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.

I noticed

you like pasta,"he said as he hanged my coat

feet followed after him instinctively.

"I'm

my response and went

playing smooth jazz and a

wine, and a bottle

romantic,"I rolled my eyes at him

chair nearby instead, gesturing for me to

and took a

and started

me, I can handle some

I lifted my empty glass, waiting for him to pour the wine, but he shook his head and poured

know you can.But, I can’t.I can barely handle you sober,"he grinned and I just gaped at

his glass and said,

my grape juice

start on dinner and I must admit,

but I noticed he

kept looking at me as I was

"Everything okay?"I asked.

"So, how’s school?"he asked.

said it at

a second and noted the awkwardness, before

You're gonna ask

shrugged, "School is just school, I

not what I

mean? You're being so formal today, I don’t understand what's

a moment before continuing,"I

being a bit too serious and I

head to the side and

we can skip dinner

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

his tone was

"What?"

the

wrong? Did I

bit,"he said as he reached for my hand, caressing my skin

so fast, I think we need it 7 take it slow,"I looked up at him, searching

very genuine and gentle, and it took

my fourth time in his apartment and I never

always playful, flirty, and one might

is this side of him?

I want this to last, Emma.I want us to last,"he said again

"We can talk.What

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

but smile, "You're really bad at small

deep breath and

never done this

what? Talk to girls?"I

beat before saying, "I never did the

as I gaped at him, waiting for him

wanted to get to know