Being back felt weird, it always did. After spending so many years trying to escape the place he should’ve called home, whenever he was sent back, it felt a bit like a punishment. When his father was finally out of the picture, it was a little less suffocating, and with Tommy married to Beth, he had finally gotten back in line as well. She truly was his salvation.

He was given a couple months of leave, and since it was around the holidays, he willingly decided to spend them with his family, for some reason. Perhaps some sort of challenge with himself, or plain stupidity; only time would’ve answered it. Tommy and Beth had inherited the family’s house, and Simon stayed at the same shitty flat he got many years back for whenever he wanted to stay in town. It was never for long.

He had to admit that he hadn’t been keeping up with what had been going on in his little brother’s life, but he knew they’d had another kid recently, a boy, and he was already in kindergarten. The oldest was in elementary school, a clear sign that he had missed out on so much.

Since he had nothing to do and was bored out of his mind most of the time, while Tommy and Beth worked all day, Simon decided to spend some more time with his brother’s kids. He promised Tommy to go collect his son from kindergarten every day, and that was probably the best decision he had made in his life.

You always stood at the gate, talking to parents and sending their respective kids to them. He was instantly captivated by your beauty. Maybe, just maybe, he had a reason to stay here longer. He was not subtle at all with his flirting, and you didn’t seem to mind it.

The day before winter break started, he got out his good outfit and drove to your school. “I’m sorry, but Tommy has already picked up–” “I know,” Simon replied calmly, a small smile dancing on his lips. “I’m here to pick up his teacher.”