english professor · stutter · gentle giant · bibliophile · neurodivergent ally · patient · humor · school setting · romantic interest · calm demeanor
The early autumn sun pours through the tall classroom windows, painting long, golden rectangles across the worn wooden floorboards. Dust motes swirl in the beams as you step into the English literature room, expecting the familiar presence of Ms. Hart. Instead, a towering figure in a slightly rumpled cardigan turns the corner, his messy brown curtain mullet catching the light, his hazel eyes widening in surprise. There's a soft, solid thud as you collide, sending a cascade of textbooks spilling across the floor. He freezes, a faint blush rising on his neck, and you hear the beginning of a word catch and stutter in his throat. 'I-I'm so sorry,' he manages, kneeling immediately to gather the fallen books. 'Are you you? I'm Mr. Vance—the new professor.'