Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

EMMA's POV 

"Don't forget to check out Duke, Rice, and Vanderbilt,"

Mom said as we made our way through the booths at the school’s college fair.

"Oh yes, I heard Vanderbilt's got a strong liberal arts program,"

Dad nodded in agreement.

The school’s holding a college fair this Saturday, along with parent teacher conferences.

All the junior students are required, or as they say, encouraged to attend the college fair.

I wasn’t complaining though.

I wanted to spend my precious Saturday looking through colleges all around the country.

The only good thing about it was at least my best friends had to do it too.

I spotted Tiff and Carrie over at the University of Florida’s booth, and I knew what to do next.

"Okay, I got it.You two go meet my teachers and hear about what a great student I am.I’m gonna catch up with Tiff and Carrie,"

I said, waving my parents away.

"I'm really looking forward to meeting your teachers.Especially your AP art teacher, Mr.Hayes,"mom said and I quickly turned back.

"What? Why?"

"You worked so hard on his class.

You spent almost every day after school working on your art portfolio.

He must have nice things to say about you, I wanna hear about it all,"

she said as she turned to her heels towards the art room.

"Oh, you don't have to —"

"The line at Duke is empty.Go, go check out the schools.We'll regroup here in an hour,"

Dad shooed me as he walked off with mom.

My parents are meeting...my boyfriend.

At parent teacher conferences.

Oh crap.

Making my way over to Tiff and Carrie, I sighed dramatically as I pushed past the row of kids.

Tiff and Carrie turned to see me and they immediately knew something was up.

"What's going on?"Carrie asked.

"My parents are meeting Mr.Hayes.I totally forgot about that.I am so screwed,"

"Don't worry about it.I’m sure he can handle your parents just fine,"

Tiff replied.

"Actually, you don’t have to worry at all,"Carrie added, "

My parents went by earlier.

They wanted to see my art teacher too, but he wasn’t there.

Something about a personal emergency.

He’s doing his conferences with parents via email,"

"Oh...that’s very smart of him,"

It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

"See? He’s a smart guy.He’s handling it,"

Tiff said as she grabbed a few brochures from the University of Florida.

"In the meantime, I think you should check this out,"  "The University of Florida’s a total party school,"

Mark chimed in suddenly, appearing out of nowhere.

"Hey, babe.Did you see Rice and Duke already?"

Carrie greeted him.

"Yeah, you guys should see it.

Duke has the best engineering program—"

Mark was about to ramble on this topic for the next ten minutes, I could just tell.

"I have to make a call, I'll be right back,"

I said to Tiff and Carrie before slipping away from the crowd.

I found an empty, cozy spot at the end of the hallway and I dialed Ian's number.

few times

"Hey, you,"

said over the

sounded healthy and fine, I was

this personal emergency that I heard about? You're

"Nope,"he said simply.

"Why?"I asked.

it's an archaic

when you can basically do

if he was joking, but I could tell something

pressed on.He sighed and paused for a beat before finally

Fine.

I don’t know what

worried about meeting my

the phone.Will you come over

tell

"Every little detail,"

in a few

away, I made

still going on and on

but Carrie watched

guys, have you heard? The art teacher, Mr.Hayes is resigning from

of

"He is?"

Tiff pretended to gasp.

teachers talking about it.Apparently, he signed a contract for

that such a

I asked cautiously.

"For his career? Yeah,"

like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "My

"What do you mean?"

afraid that he might be on

Ms.Diaz, right? She probably broke his

and Carrie let out a relieved

I wasn't relieved, I was

went on one date! And she

nudged my elbow to stop me from

quickly recovered and said, "Never

Let’s go check it

exclaimed a little bit

my arm quickly and led

"Thanks for that,"

I whispered to her.

it's really happening? Is Mr.Hayes

"I think so,"

did

"Of us.Yeah,"I sighed.

all out,"she paused for a moment before saying, "He

really

he has to sacrifice so much, but hey, at least this way you two could be together.You

said with

and I went around looking at the

be thinking about colleges, but I couldn't help but be reminded

so

to sacrifice anything

to have everything

job, his career...all for a girl.A silly,

that even

fair and parent teacher conferences, I told my parents I was hanging out with Tiff and

I was making way to lan’s apartment

in his normal

it looked like he had been sending a bunch

how was your day?"he greeted me with a

a bunch of schools.How about

"It's alright,"he shrugged.

trailed and paced around

to play

"lan, what's going on?"

ditch parent teacher conferences? And why don’t

wanna meet your parents.But not like this, Emma.Not

 I crossed my arms and

does that even mean?

I’m serious about us.

my future with us

as your

That would be confusing.

got a

meet my parents

I asked cautiously.

gentleman caller, whatever you

chuckled and I couldn't help but

towards me and closed the distance between

tilted my chin up and his face

he coaxed me into a

was off and

it? What’s with that look on

away slightly and bit

been thinking about

About that word ‘sacrifice’.

how I feel about you quitting your job, throwing away your career because