Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

EMMA’s POV : 

Thank goodness, lan’s mom’s all right.

She had a mini heart attack due to high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Turns out, Kirsten enjoyed the occasional smoke now and then, and that was a contributing factor too.

After her bypass surgery, the doctors said that they would like to keep Kristen for a few days for more examination and tests, so lan and Hailey stayed there with her.

Fortunately, it wasn’t too serious and she recovered fast.

She would need to stay on medication and do regular check ups though, as well as maintain a healthier lifestyle 

"The timing couldn't be worse.We had to have Thanksgiving dinner in the hospital.We had a turkey sandwich and lime Jell-O for dessert,"lan sighed on the phone.

"Aw, that sucks,"I replied.

"Lime is the worst too, we all know strawberry’s best,"

"They ran out of everything.Anyway, how was your dinner?"

"The usual.Grandma made the turkey, mom and I helped.My dad and grandpa watched the game.It’s boring out here without you,"

Thanksgiving dinner at my house was very tame.

My parents were disappointed that lan couldn't come, but they understood why.

Grandma even complimented him, saying lan must be a wonderful son to his mom.

"I'll make it to up to you for Christmas, I promise,"lan said reassuringly.

"Ooh, what do you have in mind for Christmas,"I said as I played with my hair, thinking of all the ways we could spend Christmas together.

"It's...a surprise.But I promise you'll love it,"he replied.

"Okay, I'll clear my schedule,"I said and he let out a chuckle.

"Oh, the doctor’s back.I have to go.Talk to you later?"

"Sure, tell your mom hi for me,"

"Will do, bye,"he said and he hurriedly ended the call.

I threw my phone on the bed and lay my head down on a pillow.

Carrie soon followed after me, laying her head down next to mine.

"Thanksgiving without Tiff is weird, huh?"she said.

"Yeah, this is the first time I'm having Thanksgiving with so many important people in my life missing,"I agreed.

Carrie and I were back in town for Thanksgiving, but Tiff was still out and about in Europe, enjoying her gap year.

"She’s having the time of her life, though.Eating pasta and riding a Vespa,"

"Ha, that rhymed,"

"Why are we so miserable?"she sighed.

"You must miss Tiff a lot, huh?"

"I miss both my best friends.California people are nice, don't get me wrong.But they're not Tiff and Emma,"

"Aw, Carrie,"I said and I pulled her into a hug.

"You have Mark too over there,"

"He's a guy, it's not the same thing.I can't talk to him about girl stuff and feelings.I mean, do you tell lan about your period cramps?"

"I tell lan everything,"She glared at me and said

"Okay, you two are weird,"

"What?"I glared back.

"We're just very honest with each other,"

"Don't tell me you're one of those couples who pee in front of each other,"she gasped and put a hand over her mouth.

"Ew, that's nasty,"I shook my head violently.  

"You two are perfect for each other, though.I'll admit that,"she said.

"We are, aren't we?"

"Tiff and I’s proudest work,"she smiled victoriously.

"That's right,"I nodded in agreement, "We would never happen without you two,"

"So, what’s going on with his mom?"

a small heart attack, but

surgery was

she just has to stay in the hospital for a

that’s good news.So, why

and I haven't seen each other in over three months.We're supposed to see each other on Thanksgiving, but now we have to wait until Christmas.And yeah, we're the perfect couple, sure, but doing long

you poor thing,"Carrie

wait for another...twenty four days before

"Hmm..."

her head to the side and started thinking hard

"What?"I asked her.

feels familiar..."she

"What do you mean?"

Thanksgiving two years ago?"she

to New

the scrapbook to my lap, opening it to the page

god for cell phone cameras,

we go over there and surprise him again?"Carrie said suddenly, causing me

saying that, are you? We're

right.We're eighteen and we

busses and planes and trains, if there’s a

as that sounded, she

and did a

out, New Jersey was only 3 hours and 40 minutes away with a plane and

when she

God for all those shifts I took at the diner, I was pretty much loaded with cash at this

you and what have you done to my Carrie?"I couldn't stop myself from smiling real wide when I successfully booked the flight

fairly simple, took me less

guess I’m channeling my inner Tiff,"she laughed, pausing for a moment and said, "She'll

"Yeah, she will,"I nodded.

and I'll drive you to the airport,"she said as she got up on her

"Wait, my parents..."

at my house.Come on now, we've done this

Carrie smiled mischievously.

I really

morphed into the people you love.The plan

to the airport and I would land in New Jersey at around

would then take an Uber to the hospital where Kristen was

had my overnight duffel bag with me and the scrapbook I

brought him a pack of strawberry Jell-O as a little

as

was probably the only weird person that was excited about going into

way in, and I thought about getting

remembered seeing lilies back at her house the last time I

of lilies, I made

texted Hailey

told her I was coming, but I made sure she'd keep it a secret

Kristen's room, my heart was racing

thought of seeing lan’s face again sent butterflies up and down my

myself, I knocked on the door and waited in

heard the doorknob rattle and I was picturing lan, opening

lunge myself at him, I couldn't wait to have him in my

"Hey...Oh!"

suddenly caught in my

lan, Ally was standing at the

me that Ally was around the hospital, but I guessed

lan’s best

you're Emma, right?"she said as she tilted her

lan here?"I said,

only Kristen sitting on her bed, eating something

getting coffee downstairs,"Ally

"Oh..."

that

spoke up when she noticed me standing

the door and I let

I smiled at her and

good, despite everything.Are these for me?"she smiled at the bouquet of lilies

handed it to

you can never have too many lilies in the

was when I noticed that there was already a large vase filled with lilies

also a note with

Kristen liked lilies too, and she got the

just get upstaged by Ally...? "I'm so glad to see you.lan didn’t tell me you were coming,"she

he doesn't know.It's a

up here soon,"she said,

starving after all the travel.Would you like some pie? It's cherry and it's delicious.Ally made it," Kristen

thank you.I'm good,"I

having Jell-O for dessert yesterday.It's

mighty proud of

Jell-O in my hand and

upstaged by the

suddenly pulled

head up to see lan,

his tracks with his eyes wide open and his jaw on