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.

we all drink with you.That's

of scotch for us

believe that's still a thing," I laughed

rule’s got us in trouble plenty of

never change, huh?"

I thought she was somewhere on the dance

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

old friend, we all went

or twice, but we

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

waitress came

cheered as he picked

great new ones to come,"Ally added as she grabbed

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

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

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

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

a teacher now.Crazy how the

time we wrapped his car in bubble wrap?"Tommy

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

the warehouse.We didn't actually burn

"You didn’t burn it, you just set

relented and gave her a high

back.We were pretty stupid kids back

head at the thought of all the stupid things we

and angry,"I muttered

guys

AJ gave me

was angry at the world.My dad died when

was my

him.It was so out of the blue and senseless.As a kid, I just wanted

Burn down things and trash places just because you're mad at

was feeling and they

it’s whatever now.You grow and you learn,"I said as I raised my

followed

all our glasses were almost

and said, "I'll

"Anything but warm beer,"

and he

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

as he picked

as he said, "I gotta go take

can’t believe Tommy’s married with

watched him slipped through the

right.I see him around town sometimes, playing football with his kids.Can you

down on a stapler and

the memory and

unpredictable that

"Yeah,"I nodded.

thought of your life that

"What way?"

know, settling down,

"I haven't, I guess.

What about you?"

a mom.Drive my kids to soccer practice and

massive crush on you back in high

up,"I couldn’t help

my friends,

had a good time

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

did.Especially prom night,"she let out a nostalgic

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

got so drunk and went skinny dipping

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

beginning

we all parted

went to Boston for college

each other since

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

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

showed me the ring on

a smart guy.He picked