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,"

muttered and grabbed the guest list on the table, "So

about Emma,

Ally pressed on.

you thought I

well...things are just shit right

guest list back on

didn’t say a

me knowingly and stood up

cabinet and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and

25 year old single malt scotch.My go to

like you could use

thought you

amount into one glass and gave it to

it from her

Ally made a deal with

the hospital

three months sober now, I was so proud

 "Thanks,"

warm liquid enter my system.It was exactly what

"Whoa, slow down,"

watched me downed the

the table and

water into her glass and she took a sip of her own

paradise?"she said as she played with the drink in her

thought you two were going

hard with long distance.We don't talk as much anymore.I feel like I’m losing her.And the harder I try to

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

stared at the

It was empty again.

way mature.I’m

"What do you mean?"

becoming more and I'm afraid I've passed

can't be true,

"I don't know,"

have you

"For a while,"

never told

shook my head and took another

honest with Richard and that’s the thing that ended our

to tell her, Al? Sorry for not being man enough, but please be with me anyway?"

pathetic would that sound? I

she told me earlier? She

be honest, you can be

only did it because I

deserve a girl like her, not in a

I admitted.

"That's not true,"Ally said.

Al.I'm afraid she’s gonna out into the world and see there’s plenty of other guys

are you talking about, lan.You're a great guy.She’s lucky to have

a hand on my knee in a comforting manner,

don’t know the whole

because you never told

me plenty of times about Emma, but I couldn't

I wanted trouble.But basically,

school when she first met me, innocent and

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

the type that would be into guys like me,

was young

selfish and

took her to the back alley and fiicked her next

of mine, instead of running for the hills, I wanted her

a sick

and impressionable.I was supposed to be the mature adult,

the rules, I

stopped.I had my grip so tight around her, she

almost raped by a

gave up on her future for

let her move on with her life, I had to come

because I

because I was convinced that I love

used to go to church

remembered the priests would recite ‘love is patient

my love this unkind? My love

was proud and

she asked

I was suffocating her.

deep thoughts you're having there.Care to share?"Ally

glass in my