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.  

for college and to save up money, I’m really proud of you Emma,"mom

"Thanks mom,"

deserve to have some fun.But please, just

got this.You don’t have

you're not gonna be home tomorrow, your dad and I decided to go on a little date night.We're gonna watch

fun.You and dad deserve to have some fun.Just be safe,

and finished folding all the

them all in a pile and brought it neatly

to

friend’s picking me up," I said

I got

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

charger. The

be answering your call

and took the charger from her, and I put

pulled me for a quick hug

"Good night, sweetheart,"

"Good night, mom,"

early the next morning.We wanted to get to New

driving,

carpool karaoke sessions, sipping on Slurpee and coffee, and a lot of stupid I

us as she opened

in!" she gave us each a hug

air was cold outside but the house was warm

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

upstairs," lan said,

come here," Hailey pulled me to the

announced to the whole

"Emma! You made it!"

she dropped

so excited for dinner," I said as

dirty blonde hair and brown eyes

he was around

I'm AJ. I've heard so

nice to meet you,"

so he likes to spend thanksgiving with

you with?" I said to Kirsten as I noticed

sit still, dear,"she shook her

mom's turf.She’s not gonna

lan entered the room and went straight to hug

to see how good he was with

sweet, it was almost

good.Turkey's

"Don’t just stand there

guest and

her eyes at her big

make it," lan ignored Hailey

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

lan asked as he put an

could introduce me to people as his girl

"Emma, yeah.We met,"

me and said, "You got a good one right here, Emma.Hold

"Shut up,"

gave him a playful

I can use

from the

"Be right there,"

and made his way over to

went back to talking with

took out the

smelled divine.It was pretty much the

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

busy setting the table for everyone, so I

the dining room as Hailey and AJ had their

was coming in, as

took Hailey’s hand and he brought

gently before softly letting

eyes fluttered