Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

EMMaA’s POV

"Girl, where have you been? I feel like I haven't seen you in weeks!"Tiff exclaimed dramatically.

Normally I would call her out for being a drama queen, but she wasn’t completely wrong this time.

Yes, I had been MIA, missing in action, for the past couple of days and I tell my friends where I went.

Not unless I wanted to be interrogated by the FBI.

‘Because yes, I was spending a lot of time with Mr.Hayes —I mean, lan.

"Sorry, I’m just a little busy with...my art portfolio,"I said as I closed my lockers shut.

The last period bell hand rang, but my friends had stopped me before I could leave school premises.

"That thing’s not due until the end of the school year.We still have, like eight months,"Carrie argued.

"I know, but I’ve been feeling very inspired lately.I wanna make sure I got a kickass portfolio, I might even use it for my college application,"

This part wasn't a lie.Spending a lot of time with my art teacher had its benefits.

Any free time I had in school, I'd spend it in the art studio working on my...craft.

After school hours, when I wasn’t in swim practice or cheerleading, I'd head over to lan’s apartment and we'd make more...art.

“Okay,"Tiff eyed me cautiously, 

"You do seem surprisingly happy.You're not hiding anything from us, are you? ‘Cause the last time we saw you was during the dance ar(d you didn't seem so well—"

"That was in the past," I cut her off quickly.

"After the dance, I did some soul searching and now I’ve completely turned over a new leaf,"  Tiff and Carrie exchanged a look before studying my face even further, trying to detect if I was lying."Guys, I'm serious.I'm so over Zach already and I just wanna work on myself for now.Believe me,"

I said reassuringly.

"Well, okay, in that case, I know you don’t have swim or cheerleading today.What do you say we head to the mall?"Carrie asked.

"Oh...actually, I can’t.I promised my mom I'd help her run some errands,"

I paused and noted the disappointed faces of my friends, "But we can hang out on the weekend?"

"Alright, it's a date.Don’t bail on us," Tiff and Carrie agreed finally.

"Absolutely.Now I gotta go.My, uh, mom’s waiting.See you guys"

I waved my hands quickly and disappeared out of the door in a flash.

School was over for the day and I couldn't be more excited. lan had invited me over to his place and he was going to make dinner.It still felt surreal to call him by that name.

I found myself blushing every time I said it out loud.I needed to work on that.

I arrived at his door at exactly 7 PM.

I was wearing my yellow summer dress, even though it was definitely fall, but I just wanted to look cute.

He opened the door and greeted me with his gorgeous mega-watt smile, that smile alone could send me into puddles.

He kissed my cheek, ushered me in, and took my coat.

first thing I noticed as soon as

hanged my coat on the rack and proceeded to

followed after him instinctively.  "I like

replied, "I'm biased

chuckled at my response and went

and a candle was burning in the middle

bottle of grape juice I assumed he got for

How romantic,"I rolled my eyes at

 He went to pull the chair nearby instead,

complied and took

sat across from and started pouring

I can handle

to pour the wine, but he shook his head and poured grape juice

barely handle you sober,"he grinned

his glass and

raised my grape juice and

admit, lan

noticed

me as I was eating, and he

"Everything okay?"I asked.

"So, how’s school?"he asked.

it at almost the

and noted the awkwardness, before stifling

ask

he just shrugged, "School is just school, I mean you know, you were

what

so formal today, I don’t understand what's

continuing,"I just

serious and I

to the side and

can skip dinner and get right

or make a funny comeback, but he said nothing this time.His gaze was still deadly serious.I decided to come even bolder, I let my feet

his tone was

"What?"

leg fell back to the floor and I let out

Did I

you a little bit,"he said as he reached for my hand, caressing my skin with his thumb and he made

think we need it 7 take it slow,"I looked up

genuine and gentle, and it took

was my fourth time in his apartment and I never saw him

playful, flirty, and one

this side

to last,"he said again

"We can talk.What do you

went to rake his lush jet-black hair, "Like, what's your favorite music or

couldn't help but smile, "You're really bad

took a deep

know.I've never done this before,"he admitted

to

to know someone,"he replied, pausing for a beat before saying, "I never did the whole

widened as I gaped at him, waiting

never met anyone I wanted to get to