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.

need a drink, we all drink with you.That's the

of scotch

thing," I laughed at Tommy’s

in trouble plenty of times," AJ

change,

didn't even know where she came from, I thought she was

seat right next

old friend, we all

once or twice, but we

for a March wedding.  "Hey, all we had was warm beer when we were sixteen, but we can afford whiskey now.So I'll say

argued as the waitress came back with our

days,"AJ cheered as he picked up a

great new ones to come,"Ally

everyone here was about the new years, but I

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

man? How’s teaching?" AJ turned to me

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

right.I hear you're a teacher now.Crazy how the

to prank Mr.Sheehan every day after school? Remember the time we

and didn’t you guys burn down

stuff inside the warehouse.We didn't actually

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

Tommy relented and gave her a

back.We were pretty

head at the thought of all the

and angry,"I muttered in

you guys

and AJ gave me

dad died when I turned sixteen,"I

dad was my best

suddenly in a car crash, a drunk driver hit him.It was so out of the blue and

things and trash places just because you're mad

and they were with me every step of

it’s whatever now.You grow and you

hear,"everyone followed after

time, all our

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

"Anything but warm beer,"

and he

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

picked

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

can’t believe Tommy’s married with

him slipped through the crowd for the

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

stapler and got his

the memory and

unpredictable that way, I

"Yeah,"I nodded.

ever thought of

"What way?"

settling

"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

used to have this massive crush on you back in high

up,"I couldn’t help

my friends,

had a good

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

let out a nostalgic

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

got so drunk and went

next morning with a tattoo on my arm, I didn’t remember

beginning of many

school, we all parted

Boston for college and I

each other

I was happy to know she grew 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

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

be a smart guy.He