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 we're pretty full,

about Emma, isn’t

Ally pressed on.

sounded worried when you thought

well...things are just shit

threw the guest list back on the

didn’t say

knowingly and stood up to

and pulled out a bottle of whiskey

25 year old single malt scotch.My go to

could use some of

you don't

for me,"she poured a generous amount into one glass

took it from

blacking out for days, Ally made a deal with me not to drink

spent weeks in the hospital

sober now, I was

 "Thanks,"

big gulp and let the fiery warm liquid

"Whoa, slow down,"

she watched me

empty glass down on the table and let out a long, exasperated

some water into her glass and she took a sip of her own drink before pouring another generous amount of scotch into

paradise?"she said as she played

you two were going

like I’m losing her.And the harder I try to grasp, the more she’s slipping away from me," the alcohol

lan.Maybe she’s not ready

sighed and stared at

It was empty again.

but she’s way mature.I’m the

"What do you mean?"

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

can't be

"I don't know,"

long have you

"For a while,"

never told

shook my head and took another big

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

to tell her, Al? Sorry for not being man

pathetic would that sound? I don’t wanna be

what she told me earlier? She said

to be honest, you can be

I was

a girl like her, not in a

I admitted.

"That's not true,"Ally said.

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

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

comforting manner, but I shook my head and

know the whole

because you never told

times about Emma, but I couldn't tell her

I wanted trouble.But basically,

high school when she first met me,

didn't realize she was that young, but the moment I laid eyes on her at that bar, I knew I had to

be into

young and

was selfish

back alley

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

a sick son of

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

I

grip so tight around her, she

almost raped by

on

let her move on with her life, I had to

because I couldn't control

I was convinced that

to

priests would recite ‘love is patient and love is

this unkind? My love for

was proud and self-

wonder she asked for

I was suffocating her.

deep thoughts you're having there.Care

my hand