AN- The final sentence is Rietta's!
So, Once again, Special thanks to ALL my amazing reviewers xD Your reviews mean the world to me.
Rietta and I have a little game going on, we give each other dares, and we have to get them into our stories, Either West End Story or Models and Musicians I: Matchmaking. If you spot a dare, let us know, I'll tell you in my chapters if there is a dare or not xD
Special thanks to Rietta for luminous Postits, Summer nights and inspiration for Jacuzzi smut xD
Chapter 5- I Won't Send Roses
One month after chapter 4- 13th July 1999
Ianto Jones was going insane. Not only was he being driven insane by the kids he worked with being oh so excitable about the summer holidays coming up, but also by the length of time that had passed since he had last seen Jack Harkness, that Sunday in London with the gorgeous coat and the dazzling smile. Ianto shook his head and sighed.
It was coming up to the big summer pre-holiday assembly. He had hated them when he was at school, but he tolerated them now that he worked for one. Sighing, he leaned back. As far as he knew they were having some gay man come in and speak to the children about bullying and making them aware of gay rights and support groups.
Ianto didn't hide that he was gay and in fact, he found that a lot of people didn't have an issue with it. It was just some people, either brought up by ignorant parents or influenced heavily by religion.
He heard the bell go and groaned, moving off the comfy chair to stand up as his form group entered the room, chatting loudly.
"Alright guys grab your seats and chat amongst yourselves for a bit whilst I sign off merits and detentions- we're to head to the hall when the bell sounds twice."
"Yes sir!" the children called back and began to talk amongst themselves, speculating wildly about what the theme of this year's assembly could be.
An hour later the bell sounded twice and he ordered his students to line up at the door and to mind each other. Once his students where settled in the hall, he sat in his designated chair and turned to Rhys, who was sat behind him. The teachers were sat next to their forms, along the sides of the hall.
"What do you reckon the entertainment is this year?"
"I don't know- the headteacher's been very quiet about it."
"Alright now, calm down!" an authoritative voice sounded over the students talking. Ianto and Rhys turned back to the front of the hall, listening as the Headteacher addressed the assembly crowd.
"Another year gone, just like that! In this assembly, I've decided to address one of the key issues I've found throughout the year. We're going to talk about homosexuality and homophobia. Do any of you know what these are?"
One child, a young girl from Rhys' class, raised her hand.
"Yes?" the Head asked.
"Homosexuality is when two people of the same gender enter a consensual, personal or sexual relationship."
"Very politely put. Homophobia, then, is the bullying of people who are in these relationships. Here today I have some people to help us: they're from a charity called 'Stonewall' they've sent along a guest speaker who has recently joined them. He'll be coming to join us shortly, but first he's going to entertain us a little. He works in the West End and he's currently doing a show in London, playing the lead in 'Phantom of the Opera'. He's taken the week out of that job to come and talk to you today, and he's going to sing a song for you, then talk to you about gay rights issues. He also likes to get crowd interaction, so don't be shocked if he pulls you up to sing with him."
At this the students and staff laughed slightly, all praying he wouldn't pick on them.
The lights in the hall went out, and a single figure was lit up on the stage. He had his back to the crowd and was wearing a navy blue suit. The figure turned around but didn't begin to sing. Instead he flicked a switch on the board that was resting behind him, turning a separate microphone on, causing a short burst of static before he smiled in Rhys and Ianto's direction and nodded ever so slightly.
The music tinkled around the room, and this time a voice sang quietly from behind the students at the back at the hall.
"I won't send roses, or hold the door; I won't remember, which dress you wore- my heart is too much in control...-"
Ianto turned to Rhys- that voice was so familiar.
"Rhys...-" his sentence was cut off as Jack Harkness, still singing, stood in front of him, holding out a simple box of Thornton's chocolates.
"...The lack of romance in my soul will turn you grey kid, so stay away kid. Forget my shoulder, when you're in need; forgetting birthdays is guaranteed, and should I love you you would be the last to know… I won't send roses, and roses suit you so..."
Ianto stared wide-eyed at Jack, who shook the box as if to say take it before he carried on singing. This time, he walked through the children 'til he stood at the front. The silence in the hall was deafening as he finished the last note.
Ianto hid the tears in his eyes well as he jumped to his feet with Rhys and the rest of the teachers, applauding and whistling along with the students.
"Fantastic!" the Headteacher complimented Jack.
Jack smiled. "Thank you!"
"So- chocolates for our own Mr Jones; any reason why?"
Jack laughed and shrugged "He's cute."
The student body chuckled and the staff smiled.
The Headteacher turned to the students. "This is Jack Harkness; as I said he's a West End Star, currently performing as the Phantom in 'Phantom of the Opera' at Her Majesties Theatre, Haymarket. But today he's here on behalf of Stonewall."
The students clapped and cheered as Jack moved to the microphone.
"Hi there! Gosh, I remember being your age and stuck in these things, and the only thing you want to do is go and get in the sunshine," he smiled. "But it's Cardiff- don't get much sunshine do you?"
The students chuckled.
"Okay, I want you to be honest with me: how many of you know someone who is homosexual or even bisexual? Staff included."
Every single member of staff raised their hand, and quite a few students as well.
"Okay, I'll ask a few of you the same question individually and we'll go from there." He pointed at Rhys. "Does it bother you?"
"No," Rhys responded.
Jack pointed at a young girl in the front row. "And you?"
"No; why should it?" she asked.
Jack grinned. "You're right, it shouldn't."
Jack continued this procedure, getting a few nos and a few yeses in the process, and he knew what his goal was: eliminate the yeses.
"Those of you who said that it does bother you, what is it about it that bothers you?"
A young boy from Ianto's form raised his hand. "Erm, it's not so much that it bothers me as that, well, laws of nature suggest that men and women are meant to fall in love, have children, and that, so..." The boy shrugged.
Jack smiled. "But does nature suggest this? We do get gay dogs, and other animals being gay- it's not something a person chooses. Why would a person choose to be in a minority, choose to open themselves up to being bullied by people around them? I'm gay: I'll hold my hand up and say it, but I didn't choose to be this way."
The young boy looked confused "But...if you didn't choose it...what, I suppose, made you this way?"
"Science is suggesting that it's something that happens in the womb, but I think it will be many years before we even come to an answer to that. I just know that I didn't choose to be gay."
A few of the students looked at him with confusion, but the majority were smiling and nodding along with him and a few, he noticed, were looking gratefully at him. 'Coming to terms maybe' the thought entered his head. He glanced over at Ianto, wondering if the student body knew.
"I wonder..." Jack glanced around the room, "...do any of you know for certain that you have friends who are gay?" he asked.
A few people shook their heads. "Hmm, but if you found out that, say, one of your teachers was gay; or if you found out that your best friend was gay, or even your brother or sister, would it change how you felt about them?"
Students shook their heads. "Why would it?" one student called out. "I mean, they're family: you love them unconditionally."
Jack smiled. "And friends and teachers?"
"They're still human. So what if they like people of the same gender?" a young boy, who must have been all of about twelve years old, said.
Jack smiled at him. "What's your name?"
"Liam Morgan."
"Well Liam, I think you must be the most accepting person of your age I've come across." Liam smiled back at Jack, his eyes shining with wisdom beyond his years. "Do you speak from experience?"
Liam nodded "I have two dads."
Jack grinned and his heart warmed. "How so?" he asked.
"My biological dad was married to my mum, but when my mum walked out on him because she caught him in bed with his best friend, a guy, they both raised me, and I love them both. I don't see no reason why I shouldn't: they're still people, they have feelings, and like you said, they didn't choose it, just like Mr Jones didn't choose it."
Jack grinned. "Is Mr Jones a teacher here?"
Liam and the rest of the student body nodded. "It's no secret," Liam smiled. "But we have every respect for him, just as we do the other teachers. There are some people who don't like it, but Mr Jones just puts them in detention, or any other teacher who hears the remarks."
Jack laughed. "Detention's no fun. Look, I don't expect you all to walk out of this assembly completely over any negative feelings you have about homophobia, because that's all part of growing up, and some of your behaviours will have been influenced by your parent's beliefs and those of others around you."
Some students Jack noted looked affronted. "I know a lot of it is because some people don't understand how people can be gay; but its not about understanding, its about accepting. If you can accept it, then you should have no shame, because in the long run you'll come out the bigger person. Look at Mr Jones: he's openly gay and its 1999. There aren't many openly gay teachers out there, though a lot more than there used to be. That's what Stonewall is here to do: provide advice and support to homosexuals and their families." Jack smiled at the students around him and at the staff. "I'm going to leave some information packs with your headteacher, and if you want one, just go and ask him. You don't need to give names: dragging people out of the proverbial closet is not my thing; helping them out with support and encouragement is."
Jack glanced around and noticed Ianto gazing at him with a look of pride or maybe awe; he wasn't sure, but he knew he had every single person's attention in the hall, and it would be so easy to make Ianto blush… But he had his boundaries: he would take Ianto out to dinner later and maybe serenade the man then... and shower him with numerous kisses, of course.
Looking at the students, most not even sixteen yet, he knew then that these were the children that maybe could make a difference to the world, every child could...Even the smallest of actions could change the universe.
"I believe you will all grow up to be amazing young people. Those for whom this is the last day at school are going into the world, and it's not an easy world to go into. So keep your friends close because you'll always need them, and don't be afraid to show the world who you truly are: it's more accepting that way, and it'll make it easier for you. No life is a bed or roses: some parts are beautiful and fragrant, but we are all caught by the thorns from time to time."
Students and members of staff laughed.
"Are there any questions you have?" Jack asked the students and the staff once the chuckling had died down.
One student raised his hand. "Yes?" Jack enquired.
"Do you have a partner?"
Jack looked taken aback: what he and Ianto had was hardly a relationship. "I'm seeing a man at the moment-wouldn't call it a relationship yet, its only just fledging really, but I hope it develops into one."
The boy nodded and smiled at Jack as a young girl stood up. "I was wondering, you gave Mr Jones chocolates and you seemed to sing to him, any reason?"
Jack laughed and shook his head. "Like I said, he's cute. Are there any questions regarding Stonewall, homosexuality or gay rights?"
"Can they get married then?" another child asked.
Jack shook his head. "Not right now? It's a hard one: I'd like to think sometime in the next ten years it would be possible. To have the same rights as a heterosexual married couple would be a massive step forward in our rights."
"What's the legal age?" another student asked.
Jack smiled. "Eighteen, but there's some legislation coming out soon that should bring it down to sixteen, which is just the same as any heterosexual couple"
Students nodded and smiled.
"Well," the headteacher smiled, "thank you, Jack. I'm sure we'll all be able to take it on board..." Jack smiled and nodded his head, moving to stand near the side of the hall with the deputy headteachers. The students applauded politely, some enthusiastically; the teachers clapping loudly as well.
****
After the students had exited the hall, heading home for the following six weeks, and all the teachers had left to do their last minute tidying up, Jack found himself alone in the big hall, looking round in awe, when he heard a quiet voice, from the doorway.
"And though I know I may be left, Out on a limb, So who needs roses, That didn't come from him."
Jack turned on the spot and smiled. "You know the reprise Mr Jones?"
"Of course," Ianto responded as he moved himself so he was stood in front of Jack. "You know I do! I told you on our first date. Hmm, you didn't believe me then either. Not a very trusting person, are you, Mr Harkness?"
Jack smiled at him. "I was thinking, whilst I'm here… Dinner? Movie?"
Ianto smiled back, noticing the slight nervousness in Jack's voice. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
Jack smirked. "Interested?"
Ianto chuckled. "As long as its not in a school. It's not just the students who are desperate to escape into the sunshine you know."
Jack grinned. "Aww, but playing Teacher and Student is always fun!"
Ianto burst out laughing before stepping forward and embracing Jack in a tight hug. "I've missed you something chronic."
"We've spoken on the phone..." Jack smiled.
"It's not the same. I can't feel these arms around me, can't feel you warm beside me, and I certainly can't feel these lips to kiss," Ianto murmured planting a gentle kiss on Jack's lips.
Jack smiled and nodded slightly. Still unable to speak after such a heartfelt comment, he stroked a hand down Ianto's cheek. He knew he loved him, even if he probably would never say it out loud. He couldn't! Everyone he loved got hurt: his mother, Grey, even Lois had been hurt. He shook his head. Ianto in turn leaned up and placed a deeper kiss on Jack's lips, which Jack returned in kind.
"Let's get out of here," Jack smiled.
Ianto nodded. "You gonna follow me in your car?"
Jack grinned. "Oh yeah, Forgot to tell you…"
Ianto tilted his head in confusion as Jack pulled something out of his wallet, something very pink. A full driving licence. Ianto gaped at Jack and then grinned.
"I'm so proud of you!" he laughed as he hugged Jack then gave him a very promising kiss in the middle of the hall.
Jack laughed. "There were no sexy Welshmen to distract me this time."
Ianto grinned and took Jack's hand and turned to the door, to find a very stunned Headteacher in the doorway. Ianto froze and smiled slightly.
"Well..." Ianto started
The headteacher smiled slightly and started to laugh. "It's no wonder you think he's cute Jack."
Jack grinned and placed his arm round Ianto. "I know; we met in London nearly two months ago when he and Rhys came to watch me in 'Phantom'."
The headteacher smiled. "I have no problem with it." He nodded his head at Ianto. "I expect to see you at the end of August Mr Jones-no gallivanting off over summer!"
Ianto smiled. "Wouldn't dream of it sir!"
"Brilliant! Now, go on, enjoy the holidays!"
Jack smiled and dragged Ianto out of the hall. Ianto led him to his form room to collect his belongings before they headed to the car park, Ianto jumping into one car as Jack jumped into another.
"Just follow me," Ianto called out of his window at Jack as he reversed out of the space.
Jack nodded and gave a thumbs up sign to show he had heard. Some ten minutes into the journey Jack came to the conclusion that Ianto was a very careful driver-either that or he was doing his best to have Jack rear-end him... Whichever it was, Jack found it all the more endearing about the Welshman. And he honestly did intend to rear-end Ianto one day, but not for at least three months. And when he did, there would only be one car involved, or preferably no cars at all and one bed…