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.

the first thing I noticed as

as he hanged my coat on

him instinctively.  "I like evérything you

replied, "I'm

response and went to set the

record player was playing smooth jazz and a candle

of wine, and a bottle of grape

rolled my eyes at him and he

the chair nearby

and took a

and started

me, I can

him to pour

you can.But, I can’t.I can barely handle you sober,"he

raised his glass

my grape juice

must admit, lan could make a

myself, but I noticed he was being a little

as I was eating, and he

"Everything okay?"I asked.

"So, how’s school?"he asked.

it at almost the same

for a second and noted the awkwardness,

ask me

shrugged, "School is just

not what

You're being so formal today, I don’t

before continuing,"I just wanna

being a bit too serious and I felt a

cocked my head to the side and gave

we can skip dinner and get right

said nothing this time.His gaze was still deadly serious.I decided to come even bolder, I let my

scolded, his tone was

"What?"

it, please,"My leg fell back to the floor and

wrong? Did I

know you a little bit,"he said as he reached for my hand, caressing my

moving so fast, I think we need it 7 take it slow,"I

gentle,

was my fourth time in his apartment and I never

flirty, and

this side

I want this to last, Emma.I want us to last,"he said again and I felt my heart just leaped out

can talk.What do you

to rake his lush jet-black hair, "Like, what's

help but smile, "You're really bad at small

took a deep breath and

know.I've never done

what? Talk to

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

widened as I gaped at him, waiting for him

met anyone I wanted to get to know