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.  

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

"Thanks mom,"

have some fun.But please, just remember

this.You don’t have to

decided to go on a little date night.We're gonna

some fun.Just

and finished folding all

and brought it neatly back to

want me to drive you to the meeting point tomorrow?"she called out from

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

got everything

mom said and she grabbed my travel charger on

the charger.

be answering your call every

her, and I put it inside the front pocket of the

she pulled me for a quick hug and kissed m_

"Good night, sweetheart,"

"Good night, mom,"

wanted to get to New

was driving, and he wouldn't

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

at us as she opened

us

but the house was warm

in the fireplace, jazz music was playing, and the

these upstairs," lan said, referring to

here," Hailey pulled me to the kitchen before I could say anything

here!" she announced to the whole room as we stepped

"Emma! You made it!"

busy pouring gravy into a bowl, but she dropped

excited for dinner,"

a guy with dirty blonde hair

looked like he was around lan’s

I've heard so

nice to meet you," I

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

anything I can help you with?" I said to Kirsten

guest.Just sit still,

not gonna

entered the room and went straight to hug his

sweet to see how good he was with his

sweet, it

doing good.Turkey's

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

a guest and

big brother before turning to

lan ignored Hailey and went

somewhere in Barbados.Your mom

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

could introduce

"Emma, yeah.We met,"

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

"Shut up,"

him a playful shove as they

AJ, I can use

out from the dining

"Be right there,"

his way over to

to

took out the big, heavy turkey from

divine.It was pretty much the poster child for thanksgiving

good lan was with his mom.They were such

so I thought I could give them a

dining room as Hailey and AJ had

notice I was coming in, as

and he

her hand gently before softly

her eyes fluttered