Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

EMMA's POV : 

I must admit, life was pretty darn good lately.After homecoming, lan and I were inseparable.I spent all my time juggling school work, college applications, hanging out with Tiff and Carrie, and chilling with lan every chance I got.I was on a roll.

Sleep became a secondary need.Sure, it was exhausting, but I also felt so alive.So when Thanksgiving break rolled around, I was honestly relieved.

This way I could take a rest from school and work, and focus my time on my family and on lan.Especially on lan.

We were planning something big for Thanksgiving this year.

He wanted to come through with his promise from last year, he was bringing me to his home in New Jersey to spend the holidays with him and his family.

Of course, it wasn't easy convincing my parents that their only daughter wanted to spend her last thanksgiving before college somewhere else.Mom and dad had so many questions.

I told them I was spending thanksgiving at the community garden, as they were hosting an event of thanksgiving dinner at a nearby county.

The community garden was actually hosting this event, so it was the perfect cover.

I told my parents I needed the extra community service hours and that it was for a good cause.

Finally, after a lot of begging and bargaining, my parents decided it was okay that I went on this thanksgiving dinner trip.  I felt bad for lying to them, but spending thanksgiving with lan and his family was an offer I couldn't refuse.

And hey, maybe next thanksgiving it would be lan’s turn to spend it with my family.

Our plan was to leave on Thursday morning and we would be back in Georgia by Sunday night.

Mom, dad, and I had dinner on Wednesday night to make up for me missing the actual turkey day on Thursday.

It was a nice and lovely dinner.

Mom and dad discussed dad’s job and that things were getting better.

Then we talked about my college plans and discussed financial aids or possibly getting a loan.

So overall, it was a very hopeful talk.

After dinner, mom came into my room and she saw that I was struggling with packing my overnight bag.

It was my first thanksgiving ever with lan’s family and I wanted to make sure I would dress right for the occasion.

"Need some help?" she asked.

"Sure. You can help me decide which one is better?"

I said as I brought up two similar sweaters but in different colors. One is red and the other is blue.

"The blue one, definitely. It'll bring out your eyes,"

"Blue it is. Thanks, mom,"

I said and folded the blue sweater into my overnight bag.

"So, this community garden thanksgiving festival thing..." she trailed as she helped fold the scattered rejected clothes.

"Yeah?"

"This guy friend that you've been seeing the whole summer, is he gonna be there?" she asked teasingly.

"Mom!"

"It's just a question, Emma. I'm a mother, that’s what I do,"

"He… might be," I answered cautiously.

"Okay.You still remember our little talk, right?"

"Yes, mom, I do.Please don't repeat yourself,"

Mom had given the talk right before we started school this year.It was about a year too late, but it didn’t matter.

I pretty much knew everything I needed to know from the internet and my friends.Tiff especially, she could be very graphic with details.

Plus, lan was always careful.

He always used a condom, always without exception.  

how hard you've been working for college and to save up money, I’m really

"Thanks mom,"

some fun.But please,

this.You don’t have to worry," I said with a reassuring

go on a little date

dad deserve to have some fun.Just

nice one," she laughed and finished folding all the scattered

put them all in a pile and brought it neatly back

don’t want me to drive you to the meeting

up," I said as I zipped up my overnight

I got

mom said and

forgot the charger. The most important

be answering your call every

and took the charger from her, and I put it

me for a quick hug and kissed m_

"Good night, sweetheart,"

"Good night, mom,"

very early the next morning.We wanted to get to New Jersey before 7 PM, where dinner would

nervous as he was driving, and he wouldn't let go of

Slurpee and coffee,

beamed at us as she opened the front

gave us each

but the house was warm

in the fireplace, jazz music was playing, and

lan

me to the kitchen before I could say

to the whole room as

"Emma! You made it!"

she dropped everything to give

for having me. I'm so excited for dinner,"

Emma," a guy with dirty blonde hair and

he was around lan’s

I'm AJ. I've heard

to meet you," I

friends.He’s lonely on his own, so he likes to spend thanksgiving with us,"Hailey added and

can help you with?" I said to Kirsten as I noticed

sit still, dear,"she shook her

turf.She’s not gonna

you?" lan entered the room and went straight to hug

see how good he was

it

doing good.Turkey's almost

just stand there

a guest and

her big

lan ignored Hailey and went

on a cruise, somewhere in Barbados.Your

asked as he

be ourselves here. He could introduce me to people as his girl and

"Emma, yeah.We met,"

"You got a good one right here,

"Shut up,"

playful

can use

called out from the

"Be right there,"

replied and made his

went back to

the big, heavy turkey from

amazing and smelled divine.It was pretty much

to myself as I saw how good lan was with his mom.They were such a lovely

were busy setting the table for everyone, so I thought I could give them a

the dining room as Hailey and AJ had their

in, as

hand and

her hand gently before

her eyes fluttered as