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 before he finally

"Hey, you,"

said over

sounded healthy and fine, I

what's this personal emergency that I heard about? You're not attending parent

"Nope,"he said simply.

"Why?"I asked.

an

when you can basically do everything

as if he was joking, but

pressed on.He sighed and

Fine.

because I don’t know what I'll do if I have

about

over the phone.Will

tell

"Every little detail,"

you in a

I made my way back to

still going on and on

but Carrie watched him as

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

change of topic piqued my

"He is?"

Tiff pretended to gasp.

it.Apparently, he signed a contract for two years but suddenly

that such a

I asked cautiously.

"For his career? Yeah,"

thing in the world, "My theory is

"What do you mean?"

that he might be on to

used to date Ms.Diaz, right? She probably broke his heart

Carrie let out a

I wasn't relieved, I was

on one date!

my elbow to stop me

quickly recovered and said, "Never

Let’s go check it

exclaimed a little bit too

my arm quickly and

"Thanks for that,"

I whispered to her.

Is

"I think so,"

did it

"Of us.Yeah,"I sighed.

a moment before saying, "He must really like

I really

hey, at least this

said with a

I went around looking at

I couldn't help but be reminded of Tiff's words from

sacrifice so much..."I hated

didn't have to sacrifice anything to

have

had to give up teaching, his job,

that even be

teacher conferences, I told my parents I was hanging out

was making way to lan’s apartment

there, lan was still in his normal sleeping clothes, no shirts and

was on and it looked like he had been sending

was your day?"he greeted me with

at a bunch of schools.How

"It's alright,"he shrugged.

trailed and paced around the

to

"lan, what's going on?"

you ditch parent teacher conferences? And why don’t you wanna meet my

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

arms and raised my

that even mean? "I'm serious

I’m serious about us.

future

if your parents meet me now as your teacher and someday we tell them that we're dating,

That would be confusing.

got a good

you did it because you didn’t wanna meet my

I asked cautiously.

whatever

and I couldn't help but

step towards me and closed the

up and his face leaned

lips found mine and he coaxed

he noticed something was off and he narrowed

What’s with

away slightly and bit

about this all

About that word ‘sacrifice’.

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