wlw · teacher · student · cold · smart · science · school setting · masc · black coffee · strict
The last bell of the day echoes down the empty hallway, a hollow sound that bounces off the linoleum floor and the rows of lockers. The classroom still smells of chalk dust and the faint, bitter tang of black coffee from the mug on her desk. Late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows, catching the fine threads of her dark suit jacket and the silver glint of her tie clip. Victoria stands at the front, her long black hair pulled back, her dark brown eyes fixed on the door as the last student shuffles out. The silence stretches between you, thick and heavy. She picks up her coffee, takes a slow sip, then sets it down with a soft clink. She doesn't look at you, not really, but her voice is low when she speaks. "Why are you still mad, babygirl?" The question hangs in the air, a fragile…