AN: Thank you lovely readers and reviewers.
Please review x
"Nice weekend Ianto?" Tosh asked. They were sat in the staff room enjoying a coffee before lessons started.
Ianto nodded. "Few drinks on Friday night. Went in to Cardiff Saturday." He replied.
As they spoke Owen wandered over. "You left your coat in my car." He said handing it to Ianto.
"Oh cheers Owen." Ianto replied as Owen went to grab himself a coffee.
Tosh raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Oh really?"
"Shut up." Ianto said as Owen rejoined them.
"Nice weekend Tosh?" He asked.
She nodded. "Not bad. You?"
"Yeah it was great. Right I'd best go prepare for year seven chaos. See you at lunch." He said before leaving.
"Great was it?" Tosh teased.
"We're mates." Ianto reasoned a little shortly.
"I'm sorry Ianto... I just worry about you. I don't want to see you getting hurt." Tosh replied.
"I know." Ianto's voice softened. "I don't mean to snap. I just..." He sighed. "Do you think I should tell him?" He asked.
"What that you like him?" Tosh asked.
Ianto nodded.
"He's straight Ianto. I don't think you've anything to gain from telling him." She replied.
"Do you think I should back off?" He asked.
"You're mates yeah? Then be his mate." She advised.
Ianto nodded. "Jack asked me out on Friday." He said.
"What did you say?" Tosh asked.
"I said I wasn't interested..." His voice trailed off. "But maybe..."
The staff room door opened and Jack strolled in.
"Maybe?" Tosh coaxed.
"I don't know." Ianto sighed. "Right I'd best get to class. See you later." He said hurrying out. He made his way down the hall and into the classroom he'd be occupying for the next couple of lessons. Perching on the edge of the desk at the front of the room he sighed again. He and Owen had had a good time on Friday night and then spent Saturday in Cardiff, looking around the castle and doing a bit of shopping. They'd even had lunch down near the Plass. Ianto knew he was going to get his heart broken again if he didn't deal with his feelings for Owen. The Londoner was obviously just looking for a friend and whilst Ianto wanted more, he also didn't want to do anything to jeopardise what they currently had. As the bell sounded and the students started filing in Ianto shook all thoughts of Owen from his head.
"...but when he started flying around the room I knew something was up..." Owen's voice finally broke into Ianto's daydream.
"What...?" Ianto asked.
Owen grinned. "You okay?"
Ianto laughed a little. "Sorry. Miles away."
"No worries. Anywhere nice?" Owen asked.
Ianto had spent the last ten minutes lost in a daydream whilst Owen has been talking to him about one of the kids in his last class. Whilst he'd been enjoying the visuals from his daydream he wasn't sure Owen would share his enthusiasm.
"Just... thinking." Ianto replied.
"Clearly." Owen smirked. "Look I'm pretty good at listening you know?" He offered.
Ianto nodded. "I'm okay." He lied.
"Well you know where I am if you change your mind." Owen said.
Ianto nodded again. "Thanks... I'm just... going slowly mad I think." He sighed.
"Ianto...?" Owen coaxed.
The Welshman shook his head. "I'm okay." He said getting to his feet. "Promise." He added with an obviously faked smile before wandering out the room. He made his way to his office, which was similar in size to Owen's but housed walls and walls of books. Going inside he sunk into the battered leather sofa he kept in there and put his head in his hands as he sighed. As he sat contemplating the fastest way out of the school unseen there was a knock at his door.
"Come in." He called expecting to see a pupil, but instead being greeted by Owen when the door opened. He walked in, closing the door behind him and sat down on the sofa beside Ianto.
"So I'm guessing its something to do with a bloke..." Owen began.
Ianto laughed softly. "Yup." He agreed as he leant back in the sofa.
"And I'm guessing you like this bloke..." Owen continued.
"Yup." Ianto nodded.
"And you haven't told him yet because... he's straight?" Owen suggested.
"You're good." Ianto admitted.
Owen smiled. "I have my moments." He replied. "You two good friends?" He asked.
Ianto nodded. "I think so."
"Tell him then. It's doing you no good bottling it up... and if you're good friends then surely he'll be fine with it. If not... maybe he's a dickhead." Owen suggested.
Ianto laughed. "Maybe." He agreed.
"You okay?" Owen checked.
"Thanks Owen." Ianto nodded.
"Right... what've you got next?" Owen asked.
"Free period. Then Year 7's." Ianto shuddered.
"Best of luck mate." Owen said getting to his feet. "See you later." He added before wandering back out the office.
Ianto settled back in the sofa, spending the next hour figuring out the best way to tell Owen it was him.
