"Are we there yet?"
"No. And if you ask that again, I'll pull over and throw you in the trunk."
Peter and Neal had been in the car for almost two hours, and they still had an hour to go. Peter's brother, Robert, had been bugging Peter to get Neal up to Albany and do a few art classes for him. Peter had brought the idea to Hughes, who surprisingly approved, saying that "It'd be a good experience for Caffrey." Or, it could have been that OPR was coming by to do their annual check of the office and Peter just had some extra vacation days. Once they hit Albany, they'd stay in a hotel for the night and then tomorrow, they'd get over to the high school and meet up with Robert. If all goes well, they could end up staying for a few more days.
Neal could hardly contain his excitement. When Robert had thrown the idea at him during that dinner a few weeks ago, he didn't really think it'd ever happen. But now that they were halfway there, he was getting antsy.
"Are we—"
"Don't!" Peter warned.
"Relax, Peter, I was just going to ask if we are going to stop soon for dinner. I'm starving."
"Once we get closer to the hotel we can stop and eat something."
It was another hour before they hit Albany. And it took another to find somewhere to eat, have dinner, and finally get to the hotel to check in.
"There's a reservation under Burke," Peter told the man behind the desk in the hotel lobby.
"Ah, yes. Here you are Mr. Burke," the man handed Peter two room keys. "Enjoy your stay."
Neal and Peter headed into the elevator and pushed the button for the third floor.
"I call the bed closest to the window," Neal said.
"What? Why?" Peter wanted the bed closest to the window.
"It's a substitute for June's balcony," Neal shrugged, "Besides; I'd rather have the minuscule window as opposed to the view of the tacky wallpaper."
Peter, deciding not to argue, didn't touch on the subject again.
When they arrived outside their room, Peter inserted the key card and stepped in.
"Oh, no. You've got to be kidding me." Peter let his suitcase drop to the floor.
"Peter, you said you got a room with two queen size beds," Neal put down his suitcase. "I only see one. And that doesn't even look like a queen, more like a full."
Inside the room, there was only one bed, a TV on a stand, a standard desk, and a table and arm chair tucked in the corner.
"Well, I call the bed," Neal plopped down on the bed.
"No, you don't. I'm going back down and getting the room I reserved last week!" Peter angrily stepped out of the room and closed the door.
Neal didn't bother opening up his suitcase since they were changing rooms. Instead he picked up the remote lying on the side table and started flipping through channels. He was disappointed to find that there were no HD channels. But, it would probably bother Peter more since he would be using the TV to watch his sports.
It wasn't even 10 minutes later when Peter returned, more frustrated than before.
"I'm guessing you didn't get another room?" Neal turned off the TV.
"No!" Peter threw his hands in the air and started pacing. "Apparently they booked the wrong room for us! And since there's a huge business conference going on, there aren't any available rooms."
"This is a problem."
"You think?" Peter stopped pacing and sat down in the arm chair.
"How about we just switch off?" Neal offered. "We'll flip a coin to see who gets the bed first. Tomorrow we'll switch." Neal searched his pockets for a spare quarter.
Peter grabbed it from Neal. "Not so fast. I'll flip it."
"You're just oozing trust," Neal mumbled as Peter tossed the coin. "Heads!" he called out.
Peter caught the quarter in his hand and flipped it on his other. "Damn." George Washington was facing up at him.
"It's settled then. I get the bed, you get the chair," Neal smiled.
"Wipe that smirk off your face and get ready for bed." Peter unzipped his suitcase to retrieve his pajamas.
"Neal, hurry up! You're taking longer than El!" Peter banged on the bathroom door. They both got a late start to the morning since they forgot to set an alarm. The hotel stopped serving breakfast in half an hour and then they had to head over to the high school in time for Robert's 2nd period art class.
Neal finally opened the door, with steam emitting from his extended shower, wearing one of his signature suits.
"Neal, it's a high school art class, not the Oscars," Peter watched as Neal started putting on a tie.
"First impressions are everything." Neal adjusted his tie in the mirror and slipped on a tie bar.
Peter rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'll be out in 5." He walked into the bathroom and closed the door.
A few minutes later, Peter came out of the bathroom, dressed in simple jeans and a shirt. They made it downstairs just in time to get some coffee and a bagel before the breakfast ended. Soon they left the hotel and started driving to the local high school.
"Nervous?" Peter asked as he parked the car in front of the school.
"Nah, there's no reason to be," Neal said confidently.
"Alright, Robert said we have to go to the front office and get visitor's badges. Then we'll head on over to his classroom."
After they got their visitor's badges, Peter and Neal walked down the hall to Robert's classroom. Peter knocked on the door before opening it.
Robert looked up from his desk. "Hey!" he stood up and walked over to them. "Glad you made it." Robert hugged Peter, then Neal.
"Bell rings in a few minutes. You ready?" Robert asked Neal as they walked to his desk.
"Yeah, I think I'm good," Neal looked around the large classroom, spotting all the various brushes and paints.
"Great!" Robert smiled. "Here's the class syllabus," he pointed to a sheet of paper on the desk, "but really, go for whatever you feel like doing."
"Sounds good to me." Neal picked up the paper and glanced over it.
"Now, let me warn you, this next class is Art 1, which means that half the kids in here just signed up for the class to get an easy A. A couple of them are real trouble makers, so just warn them with detention and they should shut up."
Neal nodded. "Got it."
Just then, the bell rang and students could be heard moving around in the hallway. A few kids started trickling into the room.
"I'll introduce the class to you and then I'll take Peter over to the teacher's lounge down the hall. Feel free to come and get me for anything."
"Okay." Neal watched as the empty chairs filled up with students just as the bell rang. The once quite classroom was now buzzing with many small conversations going on across the room.
"Good morning, class!" Robert addressed the room. "Today we have a special guest. This is Neal Caffrey, a friend of my brother's. He'll be teaching your class today."
"What the hell is he wearing?" a boy shouted from the back of the classroom. "Last time I checked, it wasn't the 60's."
The class gave a few muffled laughs.
"Billy," Robert said steadily, "I'm pretty sure I still have your mother's email address lying around here somewhere. You wouldn't want me to mention that you've failed to turn in your last two portfolios now, would you?"
The class laughed again and the boy named Billy shut up.
"I'll be down the hall in the teacher's lounge, so no funny business. You need to treat Neal like you would treat me, understand?"
"Yes, Mr. Burke," the class said together.
"Have at it, Neal," Robert patted Neal's shoulder. "We'll be back a few minutes before class ends."
"Thanks." Neal watched as Robert walked out with Peter, who mouthed good luck before leaving. He turned toward the class. "So, let's get started."
Within a few minutes, Neal had all the students standing next to easels with their paints and a fresh canvas. He told them to go ahead and paint whatever was on their mind. Since it was just Art 1, Neal thought it'd be a fun and simple task. He started walking around the room, observing the works in progress. About half the class started painting flowers, other's stood around not knowing where to start, and the rest were goofing off in the back of the room.
"This is stupid!" Neal heard a girl say as he passed by, "What are we even supposed to paint? This isn't how Mr. Burke teaches."
"How did he afford that suit? He's probably loaded," he heard another.
"Mr. Caffrey?" Neal turned around and saw a group of upperclassman girls waving him over. He smiled; relieved that at least some students came to learn.
"Am I doing this right?" one of the girls asked. The other's around her started giggling.
Neal looked at her painting. He assumed it was some sort of waterfall, but he couldn't be sure…
"It's a great start, keep going," Neal said, watching the girl as she started painting again. "Hold on, try holding the brush this way." he adjusted her hand that was holding the brush, "And you don't have to push down so hard, just keep it steady, like this." Neal held her hand and did a few light strokes as an example.
The girl started giggling as Neal held her hand, so did her friends. Neal kicked himself mentally; these girls could care less about how to properly hold a brush. What was wrong with this generation?
"Oh, Mr. Caffrey!" a different girl next to him called out. "Can you tell me if I'm holding my brush the wrong way? I think I need some help."
"Please, call me Neal." Neal smiled as he moved over to the neighboring easels.
The group of girls burst into giggles. Neal's mind flashed back to dinner with Peter's family, specifically Robert's daughter, Jessica, who couldn't stop talking to him.
"Here, why don't you show them how to hold the brush?" Neal faced the blonde who he just helped. "I'll check back over here in a little while."
Neal made his way over to the other side of the classroom, where a few boys were throwing paintbrushes at each other.
"Hey, guys, cut it out," Neal caught one of the brushes that was no doubt aimed at his head.
"Why should we listen to you? You aren't our teacher," said the boy earlier, Billy.
"No, I'm not. But—"
Billy cut him off. "Then we shouldn't have to listen to what you say."
The group of guys around him all shouted, "Yeah!"
"So why don't you walk on over to the teacher's desk, sit your ass down, and don't tell us what to do. Got it?" Billy looked him straight in the eye.
Neal kept his ground. There was no way some little brat was going to tell him what to do. "No. How about you listen to me? You and your little buddies over here are going to pick up all of the paintbrushes on the ground. Then you'll start on your paintings. If you don't, I'll be sure to tell Mr. Burke to give you all detention." He could feel the whole class's eyes set on him.
All the guys started to Oooh.
Neal saw Billy pick up a large paintbrush, soaked in yellow paint. He just had enough time to duck as Billy threw the loaded paintbrush right over his head.
"Damn, I missed." Billy laughed, "Or maybe not." He pointed to an easel behind Neal.
Neal slowly turned around and saw the yellow paintbrush intended for him, sliding down another boy's canvas. He stepped closer and saw that underneath the wet, yellow paint was the start of a very detailed painting of a city.
"I'm so sorry," Neal said softly to the boy.
The boy turned around, clearly in anger, and stopped over to Billy.
"Got a problem, Daniel?" Billy laughed.
"Yeah, you!" Daniel spat out as he grabbed a paintbrush with red paint and threw it at Billy.
The class went crazy.
Brushes of every kind started flying across the classroom. The girls ducked under the tables, trying not to get paint on them. Neal stood against the wall and watched as paint flew across the room.
"What is going on here?" a loud voice boomed from the front of the room.
The class fell silent as the last airborne brush hit the floor.
Neal stepped away from the wall and saw Robert and Peter walking into the classroom with coffee in their hands.
The bell rang for the end of class but no one dared to move.
"Peter, I think you and Neal should go get some lunch."
"Good idea." Peter spotted Neal, "Come on."
Neal silently walked across the room and over to Peter. They didn't talk until they got into the car.
"Peter," Neal started.
"Let's get something to eat," Peter cut him off as he started the car and pulled away from the school.
They stopped at a little sandwich shop down the road. After getting their sandwiches and drinks, they sat down at a picnic table next to the building to eat.
"Maybe this trip wasn't such a good idea," Neal said after a few minutes.
"What makes you say that?" Peter asked with a smile. But one look at Neal's face told him that Neal was being serious. Putting down his sandwich he looked back up at Neal. "Look, I'm sorry things didn't turn out great, but it was your first try. We can't go home just yet."
"Peter, I really don't think I can do that again," Neal said sadly.
Peter knew that arguing with Neal would be pointless, so he decided to reason with him. "Okay, I understand. Robert has another class around 1:30. I think you should give it another shot. If you still wanna leave after, we can drive home tomorrow. Deal?"
Neal sighed. "Deal."
"Now that that's settled, let's get back over to the school before that class starts."
"Don't worry, this class is Art 3. They're a lot more mature." Robert told Neal.
Once Peter and Neal came back from lunch, they were surprised to see that the whole classroom was as clean as it was before the paint fight. Neither bothered asking about what happened after they left.
"Okay," Neal didn't bother getting his hopes up.
The bell rang and students started entering the classroom; much more quietly than the previous class.
"Good afternoon!" Robert said to the class once the bell rang. "Class, I'd like to introduce my friend, Neal Caffrey. He'll be your guest instructor today. I'll be down the hall catching up with my brother here so behave yourselves. I expect nothing less from you all." He turned to Neal, "We'll be back before class ends."
"You'll do great," Peter whispered in Neal's ear before leaving with Robert.
Neal faced the class, which was smaller than the one before. One girl raised her hand.
"Um, yes?" Neal asked.
"Is it true that Billy Walker started a paint fight in 2nd period?"
"Yeah," Neal said. "Things got a little out of hand."
"Don't worry about it," a boy called out, "Billy's a total jerk. I heard he got a week's detention."
"I heard he ruined Daniel Reeves' painting. He's a freshman but he's apparently really good," another girl said.
"Okay," Neal didn't want to waste the whole class gossiping about the paint fight. "I thought we'd try something a bit different. Everyone take out a sheet of paper and write down your favorite utensil to create art. Could be markers, pencils, crayons, chalk, whatever you like the most."
So far, so good. Neal thought as he grabbed an empty basket.
"Now, everyone pass this basket around and put your paper into it."
The class each put a small piece of paper into the basket and passed it back up to Neal.
"Good. This time pass the basket around and pick out one paper each with the utensil written on it." Neal watched as the basket was passed around again. "What you're going to today is use the utensil that one of your classmates wrote on the sheet of paper to create a picture. The point of this is to try something new, something that maybe you didn't like before, and have a better understanding of how to use it."
Everyone started asking what the other got as soon as the basket came around to them.
"Once you have your utensil, go get started. I'll be walking around to see how everyone's doing."
The class got up and started grabbing what they needed to do the assignment.
Neal started walking around watching all the students working with all the different materials. He saw a few take out some paintbrushes and paints, but knew that they weren't going to start throwing them. One girl had a set of chalks set out in front of her.
"Can't think of anything to draw?" Neal pulled up a chair next to her.
"Nope," she sighed. "That's always my problem. I can never think of something unique. And chalk isn't exactly my forte."
"Maybe I can help," Neal offered. "Why don't you try a black sheet of paper instead of white? Then you could just use white chalk and make the image pop against the background."
The girl nodded. "That could work. Maybe I could draw a panda?"
"That's a great idea!" Neal smiled.
The girl was delighted that Neal liked her idea. "Thanks, Mr. Caffrey."
"Call me Neal. And no problem…?"
"Alice." she smiled. "I should go switch this sheet for a black one. Thanks again!"
Neal felt a newfound confidence flow through him as he continued to walk around and assist other kids with their works in progress. By the end of class, he got to talk one-on-one with the whole class and get to know all their names. They were all happy to talk to him too. He learned that a few of them even wanted to pursue a career in art.
There was still a few minutes left of class, so everyone was clearing their workspace. No one finished their assignment yet but by tomorrow, they'd all be complete.
Neal was walking back to the front of the room when he passed Alice again.
"Wow," Neal stood next to her, "I have to say, that's the best looking panda I've ever seen."
Alice blushed. "Thanks, Neal. It should be finished by tomorrow. I just need to add a bit more."
"Hey, Neal, are you going to be back tomorrow?" a boy named David asked.
"Oh, well, I don't know," Neal said. He was so set on getting back home, but now he didn't want to leave.
"You have to come tomorrow and see our work once they're finished," Alice said next to him.
"I'll have to ask Mr. Burke if he'd let me."
"Ask me what?"
Everyone looked up at the front of the classroom where Robert and Peter stood.
"Can you let Neal come back tomorrow?" Alice asked.
The class gave a unanimous Yeah!
"Only if you want to, Neal.," Robert said.
"I'd love to," Neal smiled.
The bell rang and all the students gathered their stuff. Everyone passed Neal on the way out and said their goodbyes.
"Everything go okay?" Robert asked once the last of the kids left.
"Yeah, everyone was great."
"So, I'll see you two tomorrow then?"
Peter looked at Neal, letting him answer.
"Yes, I think so," Neal nodded.
"Awesome." Robert looked at his watch, "Well, I gotta run to a meeting now. Bye!"
Peter and Neal parted ways with Robert and outside to the car.
"What made you change your mind?" Peter asked once they were in the car.
"I don't know," Neal said, trying to figure it out for himself. "I guess the whole class did."
"I'm glad you changed your mind."
Neal looked at Peter. "Really? Why?"
"I thought that this would be nice for you." Peter said honestly, "It would show you that you can use your talents for something more rewarding."
The car went silent for a while.
"Thanks for bringing me up here, Peter. I mean it."
Peter was surprised at Neal's sincerity. "No problem."
The next day, Peter and Neal were back at the school. Robert told Neal that he didn't have to teach the Art 1 class again, but Neal persisted; he wanted to show he was capable of handling the class.
"—and if I see any paint out during this class or anything flying, I assure you harsher punishments will be given out," Robert told the class. "Am I clear?"
"Yes, Mr. Burke," the class mumbled.
"Have a good class." Robert walked out with Peter and closed the door.
Neal faced the class. "Today—" he stopped once a girl's hand shot up. "Yes?"
"I did a little research last night."
"Well, that's always good," Neal smiled.
"I Google'd Neal Caffrey. Is it true you're a world-class art thief and forger?"
Neal's smile faltered for a second as the class started talking amongst themselves.
"Who gives a shit?" Billy shouted.
"You better watch yourself, Billy," the same girl said. "I read that he was in prison. For almost four years. But he escaped and got thrown back in."
Billy stopped laughing at the sound of prison.
"And now," the girl continued, "he's made a deal with the FBI. He's a consultant for them. Mr. Burke's brother is the FBI agent who caught him!
The class started talking even louder now and Neal just stood in the front of the room. He really needed to talk to Peter about this. If a simple high school girl could look up his deal with the FBI, so could bad guys looking to get revenge on a snitch.
"Yes," Neal said loudly and the class stopped talking. "That's all true. I broke out of prison, got caught again, made a deal with the FBI to work as a consultant, and now I work with the guy who caught me, he paused, "Any questions?" the class remained silent, "Great, let's get started." There was no reason to tell them about the anklet, no, he'd just leave that bit out. "Mr. Burke told me you guys have been working on your latest portfolios. So, that's what you'll be doing today. Go ahead and start working."
The class went to the back of the room and got their portfolios out and began working. No one talked above a whisper. When Neal walked by, those whispering got silent and only started talking again when he passed them.
Neal moved to the other side of the room by the boy whose name was Daniel. He was hard at work on a sketch.
"Hey," Neal pulled up a chair, "I'm sorry about what happened to your painting yesterday."
Daniel looked up from his sketch. "It's okay. It wasn't your fault."
"For what it's worth, I really liked it. You have some real potential," Neal smiled.
"Really?" Daniel's eyes lit up.
"Really."
Daniel put down his pencil. "What was it like being a forger?"
That wasn't exactly the type of question Neal wanted to answer, but he decided to be truthful with the kid. "It was exciting, fast paced, and challenging." He saw Daniel smile. "But I'm not encouraging that career path. It's tiring and eventually you get caught. And not everyone is as lucky as me. I get to work with a guy who I know has my back."
"Mr. Burke's brother? The guy who caught you?" Daniel asked, trying to understand how a FBI agent and ex-con could be friends.
"Yeah, that's Peter. I can't say we were best friends from the start, but I trust him now."
"Wow."
Neal spent the rest of the class period walking around the room, making sure everyone was working, and talking to Daniel about his favorite artists.
"—but my top favorite has to be Raphael."
"You have great taste," Neal smiled.
"One of my personal favorite of his is actually missing, St. George and the Dragon," Daniel said sadly. "It was stolen a few years ago; no one knows where it is."
Neal was glad some things couldn't be found on the internet.
The bell rang and the class walked quickly out of the room, probably to tell their friends that an ex-con was teaching their art class.
"Well, I don't want to be late for Algebra," Daniel stood up and grabbed his book bag. "It was great talking to you, Neal. Are you going to be here tomorrow?"
"Maybe, I'll have to ask Peter."
"Ask me what?"
Neal and Daniel turned and saw Robert and Peter waking toward them.
"Mr. Burke," Daniel faced Robert, "Can Neal come back again tomorrow?"
"Hmm, I don't know can he?" Robert asked Peter.
"We do have to get back to the office someday," Peter caught sight of Daniel's frown, "but I think they can do without us for one more day."
The bell ran and Daniel suddenly realized he wasn't sitting in his Algebra class.
"Don't worry, Daniel, I'll write you a pass," Robert picked up a piece of paper and wrote down something down. "Here you go."
"Thanks, Mr. Burke," Daniel took the note. "I'll see you tomorrow, Neal!" he walked out of the room and to his next class.
"Looks like you made a friend," Robert smiled. "Daniel is one of my favorite students. I'm surprised you got to talk to him, he likes to keep to himself in class."
"I think we both have a mutual respect for art," Neal said.
"Well, don't go teaching him how to forge a painting now," Peter teased.
"Of course not."
"I guess I'll see you guys back here after lunch?" Robert asked.
"Yep, see you soon," Peter waved as he walked out of the classroom with Neal.
For lunch they stopped to get a slice of pizza near the school.
"Good class today?" Peter took a bit of his pizza.
"It was much better than yesterday's that's for sure."
"So, in the halls, everyone was talking about the ex-con teaching art," Peter smiled.
"Really? Word travels fast." Neal put down his pizza and grabbed a napkin. "Some girl Google'd me. Even my agreement with the Bureau is on there. You might wanna look into that."
"Once we get back to the office I'll mention it."
Both of them finished their pizzas and went back to the car.
"Daniel told me his favorite painting is a Raphael," Neal said as Peter was driving to the school.
"Interesting. Would it happen to be the same Raphael that you stole?"
"Allegedly stole, Peter," Neal corrected.
"Right, my bad." Peter shook his head, "Always the hypotheticals with you."
The next class went as smoothly as the first. A few of the kids asked Neal if the rumors were true, about him being an ex-con, and he answered honestly. No one really seemed to care. Actually, a lot of them even asked him for his autograph.
By the end of class, everyone finished their projects from the previous day. Alice's panda ended up being the class favorite. When Robert returned with Peter, he said that all the finished works would be showcased at the next school art fair, which got the kids excited.
Everyone was delighted to hear Neal was coming back tomorrow, but sad that it'd be his last day.
It was night time and they were back at the hotel. Peter was watching the game and Neal was reading a book. Neal put down the book to get some sleep but saw that Peter fell asleep on the bed. Tonight Peter was supposed to sleep in the chair and Neal on the bed.
Neal smiled as he turned off the TV and the lamp stand next to the arm chair. He'd let Peter take the bed for tonight.
(A/N): Wow, so this was much longer than I anticipated! I've never taken art at school, so I have no clue how/what Neal would teach. I hope it sounded realistic enough. Anyway, I guess this is it for the story! Thank you all so much for reading! :)