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

"Hey, you,"

said over

healthy and fine,

heard

"Nope,"he said simply.

"Why?"I asked.

an

person when you can basically do everything

was joking, but

sighed and paused for a beat

Fine.

know what

worried about meeting

this over the phone.Will

tell me

"Every little detail,"

in

away, I made my way back to

was still going on and on about

her face but Carrie watched him as if he was a sight

have you heard? The art teacher,

change of topic piqued

"He is?"

Tiff pretended to gasp.

I've overheard some teachers talking about it.Apparently, he signed a contract for two years but suddenly he

that such a

I asked cautiously.

"For his career? Yeah,"

was the most obvious thing in the world, "My theory is

"What do you mean?"

afraid that he might be on

right? She probably broke his heart or

let out a

I wasn't relieved, I

went on one

my elbow to stop me

recovered and said,

It's NYU! Let’s go

exclaimed a little bit too loud

pulled my arm quickly and

"Thanks for that,"

I whispered to her.

really happening? Is Mr.Hayes really

"I think so,"

did it

"Of us.Yeah,"I sighed.

for a

I really like him

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

with a

and I went around

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

has to sacrifice so much..."I hated

he didn't have to sacrifice anything to be

wanted him to have everything he

he had to give up teaching, his job, his career...all for a girl.A silly, silly

even be worth it?

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

I was making way to

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

like he had been

day?"he greeted me with

bunch of

"It's alright,"he shrugged.

and paced around

to

"lan, what's going on?"

point blankly , ‘Why did you ditch parent

meet your parents.But not like this,

 I crossed my arms

mean?

I’m serious about us.

future with us

said, pausing for a moment before saying, "But if your parents meet me now as your teacher and someday we

That would be confusing.

got a good

meet my parents as my

I asked cautiously.

whatever you wanna

chuckled and I couldn't help but

step towards me

my chin up

and he coaxed

something was off

What’s with that look on your

away slightly and

been thinking about this all

About that word ‘sacrifice’.

you quitting your job, throwing