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

"A round of scotch for us

that's still a thing," I laughed at Tommy’s

rule’s got us in

never change, huh?" Ally

know where she came from, I thought she

she was here all of a sudden, taking a seat right next to me and her knee was touching

we all went to

fooled around once or twice,

they planned for a March wedding.  "Hey, all we had was warm beer when we were sixteen, but we can afford whiskey now.So I'll say that’s

waitress came back with our

the good old days,"AJ cheered as

come,"Ally added

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 to turn

a brutal couple of weeks and I couldn't wait for this year to

AJ turned to me as

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

you're a teacher now.Crazy how

time we wrapped his car in bubble wrap?"Tommy

oh and didn’t you

warehouse.We didn't actually burn the warehouse,"AJ

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

touché," Tommy relented and gave her a

look back.We were pretty stupid kids back

at the thought of

and angry,"I muttered

guys

gave me a look.I

the world.My dad died when I turned

was my best

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

it just seemed right, you know? Burn down things and trash places just because you're mad at the

and they were with me every step of the

grow and you learn,"I

hear,"everyone followed

time, all our

and said, "I'll get us another

"Anything but warm beer,"

and he

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

picked

he said,

can’t believe Tommy’s married

slipped through the

see him around town sometimes, playing football with his

a stapler and got his ass stapled three times.Now

the

that

"Yeah,"I nodded.

ever thought of

"What way?"

don't know, settling

"I haven't, I guess.

What about you?"

I was a kid.I want to be a mom.Drive my kids to soccer practice and everything,"she paused for a

I used to have this massive crush on you back in high

couldn’t

serious.Ask all my friends, they

good time

our days together.We lived not too far away from each other.I used to sneak

let out

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

went skinny

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

the beginning of

school, we all

to Boston for college

hadn't seen each other since

happy to know she grew up to be this successful and beautiful woman I

you're engaged,"I said to her after a while

she showed me the ring on her finger, "His name’s

smart guy.He picked