the end-of-year assembly was universally hated by staff and students alike.

for the students, it meant sitting in a dark auditorium for nearly two hours while teachers . for the teachers, it meant “surveillance duty”, which was a polished way of saying stand in the shadows and make sure nobody acts a fool.

and because the universe apparently found your suffering funny, your principal had decided the two “new teachers with the most energy” should cover the back center aisle together. you found this out approximately seven minutes ago.

you were still angry about it. not because of malcolm.

well. mostly because of malcolm.

the almost kiss from three weeks ago had been haunting you in increasingly inconvenient ways. at first everything was normal, as normal as it could be between to friends who almost risked said friendship.

but you could feel it. you could feel it in the way you would second guess every interaction with "am i over stepping? am i over staying my time in his life?". he could feel it in the way you wouldn't allow yourself to keep eye contact with him.

then came avoidance. malcolm really didn't want to push any of your boundaries. he didn't want to be somewhere he wasnt wanted. for the sake of your comfort. no more lunch visits. no more “accidentally” stopping by the music room to borrow tape you definitely already had. no more coffee runs where one of you always forgot your wallet and the other paid with a grin.

and god, it was ridiculous.

you had gone from spending nearly every free moment with him to speaking in awkward, painfully professional snippets.

“morning, malcolm” “good morning.” “nice lesson?” “yes.” “good.”

you wanted to scream every time

and now you were standing beside him in the back of a dark auditorium while the principal went on his never-ending tangent about how proud he was of the students. you folded your arms, building a shield up without realizing. malcolm shifted beside you uncomfortably. the silence between you two felt louder than the students.

malcolm cleared his throat.

"you switched perfumes." you turn your head sharply while his stayed stayed on the crowd. like he didn't realize he had said it out loud.

"what?" "your perfume. it's...different."

your stomach flipped before you could even comprehend, and he finally turned to look at you. his face was calm, while your eyebrows furrowed so badly it felt like they might be stuck that way.

"why do you know that?" he shrugged, to casual about this. "i notice things."

you scoffed, "creep."

he only kept looking at you. "i prefer attentive."

you rolled your eyes in annoyance, but your lips betrayed you as they lifted with a smile. "i think that's the first time you smiled at me in weeks."

your smile vanished as quick as it had appeared, "that's not true."

"it is."

you slowly turned your gaze back to the crowd as you swallowed down the lump in your throat.

the lights in the auditorium washed the stagein soft blues and purples. the students in the front rows were lit enough to be seen, but the back where you stood was dim. just enough darkness to make everything feel more intimate than it should.

you hated that. you also hated how your pulse had sped up. you hated that he smelled like home and the cologne he only wears on mondays and special occasions. except it's a friday, and this isn't a special occasion.

"your door was locked during lunch yesterday.", malcolm said. "i was busy."

he shakes his head softly, almost in disbelief.

"it's never locked."

your arms wrap around yourself tighter, trying to convince yourself this convince yourself this conversation wasnt really happening.

"malcolm, i-"

he turned his body to look at you completely. the dim light caught the edges of his face; his cheekbones, the slope of his nose, the tired circles under his eyes from too many writing sessions after grading. theres a desperation lingering in his eyes.

why did he have to look at you like that?

you stammered, but continued on, "you don't get to act confused."

"i'm not acting confused." he whispered back. "we almost kissed, and then you just left."

the volume of your whispers were raising at a concerning speed. "i said i would come back, and i did."

you scoffed, almost offended, "two fucking days later."

"i was trying to respect your space." "malcolm, you vanished."

he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "you were the one who stopped me."

that comment landed. because he was right. it was your hand on his chest, your panicked voice asking 'what are we doing, malcolm?'. at the time it felt necessary. but now? it felt cowardly.

"i know." you closed your eyes at your admission. his shoulders softened slightly.

meanwhile, a group of kids shuffled past the both of you, whispering too loudly, "look, its their first argument as a couple."

their giggling was interrupted as you sternly told them to find their seats, they scattered.

malcolm laughed seeing the authority you definitely don't have. "well now they think we're dating."

you look back to malcolm, "they think we're dating because you always call me honey in public.

"it's okay. you like it."

you opened your mouth. you closed your mouth. he smirked, too pleased with himself.

"i didn't leave for those two days because i didn't want to see you.", his voice was low enough so that only you could hear, "i left because i knew if i saw you any time sooner, i wouldn't have been able to stop myself from kissing you,"

your breath caught, he kept going. "and that fucking terrified me."

you could still hear it, the principal announcing “thank you for being in attendance,” the clapping, the squeak of shoes on stage, but it all faded behind the sound of your own heartbeat.

"i thought maybe i'd misread this."

he looked at you confused, "misread what?"

"us. the tension, whatever signals we had been sending each other." "baby, i promise you, if you want me as badly as i want you, the you didn't misread anything."

it's like everything clicked back into place for you. because here he was, malcolm, your malcolm. the awkward, cocky, weirdly earnest man memorized your coffee order the first time you met just because you said that you liked it. the man who had helped you hang student artwork until seven-thirty on a thursday. the man who once spent twenty minutes pretending to understand abstract pottery just because it made you laugh.

you missed him, so so so much.

and he missed you too.

the main lights of the auditorium turned on, immediately illuminating the entire room. the private moment over, but its effects clearly lasting.

you made the first move.

"i have so many projects to grade after school. maybe...you could keep me company while i do so?"

his smile only grew, and he knew he couldn't miss his opportunity to just exist alongside you again. "yeah, i'll be there."

"i'll make sure to keep the door unlocked then." you rock back and forth from your heels to your tiptoes almost nervously.

"thank you, honey."

the sea of kids ready for dismissal immediately swept you two up, and you could no longer see him anywhere, but it's okay. your cheeks still burned and your arms were relaxed at your sides, the imaginary wall had been broken down.

and this time, you're ready for more.

EXTRA

faye and mareli walk side by side as they make their journey to leave school

"look at mr. mac." faye says, while elbowing her friend.

faye turns to see an entirely too enthusiastic malcolm hurriedly leading kids to the gate, his smile wider than it has ever been.

faye could only laugh at the man, "yeah, they totally made up."

holy chetos guys it's finally DONE yo no shade this took me a week to write I HOPE IT'S GOOD

im so sos soosososososo sorry for the wait life genuinely got too busy and i also graduate in a MF WEEK LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOO get me out of here

anyways did you guys see the tracklist im deadass gonna go crazy i need the album by YESTERDAY im so excited can he drop tour dates next

lmk if this is straight ass ill delete my account

also, after this, ILL BE FULFILLING REQUESTS so if you sent me one fret not it will be getting it's flowers!!

you guys are crazy thank you guys so much for the love on this au i lava u with all my heart te quiero muchos mis amores yall rock my world

lovelies: @camouflagedinglitter @landosnosescars @underurmoonlight @unicorngrl111 @maisieb23 @sweet06tart @hficoabb @joeylikesspn @bag-a-baddie

you're moving swiftly across your classroom, humming softly to the music you had playing quietly in the background as you weave in-between tables. your hands quickly fill with the paint brushes you had been gathering to wash. making your way to the sink, you hear a familiar rhythmic knock against the door. you shake your head as you smile. "come in!", you say over the music.

malcolm walks in with that familiar smirk and his arms swinging confidently at his sides with every step. you don't miss is the way he leans in a bit too close for casual as he finally reaches you. he waits for you to start the conversation. he always does.

"hi, malcolm", comes out almost breathlessly

his smile only grows, "hi, honey"

rolling your eyes, you spin back to the sink and focus on the task at hand. turning on the faucet so a soft stream of water can start. you look down at the brushes, trying to figure out which ones to wash first. malcolm looks at you.

"anything i can help with?" he asks, his eyes never faltering from you. you stop yourself before you grab a brush, and look back at him. "yes actually," you nod like you're about to say something monumental, "can you bring me all the pallets so i can rinse them off too?"

he dramatically stands up straight, his face looking very serious. "yes ma'am, right on it ma'am!"

he immediately starts walking around the classroom, gathering the palates quickly, his long legs making the journey fast. "you are such a dork, you know that right? it's important that you know that." your words slightly broken up as you laugh.

he reaches you in a record breaking speed, arms full of dirty palates. he drops the off in the sink with a splash, "i just think you bring that side of me out. im pretty chill when you think about it."

"i don't think ive ever seen you be chill in the history of...ever." "now you're being dramatic."

you turn the faucet back on, trying to finally finish cleaning everything off. the stubborn paint clings to your hands.

malcolm returns to his previous position, but gets closer with each passing second. you can feel the warmth radiating from his body. were his hands just as warm? your breath hitches at the thought, only slightly. but, he was ever the observer.

"you alright?" he asks, voice low from the short distance. you don't risk looking at him, "im perfect, malcolm."

his eyebrows twitch, it's obvious he's thinking. his silence is loud. his presence is loud, he is loud. "i know you are."

you softly place down the brushes you had begun to wash, and turn your head towards him slightly without looking at him. the water was a steady flow in the background, the only thing breaking the tension.

his hand reaches you, holding the side of your face softly. he redirects you to face him completely. he doesn't miss the way you nearly melt in his palm. he looks different, the usual smug smile gone and replaced with a seriousness that shows he cares.

your jaw clenches and your eyebrows furrow as your eyes finally lock onto his. you can see the desperation in him, how he's holding himself back from something that would change everything.

"malcolm." "i know."

slowly, he closes the distance between you two. you can feel his breath ghost over your lips as your own air gets trapped in your lungs. he pauses right before he can attach himself to you, as if he was giving you time to think. maybe that was the mistake. he's so, so close. and you've been waiting for this for months now.

and yet, you place a hand softly on his chest. not pushing, just stopping him from going any further. you look at your hand, almost confused by your own actions. you look back up to him when he softly says your name.

"what are we doing, malcolm?

he moves the palm that had been cradling your face and holds your hand that is now curled into his shirt. he shakes his head softly and huffs out an uncomfortable laugh at the irony.

"i don't- i don't know."

you look at the clock behind him, and there's only 5 more minutes left of lunch. you've accomplished nothing besides ruining maybe the only chance you had at what you've been wanting for what feels like forever.

"class is almost starting, you have to go before any of the students see you." "just let me enjoy this, please." he rests his forehead on yours, and your hand curls tighter into his shirt. he nods, moving your head in rhythm with his own. "yeah, okay, i'll start heading out."

you slowly move your hand off of his chest, only then revealing the paint smudges on his shirt

"oh shit, malcolm! we have to- to wash it out before it stains." your voice cracks in-between the words. you grab the sponge you had been using earlier, suds still as fresh as they could be, and reach over to start wiping malcolm down. he catches your wrist before you could even make contact.

"baby, hey, it's okay. it's a little paint. i'll be okay." your eyes tear up, and you feel unable hold in any emotion that has whiplashed you all too quickly.

"i'm sorry, malcolm. fuck, im ruining everything. it's not you, i swear, i don't know what i'm thinking," your words are coming out too quickly, overlapping one another and malcolm can barely understand your ranting. he wraps his arms around your shoulders and pulls you in close. muffled, your speech slows down as you take a deep breath trying to ground yourself. as soon as you're quiet, malcolm pulls back and holds your face to look up at him.

"there's nothing to apologize for, i promise. i have to go, but i'll be back. you know i'll come back, yeah?"

you nod softly, a pout settled on your lips.

"good." he kisses your forehead softly, lingering for just a second too long. he reluctantly releases you, and makes his way towards the door of your classroom.

right before he walks out, he gives you one final nod. you nod back. he leaves before he can see the smile that rises on your lips.

he'll be back.

EXTRA

faye elbows mareli and silently points at malcolm walking out of your classroom. she scoffs, "likely place he would be..."

mareli can only laugh at the girl. "look, the paint on his shirt. is it a handprint. on his CHEST?"

"well shit. do they know we're too young to be aunties?? they can't have kids in this economy-"

"shut up, faye."

hey guys....

did u guys think it was gonna be angsty i hope not it was a surprise but also i might be bad a writing angst so #lmk

okay i wont lie this shit was supposed to be out like 2 nights ago but damn is it finals season im sick and TIRED. and i graduate in 3 weeks. like to the dot. been stressed and not blessed lately it is so joever

is this horrible guys lmk ill delete it asap

also HI HI HI all the motion on everything lately i crazy i lava u all

also damn how many times am i gonna say also DO THAT AGAIN OUT JUNE 5TH WHOOOO IS READY I AM I AM i better cop some tickets brodee

him covering phoebe is so dear to me.

should i make a masterlist of this or is it too early for that

one more also, please send in requests of scenarios we might wanna see our duo in! a girl can only think so many thoughts a day </3 and i would love your guys' input!!! i hope i didnt disappoint i really hope you enjoy :3

lovelies: @camouflagedinglitter @landosnosescars @underurmoonlight @unicorngrl111 @maisieb23 @sweet06tart @hficoabb