Hellooo! very pleased that this is getting a positive response, even if someone is disappointed I ended banking on you. the reason was i couldn't start the next chapter! Seriously, i had the ending thought up and the twist before that but for some reason the relationship building bit with the three men stumped me. Nicciwolf, if you want to work me through that bit i'd be more than happy to finish it!

Anyway, this story! This chapter took me forty minutes, seriously it just jumped out. Away to write the next one!

Phoe
xxxxx

Chapter 2

Needless to say I was now more enthusiastic about building parent/teacher relationships. I'll admit it, it was a crush. A stupid, mind numbing, keep you awake at night school boy crush. At games I'd look out for him and, although I tried not to, I did favour his daughter a little.

Actually that had nothing to do with me liking her father. That kid rocked. She was sassy, sporty and didn't take any crap from the boys who glowered after she beat them. It took a few months before they accepted her as an equal rather than a rival and she frequently was seen as the sole female in the groups.

It did help that she was a little sweet heart as well.

As teachers we aren't supposed to admit to having favourites but we do. And she was one of mine. I had a number of favourites though but usually they weren't first years as I didn't see them very often. You can only know so much about twenty children you spend one hour a week with. When it came to writing the reports it can be a struggle to remember who was who let alone know each child well.

My other classes were doing well, the second years had been cowed after a few weeks of hard labour and no negotiation and my fourth years had remember that they had two feet that weren't both left.

This happened to coincide with the S1 parent's night. Something that I was not looking forward to, honest.

God that really is ridiculous. I'd been looking forward to seeing that man, even just for five minutes over the last four weeks. An occasional glimpse at football games just wasn't enough and he didn't even get to both of the other ones.

I happened to make his appointment at the end of the evening, so I didn't have a parent waiting – cunning planning. Unfortunately the one before him was for one of the little shit boys in my first year class and I had to tell the parent the kid was a little shit, but in a positive way. It also didn't help that the bright orange hair was catching my eye to the man sitting opposite my little desk. The child was remarkably absent, unusual and usually annoying when you don't know who the adult is here to talk to you about.

Anyway he eventually came to sit opposite me and I had to (pathetically) take a breath.

"Hey Mr J." He smiled at me, frowning after a second when I didn't reply.

"Hello, how've you been? You weren't at the game last time."

He sighed then, ducking his head and shifting a bit in the seat. He glanced back up with a rueful look on his face. "Yeah I know. Got hell for it from Shi. My sister Karin was there for her though. I hear it was a good game."

"Yeah it was." I knew that cause I watched that one, able to focus. "Anyway, I don't know what new information I can give you about Shiori. She's doing brilliantly with me, really keen and has earned the respect she deserves."

Ichigo smiled again, making me return it. OOB.

"Yeah, yours is one of her favourite classes. PE, maths and design and technology. Everyone is saying the same pretty much." He shrugged at me and glanced around seeing the other teacher either walking out of the hall or packing up to leave. "I guess it's over then?"

Nope, not enough time. "Depends, anything worrying you that you'd like to discuss?" Like the fact we've got too many clothes on? I liked my lips, trying to make it look normal.

He slumped then, running his hand through his hair. "I don't know, can you make her stop getting older? I'm not equipped to raise a teenage daughter."

That made me laugh. "No one is. If you don't mind me asking, what about her mother? She talks about you and Aunt Karin a lot but never mentions her mother."

"Yeah well she probably doesn't remember her. She was only six when it became just us. Probably why she's only got boy friends, she wouldn't know how to do half the girly stuff the girls are in to. She had Lego when other girls had Barbie, still has Lego I need to point out."

I sensed the change in conversation and dropped the 'mum' topic. It was the second time I'd brought it up and he was making it clear it wasn't to be discussed. It was clearly a sore topic which made me more curious.

Sadly, parent's night had to end and he left, gracing me with another dazzling smile and a promise to be at the next game.

Renji caught me in the entry way, walking me to the staff room to collect out personal belongings before heading home. "You teach little Kurosaki too?"

I glanced up; Renji's face not showing anything other than vague curiosity. "Yeah, she's like my star player."

"Wish she was like that in English. She tries but tends to day dream. Her dad was the same at school. Always a good enough student, but no drive to excel at things that didn't interest him."

Now I was paying attention. "You know Ichigo?" Oops, might have been a little over keen there.

Renji lifted one tattooed eyebrow before answering. "Yeah I know him, and how do you know him well enough to use his first name?"

"Shiori plays for the boys' team, her dad was adamant she be given the opportunity. After brutal negotiations he told me to call him by his first name."

"Yeah, he's like that, never one to stand on propriety. Anyway, have a good evening."

And he was gone before I could ask him anything else. Guess I'd have to make a few trips to the English corridor in the next few weeks.

iiiiii

Teachers don't get all that much free time during the day and most days when I got home I was wiped so my social life at that point in my life was minimal. I did work out, I was at school at least an hour and a half before the kids to work on myself, laps in the pool and weights in the gym before a quick shower was a harsh start to the day but a body does not stay ripped all by itself.

I lived in a small house by myself, just a one bedroom upstairs and a living room with a kitchen at the side rather than being in a different room but it was enough for me. There was a huge cupboard under the stairs where I kept all my school stuff and the rest of the house was big enough for just me. It was handy enough for work and a cab home from a night out didn't break the bank either. I had on occasion considered the idea of a family but hadn't until that point met anyone that interested me. Well except Ichigo and we've been there already. Hell I didn't even know if the man swung that way, he was clearly straight enough to get some chick knocked up eleven years ago but that might have scared the pussy out of his system to prefer beef.

My last boyfriend had really messed with my head. He had half moved in after a month, staying pretty much every night and eating at my house every meal time, even the ones I was at work for. And did he ever pay for groceries? Hell no. Stupidly I'd given him a key after the first month, mainly so he could lock the door after staying over – me leaving for work so early wasn't popular – but he'd be there when I got home, no sign he'd even gone out. He did have a part time job that he hated and had wanted to quit but he was clearly waiting for some significant point.

My significant point was when I came home from a parent's night the year previously and he was sitting with a bottle of my good wine open and three friends enjoying it. They had already had two other bottles I noticed when I walked into the kitchen and that made something snap inside me.

Now I need to explain it for a moment, my dad had given me those bottles from my grandfather's store after he died. They were worth at least a hundred and fifty quid each and I was saving them for a special occasion, like my wedding or some other life affirming event. And I had told my boyfriend this.

His reaction was that I was over reacting. 'Grimmjow, it's just wine.' 'Grimmjow you're acting like the wine was worth more to you than me.'

By that point it was. After I kicked him out I boxed up all his crap and left it on the kerb. I did send him a quick text to tell him before blocking his number entirely and organised for a locksmith to change my locks.

So yeah, I was currently single.

iiiiii

The next time I saw Ichigo was at a social evening, Quiz night!

Organised by the parent council to raise funds and get the parents' involved in a fun way. Teams of senior students, staff and parents all answering general knowledge questions for a couple of gift certificates and a bottle of shit wine would be something I'd take a body swerve from but Renji had mentioned it to Ichigo apparently and Shiori told me he was going. So I was going. Sigh

I joined their team; it also had two of my senior footballers so I was legitimately allowed there, even if I chose to sit next to Ichigo. He was quiet at the start but did relax as the night progressed. My lads at the table were keeping me busy anyway, chatting away about their classes as well as the questions. Renji was the one writing the answers but most of the general knowledge ones came from the man at my side, Ichigo speaking softly but from what I could get he was right.

I took advantage of the half way break to monopolise his time, wanting him to talk to me, not to the group.

"Hey Ichigo, how are you doing anyway?" I took a decent look as we stood by the refreshment table. He was stirring a cup of black coffee with a little plastic stirrer before tapping it on the side of the cup and putting it into the bin under the table. He looked tired, it was a frequent look on him I'd noticed but I still thought he looked gorgeous. He cracked a half smile my way before shrugging.

"I'm alright. Could do with a holiday."

"Yeah tell me about it. Getting near Christmas though so that'll be good." It was true, it was the start of November by then and the Art department had already started displaying Christmas themed work around the school. The popular ones were the minions dressed as Santa's elves.

"Yeah maybe for you, I have to work Christmas usually. Have you any idea how stupid people are at Christmas time? From over indulging on booze and driving to kitchen accidents, falling off ladders hanging lights or just simply beating the crap out of each other in the stress to make the one day perfect. Have they any idea how many days they ruin trying to make that one right?"

My eyes widened a bit, I hadn't seen that coming, especially from a dad. "So not a Christmassy person then?"

He huffed, closing his eyes and taking a breath. "No, I am actually. I love the season. I love Shiori devolving to an innocent little girl as she decorates our crappy tree. And I genuinely love turkey, even if it's reheated leftovers for me. My sister makes her own stuffing and roast potatoes, they are to die for."

"Wow, a cook and a star football player, this girl must have been hell to grow up with. Is she younger or older than you?"

He genuinely laughed then which made something inside me flutter a bit. "Younger, and there are two of them, twins actually. One cooks and is a proper little female; if you forgive the use of the word proper. The other, the younger twin actually is the football star. She's more like me in most ways and we both struggle to make toast that is edible. Yuzu insists that I bring Shiori round at least once a week to make sure the girl eats something other than quick cook starch."

I took a quick set of measurements and could tell from his physique that he didn't eat right. For his height he was a bit slim and his muscle tone was minimal. Not that he was soft looking, more he didn't get enough protein to build decent muscle. Perhaps I could offer some of that beef I mentioned earlier. "I take it Shiori will be with your sisters if you're working?"

"Yup. We go on Christmas Eve night for supper before I go to the hospital for forty eight hours of nonsense. One year I'll get it off and get to watch old movies and drink too much beer. Perhaps eat too much when it's fresh before falling asleep on the sofa. Sounds pretty perfect."

I wanted to offer my sofa, or my bed. Hell just my arms would suffice. "Surely you deserve a holiday off?"

"I'm the only trauma surgeon at the moment so kinda necessary that I'm there when it's busy. Plus everyone else has young families." He paused for a moment. "To be honest I started to work them to avoid thinking about certain things that happened round the holidays. Seems a bit daft now that I've got a kid whose Santa presents have been getting delivered to my sister's house for six years."

He turned an interesting shade then, probably realising that he'd over shared. "Yeah, we need to cope in our own ways though." I don't think I helped much.

"Sorry, I don't know why my mouth ran away there. Sometimes I just need to stuff something in it to shut me up."

Oh good god man, I think I just came dry. So while his face was red, mine was paler as I dealt with the visuals again.

"Don't worry about it; you must have a lot to get off your chest."

"Yeah well, you get enough problems from the kids so you don't need my ancient history." He turned to walk away, heading back to our table when I reached out and touched his upper arm, stopping him in the tracks.

I didn't have anything to say right away so for a second it was just me holding his arm while he stared at me. I didn't stutter but I may have spoken hesitantly. "It's no problem to me, I'd hear more."

That sweet little face reddened again making him look tastier.

"Are you flirting with me Mr J?" I may have been mistaken but I was sure I saw a coy smile when he ducked his head.

"That depends Mr K; do you want me to flirt with you?" Then that little minx took his bottom lip between his white teeth and bit down.

Then the quiz started back up again.

Well? I hope it's going alright. The first few chapters are going to cover a few years before things really happen between the two. Will be slow building and some of the details will be very vague, mainly for plot building reasons.

Any questions folks?