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

"Thanks mom,"

deserve to have some fun.But please, just remember

will, mom, I got this.You don’t have to worry," I

a little date night.We're gonna watch a movie.It’s been a while since we did that," mom chatted

fun.Just be

she laughed and finished

and brought it

you to the meeting point

picking me up," I said as I

got everything

night to check up on you," mom said and

forgot the charger.

be answering your call every night,

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

wanna hear," she pulled me for a quick hug

"Good night, sweetheart,"

"Good night, mom,"

to get

a little nervous as he was driving, and he wouldn't

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

beamed at us as she opened the

us each a hug

but the house

a fire in the fireplace, jazz music was playing, and the

bring these upstairs," lan

me to the kitchen before I could say anything

the

"Emma! You made it!"

a bowl, but she dropped everything

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

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

like he

AJ. I've heard so much

to meet you,"

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

said to Kirsten as I

our guest.Just sit still, dear,"she

not gonna let you touch anything,"Hailey

how are you?" lan entered the room and went

how good

it was

good.Turkey's almost

Hailey, "Don’t just stand there

a guest and I’m

her eyes at her big brother before turning to

lan ignored Hailey and went straight for

cruise, somewhere in Barbados.Your mom and Hailey invited me, hope

lan asked as he put

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

"Emma, yeah.We met,"

nodded at me and said, "You got a good one right here, Emma.Hold on to

"Shut up,"

him a playful

can use

out from

"Be right there,"

replied and made his way over

back to

also helped Kristen took out the big,

divine.It was pretty much the poster child for

smiling to myself as I saw how good lan was with his mom.They were such a lovely family.My eyes then darted to the dining room where

setting the table for everyone, so I thought

walked towards the dining room as Hailey and

coming in, as they were laughing and smiling at each

suddenly, AJ took Hailey’s hand and he brought it to his

kissed her hand gently before softly letting

eyes fluttered