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.

way.If you need a drink, we all drink with

waitress over, "A round of scotch for us please, and go easy on the

that's still a thing,"

rule’s got us in

change, huh?"

know where she came from, I

here all of a sudden, taking a seat right next to

was an old friend, we

once or twice, but we

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

as the waitress came back with

good old days,"AJ cheered

to come,"Ally

everyone before downing the drink.I wasn't as excited as everyone here was about the new years, but

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

life in Georgia, man? How’s teaching?" AJ turned to me as he sipped his

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

a teacher now.Crazy

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

remember.Crashing cars, vandalizing, oh and didn’t you guys burn down a

inside the warehouse.We didn't actually burn

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

and gave her a high

funny when you look back.We were pretty stupid kids back

at the thought of

and angry,"I

were you guys

me a look.I

world.My dad died when I turned sixteen,"I

dad was my

was so out of the blue and senseless.As

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

exactly what I was feeling and they were with me every

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

hear,"everyone followed

our glasses

quickly and said, "I'll get

"Anything but warm beer,"

replied and he nodded

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

as he picked

across his face as he said, "I

can’t believe Tommy’s married with three

watched him slipped through

him around town sometimes, playing football with his kids.Can

sat down on a stapler and got his ass stapled

my head at the memory

that way, I

"Yeah,"I nodded.

of

"What way?"

don't know, settling down, getting married,

"I haven't, I guess.

What about you?"

kid.I want to be a mom.Drive my kids to

on you back in high school.I used to write my name Allison Hayes and I'd call

up,"I couldn’t

my friends, they

had a good

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

night,"she let

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

went skinny

arm, I didn’t remember

the beginning

high school, we

to Boston for college and I went

seen each other since

she grew up to be this successful and beautiful woman I

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

ring on her finger,

smart guy.He picked