Author's Note: Welcome back to 2021's edition of Mishaps with Mistletoe, everyone! For me, it can never truly be the holidays until I start posting for this fic :))

Ahhh, Miss Jenn and Mr. Mazzara. Not me just falling in love with these adorable dorks. Why can I totally see them landing under a sprig of mistletoe in cannon?

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Seb asked nervously as he spotted his boyfriend. Carlos was balancing on a desk chair, attempting to tape a small leafy object to the ceiling.

"It's not a good idea," Carlos corrected. "It's a great one. A fantastic one. Perhaps even a perfect one."

He tightened his core to retain his balance and stretched up on his toes. Seb winced and moved in closer in case he fell, but Carlos pressed the tape to the ceiling and jumped neatly off the chair.

"Trust me," he said, "Miss Jenn has been talking about Mr. Mazzara nearly three times a reversal, and EJ said he's been simping over her for weeks. This is the only possible way to go."

Seb nodded reluctantly and turned to leave the drama room, but Carlos caught at his arm. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Seb looked around, thinking maybe he'd left behind his phone or his jacket or his piano music, but Carlos just grinned and pulled him in for a kiss instead. "Mistletoe," he reminded his boyfriend when they broke apart.

Seb grinned and the two boys walked out.

W / T \ Y

Two days later, everyone was gathered in the drama classroom facing Miss Jenn.

"Thank you all for gathering here," she said, arms full of sparkly garlands. "I realize that it is imperative that we practice our musical as much as possible, but it is also imperative that my classroom is fully prepared for the upcoming holiday season. So, in accordance with both of those things… today we will be decorating the room… in character."

The class blinked back at her.

"In that case…" EJ blustered, crossing his arms, "I'm ordering Big Red to do all my work."

Miss Jenn beamed at him. "Wonderful, EJ. But I do need you to pitch in so maybe you can explore your character in a different way. By wooing Belle, perhaps?"

Ashlyn made a face. "I don't want my cousin to woo me."

"Spoken in true Belle fashion, my dear," Miss Jenn commended. She threw out her arms, tossing tinsel at the teenagers before grabbing a piece for herself and striding to the wall. "Now, I believe we can stretch a piece of tinsel from one end of each wall to the other like this-"

She broke off, gaze falling on a Christmas decoration already hanging from the ceiling. "Actors… who put the mistletoe up?"

The teenagers exchanged glances. For two actors, Seb and Carlos did a very poor job looking innocent.

"Well?" Miss Jenn prompted, peering at them. "It couldn't have just appeared there."

"Very true!" came a new voice. Carlos bit back a squeal and grabbed for Seb's arm. "As the early scientists learned, matter can neither be created nor destroyed."

"Benjamin!" Miss Jenn squeaked, spinning towards the doorway. "What are- what are you doing here?"

"I heard there were decorations to be put up," Mr. Mazzara said with a wide smile, stepping through the threshold. "And I happen to be one of the best Christmas decorators around."

He made to stride past Miss Jenn but she grabbed at his arm. "But there's mistletoe!"

Mr. Mazzara paused, looking between Miss Jenn and her class. The drama teacher followed his gaze and hurriedly let go of his arm. "Which, of course, means absolutely nothing."

"No…" Ashlyn piped up, a teasing smile on her face. "It means you have to kiss."

"Oh." Mr. Mazzara cleared his throat and turned towards Miss Jenn. "Of course. I see no harm."

He bent forward, aiming to kiss her cheek, but Miss Jenn twisted her head at the last moment to protest and his lips landed on hers. Carlos squeaked with pleasure, but before barely a second the two teachers were wrenching apart.

"Oh my," Miss Jenn spluttered. "I didn't- that is to say- that was not- oh my."

Mr. Mazzara cleared his throat again. "Apologies, class," he said awkwardly. "That was… somewhat unprofessional and will not happen again."

"Well it might happen again," Miss Jenn squeaked. "If we're being honest."

Mr. Mazzara looked over at her, intrigued.

"It's okay," Carlos piped up, exchanging happy grins with Seb. "We don't mind at all."

Seb squeezed his hand. They had completed this mission with flying colors.

Author's Note: Ahhhh, who else is irrationally excited for this poorly-made TV show to be back on this summer?!