Summary: Requested by 1l1zbeth, a one shot where Phil is an art teacher, and Dan stays behind after school to finish a project. (No smut sorrynotsorry.)

~ ~ ~

It was pretty well known that Dan had the hugest crush on Mr. Lester. He didn't know how everyone knew, because he sure as hell never told anyone. Except Chris. Maybe that's why.

He was sure that even Mr. Lester knew, but if he did, he didn't acknowledge it. Which Dan was grateful for, cause that would just be embarrassing. He'd never be able to go to school again.

He knew it was kind of weird to have a crush on the teacher, but it was also very cliche. He'd read enough fan fiction to make himself believe he actually had a chance with his own teacher, who had to be at least seven years older than him.

But it's not like he could help it. No one chose who they liked, and you couldn't just get over those kind of feelings easily. No matter how much he knew it wasn't socially acceptable, he still carried on with his unrequited feelings, and he cherished them as well.

Needless to say, his constant daydreaming in class got him into trouble all the time, and it was especially embarrassing when he was called out by Mr. Lester himself.

But at least no one judged him for it. Probably because they, too, had had crushes on people older than deemed allowed.

It seemed kind of unhealthy though, because Dan had become so deep in his rapture that he never seemed to connect with anyone else romantically. He'd tried, he really had, because of the obvious fact that he knew he wouldn't ever get his chance with a teacher. But every time he had gone on some blind date or outing, he found he couldn't really enjoy himself as much as he did just sitting in class and staring at those blue eyes and that sexy mess of black hair.

He'd probably be miserable forever.

~ ~ ~

It was Friday afternoon that Dan actually decided to work up the courage to go further in his hopeless endeavors.

He wasn't going to outright throw himself at the teacher, but he'd at least try and satisfy his own selfish needs.

He had art last period, as always, and they were in the middle of working on some huge project. Dan decided that he would stay after school that day and 'finish' the project, while most likely trying not to stare at Mr. Lester's ass the whole time.

He was a nervous mess the whole class, barely getting any work done, and he was actually surprised that he didn't have it on him to stalk Mr. Lester at all. When the bell rang at the end of the lesson, and everyone was packing up to go, Dan say in his seat, his fingers tangling together anxiously under the desk.

"Are you coming, Dan?" Chris asked, staring at him questioningly.

"Uh, no actually." Dan said, smiling weakly. "I was gonna stay after to finish this project."

Chris instantly started smirking, and Dan's face heated up at the clear suggestion in his eyes. "Gonna make a move, then? About time."

Dan scowled at him, looking over to see if the teacher had heard them. "I'm not 'making a move'. I'm just... opening up a bit."

"Well, something's opening up." Chris said, and Dan threw his pencil at him. He only laughed, and then left the class, and now it was only Dan and Mr. Lester.

He was sat up at his desk, looking over some papers, and it didn't even seem as if he'd noticed Dan was still there. This was a bad idea, Dan thought morbidly. He felt like he was suffocating, he had no idea what the hell he was supposed to do. Cough, so that he at least knew he was there? Or just wait until he was noticed. Both seemed kind of lame.

But he didn't have anymore time to speculate because Mr. Lester stood up from his desk and looked up, somewhat shocked to see Dan still sitting there.

"Mr. Howell." He said, and Dan was so fucking whipped, cause just the sound of his last name rolling off this man's tongue sent him into overdrive. "What are you still doing here? I'd thought you might want to do something productive with your weekend."

Dan swallowed nervously, pulling together all his mental strength so he wouldn't stutter when he talked. "I, uh, I thought I'd stay behind today, so that I could finish this project." he said.

Mr. Lester actually looked astonished at those words, as if he couldn't fathom the idea of a student staying after school on Friday. Dan started to go hot under his stare, waiting for him to reply.

"Alright then." He said eventually. "If you need anything, just ask." Dan nodded.

He did actually work on his project, which was a painting that he was really proud of, but if he was being honest, he spent of the time throwing discreet glances up at the teacher.

It was quiet between them, the only sound being Dan's paintbrush and Mr. Lester flipping pages on his desk. He had on these glasses that Dan had never seen him wear before, but hot damn, he looked like a fucking angel.

This wasn't going exactly how Dan imagined it. Of course, in his mind, there was a lot less clothes involved and some more obscene happenings that would surely never be allowed in a classroom. But he didn't think it would be this boring. Obviously, he couldn't keep Mr. Lester from his job or anything, but he just felt thoroughly ignored.

It went like that for half an hour, Dan pretending to work and Mr. Lester actually working, until Dan sighed loudly, and Mr. Lester looked up at him. He needed to stop blushing so much.

"You alright there, Dan?" He asked, and Dan nodded sheepishly.

"Yeah, fine." he said. "Just, having some trouble I guess."

Mr. Lester stood up again, and holy fuck, he was coming over. Dan tried his hardest to remain calm, but he was sure he looked afraid.

"Wow. That's actually really amazing, Dan." his teacher said, looking over his shoulder at the half finished painting. Dan murmured in agreement, focusing mainly on the fact that he smelled delicious.

Dan had always been a fan of drawing and such, and never really thought much of any of his finished works. He'd been told that he was talented, but he never took much more of it. He didn't draw to be talented, he did it to let out some of his caged up feelings. It really was a great outlet.

And this piece was no different. He felt kind of stupid about it, because it was based on his feelings for his teacher, but he did like it.

It was mainly black and white so far. An image of two disembodied hands, reaching out for each other on opposite sides of the page, in almost desperation. And where the fingertips just touched was a burst of color. Or, what was going to be color. Dan had only outlined the vague pattern he had in mind, and was working on filling in the color.

"Is there any kind of story behind it?" Mr. Lester asked, still staring at the painting, and he sounds so genuinely curious, Dan couldn't help the fluttering in his stomach.

"Uh, not really." he lied. "Just, this story I read a bit ago. About this guy, and he really likes this other person. But the other person doesn't seem to feel the same way, and the guy's so desperate for them to." That was partly true. Dan was hesitant on ever letting his teacher know about his feelings, for the fear that he'd be ridiculed because of it.

"How does it end?"

"Hm?" Dan asked, lost in his own thoughts.

"The story. How does it end."

"I haven't finished it." Dan said quietly, also looking down at the painting. It actually kind of hurt to look at it. "I just need to color this bit in right here, and add some more detail and stuff."

He reached out blindly for the red he was using, and he must have been really frazzled, cause he ended up knocking it over, spilling it on Mr. Lester's white shirt.

"Fuck, I'm sorry!" Dan said, jumping up and staring in horror at the mess he'd made. He was just doomed to embarrass himself in front of this man.

"Watch your language, Howell." Mr. Lester said, shaking his hands free of the paint that had gotten on them. "It's fine, really. Happens all the time, me being an art teacher and all. I have another shirt."

Is this real life, Dan thought, staring in wonder and guilt and awe as his teacher started undoing the buttons of his shirt and pulled it off. Was this even allowed? It wasn't fair that Dan had to be subjected to this, knowing full well he couldn't do anything about it.

Fuck, he was gorgeous. His black pants were hanging low on his hips, despite the belt he was wearing, just barely covering his waistline. He was thin, but not in a reedy sort of way, more lean and fit. His skin was smooth and flawlessly pale, and Dan wanted to touch it, touch him everywhere.

He watched as Mr. Lester reached into one of the bottom drawers of his desk and pulled out a folded black shirt, and started to pull it on. Maybe he could spill paint on that, too.

"Are you okay?" Mr. Lester asked, and Dan snapped out of his vulgar thoughts, shaking his head slightly.

"I'm fine." He said, smiling. This whole thing was and epic fail, he should have never stayed after school. The only thing he'd done so far was embarrass himself and openly ogle his teacher's body.

"I, uh, I know this may be a bit out of line." Mr. Lester said suddenly, moving back over to where Dan was still standing. "But, you don't have to try so hard."

Dan stared at him. "W-what do you mean?" he asked.

"Look, it's really not that big of a deal. But I have heard the rumor about you, er, having a crush on me." Fucking great. "And I just want to let you know that, if it is true, you don't have to be so uncomfortable around me because of it."

Dan groaned, closing his eyes as his face turned red. This definitely wasn't a good idea. "I really didn't think that you'd, just.... I'm sorry, I know it's weird for me to...." he trailed off. He couldn't even look up, he was so humiliated.

"No, it's fine, really." Mr. Lester assured, reaching out and touching his shoulder gently. "You don't have to be ashamed or anything, I just don't want it to get in the way of our, uh.... school relationship."

Dan shook his head. "You don't have to be so nice about it, just tell me to stop." He hated that his teacher was taking it so well, that he was being so damn kind. It just made everything more difficult.

"I'm not going to tell you to stop feeling, Dan." Mr. Lester said.

And Dan had no idea what the actual fuck was going on in his head, he must be literally going crazy. He leaned forward, without any sort of conscious, and kissed him.

It was clumsy and awkward, and it only lasted a few seconds before his teacher pushed him away. An unholy mantra of shit, shit, fucking shit, was rolling through his mind, and Mr. Lester was staring at him with this blank expression, and he knew it had been the wrong move, he was fucked.

He turned, ready to leave and go sulk in his room for the rest of his life, but Mr. Lester grabbed his arm. He didn't look back though, he really didn't want to see the look on his face.

"Where are you going, Dan?" He asked softly.

"To fucking kill myself." Dan said, and he felt hot years burning in his eyes. Because crying always solved everything.

"And why would you do that?"

"Because I'm stupid." He said. "I know you don't feel the same way, I'm so idiotic for even trying. I just want go, okay, and we can forget this ever happened, please, just let me go."

"Dan, I'm not going to lie to you and say that I'm not the least bit attracted to you." His teacher said, and Dan finally did look up, staring at him in disbelief. No way he'd actually said that. "But you're a student. And I'm a teacher. And stuff like that doesn't work out."

"It's not like I'm fourteen, Phil." Dan said, not even caring that he'd used his first name. "I'm eighteen, I think I can do what the hell I please."

Mr. Lester, Phil, sighed in exasperation, dropping Dan's arm and running his fingers through his hair. He looked way less like a teacher and more like a regular person, in his black T-shirt and messy hair. He looked even sexier like this, Dan had to admit.

"Are you sure you even want this?" He asked, and Dan nearly laughed. He moved forward instead, reaching out and cautiously brushing his fingers across his teacher's collarbone, watching as it shifted under his touch.

"You really have no idea how deep this goes, do you?" He said. Phil shook his head, watching as Dan continued tracing along his throat and to his jawline.

Dan kissed him again, more slowly so that he could pull away if he wanted. But he didn't. He kissed him back, softly, as if trying to find out what their pace was.

This really couldn't be happening. Dan had been dreaming about this for almost two years now, about the gentle drag and pull of Phil's lips against his own, his hands roaming across his chest and twining into Phil's hair, their hot breath mingling as they kissed. It was beautiful, better than he'd ever imagined.

Phil pulled away, his breathing slightly off kilter, but his eyes were shining. "This can't be public yet." he said, his mouth creasing in worry. "Not that I'm ashamed or anything, I just don't think it's go over well with my boss.

Dan nodded, because he completely understood. He wouldn't tell anyone, not even Chris. He didn't want to risk this.

They spent the next twenty minutes just kissing, like they were getting to know each other or something, until Dan's phone chimed in his pocket with a text from his mum, saying he was late.

"I have to go." Dan said breathlessly, and Phil nodded. Both of them were out of breath and red in the face, and smiling.

"I'll see you on Monday, Mr. Howell." Phil said, trying to act more professional. Dan only laughed.

"You too, Mr. Lester."