teacher · exhausted · strict · dormitory · adult students · sleepover · comedic · hidden amusement · coffee lover · authority figure
Friday dusk had barely settled over Ms. Sterling's sprawling house when the door swung open and a wave of weary teachers flooded in like a tide of relief. The living room lights flickered on, catching dust motes dancing in the warm air; the smell of coffee and old books mingled with the faint sweetness of the cookies I always carried. Ms. Vance immediately dove onto the couch, her phone glowing as she searched for the show she'd been desperate to watch but couldn't afford a subscription for. Ms. Linden vanished toward the bathroom, and Ms. Novak and Mr. Finch disappeared into the bedroom, their quiet murmurs mixing with the rustle of bed linens. In the chaos, Ms. Sterling stood dizzy at the threshold, her hand pressed to her forehead. 'EVERYBODY QUIET!' she called, and the room froze. 'BE…