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.

you need a drink, we all

the waitress over, "A round of scotch for us please, and go easy

a thing," I laughed at Tommy’s stupid

that rule’s got us in trouble plenty of

never change, huh?" Ally

even know where she came from, I thought

a sudden, taking a seat right next to me and her knee was touching my

was an old friend, we all went to high school

around once or twice,

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

argued as the waitress came back with our

days,"AJ cheered as he picked

the great new ones to come,"Ally added

the drink.I wasn't as excited as everyone here

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

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

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

a teacher now.Crazy how the world

every day after school? Remember the time we wrapped his car in bubble wrap?"Tommy

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

inside the warehouse.We didn't actually burn the

her eyes, "You didn’t burn

touché," Tommy relented and gave her a

back.We were pretty

thought

angry,"I muttered

guys so

gave me a look.I

angry at the world.My dad

was

was so out of the blue and

down things and trash places just because you're

and they

and you learn,"I said as I raised

followed

time, all our glasses were

quickly and said, "I'll get us another

"Anything but warm beer,"

replied and he

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

he picked up his vibrating

splashed across his face as he said, "I gotta go take this.Be

Tommy’s

him slipped through the crowd for

know right.I see him around town sometimes, playing football with his

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

shook my head at the memory and Ally

unpredictable that way, I

"Yeah,"I nodded.

ever thought of

"What way?"

don't know, settling down, getting married,

"I haven't, I guess.

What about you?"

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

you back in high school.I used to write my name Allison Hayes and I'd call you baby

up,"I couldn’t help but

serious.Ask all my friends,

had a good time

smile crept up my lips as I remembered our days together.We lived not too far away from each other.I used to sneak into her room after her parents were asleep and we’d

did.Especially prom night,"she let

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

went skinny

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

beginning

high school, we all

to Boston for college

seen each

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

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

the ring on her finger, "His name’s Richard.He's

a smart guy.He picked