Unexpected

Peter hadn’t really known what to expect once he’d graduated from college. Everyone else seemed to just fall into their dream job, or go off and pursue their dreams while Peter just..stayed at a standstill for a while. He got a job at a coffee shop to save up money for his own apartment, knowing that despite May’s insistence that he was more than welcome to stay as long as he wanted, he couldn’t live with his aunt forever. He wanted independence, he just had to figure out in what form he wanted it. 

Seeing the flyer for a course that trained people to teach English across the world had been a pleasant surprise one warm morning as he was getting changed into his apron in the back of the coffee shop. One of the other employees had been given the flyer and forgotten to take it home again after their shift. They never ended up taking the course but Peter did, just for something to do.

He hadn’t expected that he’d end up enjoying it, become excited at the thought of going to a foregin country and starting a new life. Before long, he found himself fully trained, with the offer of a job in Rome, to teach some university students over the summer. He hadn’t been entirely sure if he wanted to take it, it suddenly felt so far away, he couldn’t just go home every weekend..

May, Ned and MJ simultaneously telling him he’d be an idiot if he didn’t go soon changed his mind.

The crying at the airport when May dropped him off had been something Peter absolutely anticipated, though maybe not much he’d end up crying. (Admittedly, the lingering hangover from his goodbye party may have had something to do with his added emotions.)

The nerves from the moment he stepped into the airport in New York to the moment he was stepping outside the airport in Rome were also expected, but he hadn’t anticipated being overwhelmed with excitement too. Everything felt different, new and exciting. 

Despite being assured he’d be living in a high quality apartment, Peter hadn’t expected it to be as nice as it was. On the outside, it was a slightly crumbling, though classic redbrick building, in a row on a quiet cobbled street with flowers on every window and leaves climbing the walls, and inside it was thoroughly modern and comfortable. It was home, for the next three months.

His first day meeting the group of students he’d be teaching was full of expected nerves and excitement. He’d been expecting them to be around 18, young and excited, worried it might be a huge class. It had been a pleasant surprise when he’d been taken to the classroom in the quiet university and found himself greeted with twelve students all the same age as him or a year younger, wanting to finesse their english before graduating and heading out into the world. 

Silly as it was, Peter had been expecting that maybe they wouldn’t like him, or just see him as a typical teacher they could ignore or push around. It was an unexpected surprise that they were all incredibly friendly and charming, treating him more like a friend than a teacher, while still respecting that he did have a job to do. 

Perhaps the biggest surprise to Peter was one of the students in particular, Tony. He was easily the most drop dead gorgeous, beautiful, stunning person Peter had ever seen in his entire life. He hadn’t thought people could actually look like Tony did outside of movies. Despite the fact that they were the same age, Tony had a more..mature attitude. He was laid back and calm, always meeting Peter’s eye whenever the teacher happened to look in his direction (which was a lot, Peter couldn’t help but admit) and giving him a charming smile. 

As the time went by, Peter grew more confident in his teaching abilities, his class learning with ease. He was a little lonely at first, after spending the mornings and some afternoons teaching, he’d go and get something to eat or just sightsee for a couple of hours, but he missed just hanging out with Ned and MJ, doing nothing at all. 

After a couple of weeks, Tony stayed back after class one afternoon, offering to show Peter around the city, apologising (in Italian) for not offering sooner, then apologising for speaking Italian (in Italian) until Peter laughed and accepted the offer for the..not-date. Absolutely not a date.

He’d thought maybe they would just go for a walk, look at some buildings and call it a day, Tony getting fed up with showing an American who could just about understand him around his home city. But no, they’d left the university building and Tony had led Peter to a cherry red scooter, offering him a matte black helmet and a charming smile.

It was certainly one way to take in the sights, once Peter had managed to calm down and realised Tony knew how to drive, feeling a little embarrassed for not letting go of the boy’s waist, not that Tony minded.

After that, Peter found himself spending a little more time with Tony, much to his surprise and secret delight. Tony had asked if it would be possible to get some extra tutoring, even just for an hour a week. He wanted to travel the world himself after graduating, and Peter couldn’t help but blush a little when Tony had told him with a wink that New York was high on his list.

They never did anything except some more sightseeing, or going to get an ice cream after class. Sometimes some of the other students would join them, though Peter always liked it when it was just him and Tony alone. The boy was fascinating to him, he’d get excited when Peter asked about the history of a building or what sandwich was best in a cafe, his whole perfect face lighting up. 

On the 4th of July, Peter found his classroom empty, save for a note on his desk telling him to go outside. It had been an incredible surprise to find all his students cheering when he left the building, waving little American flags and insisting they take the day off to celebrate. They’d gone to an incredibly cheesy American restaurant, which Peter enjoyed only because Tony sat next to him in the booth and kept brushing their arms together.

One weekend, as a surprise, Peter had managed to organise a trip up to a lake, relieved that all the students were excited to go. They’d spent three days hanging out, swimming and messing around in the water with silly splash fights and games of chicken. They’d stay up late getting drunk and telling silly stories, making each other laugh until it hurt. It was one of the times Peter almost didn’t want to call home, he was having too much fun.

There was a near-kiss on Peter’s birthday. There was a big festival happening in the city, and his students had insisted Peter come out and party with them. He hadn’t told any of them about it being his birthday, but Tony had taken him aside when they were all dancing in the street, the two of them standing under the arch of a closed cafe. Tony had explained that he’d snuck into the main office of the university and found Peter’s file, wanting to know when his birthday was. Then he’d taken off his backpack and taken out a small wrapped present, the red wrapping paper glinting in the moonlight. It was a small, blue velvet book of Italian folklore, a simple greeting written neatly on the inside cover. 

Peter had almost cried about it, quickly blinking away his tears. A couple managed to fall down his cheek, and when Tony gently lifted his hand to wipe them away, Peter felt like he might kiss the boy then and there. He almost did, and he could tell Tony was about to lean in too, but some of the other students came and dragged them away to see the fireworks lighting up the sky.

All too soon, Peter was teaching his last class, tearing up and full on crying when after the class the students presented him with a cake, wine and a wonderfully decorated photo album full of snapshots of his time there, all of them looking so happy and joyous.

After the class, they all gave Peter a huge hug and thanked him for everything, leading to more tears. Tony had stayed behind once again, and Peter had hoped, a little bit, that maybe it meant something. Nothing happened, beyond Tony tanking Peter again for the extra time he’d put in and wishing him well. He asked about Peter’s trip home, wishing him a safe journey and giving him a last, lingering hug before leaving him alone in the classroom.

The journey to the airport was much worse than the one he’d taken back in New York, trying desperately not to cry in the back of the cab. It had been the best experience of his life, and he while he wished it could’ve ended with just one kiss..he accepted that life wasn’t a movie, and he should just treasure the memories he’d made.

There was still some time to spare when Peter got to the airport, and he decided not to head through security straight away, taking a moment to get a coffee and read some more of the folklore book (he’d only realised after reading it several times that Tony had hidden little notes in it, pointing out his favorite tales and making little jokes).

Occasionally, he would look up and see people saying goodbye or hello, embracing each other lovingly. It made his heart clench everytime, knowing it was futile.

When he heard the call of “Professore!” with a very familiar voice, he was pretty sure his heart stopped for a moment. When he dared to look up, he found Tony jogging over to him, a wide grin on the boy’s handsome face.

They talked for a moment as Peter stood up, unable to stop the blush on his face. Tony explained that he’d forgotten to give Peter something, reaching into his back pocket and handing over a small piece of folded paper with his name and phone number on it.

“For when I am in New York,” Tony smiled. “we can..meet up?”

“Yes,” Peter nodded, biting his lip softly as he looked at the paper in his hands, a wide smile on his face. “that sounds great..”

“There was..” Tony took a step closer as Peter went to pick up his bags. “one more thing I want to give to you..”

The kiss was better than anything from a movie, it was real, and Peter savored every moment.

“Maybe..this,” Peter held up the paper in his hands. “could also be used to..set up a date, some day?”

“Yes, of course,” Tony nodded enthusiastically. “I will wait for your call..I’m going to New York next month..”

“You are?” Peter couldn’t fight his smile, pretty sure even the tips of his ears were pink by now. “you didn’t tell me..”

“I wanted to surprise you,” Tony beamed. “if that’s okay?”

“It’s..unexpected,” Peter laughed softly, biting his lip. “but in the best way..”