Brooklyn, New York in the fall is the most beautiful place in the world. The trees are just starting to turn and the weather is getting a little more brisk. It's the perfect time of year. At least this is what local elementary school teacher Rey Dameron thinks. She has lived in Brooklyn all her life and grew up with her loving brother, Poe. He works in Manhattan and comes to visit his little sister on the weekends with his boyfriend Finn. They are incredibly supportive of Rey and her work at Brooklyn Gardens Elementary School.
Rey has been working at this school for 4 years and loves every moment of it, even if the kids try to push her buttons. At the end of the day, the kids love her and Rey is the most sought after teacher. She teaches first grade and begins each day with a smile on her face. Teaching is her calling and Poe believes she was born to be a teacher. Rey blushes every time he brings this up and she couldn't be more thankful for her supportive brother. She is incredibly thankful to have this job. She works with incredible students each school year and has an amazing, supportive staff including her teacher friends Rose Tico and Jannah Calrissian.
As a teacher, Rey really has two major rules she follows. The first rule is to always create a warm, nurturing environment for her students where they feel safe and happy. This helps promote a wonderful, enriching environment for the kids. The second rule is to not date any parent or guardian of any student. Ever.
For four years, Rey has been able to uphold both of these rules without any problems. There have been a few single dads who have asked her out, even during parent teacher conferences. But she had been able to fend them off in a way that keeps her relationship amicable with her students' family members. This year would be no different.
The ringing of the school bell brings Rey out of her mind and back to the present. It's the first day of school and Rey smiles as she stands up from her desk. She walks over to the door of her classroom, smoothing out her plaid pencil skirt and adjusting her black turtleneck sweater. Rey takes a deep breath and opens the door, stepping outside her classroom and into the hallway. Her ears are greeted by the sounds of little footsteps clattering up and down the hall and the gleeful sounds of children. Rey grins as she sees her new students rushing towards her with some of the parents trying to keep up.
"Good morning everyone! I'm Miss Dameron. Welcome to first grade!" Rey says excitedly to her students and the parents surrounding them.
"Good morning Miss Dameron!" the children reply excitedly.
"Please place your backpacks on the hooks, say goodbye to your parents, and come on in," Rey says with a smile.
She watches as the kids hug their parents and enter her class happily. Some of the kids skip into the classroom while humming, making Rey giggle to herself. Kids really are the best, she thinks to herself. As the last of her students enter the classroom, Rey turned to wave at the parents and watched them walk by. Some nodded towards her with grins or offered her well wishes. Rey nodded back politely and grinned back. The last of the adults walk past her and Rey turns to enter her classroom.
"Alright everyone! Please join me on the rug at the front!" she calls out to her students.
All of the kids move swiftly to the rug and sit nicely on the rug. Could I have asked for a better class? Rey wonders to herself. They are already off to a great start. She walks over to her desk and picks up her clipboard to take attendance. The students listen closely and respond instantly when they hear their name called. Before Rey gets to her last student, she hears a knock on her classroom door. Her eyes glance up from the attendance sheet and she watches as the door opens. A little girl stands shyly at the opening, hands clasped together in front of her as she looks down at the ground. Before she can say anything, Rey hears a clattering of loud footsteps rushing outside.
"Sorry! Sorry! So sorry we're late!" a deep voice calls from outside.
A very tall man skids to a stop just behind the little girl. He stands up and straightens himself as he looks into the classroom. His eyes lock with Rey's and they both stop. Rey feels her heart skip a beat and finds she needs to close her jaw. She stands up, trying to keep her knees from shaking as she stares at this large man who fills up the whole doorway.
"It's completely fine! Please, come in," Rey replies with a smile.
The man smiles back and gently nudges the little girl inside. He holds her backpack in his very large hands. Rey can't help but stare at how incredibly small the backpack looks in his grasp, even more than normal. Her eyes don't leave his and Rey can't help but tremble from this man's gaze. She holds in a gasp when she sees how much the man dwarfs her in size. He smiles at her.
"I'm Ben Solo, and this is my niece Nora," he says, gently patting Nora on her head.
His voice is a soft purr Rey wishes she could hear every single day. Ignoring her racing heart pounding in her chest, she turns her attention to Nora and smiles at her student.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Nora. Please join us on the rug," she replies.
Nora smiles and looks up at Ben. He nods and smiles down at her, gently nudging her forward and watching as his niece finds a spot on the carpet. Ben looks back up at Rey and there is another beat between them, seemingly longer than the first. Rey clears her throat and tries not to get lost in his deep, chocolate brown eyes.
"It's very nice to meet you too, Mr. Solo," she says, grinning softly.
"Please, call me Ben," he replies, smiling back.
His smile makes Rey blush and she tries to hide it by looking down at the ground. Her eyes fall onto Nora's backpack.
"I can take her backpack and hang it on the hook for you," Rey states, slowly holding out her hand.
"That's ok. I've disrupted your class enough. I don't want to get sent to the principal," Ben winks with a chuckle.
His chuckle sends excitement coursing up and down her spine. She giggles and thinks she sees a hint of pink touch his cheeks for the briefest of moments.
"I'll place it on a hook on my way out," Ben continues, waving at Nora before he turns to make his way out of the classroom.
He pauses and turns back. Rey holds her breath, trying not to melt under his gaze. Ben steps closer and extends a hand out to her.
"Miss Dameron, it's been a pleasure meeting you," he says softly, his smile succeeding in melting Rey.
She returns his smile and takes his hand gingerly. It seems as if the world stands still. Nothing else matters except his touch and his gaze. Another beat passes before they finally let go. The spark still lingers in the air between them. Ben waves once more at his niece then turns to leave the classroom. Rey believes she catches one last trace of his smile before he turned away from her.
"Miss Dameron? Miss Dameron?" a small voice asks.
Rey is brought back and she looks down at her students. She smiles and sits down to join them.
"I'm sorry my friends. Let's get started. I'm so excited to have you in my class this year!" she says, trying to ignore her coursing heart beating loudly in her chest.