Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

IAN’s POV : 

Fucking bullshit! I got in a car as fast as I could and drove until the bridge when I stopped myself.

She didn’t want me to come.

She wanted some space.

Punching the steering wheel in anger, I turned the car around and drove back.

We are ninety miles apart.

How much more space does she want? I didn’t understand this at all.

She chose to talk about big life decisions with that Tristan guy over me, her own fiancée.

What the hell? "I didn’t wanna tell you until I'm ready because I know you're gonna make my decisions for me,"

Her words were stinging in my ear.

What did that even mean? Was she saying that I was controlling? I tried to call her again, but her phone was off.

And even if she picked up the phone, I didn’t know what I would say to her.

She asked for space to think, goddamnit, why can't I be a mature person and give it to her? Suddenly, my phone started buzzing and I picked it up immediately.

My heart was racing at the thought that Emma was calling me back, maybe she was changing her mind? "Emma?!"

I said to the phone without even checking it.

"Hey, no it’s me, Ally,"the voice on the other line said.

"Oh,"I sighed as my shoulders slumped down in disappointment, "What's up, Al?"

"Where are you right now?"

"In the car,"

"Where are you going?"

"Nowhere,"

I said simply.

"Oh...okay...well, I have some things I wanna discuss regarding the grand opening day.I was gonna see if I can come over to your place to talk about it, but it sounds like you're busy, so..."

"No, I can talk.I'll come to your place.I'm not far,"

"Really? Okay then.I'll see you in a bit,"

Turning off the call, I made a quick U-turn and drove towards Ally’s.

If I went home right now, I would just keep kicking myself in the head and replaying all the words Emma said to me.

That wasn't gonna do me any good.

I decided to give Emma her space and I would try her again tomorrow.

As of right now, I wanted to think about something else other than the looming space between Emma and I.

Going over to Ally’s and talking about work seemed like a better idea I reached Ally’s apartment within minutes.

Beaming with excitement, she opened the door for me and led us to the living room.

As much as I wanted to act like everything was okay, all I could muster was a half smile.

"So, listen, I wanna go through the guest list with you,"

Ally said as soon as we sat on the couch.

On the coffee table was a stack of papers and invitations to our gallery's grand opening.

"Our capacity is at 140 people.I know you said you don’t want more than 20 reporters, but I think we should have more.

There are at least 30 important media people from all the five boroughs,"

Ally was going on and on about the guest list and invites.

I nodded along like I was listening, but only half of me was there in that room.

The other half was still thinking about Emma and if I should have done something or said something else.

"What’s going on, lan? What’s on your mind?"

Ally said suddenly, pulling me out of my train of thought.

"Huh?"

"You can barely focus.Tell me, what’s wrong?"

"It's nothing,"

on

Emma, isn’t

Ally pressed on.

thought I was

just

guest list back

say

me knowingly and

and pulled out a bottle of whiskey

old single malt scotch.My

like you could use some of

you

poured a generous amount

took it from

days, Ally made a deal with me not

the hospital trying

sober now, I was

 "Thanks,"

a big gulp and let the fiery warm liquid enter my

"Whoa, slow down,"

as she watched me downed the entire thing

the empty glass down on the table and let out a

poured some water into her glass and she took a sip of her own drink before

said as she played with the

thought you two were going

I’m losing her.And the harder I try to grasp, the more

young, lan.Maybe she’s not ready for such

the problem,"I sighed and stared

It was empty again.

young, but she’s way

"What do you mean?"

topped off my drink again.  "She’s always growing and becoming more and I'm afraid I've passed

can't be

"I don't know,"

you been feeling

"For a while,"

never

head and took another

a relationship.I wasn't completely honest with Richard and that’s the thing

what am I supposed to tell her, Al? Sorry for not being man enough, but please

pathetic would that sound? I don’t

told me earlier?

be honest, you

it because I was afraid I'd lose

never deserve a girl like her, not in

I admitted.

"That's not true,"Ally said.

she’s gonna out into the world and see there’s plenty of

about, lan.You're a great guy.She’s

a comforting manner, but I shook my head

don’t know the

because you never told me the whole

Emma, but I couldn't tell her much.I could never

wanted trouble.But basically, I

in high school when she first met me, innocent

was that young, but the moment I laid eyes on her at that bar, I knew I had

look like the type that would be into guys like me, but

young and

was selfish

the back alley and fiicked her

mine, instead

sick son of a

to be the mature adult,

I took her

my grip so tight around her, she was willing to do anything for

was almost raped by

almost gave up on

end things and let her move on with her life,

I

was convinced that I love

go to church when I was

priests would recite ‘love

my love this unkind? My love for her was nowhere near pure

proud and

wonder she asked for

I was suffocating her.

having there.Care to share?"Ally

glass in my hand and realized it