Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

IAN's POV 

"Ma, I’m going out.Don’t wait up,"I was making my way down the stairs, heading straight for the front door.

But mom was quick.

She ran over and intercepted me, standing right in front of my way.

"Now, when you said you're coming home for Christmas, I thought you were coming home for Christmas.But we barely see you,"

"I promised the guys I'll have a drink with them.I'll be home all day tomorrow, promise,"I put my hands up in defeat.I never win an argument with my mother.

"All right then.You have a great night with your friends,"she paused for a second before continuing, "Don’t get into any trouble!"

"Relax mom, we're not sixteen anymore,"I laughed.

I said I wouldn’t argue with her, didn’t mean I didn’t get into trouble in the good old days.I was a bit of a troublemaker back then.I had trouble following the rules, But then again, I guess I still do.

"Who'd ever guess that at twenty four years old, my son would graduate grad school and become a teacher?"

"Not me, that’s for sure,"Oh, the irony.

I used to give my teachers such a hard time at school.That was if I bothered showing up at all.

And now here I was, your average good old fashioned high school teacher.

" l am so proud of you, lan.Your father would be so proud of you too,"she smiled tenderly.

The atmosphere got a little somber as the mention of my dead father would always do that to her.

"Thanks,"I said, giving her a quick peck on the cheek, "

"I'm off,"

"Okay, I'll see you in the morning,"she called out as I stepped out the door.

"See ya," My friends wanted to hit this new club that just opened downtown.

I couldn't care less where we were going or what we were doing, I just wanted to get away.

I thought leaving Georgia would do the trick, but it was like she was following everywhere.  I couldn't get her out of my mind no matter how far I went.

"I love you,"

Her words were still ringing in my ears.

I went to bed thinking about her, and I woke up with dreams of her.  Ending things with her was the right thing to do, but why did it have to feel so fucking bad? Every time I saw her face around at school, I felt like I was being punched in the gut.

It hurt so bad, I couldn't keep my eyes straight for two seconds.Sometimes I’d hear her voice.

She would talk and laugh with her friends.

I felt like such a creep, listening to her or watching her from the far, but that was all I could do.

And what I should have been doing from the very beginning anyway.It just sucked.Really sucked.

Knowing that there was a girl out there that loves me, and that I love in return, but we could never be together.

At least, not in this lifetime.

"Bro, why you bein’ so quiet, man?"my boy Tommy came over and sat down next to me.

"Yeah, it's depressing, dude," AJ followed after.

Tommy and AJ were old time friends of mine.

We went to high school together, we got into all sorts of trouble together.

But now Tommy was married with three kids and AJ became one of the top real estate brokers in the state.

And as for me, you know what happened.  We got a table at this club and AJ invited a whole bunch of people.

Everyone was having a good time, drinking, dancing, and talking about their new year’s resolution.

I tried to stay engaged, but my mind kept wandering back to her.

She’s in Georgia, and she’s happy and safe.

That's all that matters.

"Just leave me alone, man.I just need a drink," I said to the guys as they were waiting for an explanation.

need a drink, we all

the waitress over, "A round of scotch

still a thing,"

rule’s got us in trouble plenty of times,"

change, huh?"

from, I thought she was somewhere on the dance

was here all of a sudden, taking a seat

old friend, we all went to high

once or twice, but

we had was warm beer when we were sixteen, but we can afford whiskey

as the waitress came back with our

the good old days,"AJ cheered as he picked

the great new ones to come,"Ally added as she grabbed

the drink.I wasn't as excited as everyone here was about the new years, but I agreed it was time to turn a new

and I couldn't wait for this

life in Georgia, man? How’s teaching?" AJ turned to me as he sipped his

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

a teacher now.Crazy how the world turned out, huh?"Ally

to prank Mr.Sheehan every day after school? Remember the time we

remember.Crashing cars, vandalizing, oh and didn’t you

warehouse.We didn't actually

"You didn’t burn it,

relented and

look back.We were pretty stupid kids

at the thought of all the stupid

and angry,"I

you guys so

me a look.I just

dad died when I turned sixteen,"I

dad was my best

car crash, a drunk driver hit him.It was so out of

down things and trash places just because

and they

grow and you

hear,"everyone followed

all our glasses were

got up quickly and said, "I'll

"Anything but warm beer,"

replied and

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

picked

his face as he said,

Tommy’s married

slipped through the crowd

him around town sometimes, playing football

year, he sat down on a stapler and got his ass stapled three times.Now that guy's a

shook my head at the

unpredictable that

"Yeah,"I nodded.

of

"What way?"

don't know, settling

"I haven't, I guess.

What about you?"

since I was a kid.I want to be a mom.Drive my kids to

high school.I used to write my name

couldn’t help

my

a good

each other.I used to sneak into her room after her parents were asleep and we’d make

night,"she let out a nostalgic

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

got so drunk and went

up the next morning with a tattoo on my arm, I didn’t remember getting it, but it

beginning of many

school, we all parted

college

hadn't seen each other

was happy to know she grew up to be this successful and

way.I heard you're engaged,"I said to her after a

showed me the ring on

be a smart guy.He picked