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to hide the goofy grin I'm sure would be on my face every time I saw you."

Pitch smiled. "If you wanted to make our relationship public, I wouldn't mind. Whatever makes you happy is fine with me."

"Is that what we are in? A relationship after only one date?"

"It was purely hypothetical. However, I do believe we're on a good track towards one."

"Ah." The teacher leaned back in his chair to tap his chin thoughtfully. "Well then, hypothetically, if we were in a relationship next year and I just so happened to move to 2nd grade and all that, I could tell the office she can't be in my class because of conflict of interest. Hypothetically, of course. Then there wouldn't need to be any hiding because I'm dating a parent from my class."

"She'd love to have you as a teacher."

"In good conscience, I couldn't be when I'm also dating her dad."

"I suppose you could tutor her at home if she needed it."

"Which she won't. That girl of yours is too smart for a tutor." Jack licked the last bit of dessert from his spoon. "But yes, that could be a possibility."

"Seems we've already figured everything out."

"Indeed. All that leaves us to do now is keep going on dates, decide to be in a relationship, and inevitably fall in love." He clasped his hands and batted his eyes playfully, laughing when the check came at just that moment. A quick flip through his wallet, and he handed it back with his card in it.

"You really are fascinating, Mr. Frost," Pitch hummed.

"You keep saying that."

"Because I'm calling it as I see it. You're very fascinating."

"You're starting to make me sound like some experiment a scientist is researching."

"I am, in my own way. Even though we're married, I'm trying to learn you all over again. I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable."

"I'm not used to so much attention. I try to stay out of spotlights as much as possible. The last guy I dated was…" He counted in his head. "Over four years ago. I'm really not used to being observed like this."

"Shall I stop? I don't want to make you feel weird around me."

"Just be patient with me." Jack smiled reassuringly. "I'll adapt quick enough."

"I'll keep my observations to a minimum until then."

"I'm sure my face will appreciate not blushing every twenty seconds," he joked. The waiter came back with their check. "Shall we head out now?"

"Of course." Pitch stood and pulled Jack's chair out for him. "You do look lovely when you blush."

"Why, thank you, sir." Jack slid his arm through Pitch's before he could lose the courage to.

Pitch covered Jack's hand with his. "People look to be jealous of us."

"Probably more in shock. It's a small town. There aren't very many gay couples out and about," he whispered.

"We're also two handsome men."

Jack rolled his eyes. He held the car door open for his date. "After you."

"Thank you," Pitch purred, sliding into the passenger seat.

"You're welcome." He went to the driver's seat and pulled out of the lot.

"Should you really be driving?"

"I'm fine. I'm not some lightweight who can't handle a few glasses of wine. All it does is make me more talkative when I'm nervous."

"If you're sure."

"I'm positive. I wouldn't risk your safety or my own if I didn't think I could handle it."

"Alright. I trust you."

"I promise not to crash us on the first date."

"That's good. I don't want to crash without kissing you first."

"Same here." Jack smiled over at him.

"Keep your eyes on the road, Mr. Frost. I want to make sure we make it back safe so I can kiss you."

"A kiss? If you wanted me to focus on the road, you probably shouldn't have said that," he laughed. "I'm resisting turning to stare at you right now to see if you're joking or not."

"I'm very serious, Mr. Frost. This date is going to end with a kiss."

"Not if you keep calling me Mr. Frost. If you like someone, you're usually supposed to drop the formalities, aren't you?"

"Focus on the road, Mr. Frost. Trust me, it'll be worth it."

Jack tried to relax his tightening grip on the steering wheel with a sigh. The rest of the drive, he'd successfully shut his mouth before he said something to embarrass himself. "I'm assuming the black car is yours?" Jack pulled in next to the only other car in school's lot.

"It is." Pitch got out of the car and smiled at Jack. "Well then, Mr. Frost. It seems that our date is over."

"Yes, it seems that way." He smiled back from his spot in the driver's seat.

"Will you walk me to my car?"

"The whole four feet?" Jack teased, but he got out of the car anyway. "Of course."

Pitch walked with Jack to his car. "Close your eyes please, Mr. Frost."

"Why? Is this the part where you're going to admit you have a murder kit in your car after all?" He closed his eyes with a nervous grin.

"No." Pitch stepped closer and ran a fingertip down Jack's cheek. "This is the part where I kiss you."

"Ah." Jack's eyes fluttered at the touch, wanting to open and see the look on Pitch's face.

Pitch leaned down and let their lips brush together. As he felt Jack melt against him, he pressed his lips more firmly. "Thank you for a wonderful first date, Jack," he purred against his date's lips.

Jack's face warmed almost instantly. He honestly couldn't even remember the last time he'd been kissed, but he knew this simple touch blew all the others out of the water. "It was my pleasure. I hope I earned the chance for a second one too?" Blue eyes cracked open to look up at his date.

"How about tomorrow? I'll pick you up for breakfast."

"I have work tomorrow. School day, remember?"

"Then when?"

"I'm free evenings and weekends."

"Tomorrow evening then?"

"Sounds good to me." Jack smiled shyly up at him.

"Perfect." Pitch pressed another kiss to Jack's lips. "See you tomorrow evening, Jack."

"See you tomorrow." After his date had long left, Jack was still sitting in his car. His fingers ran over his lips, still imagining they could feel Potch's warmth. He finally headed home with hopeful thoughts for the next night.