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

round of scotch for us please, and go easy on

thing," I laughed at

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

things never change, huh?"

know where she came from, I thought she

a seat right next to me and her knee

an old friend, we all

or twice, but

and engaged, they planned for a March wedding.  "Hey, all we had was warm beer when we were sixteen,

waitress came back

cheered as he

come,"Ally added as

picked up mine reluctantly and toasted everyone before downing the drink.I wasn't as excited as everyone here was about the new years, but I agreed it was time

had been a brutal couple of weeks and I couldn't wait for this

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

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

teacher now.Crazy

after school? Remember the time we wrapped his car in bubble wrap?"Tommy chimed and

guys were trouble, I remember.Crashing cars, vandalizing, oh and didn’t

stuff inside the warehouse.We didn't

her eyes, "You didn’t burn

Tommy relented and gave her

funny when you look back.We were pretty

at the thought of all the

angry,"I

guys so

and AJ gave me a look.I just

world.My dad died when

was

car crash, a drunk driver hit him.It was so out of the blue and senseless.As

things and

I was feeling and they were with me every

grow and you learn,"I

hear,"everyone followed after

time, all our

got up quickly and said, "I'll get us another

"Anything but warm beer,"

replied and

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

he picked up

across his face as he said, "I gotta go take

believe Tommy’s married with

I watched him slipped through the crowd for

sometimes, playing football with

sat down on a stapler and got

my head at the

unpredictable that way, I

"Yeah,"I nodded.

thought of your life

"What way?"

settling

"I haven't, I guess.

What about you?"

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

this massive crush on you back in high school.I used to write my name Allison Hayes

up,"I couldn’t

serious.Ask all my friends,

good time back

as I remembered our days together.We lived not too far away from each

prom night,"she let out

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

got so drunk and went skinny dipping

a tattoo on my arm, I

beginning

high school, we

Boston for college

seen each

to know she grew up to be this successful and beautiful woman I knew she'd

by the way.I heard you're engaged,"I said to her

ring

smart guy.He picked