Monday morning hit him like a freight train. The alarm on his phone blared at six thirty, the same obnoxious tone he had been using since freshman year. Kota groaned and slapped at the nightstand until the noise stopped. For a long moment he just lay there, staring at the ceiling, the posters of old football stars gazing back at him with frozen determination. School. He was actually going to school today. It felt like a lifetime since he had last walked those hallways.
His bedroom door creaked open and Khalil's head appeared, already dressed in his work jacket, tool belt clipped around his waist. "Rise and shine, son. Time for school. I can drop you if you hurry up."
Kota sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Nah. I already got a ride. Someone's picking me up."
Khalil's expression flickered, a brief moment of surprise before understanding settled in. He knew what that meant. The elevator boy. The one with the van. The one who had made those weird comments about construction buildings and getting off.
Khalil didn't say anything about it, though. He just nodded once, his jaw tight, and turned toward the door. "Alright. Be good. Stay strong." The front door clicked shut behind him a moment later.
Kota showered quickly, the hot water washing away the last remnants of sleep and the lingering soreness in his muscles. He brushed his teeth, gargled mouthwash, and stood in front of his closet trying to decide what to wear. He settled on a white hoodie, clean and simple, paired with his usual cargo pants and sneakers. Nothing fancy. Just comfortable. Just normal.
He grabbed his phone and called Theo. It rang twice before his boyfriend picked up, his voice slightly breathless like he had been rushing around.
"Darling! Good morning. I was just thinking about you."
"You at school yet?" Kota asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.
"No, not yet. I'm still dressing. Father wanted to have breakfast together this morning, which always takes forever because he critiques everything from my posture to my choice of marmalade. I'm running a bit behind." There was a rustle of fabric on Theo's end, like he was pulling on clothes while talking. "Why? Did you need something?"
"Can I get a ride to school? Corey's van is out of commission and I don't want to take the bus."
"Of course, darling. I'll be there in about thirty minutes. Is that alright?"
"Yeah, that's perfect. Thanks, Theo."
"Anything for you. Love you."
"Love you too."
Kota hung up and finished getting ready. He pulled on his white hoodie, adjusted the collar, and checked himself in the hallway mirror. The bruise on his nose from Davion's punch had faded to a faint yellow smudge. The hickeys on his neck were mostly hidden by the hoodie. He looked presentable. Normal. Like a regular student going to a regular day of school.
He waited twenty minutes, scrolling through his phone and ignoring a new message from Sebastian that was already three paragraphs long and full of words like "pedagogy" and "intellectual communion." Then he headed downstairs, taking the stairs two at a time, and pushed through the front doors into the morning light.
The sleek white McLaren was already at the curb, its engine purring low and expensive. The morning sun glinted off the pearl white paint, and the tinted windows reflected the apartment building in dark, distorted shapes. Kota walked around to the passenger side and climbed in, the buttery leather seat hugging him like it remembered his shape.
Theo was behind the wheel, his blond hair falling in perfect waves around his face. He was wearing a crisp navy suit with a pale blue tie, looking every bit the young principal he was supposed to be. But underneath the professional exterior, his cheeks were already flushing pink, his eyes bright with that familiar nervous excitement.
Kota leaned across the center console and kissed him. It was soft at first, just a press of lips, but Theo made a small, eager sound and deepened it, his hand coming up to cup Kota's jaw. The kiss turned hotter, wetter, Theo's tongue flicking out to trace Kota's lower lip.
Theo pulled back first, his face bright red, his breathing quick. "We'll be all over each other later," he said, his voice slightly shaky. "Right now I need to keep my eyes on the road. I already almost crashed once this month."
"Fair enough." Kota settled into his seat, buckling up as Theo pulled away from the curb.
They drove in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the radio playing some soft classical piece that Theo hummed along to. Then Theo glanced over with a mischievous little smile and reached down with one hand, hooking his fingers into the waistband of his suit pants. He tugged the fabric down just a few inches on his hip, revealing the delicate edge of a pair of baby blue lace panties. The same ones from the photo. The satin bow was visible, nestled against his pale skin.
Kota's hand moved before his brain caught up, reaching across the console to touch. Theo gently smacked his fingers away with a soft, teasing laugh.
"Ah ah ah. You can look, darling. But you can't touch. Not yet." He pulled the waistband back up and smoothed his suit jacket, the picture of professional composure.
"All the touching is reserved for when we're alone. In my office. With the door locked."
Kota grinned, his voice dropping low. "I'm going to remember that when I have you bent over your desk while I fuck you."
Theo let out a breathy little purr, his cheeks flushing even deeper. "I'd love to see you try, darling."
They pulled into the school parking lot a few minutes later. The familiar brick facade of Westfield High loomed ahead, the morning sun casting long shadows across the empty sports field. A few buses were still unloading, students milling around the entrance in clusters. Theo parked in his reserved spot near the front, the white McLaren looking as out of place as always among the beat up sedans and pickup trucks.
Kota got out first and walked around to the driver's side. He opened Theo's door for him, extending his hand with an exaggerated, gentlemanly flourish. Theo's face went bright red, a flustered little laugh escaping him as he took Kota's hand and stepped out.
"Kota! You're such a gentleman. You didn't have to—" He leaned up and kissed Kota quickly, a soft peck on the lips. "Thank you, darling."
"You're welcome, Mr. Principal."
Theo was still blushing when he turned toward the school building. And that was when he froze. One of the other teachers, Mr. Delgado from the science department, was standing near the entrance, his coffee cup frozen halfway to his lips. His eyes were wide, darting between Theo and Kota with obvious confusion. His massive ass shifted as he adjusted his stance, clearly unsure whether to approach or pretend he hadn't seen anything.
Theo's face went from pink to crimson in half a second. His hand flew to his mouth. "Oh no. Oh no no no. Only Sebastian knows we're dating. Dating a student is technically not allowed. The school board could—I could get fired—Father would—"
He didn't finish the sentence. He just turned and rushed toward the side entrance, his cheeks burning, his blond hair bouncing, his massive ass swaying with every hurried step. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving Kota standing alone in the parking lot with Mr. Delgado still staring at him from across the pavement.
Kota sighed and shoved his hands into his hoodie pockets. So much for a normal day of school.