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

was a

now, she just

news.So, why the long

and said, "lan 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 distance is a lot harder than I thought.I miss

you poor thing,"Carrie cooed

and everything.Now I have to wait for

"Hmm..."

to the side and started thinking

"What?"I asked her.

familiar..."she said

"What do you mean?"

Thanksgiving two years ago?"she

all the way to

as I pulled the scrapbook to my lap, opening it to the page where I took that

for cell phone cameras, I

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

are you? We're

eighteen and we have

planes and trains, if there’s a

crazy as that sounded, she was

my phone and did a little

3 hours and 40 minutes away with a plane and

nodded when she

took at the diner, I was

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

was fairly simple, took me less than

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

"Yeah, she will,"I nodded.

to the airport,"she

"Wait, my parents..."

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

Carrie smiled mischievously.

I really was seeing Tiff

say, you morphed into the people you love.The plan was

driving me to the airport and I would land in New Jersey

then take an Uber to the hospital where Kristen

had my overnight duffel bag with me and the scrapbook I wrapped neatly in

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

giddy and excited as I walked into the hospital

probably the only weird person that was excited about going

the gift shop on my way in,

seeing lilies back at her house the last time I came

bouquet of lilies, I made my way to the

had texted Hailey for the

but I made sure she'd

I finally reached Kristen's room, my heart was racing so

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

the door and waited

was picturing lan, opening

I would I lunge myself at him, I couldn't wait

"Hey...Oh!"

breath was suddenly

Ally was

that Ally was around the hospital, but I

lan’s best friends after

Emma, right?"she said as she tilted her head

is lan here?"I said, peering into the

else in there, only Kristen sitting on her bed, eating

coffee downstairs,"Ally

"Oh..."

is that

she noticed me standing at

finally moved away from the door and

her and said, "Hey,

me?"she smiled at the

it to

many lilies in the room, that’s what I say,"she smiled

was already a large vase filled

a note with Ally’s name on

Kristen liked lilies too, and she got

by Ally...? "I'm so glad to

he doesn't

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

must be starving after all the travel.Would you like some pie? It's cherry and it's delicious.Ally made it," Kristen gestured to this beautiful looking

thank you.I'm good,"I

were having Jell-O for dessert yesterday.It's Thanksgiving,

looked mighty

of strawberry Jell-O in my hand and my heart sank to my

got upstaged

pulled me

head up to see lan, Hailey, and AJ

his tracks with his eyes wide open and his