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?"

had a small heart attack, but

surgery was

are with her now, she just

news.So,

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 distance is a lot harder than I thought.I miss him so bad, I'm dying

you poor thing,"Carrie cooed

have to wait for

"Hmm..."

head to the side and started thinking hard

"What?"I asked her.

feels familiar..."she said

"What do you mean?"

Thanksgiving two years ago?"she

drove me all the way to New

to my lap, opening it to the page where I took that road trip with

for cell phone cameras, I got everything

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

that, are you? We're not sixteen anymore,

we have more money now,"she

and planes and trains, if there’s a

crazy as that

grabbed my phone and did a little

Jersey was only 3 hours and 40 minutes away with a plane and it would only cost me

good price,"Carrie nodded when she

for all those shifts I took at the diner, I was pretty much loaded

done to my Carrie?"I couldn't stop myself from smiling real

took me

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

"Yeah, she will,"I nodded.

your stuff and I'll drive you to the airport,"she said as she got

"Wait, my parents..."

now, we've done this

Carrie smiled mischievously.

that moment, I really was seeing Tiff

you morphed into the people you love.The plan

airport and I would land in

Uber to the hospital where Kristen was

and the

a pack of strawberry Jell-O as a

giddy and excited as I walked

was probably the only weird person that was excited

on my way in, and I thought about getting something for

seeing lilies back at her house the last time I came

of lilies, I

texted Hailey for the room

told her I was coming, but I made sure she'd

room,

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

myself, I knocked on the door and

doorknob rattle and I was

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

"Hey...Oh!"

was suddenly caught in my

of lan, Ally was standing at

Ally.lan never told me that Ally was around the hospital, but I guessed

one of lan’s

right?"she said as she tilted her head to

lan here?"I said,

in there, only Kristen

getting coffee downstairs,"Ally

"Oh..."

that

she noticed

from the door and

her and said, "Hey, Kristen.How

for me?"she smiled at the bouquet of lilies in

handed it to

never have too many lilies in the room, that’s what I say,"she smiled

large vase filled with lilies on the table

the vase was also a note with Ally’s

that Kristen liked lilies too, and she got the biggest possible vase

by Ally...? "I'm so glad to see you.lan didn’t tell me

he doesn't know.It's a

he'll go nuts.He’s gonna be up here soon,"she said, pausing

and it's delicious.Ally made it," Kristen gestured to this beautiful looking pie next to the vase of

no, thank

dessert yesterday.It's Thanksgiving, so I

looked mighty proud

strawberry Jell-O in my hand and my

just got upstaged by the

familiar voice suddenly pulled me from

head up to see lan, Hailey, and AJ standing at the

in his tracks with his eyes wide open and