Chapter Nine
Late Night Callers and Final Assignments
Marco was sitting at his computer on Monday night trying to decide where he was in his life and what song he wanted to choose for his own assignment. It was nearing midnight when the phone rang next to him, jarring him out of his musings.
Marco automatically reached for the phone without checking the caller id. "Hello?"
"Hey, Marco."
Marco flinched at the drunken voice on the other end, "What do you want? Is everything okay? Paige? Chad?"
"Everything is fine. Paige is still pregnant and Chad is still in the doghouse. I called to say I miss you."
"You don't have the right to miss me, Dylan. You served the divorce papers, you left again, it's all been you this time. I didn't drive you away. I wasn't mean or abusive. I loved you and then I graded you fairly. You left, Dylan. You need to decide if I am what you want or not. But fair warning, don't wait too long because I won't be here forever," whispered Marco.
"Why are you whispering? Is there someone there with you?" inquired Dylan angrily.
"Yes, he's in the other room and I don't want him to overhear this. It might cause a fight, which I am too tired for right now. Good night, Dylan."
Marco hung up the phone with disgust. He shook his head and his expression changed to sadness. He swore that sometimes he felt like an etch-a-sketch. It did give him an idea about his paper though and he sought the lyrics to his song.
Scott emerged from the bedroom at one in the morning. He looked mussed from lying in bed, "Are you coming to bed?"
Marco swiveled his chair and smiled slightly at him, "Yeah, just a minute. I found inspiration for my paper in my class. I'm just putting the finishing touches on it now."
Scott nodded sleepily and bent to kiss Marco briefly before shuffling back to the comfort of a warm bed.
Marco smiled in triumph at his latest essay and saved the document before shutting the computer down. He made his way to the bedroom to find Scott sitting up against the pillows. He looked so cute, all rumpled with his hair sticking up every which way. Marco smiled again as he stripped off his clothes. He didn't bother with pajama pants this night; he knew they were going to be removed soon enough.
The pseudo-couple made love three times before falling asleep in each other's arms. There was an odd sense of peace between the slumbering couple.
Dylan went to bed that night alone. He was too drunk to care whether or not he got off that night. He had enough to think about without adding to the stress.
His dreams were more like memories last night instead of an actual dream. He saw times in his life that he was trying hard to forget. He saw the first time he met Marco in his basement. The first dinner at his house with the pasta and a cute Italian boy cooking. He witnessed their first kiss and their first real date. He watched as they danced at his senior prom and went ice skating at the rink. He saw their first time making love and then falling asleep in each other's arms. He watched as Marco cried over having to let go and watch Dylan leave for college. He saw Marco in the locker room after soccer practice, all wet and enticing, knowing he couldn't touch. The memories just kept coming until the last few began to taper off. He saw Marco kissing Braden and then Scott. He saw the hurt look on Marco's face when he turned to leave him this last time.
Dylan woke the next morning in a very bad mood. He didn't want to deal with the skeletons in his closets. He didn't want to love his husband that much. He didn't want to have to work so hard to keep everything good.
Marco woke in a safe embrace of warm male. He smiled slightly as he inhaled the scent of Scott. He kissed the pec his cheek was lying on.
"Good morning, gorgeous," said a sleep-roughened voice.
"Hello yourself, love. What would you like for breakfast?" inquired Marco of his bedmate.
Scott smiled at the brunette, "You on a silver platter. Oh hell, skip the platter."
Marco chuckled, "If we only had the time. You need to shower and go to class. I have another class to teach in a little over an hour."
Scott groaned as Marco slid out of bed and padded into his bathroom. Once his morning ablutions were finished, Marco entered his bedroom and pulled on a pair of pajama pants. He swatted Scott on the butt before leaving the room. He tossed back over his shoulder, "If you aren't in the shower within five minutes, I am coming back in here with a pitcher of ice cold water."
Scott entered the kitchen twenty minutes later, showered and dressed. "Something smells great," he commented.
Marco smiled, "I'm making waffles!"
Scott chuckled, "Okay donkey. But I was referring to you not the food. You always smell delicious," murmured Scott as he nibbled on Marco's neck from behind.
Marco batted at Scott as he kept nibbling, "Stop that. You need to eat and I have to get ready for my class."
"Alright, fine but let it be known that I want a rain check for later."
Marco smiled sweetly before responding, "It depends on if you are a good boy in your class today."
Scott laughed and sat down to eat.
Dylan decided to skip his morning class to work on his paper for Marco's class. It was due in less than twenty-four hours and he finally got the inspiration that he needed.
As Dylan searched the internet for the lyrics, he decided that this had to be the hardest paper he had ever had to write.
Once he found the lyrics, Dylan set out to write the remainder of his paper. He worked on it for almost an hour before he felt satisfied at the outcome. He quickly saved the document on his computer and shut it down. It was now time for practice and he couldn't be late or coach would have a fit.
On Wednesday morning, Marco stood in front of his class and smiled. He knew they had two more days of class but this was the final hand in assignment. "Okay class. Since this is our final class assignment, I just wanted to say thank you. You have made my first class an experience I'd like to repeat. I know I promised that I would write the paper with you and I did, to prove it I am handing in a copy to have another teacher grade. I will have a grade on my paper on Monday when you have one on yours. If I get above a B on it, I will even read it aloud to you, maybe even bring in the song to play."
There were some murmurs from some of the students but no one spoke up about their concerns.
"Now, since we only have fifteen minutes left in class, please pass your papers forward. Oh, fair warning, I may read some of the better ones out in class on Monday. I will approach you first to see if you don't mind sharing or if you wish to remain anonymous. Thank you again for being a wonderful class. Have a good weekend!"
Marco watched as his class disappeared through the doorway, all except one. "Can I help you, Mr. Michalchuk?"
Dylan nodded, "I wanted to tell you that I had Paige read over my writing and if you deem it worthy, I'd rather you not read it aloud. It is a subject that is still a little to raw to share."
Marco nodded, "Okay. I will take that into advisement when I chose which ones I want the class to hear. I will see you on Monday."
Dylan left the classroom without looking at Marco again. He wanted to look, he needed to look but he stopped himself in time enough not to make a fool of himself.
Marco sat with his students' papers in his lap, again. He opened another bottle of wine as he read the songs and their meanings. The themes were repetitive but some of his students had some life altering three months. Two fell in love with each other, three broke up with their lovers and one got pregnant and miscarried. There were some really well written ones and some that were barely coherent.
Marco sighed again as he held the last paper in his hand. This was the one that would mean the most to him personally and it was daunting.
He sat up straight, downed an entire glass of wine and braced himself to read the words that were on the white paper.
Final Assignment #20Dylan Michalchuk
I Remember You
Skid Row
Woke up to the sound of pouring rain
The wind would whisper and I'd think of you
And all the tears you cried, that called my name
And when you needed me I came through
I paint a picture of the days gone by
When love went blind and you would make me see
I'd stare a lifetime into your eyes
So that I knew that you were there for me
Time after time you were there for me
Remember yesterday, walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand- I remember you
Through the sleepless nights, through every endless day
I wanna hear you say I remember you.
We spend the summer with the top rolled down
Wished ever after would be like this
You said I love you babe without a sound
I said I'd give up my life for just one kiss
I'd live for your smile and die for your kiss
Remember yesterday, walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand- I remember you
Through sleepless nights, through every endless day
I wanna hear you say, I remember you
We've had our share of hard times
But that's the price we paid
And through it all we kept the promise that we made
I swear you'll never be lonely
Woke up to the sound of pouring rain
Washed away a dream of you
But nothing else could ever take you away
Cause you'll always be my dream come true
Oh my darling, I love you
Remember yesterday, walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand- I remember you
Through the sleepless nights, through every endless day
I wanna hear you say, I remember you
Remember yesterday, walking hand in hand
Love letters in the sand- I remember you
Through the sleepless nights, through every endless day
I wanna hear you say, I remember you.
My darling Marco,
I will always remember you. I hope you do too. I know every memory and every song. I know all the words and all the promises. I just can't live in the past anymore. I have to move on and so do you. I know we tried to make it work but I think we were fooling ourselves. I will always love you, you may not have been my first love but you were my true love. Please be happy with whatever you do. I hope we can still be friends in some capacity.
Love your husband,
Dylan
Marco was crying by the time he finished the letter Dylan had written. He couldn't begin to describe how he felt, he just knew that it hurt. He did remember and would always remember.
Marco sighed as he set down his red grading pen. He'd put an A on the top of the paper without any hesitation. It was well written and he got his point across.