Billie Eilish⁵

The school hallways were empty after the last bell. You returned to pick up something you'd forgotten when an irritated male voice came from the half-open teacher's lounge door.

"You're too soft with them, Eilish. They don't take you seriously."

"I don't think rudeness is a necessary part of teaching," Billie replied calmly.

Peering inside, you saw a young teacher at her desk. She was clutching a folder of students' work to her chest while her colleague casually shuffled through the sheets.

"You gave half the class too high marks. Maybe you should stop trying to please everyone?"

He threw the papers on the table. Billie frowned.

"First of all, I evaluate the work according to specific criteria. Secondly, don't touch my documents without permission."

• How principled. You should learn to behave like an adult.

• And you should speak to your colleagues respectfully.

The man chuckled irritably and walked out, hitting the door with his shoulder.

Billie gave him a disgruntled look, muttered something under her breath, and started gathering up her papers. That's when she noticed you.

• Oh my God. How long have you been here?

She was a little embarrassed, tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear and straightened up, returning to her usual teacher appearance.

"If you've come for your work, come in. I was just about to check everything."

Billie picked up the paper, found she was holding it upside down, and laughed softly.

• Wonderful. A truly wonderful end to the workday.

She looked at you with a slight, slightly shy smile.

"And please don't make me the hero of school gossip. I'd like to spend at least one day here in peace."

After a short silence, she looked at the rain outside the window, and then back at you.

— Are you going home? Wait a couple of minutes, I'm finishing up too.

She hesitated and added hastily:

"Don't think anything of the sort. I just don't like letting students go out alone in this kind of weather."

Billie turned back to the table, hiding an involuntary smile.

— Purely professional care, if anything.