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.  

know that.I trust you.Especially with how hard you've been working for college and to save up money, I’m

"Thanks mom,"

have some fun.But please, just remember to always be

this.You don’t have

home tomorrow, your dad and I decided to go on a little

dad deserve to have some fun.Just be safe, okay?" I said,

laughed and finished folding all the scattered

a pile and brought it neatly back to

drive you to the meeting

I said as I zipped

I got everything

check up on you," mom said and she grabbed my travel charger on the desk and handed it

almost forgot the charger. The

I'll be answering your

and took the charger from her, and I put it inside the front

I wanna hear," she pulled me for a quick hug and kissed m_

"Good night, sweetheart,"

"Good night, mom,"

next morning.We wanted to get to New Jersey before 7 PM, where

he was driving, and he wouldn't let go of my

sessions, sipping on Slurpee and coffee, and a lot of stupid I spy games later, we made

at us as

in!" she gave us each a hug before pulling us

was cold outside but

the fireplace, jazz music was playing, and the smell of Kristen’s amazing cooking

lan said, referring to our

me to the kitchen before I could say

look who's here!" she announced to the whole room as we stepped inside the

"Emma! You made it!"

but she dropped everything to

I'm so excited for dinner," I said

dirty blonde

he

I've heard so much about

to meet you," I

lonely on his own, so he likes to spend thanksgiving with us,"Hailey added

said to Kirsten as I noticed how

our guest.Just sit still, dear,"she

gonna

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

see how good he

it was

good.Turkey's

to Hailey, "Don’t just stand there sweetie, go set the

guest and

at her big

make it," lan ignored Hailey and went straight

parents are spending thanksgiving on a cruise, somewhere in Barbados.Your mom and Hailey invited me, hope

you've met my girl?" lan asked as he

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

"Emma, yeah.We met,"

a good one right here,

"Shut up,"

a playful shove

AJ, I can use

from the

"Be right there,"

and made his way over

back to talking

out the big, heavy

smelled divine.It was pretty

was with his mom.They were such

busy setting the table for everyone, so I thought

as Hailey and

in, as they were laughing and smiling at each

and

hand gently

and her eyes fluttered as