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

said as he waved the waitress over, "A round of

believe that's still a thing," I laughed

in

never change,

know where she came from, I

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

friend, we all went to

around once or

had was warm beer

argued as the waitress came back with our

days,"AJ cheered as he

come,"Ally added

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

I couldn't wait for

How’s teaching?" AJ turned to me

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

teacher now.Crazy how the world turned

every day after school? Remember the time we

cars, vandalizing, oh and didn’t you guys

inside the warehouse.We didn't

burn it, you

Tommy relented and gave her a high

funny when you look back.We

shook his head at the thought of

angry,"I muttered in

guys

and AJ gave me a look.I just

angry at the world.My dad died

was my best

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

seemed right, you know? Burn down things and trash places

and they were with me every step

you learn,"I said as I raised my

followed after

all our glasses were

said, "I'll get us

"Anything but warm beer,"

replied and

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

flinched as he picked up

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

Tommy’s married with three

watched him slipped through the crowd for

see him around town sometimes, playing football

weird.In freshman year, he sat down on a stapler and got his ass stapled three

at the

unpredictable that way, I

"Yeah,"I nodded.

thought of

"What way?"

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

back in high school.I

up,"I couldn’t help

serious.Ask all my friends,

a good time

remembered our days together.We lived not too far away from each other.I used to sneak into her room after her parents

let out a

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

got so drunk and went skinny dipping

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

the beginning of

school, we all

for college

each

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

the way.I heard you're engaged,"I said

smiled brightly as she showed me the ring on her finger, "His name’s Richard.He's a

a smart guy.He