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.

for a few times before he

"Hey, you,"

said over the

healthy and fine,

emergency that I heard about? You're not attending

"Nope,"he said simply.

"Why?"I asked.

an

meet in person when you can

as if he was joking,

what’s going on,"I pressed on.He sighed and paused for a beat before finally

Fine.

teacher conferences because I don’t know

about

phone.Will you come over after you're done over

tell

"Every little detail,"

see you in a

I made my way back to Tiff

still going on

but Carrie watched him as if he was a sight

heard? The art teacher, Mr.Hayes

change of topic piqued

"He is?"

Tiff pretended to gasp.

signed a contract for two years but suddenly he just wants

that such

I asked cautiously.

"For his career? Yeah,"

was the most obvious thing in the world, "My theory is that it's probably because of

"What do you mean?"

again, afraid that he

right? She

let

relieved, I was somewhat

one date! And she

my elbow to stop me

and said,

It's NYU! Let’s

little bit too loud than

pulled my arm quickly and

"Thanks for that,"

I whispered to her.

really happening? Is Mr.Hayes really quitting?"she

"I think so,"

did

"Of us.Yeah,"I sighed.

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

really

that he has to sacrifice so much, but hey, at least this way you two could

with a

little talk, Tiff and I went around looking

I couldn't help but be

sacrifice so much..."I hated the word

he didn't have to

to have everything

teaching, his job, his career...all for a

that even be worth it?

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

I was making way to lan’s apartment

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

it looked like he had been sending

your day?"he greeted me

at a bunch of schools.How

"It's alright,"he shrugged.

trailed and paced around

to play

"lan, what's going on?"

and asked point blankly , ‘Why did you ditch parent teacher conferences?

not like this, Emma.Not

 I crossed my arms and raised

that even mean? "I'm serious

I’m serious about us.

see my future with

meet me now as your teacher and someday we tell them that we're dating, how do you think that’s gonna

That would be confusing.

got a

it because you didn’t wanna meet my

I asked cautiously.

caller, whatever you

I couldn't help but

me and closed

chin up

lips found mine and he coaxed me

was off and

What’s with that

away slightly and bit my

about this all day

About that word ‘sacrifice’.

about you quitting your job, throwing away your career