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

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

after him instinctively.  "I

"I'm

at my response and went to set the food on the

jazz and a candle was burning

a bottle of wine, and a bottle

How romantic,"I rolled my eyes at him

pull the chair nearby instead, gesturing for me

complied and

and

me, I can handle some

for him to pour the wine, but he shook his head and

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

raised his glass

my grape juice and

dinner and I must admit, lan could make a mean pasta

myself, but I noticed

I was eating, and he was barely touching his

"Everything okay?"I asked.

"So, how’s school?"he asked.

at almost

stopped for a second and noted the awkwardness, before stifling

ask me

and he just shrugged, "School

what I meant,"he

so formal today, I

paused for a moment before continuing,"I just wanna

bit too serious and I felt a

lip, I cocked my head to the side

skip dinner and get right

he said nothing this time.His gaze was still deadly serious.I decided to

his

"What?"

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

I

talk to you, okay? Get to know you a little bit,"he said as he reached for my hand, caressing my skin with his thumb and he made

been moving so fast, I think we need it

and gentle, and it

my fourth time in his apartment and I never saw

always playful, flirty, and one

side

us to last,"he said again and I felt my heart just leaped

breathed, "We can talk.What

I don’t know,"his hand went to rake his lush jet-black hair, "Like,

help but smile, "You're really bad at

deep breath

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

what? Talk to girls?"I

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

gaped at him,

anyone I wanted to