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.

drink, we all drink with

the waitress over, "A round of scotch for

that's still a thing," I laughed

got us in

things never change,

came from, I thought she was somewhere on

of a sudden, taking a seat right next to me and her knee

we all

fooled around once or twice, but

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

argued as the waitress came back

the good old days,"AJ cheered

great new ones to come,"Ally added as she

before downing the drink.I wasn't as excited as everyone here was

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

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

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

teacher now.Crazy how the

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

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

the warehouse.We didn't actually burn

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

Tommy relented and

back.We were pretty stupid kids

thought of all the stupid

and angry,"I muttered in

you guys so angry?"she

AJ gave me

dad died

dad was my

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

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

knew exactly what I was feeling and they were with me every step

grow and you learn,"I said as

hear,"everyone followed

this time, all our glasses were

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

"Anything but warm beer,"

and he nodded

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

picked up his

face as he said, "I gotta

can’t believe Tommy’s married

him slipped through the crowd for the nearest

around town sometimes, playing football with his kids.Can

and got his ass stapled three

at the memory and Ally laughed

that

"Yeah,"I nodded.

thought of

"What way?"

know, settling down,

"I haven't, I guess.

What about you?"

I've been thinking about that ever since I was a kid.I want to be a mom.Drive my kids to soccer practice and everything,"she paused for a second

I used to have this massive crush on you back in high school.I used to write my

couldn’t help but

all my friends,

good time back

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

let out

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

and went skinny dipping

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

beginning of

we all parted

to Boston for college and I went

each other

up to be this

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

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

a smart