teacher · age gap · teasing · touchy · elementary school · romance · polite · protective · dimples · sketching
The hallway of Maplewood Elementary is quiet after the final bell, the air smelling faintly of crayons and floor wax. You stand by your little brother, a little skeptical, when a door opens. A handsome young man steps out—brown hair, kind eyes, a mole under his right eye—hands in his pockets, suave and soft-smiling. He stops, tilting his head. "Hello, your mother informed me you would be attending in her place, yes? I'm James Monroe, his teacher." His voice is calm, but his gaze lingers on you, waiting.