Adele hesitated as she approached the fountain, its cascades of water spraying slightly in the breeze that was chilling the air. She took in a quick visual survey of the immediate area and was satisfied that Aidan wasn’t there. She breathed out a sigh of relief as she wasn’t entirely prepared to face him just yet. What type of man woos a woman with personal art? Or maybe it wasn’t a woo per se, maybe it was to be used as a memory after he politely informs her he doesn’t date crazy women who you have a relationship with, without actually having a relationship. Adele frowned at the carved stonework of a cherub and was jolted out of her thoughts by Aidan’s familiar voice.

“Adele,” he said warmly as he sidled up next to her. He was sporting a well-worn duffle coat and a hand-knitted scarf. “I was worried you wouldn’t come.”

“Why?” Adele asked, still focussing on the fountain.

“You did run off like…” Aidan paused and then mused, “like Jo.” He gently nudged Adele and she allowed herself an embarrassed smile.

“About what I said,” she breathed, finally looking him in the eye. They twinkled with a cheeky warmth.

“What did you say?” he chided. “I can’t remember a thing,”

“Ade…”

“Del, I’m fine with you not being ready for anything more than friendship.”

“But I…”

“No, this is on me for not reading things better and pushing you into something you’re not prepared for.” He gently pushed a lock of Adele’s hair from her face. “And I get that there’s issues with Jo, so many issues, maybe we need to just see where the universe takes us, huh?”

Adele opened her mouth and took several seconds to find words. “Thank you,” she managed as he pulled her into a hug. She buried her face into his coat, enjoying its warmth and the faint scent of turpentine that seemed to follow Aidan everywhere. “Can you give lessons to the rest of the male race on how to talk to women?”

“I’m sure I can squeeze it in between my two current jobs,” Aidan chuckled and kissed the top of her head. “Oh, speaking of how I’m working myself to death, I’ve come to a decision.”

“You’re quitting both jobs, moving to Paris and you’re going to live out your ultimate bohemian fantasy?” Adele teased as she pulled herself reluctantly from his arms.

“Oh, to live in a tiny loft and survive on nothing but croissants and cheese,” he mused, “No, I’m going to give up the night teaching at the end of the semester and go full time at the high school.”

“Why?”

“Better money,” Aidan shrugged. “Sick leave, annual leave and general job security.”

“And will it make you happy?”

“I think so. I do love teaching, and there’s some really talented kids that don’t know how good they are.”

“Planning a Dead Poets Society moment, are you?”

“It’s every teacher’s dream.”

They both laughed and then Adele gasped.

“Oh, Jo is going to be devastated.” She bit her lip. “And Fiona is going to be inconsolable.”

“I’ll have to start giving private lessons,” Aidan said, raising an eyebrow and smiling wryly.

Adele looked vaguely horrified as a cacophony of barking and quacking interrupted the quiet late afternoon atmosphere of the park. Both she and Aidan looked up to see Degas trotting over with a terrified duckling in his mouth and a very annoyed mother duck waddling at speed behind him. He reached Aidan and plonked the duckling proudly at his feet.

“Degs!” Aidan snapped. “You do not steal ducklings, we’ve had this conversation.”

The mother duck swept in and escorted her kidnapped offspring away but not before taking a hearty bite of Degas’ tail. He yelped and darted behind Aidan’s legs.

“Almost done,” Joaquin announced as she fixed some shading around Ben’s neck and shoulders. The more she drew the more she appreciated the finer aspects of Ben’s body; his toned stomach, muscular shoulders and firm calves, to name a few. He blinked and glanced up to where she was still perched on the dresser. “I wasn’t asleep.”

“Yeah, I totally missed you snoring,” she mused as she worked on the wrinkles in the sheet.

“I never snore,” Ben yawned and stretched. “Shit, did I just mess up your picture?”

“Nah,” Joaquin shook her head. “I’m finished anyway.” She slid down from the dresser and padded back to the bed where she sat down heavily next to Ben. He dragged himself to a sitting position.

“Let me see, then.”

Joaquin hesitated a moment and then passed Ben the sketchbook. Ben studied the picture of himself quietly for a few moments. Tracing some of the lines with his finger and cocking his head to the side,

“You hate it don’t you?” Joaquin sighed and dropped her head into her hands.

“Yes Jo, it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen,” Ben chided and then reached out to squeeze her arm. “It’s amazing.”

Joaquin looked at him through her fingers. “You don’t mean that.”

“I love it,” Ben smiled. “It’s me in a way I’ve never seen myself.”

“Badly drawn?”

“Don’t make me tickle tackle you.”

Joaquin dropped her hands. “Do you really like it?”

Ben sat himself fully upright, took Joaquin’s face in his hands and stared her straight in the eye. “I think the picture is the best bit of life drawing I have ever seen and that you are an unbelievable artist.”

Joaquin felt her cheeks grow very warm. “Ok, no need to get handsy,” she mumbled and removed his hands from her face.

“You know if you keep drawing me like that I’m going to start thinking you find me a little bit sexy,” he teased and Joaquin snatched her sketchbook back.

“Just not true,” she frowned, hugging her sketchbook to her chest.

“Look, my sketch face is buried in your boobs,” Ben grinned as Joaquin gave him a slap on the chest with her sketchbook. “Well now that action deserves a tickle tackle.”

Joaquin shrieked and tore from the room. Ben leapt out of bed and took off after her. They did two laps of the kitchen before Joaquin tripped on a discarded catnip mouse and smacked into the fridge. Ben grabbed her arms and pinned them above her head and they stood there panting. His body pressed against hers. They locked eyes and Ben began to slowly move his lips towards hers, and Joaquin shuddered as she felt his warm breath so close to hers.

The phone ringing broke the moment entirely and Joaquin dashed to answer it as it distracted Ben. “Hello…Mom…do I know where to find a hemp what?”

Ben looked at the disgust on Joaquin’s face and decided he should probably get dressed.

“…what makes you think that I….Mom…Daddy has what in vegan leather?”

Aidan yawned as he sauntered into the staffroom, a mug of strong coffee in one hand and information on a couple of classes he had to cover that day in the other.

“Oh Aidan, there you are,” Maureen, the principal’s assistant, smiled as she flailed with a clipboard. “Are you wanting dinner tonight?”

“Dinner?” Aidan looked at her blankly. “For…”

“It’s Parent Teacher Interviews this evening and we usually get some takeaway in since staff are in quite late.”

“That’s tonight?” he winced, and then realised this was probably not the answer of a respected professional. “Kidding, Maureen,” he grinned and winked. “Put me down for dinner.”

Maureen beamed and made a note on her clipboard before making a beeline toward Francine the biology teacher. Aidan, now slightly panic stricken, turned quickly and almost smacked into the principal. His sudden movement sent his coffee splattering down his shirt. He mumbled an apology and hurried from the staffroom trying to dab his shirt with his scarf. Once safely in his homeroom he slumped against the desk. He needed to process that situation and took a deep breath. Ok, he could wing conversations with the parents easily enough. Was there anything else to worry about? Degas and a clean shirt. He slid his phone from his pocket and dialled a number.

“Hello?”

“Hi Del, it’s me.”

“Ade? What’s happened?”

“It’s the funniest thing,” Aidan chided as he began to slowly pace. “I’ve just discovered it’s parent interview night.”

“Surely they give teachers more warnings than that about these things?”

“I’m sure they do if you don’t have a little nap during meetings.” Aidan heard Adele giggle and allowed himself a smile. “Thing is I’m going to be here late and I really need someone to feed and walk Degs.”

“Can’t Dale do it?”

“Dale won’t go near Degs since he shit in his expensive Spanish loafers.”

“Oh dear.”

“If you call in at like 3:30 I’ll give you my key?”

“Ugh, I have a late meeting,” Adele sighed. “I can probably pop in around lunchtime?”

“That works,” Aidan enthused and looked down at his shirt. “Do you think you can rustle me up a shirt as well?”

“Gee Murdoch, you’re asking a lot?”

“Look, if I can’t rely on my non-girlfriend in a time of crisis, when can I rely on her?” Aidan teased as the bell rang.

“If you weren’t adorable I’d be telling you to shove it,” Adele mused before having a murmured conversation. “I have to go.”

“Thank you,” Aidan said quickly as students began piling in. “You are the best non-girlfriend ever.”

“Hemp?” Leo looked ill at the thought. “Why would anyone want one in hemp?”

“I’ve no idea,” Joaquin sighed as they walked through the office. “But then my parents are insane, so,” she shrugged.

“I’m so glad my parents were normal,” Leo mused. “Dad was an engineer and mom worked in a curtain shop.”

“Oh, that sounds lovely,” Joaquin said wistfully as their boss, Jensen Brock, appeared looking annoyingly smug. Then again, he always sort of looked annoyingly smug.

“Owen, a word,” he announced and disappeared back into his office.

“Oh, he’s going to fire me,” Joaquin squeaked and looked at Leo. “He’s realised how terrible I am and is going to fire me.”

“Joaquin,” Leo said firmly and grabbed her by the top of her arms. “Hold it together, woman. He just wants a word. Probably praise.”

Joaquin blinked, shoved the hot chocolate and muffin she’d been clasping into Leo’s arms, shot him a startled look, and headed for Jensen’s office.

Jensen looked up from his computer and watched her nervously walk into the room. She bumped into a coat stand and apologised to it before stopping at her boss’s desk. She stood awkwardly, not sure if she should take a seat and hoping he’d make the decision for her. He didn’t and narrowed his eyes as he watched her fleeting glances to the empty padded chair beside her.

“Everything ok, Jo?”

“Yep.”

“Did you want to take a seat?”

“Do I need to?”

“Entirely up to you,” Jensen smiled. “This won’t take long.”

Joaquin decided she would sit and did so while keeping focussed on Jensen, and this caused her to almost slide to the floor as her bottom skimmed the seat on her first attempt and she did a quick shuffle backwards and hoped no one noticed. “Go on.”

“So there’s a seminar in Sydney that I think you would be interested in,” he declared and passed her a pamphlet. “I know it’s short notice but I’d like you to go to the annual industry cocktail party which will fall on the Saturday evening while you’re there.”

“Cocktail party…”

“You’ll be a fine company representative.”

“Will I?”

“Now, I’m more than happy for you to bring your partner along, too.”

“Oh.”

“So is that all good?” he beamed and folded his fingers.

“Excellent, I can’t wait,” Joaquin nodded as she hurried out of the room, smacking into the coat stand and apologising again to it as she left.

She fled to her desk, fell into her chair and buried her head in her folded arms on the desk.

“Did it go well then?” Leo asked, scooting over to her on his chair.

“I have to go to a seminar in Sydney,” Joaquin whined from somewhere in the crook of her right arm.

“Well that’s not too bad…”

“And the annual cocktail party,” she added lifting her head. “As company representative.”

Leo snorted with laugher. “Oh, you poor boo.”

“I can bring a partner.” Joaquin raised her eyebrows as she looked at Leo. “Don’t suppose you want to come?”

“No,” Leo gasped. “Not ever. And anyway, I have a date.”

“A date?”

“With Trudy from accounts,” he said coyly. “She seems really nice.”

“What about Misty?”

“We’re talking about you here.”

“I could ask Adele.”

“Yeah, like she’s going to give up the chance to be rid of you for a couple of days.”

Joaquin glared at Leo. “Well that’s just mean.”

“True, though.”

“What am I going to do?” Joaquin wailed and began picking at her muffin.

“You could ask Ben.”

“Ben? Are you kidding me?”

“He might surprise you, Jo,” Leo said warmly. “He’s pretty good at these things.”

“Ok, next lesson we are going to start your Australian artist essays. So get excited,” Aidan enthused as the bell went and his class leapt to their feet and began shoving their sketchpads into their bags. “Phi, can you see me before you leave?”

Phi, a Year 11 student of Vietnamese descent with an irritatingly floppy fringe, made his way very slowly to Aidan’s desk.

“Phi, I’ve been looking over some of your work and I’m really very impressed,” Aidan smiled warmly. “You’ve clearly got a lot of natural talent.”

“Thank you sir,” Phi said cautiously and ran his fingers through his fringe.

“Now, I run night classes at the adult school a couple of times a week. I think you’d really benefit from some of the more advanced techniques.” He passed Phi a pamphlet from the adult school and an envelope. “I’ve written a letter for you to give your parents and I can speak to them tonight during parent teacher interviews if you think this is something you’d like to do.”

“Wow,” Phi managed after a couple of seconds and a fringe flick. “Thanks Mr Murdoch, that sounds awesome. I’ll speak to my parents and let you know.”

“No pressure, mate,” Aidan smiled as Phi headed out the room, his face buried in the pamphlet.

He walked back behind his desk and sat heavily into the chair and checked his watch. He hoped Adele wouldn’t be too long. He’d sketched a picture of his packed lunch, eaten his packed lunch and started writing notes on a couple of students for parent teacher interviews when the bell went to signal the end of lunch.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry,” Adele panted as she scooted in the studio door. “My stupid morning meeting ran over, and the phone calls. So many phone calls.”

“That’s ok,” Aidan mused as Adele thrust a shirt on a hanger toward him. “Did you iron this?”

“I made the man in the shop iron it,” Adele flustered as students pushed past her into the room. “You can’t face parents all creasy.”

Aidan grinned and passed her his key. “There should be a tin of food on the counter for him.”

“Excellent,” Adele nodded as her phone started to ring. “Ugh, I better get that,” she sighed as she answered her phone and headed out.

“Thank you,” Aidan called meekly and gave small wave.

“Dude, is that your girlfriend,” piped up TJ, a rather large islander boy.

“What?” Aidan spat as he realised he had a class of students waiting. “No.”

“Dude, she’s a fox, she should be your girlfriend,” TJ declared with much of the class agreeing with him.

“She’s….we’re…I’m trying to make that happen,” Aidan winced. “It’s a complicated adult thing.”

“It’s not complicated, sir,” TJ continued. “She’s feeding your dog for you.”

“And brought you an ironed shirt,” chimed in Lindsey, a girl in a very tiny skirt. “She’s so hot for you, sir.”

“Can we all stop talking now…” Aidan groaned and snatched up a book from his desk. “Today we’re looking at portraits and..”

“I vote we continue helping Mr Murdoch get laid,” TJ interrupted and slapped his hand down on his desk. There was a general agreement amongst the class that this was a very good idea and Aidan closed his eyes and hoped they would all just go away.

Ben strolled into the Mexican restaurant, glanced around, and found Joaquin perched at a little table at the far end. He made his way over and slid into the seat opposite her.

“Well this is unexpected,” he smiled as reached for the menu.

“I was desperate,” Joaquin pouted as she nervously fumbled with the salt shaker and tried not to remember being pinned up against the fridge in a very sexual moment a few days earlier. “The thing is. Well, it’s just…”

“Make a sentence Jo,” Ben teased as a waitress wandered over. “Can we just have the large nachos, thanks.”

“No problem, sir.” The waitress wrote it on her notepad and hurried off.

“I have this work thing,” Joaquin declared rather abruptly. “It’s in Sydney.”

“Ok,” Ben narrowed his eyes. He was nothing if not utterly confused. “And this is bad?”

“There’s a cocktail party.”

“Right.”

“I can bring someone.”

“Ok.”

“Will you come with me?” Joaquin let out a relieved breath as she finally managed to say what was needed.

“Why Jo!” Ben put his hand on his chest. “I feel honoured you’d ask me.”

“Don’t.” She shook her head. “No one else would go.”

Ben’s face dropped.

“I did say I was desperate,” she shrugged as the nachos were placed on the table between them.

Ben picked up a nacho and quickly ate it. “I might not be your first choice but I’m still honoured,” he declared. “And y’ know, I think it might be fun.”

“It won’t be,” Joaquin assured him. “I’ll be at a seminar during the day so you’ll have to entertain yourself.”

“I can watch sports and porn on the hotel TV.”

“The cocktail party will be full of pretentious designers.”

“Are you trying to persuade or dissuade me right now?”

Joaquin shrugged and shoved a nacho into her mouth and didn’t speak until she swallowed. “I just don’t want to force you into something potentially terrible.”

“Oh Jo, anything you force me into can only be an adventure,” Ben grinned cheekily as Joaquin turned pink and took a very long drink of water. “Besides, I’m looking forward to seeing you in all your finery,” he added, reaching for another nacho.

Joaquin turned a deeper shade of pink and tried to steer the conversation back to him and away from her in a frock. “You’ll need a tux for the party. I don’t want you turning up in sweats.”

“I am more than proficient in cocktail attire, Jo,” Ben mused. “I worry about your lack of faith in me.”

“I just worry,” Joaquin sighed, looking forlornly at the remaining nachos. “I’ll probably tear my dress, trip over a dropped canapé and face plant into the punch bowl.”

“Is this before or after downing any cocktails?”

“Before.” She bit her lip. “Last time I went to a very formal function – not just one of Adele’s book launches, but an important do – I nearly took out a high ranking executive when I tripped on my heels, pirouetted as I tried to keep my balance and fell against a table of mini frittatas.”

“I promise to stop you injuring anyone or yourself,” Ben chuckled as he reached out and squeezed Joaquin’s hand reassuringly.

Joaquin looked at him a little surprised, but relaxed as she enjoyed the warmth of his palm. Maybe bringing the big goof wasn’t such a bad idea.

Adele arrived home and was pleased to find her flatmate was absent. She dropped her bag, a manuscript, and her coat onto the couch and bustled into her room. October looked up lazily from his position between the pillows, decided her presence was disinteresting and went back to sleep. Adele quickly changed into her jeans, sneakers and a snuggly jumper. She pulled her hair loose, ran a brush through it and put on a pink woollen hat before she made her way back out of the room, picked up her bag and manuscript and headed off to Aidan’s. She was thankful of the light traffic making the journey across town to Aidan’s flat relatively quick. She parked in the lot and fished out the key as she approached his door. Degas was very excited and bounced everywhere in-between tongue baths and pats.

“You’re ridiculous,” Adele giggled as she put her things down on the couch and went to locate the the dog leash. She found it under a box of oil paints and was promptly pounced upon by a now furiously excited Degas. She clipped the lead to his collar and they headed off out toward the park. She dearly hoped he didn’t collect any ducklings this time.

Aidan took a quick mouthful of coffee before the next family arrived. It was Phi, whose father was dressed in a very smart looking suit. His mother was in a smart dress and coat and looked pensive. He glanced down at his notes and saw that he was in fact a doctor.

“Hello Doctor Nguyen,” Aidan smiled and held out his hand. They shook hands. “Mrs Nguyen,” he added as they all sat down. Phi looking suitably unimpressed by the whole situation. “I honestly don’t have a lot to tell you as Phi is an excellent student with such a strong passion for art.”

“Yes,” Dr Nguyen nodded. “He showed us your letter about the night school.”

“I think he would benefit from the more advanced skills that are taught,” Aidan explained. “He’s much more advanced than the rest of the students.”

“It won’t help him become a doctor,” Mrs Nguyen huffed. “We want him to go into medicine like his father.”

“Mum,” Phi groaned and flicked his fringe.

“The way I see it, there’s no reason he can’t still be a doctor,” Aidan said warmly. “Going into Year 12 next year he’s got a greater chance of getting good marks if he keeps at something he’s passionate about between his sciences and mathematics.”

“That’s true,” Dr Nguyen agreed. “We just have concerns it might be too much and affect his marks this year.”

“I mean we can always try it for a few weeks and if it’s compromising the rest of his studies we can stop,” Aidan offered. “And you know Mrs Nguyen, art can be part of the medical field these days. There are lots of remedial therapies that involve using art to help people with brain injuries.”

Phi looked at his mother. “See Mum, I told you.”

Mrs Nguyen sighed. “Fine, you can try the night classes.”

“Thank you, Mr Murdoch,” Dr Nguyen smiled and shook Aidan’s hand again. Phi waited until his parents had headed off toward the math teacher before he grinned at Aidan.

“Damn, you’re good at that, sir,” he laughed and gave Aidan a high five.

“I expect a bottle of something good at the end of the year for my efforts,” Aidan winked as Phi hurried off. He took another mouthful of coffee and looked up to see who was next. It was TJ and his equally large Samoan father.

“Ah, Mr Atufuga, let’s discuss TJ and his love of life drawing,” Aidan smiled, extending his hand. “He’s very proficient at male genitalia…”

Leo was unwrapping a frozen pizza when Ben returned. “How’d it go?” he asked as he dropped the meat lover’s onto a pizza tray and slid it into the oven.

“Dude, I can’t tell if she wants me to go or not,” Ben shrugged as he retrieved a beer from the fridge and offered one to Leo.

“She has that effect on people,” Leo agreed as he took a mouthful of beer. “I wouldn’t read too much into it.”

“She seems to think I have no social skills, either.”

“Oh?”

“Told me not to wear sweats to the cocktail party,” he mused and took a long drink of his beer. “I’m not that dumb.”

“I did tell her you’re good at these things.”

“I’ve been to enough,” Ben agreed. “Hey, and what’s this I hear about you and Trudy?”

“I asked her out,” Leo sighed, “It’s just, after that night with Adele,” he fondled his beer bottle, “I miss being with a woman.”

“Hey, I’m proud of you, man,” Ben smiled and slapped Leo on the back. “What’re you going to do for your date?”

“Just a movie and dinner.”

“I hope you have a great time.”

“Thanks, dude,” Leo smiled into his beer. “So what did Jo say exactly?”

“I want you to come but you’ll hate it and hate me and it will probably be terrible.”

“So typical Jo really.”

“Oh, but,” Ben perked up and gesticulated with his beer. “She did let me hold her hand, across the table in a romantic kind of a way.”

“Oh my god, we are going to need more beer,” Leo cackled as he finished the last of his bottle, plonked it on the table, and opened the fridge to retrieve another.

Aidan yawned as he returned home. It had occurred to him that having given his only key to Adele that if she’d gone home again he couldn’t get in. He was pleased to find she’d left the door unlocked and was surprised to find her asleep on the couch, a manuscript abandoned on the floor and Degas snuggled in front of the little bar heater. Aidan dropped his bag into an armchair and pondered if he should let Adele continue sleeping. He decided it was probably best to wake her and reached down and gently squeezed her shoulder.

“Del,” he said softly, and it was enough to rouse her. She yawned and looked at him blearily.

“Oh crap,” she breathed, sitting up. “Can you tell if I finished that manuscript?”

“I’m no expert, but I’m thinking no,” Aidan mused as he slipped onto the couch next to her. “Was it any good?”

“No,” Adele shook her head. “Something about a handsome widowed farmer and the angsty rich woman who bought the big estate next to his little farm house.”

“So a Mills & Boon-esque classic.”

“I fell asleep at ‘His muscles rippled through the tattered flannelette of his shirt’.”

Aidan laughed wearily and gently stroked her arm. “Thanks for the shirt and the dog sitting.”

“Any time, my dear friend,” she chided trying not to enjoy the arm stroking. “How did the interviews go?”

“Nailed it,” Aidan grinned. “I’m an interviewing god, as it turn out.”

“Nothing wrong with your ego, either.”

They both laughed and Adele sighed and got to her feet. “I should probably go and see what crisis Joaquin has got herself into today.”

“Fair enough,”Aidan yawned and stretched himself out along the couch as he watched Adele collect up her things. “Hey Del.”

“Yes Ade,” she said distractedly as she collected up the manuscript.

“You’re a fox.”

“Excuse me.”

Aidan winced. “That’s what the kids reckon anyway.”

“Not sure if I’m flattered or a bit horrified.”

“If it’s any consolation, I think you’re a fox too.” He winked, grabbed her arm, pulled her to him and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Thanks again for being the best non-girlfriend ever.”

“You’re a hopeless non-boyfriend,” Adele scolded as she pulled herself away, ruffled his hair and headed out.

Aidan watched the door close, let out a sigh and relaxed back against the couch cushions. The peacefulness was interrupted by a loud frap noise. “Christ, Degs, it’s like you’re rotting from the inside!” The dog rolled over and wiggled ridiculously.