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.

way.If you need a drink, we all drink with you.That's

over, "A round of scotch for us

still a thing," I laughed at

that rule’s got us in trouble plenty of

never change, huh?"

she came from, I thought she was somewhere on the dance

was here all of a sudden, taking a seat right next to me

was an old friend, we

fooled around once or twice, but we never

in PR and engaged, they planned for a March wedding.  "Hey, all we had was warm

argued as the waitress

the good old days,"AJ cheered as he picked

to come,"Ally

before downing the drink.I wasn't as excited as everyone here was about the new years,

and I couldn't wait for this

life in Georgia, man? How’s teaching?" AJ turned

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

right.I hear you're a teacher now.Crazy how the

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

trouble, I remember.Crashing cars, vandalizing, oh and didn’t you guys burn down a warehouse

inside the warehouse.We didn't

her eyes, "You didn’t burn it, you just set it on

Tommy relented and gave her

funny when you look back.We were

thought

angry,"I muttered in

guys so

me a look.I just

the world.My dad died when I turned

was my best

was so out of the blue and senseless.As a kid, I

Burn down things and

exactly what I was feeling and they were with

you learn,"I

hear,"everyone followed after

time, all our glasses were

got up quickly and said,

"Anything but warm beer,"

and

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

picked

as he said,

believe Tommy’s married with

as I watched him slipped through

him around town sometimes,

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

head at the memory and Ally laughed

that way,

"Yeah,"I nodded.

ever thought of your life

"What way?"

don't know, settling down, getting

"I haven't, I guess.

What about you?"

a mom.Drive my kids to soccer practice and everything,"she paused for a second

back in high

up,"I couldn’t

all my

had a good time back

each other.I used to sneak into her room after her parents were

did.Especially prom night,"she let out

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

so drunk and went skinny

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

the beginning

school, we all

Boston for college and

seen each other since

up to be this

um, congratulations by the way.I heard you're engaged,"I

brightly as she showed me the ring on her

smart