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,"

and grabbed the guest list on the table, "So

about Emma,

Ally pressed on.

sounded worried when you thought I was her

just

sighed and threw the guest

didn’t say a

and stood up to her

out a bottle of whiskey

Macallan 25 year old single malt

could use some

thought you don't

a generous amount into one glass and

took it

out for days, Ally made a deal

weeks in the hospital trying

sober now, I was so

 "Thanks,"

gulp and let the fiery warm liquid enter my

"Whoa, slow down,"

as she watched me downed

empty glass down on the table and let out

she took a sip of her own drink before pouring another

as she played with the drink in her

you two were going

just hard with long distance.We don't talk as much anymore.I feel like I’m losing her.And the harder I try to grasp, the more she’s slipping away from

still so young, lan.Maybe she’s not ready for such a mature

the problem,"I sighed and stared

It was empty again.

way mature.I’m the problem

"What do you mean?"

topped off my drink again.  "She’s always growing and becoming more and I'm afraid I've passed my prime.I think I’m not

be true, can

"I don't know,"

have you

"For a while,"

you never told

head and

wasn't completely honest with Richard and that’s the thing

I supposed to tell her, Al? Sorry for not being

sound? I

told me

honest, you

I was

like her, not in a

I admitted.

"That's not true,"Ally said.

it is.That's my worst fear, Al.I'm afraid she’s gonna out into the world and see there’s plenty of other guys that are better than me...why would a girl like her pick someone like me

lan.You're a great

in a comforting manner, but I

you don’t know the whole

you never told me the

plenty of times about Emma, but I couldn't tell her

I wanted trouble.But basically, I was a

only in high school when she first met me,

eyes on her at that bar, I knew

like the type that would be into guys like me, but I was

young

was selfish

to the back alley and

was a student of mine, instead of running for

a sick son of a

be the mature adult, but I

rules, I took her again

around

was almost raped by a dude

almost gave up on her future for

move on with her life, I had to come back

because I couldn't

because I was convinced that I love

to church when

‘love is

My love for her was nowhere near pure

proud

she asked

I was suffocating her.

deep thoughts you're having there.Care to

in my hand and realized it was