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 soon as I got into the living

my

feet followed after him instinctively.  "I like

replied, "I'm

response and went to set the food on

player was playing smooth jazz and a candle was burning in the middle

and a bottle of grape juice I

rolled my eyes at him and he

went to pull the chair nearby

complied and took

from and started pouring

me, I can handle

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

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

glass and said,

raised my grape juice

start on dinner and I must admit, lan could make a mean

noticed he was

me as I was eating,

"Everything okay?"I asked.

"So, how’s school?"he asked.

it at almost the same

second and noted

You're gonna ask me about

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

not what I

you mean? You're being so formal

he paused for a moment before continuing,"I just

wasI being a bit too serious and I felt a little

cocked my head to the side and gave him a

we can skip dinner and get right

a funny comeback, but he said nothing this time.His gaze was still deadly serious.I

his

"What?"

fell back to the

Did I do something?"I

Get to know you a little bit,"he said as he reached for

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

very genuine and gentle,

in his apartment

always playful, flirty, and

is this side of him?

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

I breathed, "We can talk.What do you

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

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

deep breath and

know.I've never done

what? Talk to girls?"I

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

I gaped at him, waiting for him

never met anyone I wanted to get