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.  

hard you've been working for college and to save up money,

"Thanks mom,"

deserve to have some fun.But please, just remember

this.You don’t have to worry," I said with a

and I decided to go on a little date night.We're gonna watch a movie.It’s been a while since we did

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

she laughed and finished folding

pile and brought it neatly back to

you to the meeting

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

got everything

be calling you every night to check up on you," mom said and she grabbed

the charger. The most

your

and took the charger from her, and I put

wanna hear," she pulled me for

"Good night, sweetheart,"

"Good night, mom,"

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

he was driving, and

Finally, after twelve hours of driving filled with carpool karaoke sessions, sipping on Slurpee and coffee, and a lot of stupid I spy games later, we made it to New

beamed at us as

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

was cold outside but the house was

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

these upstairs," lan said,

pulled me to the

the whole room as we stepped

"Emma! You made it!"

she dropped everything to give me a hug. 

excited for

dirty blonde hair

looked like he was

I've heard so much about

meet you," I

of lan’s oldest friends.He’s lonely on his own, so he likes to spend thanksgiving with

you with?" I said to Kirsten

our guest.Just sit still, dear,"she

not gonna let you touch

how are you?" lan entered the room and went

was sweet to see how good he was with

sweet, it was almost

doing good.Turkey's almost

and turned to Hailey, "Don’t just stand there sweetie, go set the table for our guests will

a guest and

at her big brother before turning to her

can make it," lan

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

girl?" lan asked as he put an

could introduce me to people

"Emma, yeah.We met,"

me and said, "You got a good one

"Shut up,"

a playful shove as

can use a hand

out from the

"Be right there,"

and made his way over to

to

helped Kristen took out the big,

divine.It was pretty much the poster

I saw how good lan was with his mom.They were such a lovely family.My eyes

for everyone, so I thought I could give them

towards the dining room as Hailey and AJ had their

notice I was coming in, as they were

AJ took Hailey’s hand and he brought it

hand gently before softly

blushing and her eyes fluttered as