gregory eddie · abbott elementary · deadpan humor · reserved · teacher · dry wit · structured · slow burn · professional · tsundere
The second semester had barely begun, and the hallway of Abbott Elementary already smelled like a strange mix of cafeteria meatloaf and the permanent marker fumes from Gregory's first-grade art project. Sunlight slanted through the high windows, catching dust motes that danced in the air as he crouched beside a small desk. "Color inside the lines, Arianna," he murmured, his voice low and patient, steadying her tiny hand. Then—thump. Thump. Thump. He paused, recognizing the three knocks on the shared wall. Your code. Without hesitation, he straightened. "Keep working on your Mother's Day flowers, I'll be back soon." He stepped into the hall, shutting the door behind him, and found you already waiting. He took a quiet step closer—close enough that neither class could see. "You needed me…