Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

EMMA’s POV :

"What do you think?"he said.

"I don’t know.Are you?"

He looked at me as if I should know the answer already, but I just stared at him with a puzzled look on my face.

"Every day I woke up and I wished that I'd just die,"he paused for a beat before continuing, "To live a life without you is like not living a life at all.But if that’s what happiness is, then yeah, I guess I’m fucking elated,"

Not even this level of sarcasm could hide the pain and bitterness in his words.I didn’t realize he was feeling all these things.He never seemed to show it.Guess the joke was on me.

For the past month, I pretend like I was happy and fine.If anything, I should have known never to judge a book by its cover.

"Why didn't you say anything?"I croaked.

"We're over and that's it.It doesn’t matter what I feel,"

"But it does matter,"I found the words escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Maybe it was the alcohol in me that was being brave, but I took a step closer to him.

I wanted so much to pull him into my arms and bury my face into his chest.

"Emma,"he warned, but he didn't move away.

"It doesn’t have to be over, does it?"I looked up at him when I was an arm’s length away.  

"Emma —"

"Does it?"I pressed on.

We were standing so close to each other.

I leaned my face upwards and he leaned his head down.I could feel his warm breaths on my face and it was like oxygen to my dry lungs.For the first time in months, my heart was beating so fast and strong, like it was beating again after an absence of life.

When I saw that his lips were only a mere inch away from mine, I closed my eyes and waited in anticipation...

"Hayes?! Is that you?"suddenly a loud voice called out and we pulled away instantly.

"John?"lan squinted his eyes at the two figures standing at the distance behind us.

I looked at the two figures and noticed it was Coach Pullman and Ms.Diaz.I heard rumors that the two were going steady, and by the way they were holding hands with each other, it seemed like the rumors were true.

"Who's that?" Ms.Diaz put her hand over her eyes to see clearer.

Shoot! It’s not good that they saw us together! "Ah, I was just telling Ms.Sinclair that she has to go back to her room.She's breaking curfew,"

lan was quick to react.

"Oh, it’s senior week.Take it easy, Hayes,"Coach Pullman sounded a little drunk.

The two of them then walked away and I let out a sigh I didn't know I was holding.

lan looked relieved too.Thankfully it was dark out here and they didn't seem to notice anything off about us.

"You should go," he said finally.

"But..."I started to speak, but he cut me off quickly.

"And to answer your question, yes, it does,"he paused for a moment before continuing, 

"Just because two people love each other, doesn't mean they have to be together,"

lan’s tone was cold and flat.

He didn’t wait for me to say anything else and he turned away.I wanted to call out after him, but I knew it was useless.

Even though it was clear as day that he still cared about me, he had made his choice.He chose not to be with me and I had to accept that.

"Just because two people love each other, doesn’t mean they have to be together,"

with that thought in mind, I pulled out the locket from my back pocket.I stroked the heart locket for a few times before I put it over my neck

I got ready and headed downstairs for breakfast.Tiff was filling me in on

days before the trip, Madison found out that Brad was talking to a bunch of girls online.He had been doing it behind her back for

her and that he was only talking

she was on her own in this trip, Brad could easily sweep

in the cheer squad had their boyfriends with

boy-less, so she could focus her energy on being Maddie's shield

scoured the breakfast buffet as I listened to Tiff going on and on about Brad

just grabbed a slice of toast and butter, and a cup of coffee, and

Mark, and Tyler were already

quickly joined them and Tyler's eyes lit up

head?"I said

the

Carrie in on the latest dish on Madison and

that conversation and he slid his chair

um, I didn’t say anything too weird to you last night, did I? It’s kind of a blur.Hope I didn’t say too

"No, you were fine,"

more drinking

at all? Then how are we

nearby.It’s no chick-fill-A, but it's a start?"I found his obsession with chick-fill-A very amusing.And it sounded way better than this slice of toast

later we can

"Yeah, totally,"

are gonna go take a walk around,"Tyler stood up to his feet instantly and

“l see yall later,"

in a way as if he didn't want any of them to come

just sat and stared as Tyler

he led me away

turned back to look at Carrie and Tiff who gave me a puzzled look and I

I ended up

honestly a

a place that

to the lighthouse and it also had a museum.We decided to hit the museum first and Tyler was so cute, he was being a geek

seven surviving colonial era lighthouse towers, that’s so

a candy store, I couldn't help

such a dork,"I shoved him playfully and he shoved me

last one to the top is a rotten egg!"he said as he

"Hey! Not fair!"

covered my way with his back.We were

was a long way up to the top of the lighthouse, but

top, I was all out

absolutely refreshing and there was nothing but miles and

and he put his hands

your big ass was

you're a sore loser,"he

up, dork,"I shoved

realize was

him, I ended up almost falling on top of

and he held onto my arms so I

the same time he was looking

inch away from each other and my eyes

could do anything else, he leaned his

"Tyler —"

going to kiss me, but instead his lips

kiss and it lasted for

away and smiled brightly at

you on the lips without your permission

was blushing and I felt embarrassed, so I

let out a soft laugh and he wrapped his arms around me, holding me

not to overthink

the pier and we talked about the future as we sipped

all day until it was sunset, and we decided to hit the beach.We didn’t have a sip of beer the entire

from their hook ups, but Tyler and I

dark outside.It was getting cold and Tyler was nice enough to give me his jacket.We thought about going back to the hotel, but unfortunately for Tyler, Mark and Carrie had hijacked his room.I didn't feel good about leaving Tyler to roam around on his own, so

listened to more music together.In the end, we ended up sleeping next to each other as we sat on one of the