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.  

a big girl, you can handle yourself, I know that.I trust you.Especially with how hard you've been working for college and to save up money,

"Thanks mom,"

fun.But please, just remember

don’t have

tomorrow, your dad and I decided to go on a

deserve to have some fun.Just

she laughed and

put them all in a pile and brought it

don’t want me to drive you to the meeting point tomorrow?"she called

friend’s picking me up," I said as I zipped up

I got

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

forgot the charger. The

your

the charger from her, and I put

hear," she pulled me for a quick hug and

"Good night, sweetheart,"

"Good night, mom,"

the house very early the next morning.We wanted to get to New Jersey

looked a little nervous as he was driving,

after twelve hours of driving filled with carpool karaoke sessions, sipping on Slurpee and coffee, and a lot of stupid I spy

as

come in!" she gave us

was cold outside but the house was

jazz music was playing, and the smell of

upstairs," lan

Hailey pulled me to the

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

"Emma! You made it!"

a bowl, but she dropped everything to give me

for dinner," I

this is Emma," a guy with dirty blonde hair and brown

like he

heard so much about

meet you," I shook his hand

on his own, so he likes to spend thanksgiving with us,"Hailey added and they shared

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

still, dear,"she shook her head

is mom's turf.She’s not gonna let you touch

lan entered the room and went straight to hug his

see how good

sweet, it was almost

doing good.Turkey's almost

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

a guest and

at her big

can make it," lan ignored

parents are spending thanksgiving on a cruise, somewhere in Barbados.Your

you've met my girl?" lan asked as he put an arm around

here. He could introduce me to people as his girl and it wouldn't

"Emma, yeah.We met,"

and said, "You got a good

"Shut up,"

gave him a playful

AJ, I can

out from the

"Be right there,"

replied and made his way over to

went back to

took out the big, heavy turkey

smelled divine.It was pretty

was with his mom.They were such a lovely family.My eyes then darted to

so I thought I could give them a

room as Hailey and AJ had their backs

notice I was coming in, as they

AJ took Hailey’s hand and he brought it to

hand gently before

eyes