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

waved the waitress over, "A round of scotch for

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

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

things never change, huh?"

came from, I thought she was somewhere on the

taking a seat right next

we all went to high

around once or

engaged, they planned for a March wedding.  "Hey, all we had

waitress came back

days,"AJ cheered as

great new ones to come,"Ally

as excited as everyone here was about the new years, but I agreed

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

teaching?" AJ turned to me as he sipped

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

teacher now.Crazy how the

Mr.Sheehan every day after school? Remember the time we wrapped his car

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

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

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

Tommy relented and gave

funny when you look back.We were pretty

his head at the thought of all

angry,"I

guys so angry?"she

gave me a look.I

world.My dad

was

him.It was so out

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

what I was feeling and they were with me

grow and you learn,"I said as I raised my

hear,"everyone followed

all our glasses were almost

said, "I'll get us

"Anything but warm beer,"

and he

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

as he picked up his vibrating

his face as he said, "I gotta

can’t believe Tommy’s married

watched him slipped through

around town sometimes,

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

my head at the memory and Ally

that

"Yeah,"I nodded.

ever thought of your life

"What way?"

know, settling down,

"I haven't, I guess.

What about you?"

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

in high school.I used to write my name

couldn’t help but

serious.Ask all my friends, they

a good time back

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

let out a

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

went skinny dipping at

a tattoo on my arm, I didn’t remember getting it, but it was my first

the beginning

high school, we all parted

college and I

seen each

to be this successful and beautiful

heard you're engaged,"I said to

the ring on her finger, "His name’s

be a smart