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

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

still a thing," I laughed at Tommy’s

in trouble plenty of times,"

change,

I thought she was somewhere on

she was here all of a sudden, taking a seat right next to me and her knee was touching my

friend, we all went to high

fooled around once or twice, but

planned for a March wedding.  "Hey, all we had

as the waitress came back

cheered as he picked

ones to come,"Ally

downing the drink.I wasn't as excited as everyone

I couldn't wait for this

teaching?" AJ

"It’s alright,"I shrugged.

now.Crazy how

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

vandalizing, oh and didn’t you guys

the warehouse.We didn't actually burn

didn’t burn it, you

Tommy relented and gave

back.We

his head at the thought of all the stupid things

angry,"I muttered

guys

and AJ gave me a

was angry at the world.My dad died when I turned

was

hit him.It was so

at sixteen it just seemed right, you know? Burn down things and trash places just

exactly what I was feeling and they were with

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

followed

all our

up quickly and said, "I'll get

"Anything but warm beer,"

replied and he

"Shoot, it’s the wife,"

he picked

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

Tommy’s married

him slipped through the crowd

town sometimes, playing football with

freshman year, he sat down on a stapler and got

head at the memory and Ally laughed

unpredictable that way, I

"Yeah,"I nodded.

thought of your

"What way?"

settling down, getting married,

"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 before

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

couldn’t help

serious.Ask all my friends, they

good time

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

did.Especially prom night,"she let out a

"Prom night!"I remembered that.

so drunk and went skinny

with a tattoo on my arm,

the beginning of many

high school, we all parted

for college and I went

each other

she grew up to

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

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

a smart