Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

Chapter 17: Comeback Kid 

EMMaA’s POV :

"Can't believe it’s already thanksgiving break.Junior year's going by so fast,"

Tiff sighed dramatically as we made our way to the parking lot.

"I Know right.Next thing you know, boom, college applications,"Mark added.

"Please don't say college applications.We don't have to deal with that for another year,"Carrie responded.

"Yeah, guys.Let's not get ahead of ourselves.It's Thanksgiving break, let’s just take it easy,"

I said and all my friends turned their heads on me.

"You've been surprisingly chill.I like this new you, so very Zen,"

Tiff narrowed her eyes at me playfully.

"I'm just grateful, you know.I have amazing friends, I have a great life, and school is actually kinda fun..."

The past couple of weeks had been amazing.lan and I were doing great.Even though he said he never did relationships before, I couldn't tell.He was being such a great boyfriend.

I saw him every day during lunch where I'd be working on my art portfolio in the art room, and after school I’d go to his apartment after swim or cheerleading practice.

Spending time with lan was always fun.He had an amazing taste in movies and he was showing all the old classics.

Sometimes we'd play games on his PlayStation or cook dinner together.

And don’t get me started on our after-hour activities. Being with him, I had never felt more alive! : "Whoa, who are you and what have you done to our Emma?"

Carrie narrowed her eyes at me this time.

"What can I say?"

I shrugged casually, "I like school,"

"Oh my god, you're not turning into a nerd are you?"

"Oh, please—"

"Emma!"

A familiar voice called my name and I was certain it must be a mistake, because it sounded like Zach.

My friends and I stopped our tracks and we turned around to see Zach, my ex-boyfriend, standing in our school parking lot.

"Is that Zach?"Tiff gaped.

"What the hell is he doing here?"Carrie asked. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Zach cafne running at us.

He was wearing his Emory sweatshirt and sweatpants.

He was waving his hand and smiling at us like we were all old friends or something.

I mean, we were.But not anymore.

"Hey guys,"he said to everyone, but all my friends remained silent and cold.

"Emma, hi,"his eyes zeroed in on me.

"What are you doing here, Zach?"I asked point-blankly.

"You don't take my calls, you never respond to my texts...I came back for thankgiving break.I just want to see you,"

"Well, I don’t want to see you,"

I snapped quickly.

"Come on, Em.Please, I just want to talk.Just give me five minutes,"he pleaded.

"She said she doesn't wanna see you, douche-face,"Tiff shot daggers at him, ready to attack the moment I gave her clearance.

"It's okay, Tiff.I got this,"

I said to her and I turned my face Pack to Zach, "You have five minutes,"

"Okay, but can we please talk alone?"he eyed my friends nervously as they were giving him death glares.

"Fine,"

I breathed and motioned for him to come follow me.

We walked a few steps away from everyone and turned a corner, where there were less people.

When we found a cozy enough spot, I stopped my tracks and shot my best ‘ now-what' look at him.

"Talk,"I said simply.

"Emma, I miss you.I wanna get back together,"he started and I rolled my eyes immediately.

"We've been together for a whole year.How can you forget about everything, just like that?"

"It wasn't just like that, Zach.You cheated on me with the first girl you met at college.You broke my heart.So it’s only natural that I wanna forget about us, you can’t blame me for that,"

"You're right, you're right,"he said quickly,

"It was all my fault, I know.I messed this up.I didn’t realize what I got until I lost you, Emma,"

His voice cracked a little and his eyes were almost glassy.

I wasn't his biggest fan, but this sight of him made me soften up a little bit.

"What’s done is done, Zach.You just have to move on,"

I said, pausing for a moment before continuing, "Because I have,"

"You—you moved on?" he looked taken aback.

"With who?"

"It's none of your business, Zach.Now are we done here? I need to go help my mom grocery shopping,"

I was about to leave but Zach stepped in front of my face, blocking my way.

"Emma, please.I wanna make it right with you.I wanna fix this.Please, just give me one more chance,"

he said as he grabbed me by the hand.

His grip was rather tight, I tried pulling my hand away but he wouldn't let me.

"I can't,"I breathed as I kept trying to pull away.

"Zach, you have to let me go!"

I was half-yelling at this point because he refused to let my hand go.

"I'm not letting you go, Emma—"

"Is there a problem here?"

Suddenly, I heard the familiar husky voice that was lan and his tone was dead serious, I had goose bumps when I heard him.

"la—Mr.Hayes,"

I greeted him as he came right in between Zach and I.

lan shot daggers at Zach and Zach let go of my hand immediately.

"Is this guy bothering you?"

lan asked me, but he kept his gaze straight on Zach.

"No, I’m fine," I muttered quickly.

lan looked mad, extremely mad.

The tension in the air was so thick, you could cut through it with a knife.

Zach let out a deep sigh finally as he stepped back.

"This isn’t over, Emma,"

Zach shot me a look before turning 9 his heels and left.

I let out a relieved sigh as soon as he did.

I was afraid there was going to be a fight or something and that wouldn't be good.

"Are you okay?" lan’s voice turned warm and tender as he spoke to me.

"Yeah, I'm fine.Don’t mind him, it’s just Zach,"

I was about to explain more of the situation, but we noticed my friends had popped into our periphery.

"Emma? Are you okay? We saw Zach left in a hurry,"Tiff asked.

"Yeah, it’s all right,"

"Oh, Mr.Hayes.Happy Thanksgiving,"

Carrie smiled politely to Mr.Hayes as she noticed him standing there, extremely close to me! We shuffled away awkwardly.

"Yes, un! happy thanksgiving,"he nodded to my friends and I.

He gave me a knowing look and a smile before turning to leave.

"What did he want?"

Tiff asked, referring to Zach.

"Said he wants to get back together,"

I scoffed at the idea.

"What did you say?"

"No, obviously.Just the thought of him makes me sick,"

"What a weirdo,"

Tiff agreed with me, "What was he thinking showing up at school like this, asking for you to take him back?"

"Just ignore him, Em.You've been doing so well without him,"Carrie added.

"Yeah, don't let that douche-face ruin your Zen,"

Tiff said as she linked her arms with mine, "Come on, let's go home and enjoy Thanksgiving,"

lan was driving to New Jersey tonight to be with his family.

He wanted to drop by my house and say goodbye before he leaves.

The idea of not seeing him for the next four days would suck.

I wished he would stay in Georgia and we could have our secret rendezvous together, but he hadn't seen his mom in a while so he needed to be in New Jersey.

At around 6 PM, lan arrived at my house.

I made an excuse to my mom that Tiff was dropping off something so I could go out to see him.

I got into his car as quickly as I could, and I gave him a quick kiss since we didn’t have much time.

"Drive safely, okay?" I sighed, secretly wishing that he wouldn't go.

"I wish I can take you with me,"he said as he reached for my face, his thumb stroked my chin gently.

"And tell my parents what? And tell you mom what?"

"Maybe next year?"

"Or after i graduated,"

"Deal,"he smirked.The idea of spending thanksgiving with lan and his family, oh I could just melt at the thought.

lan was about to pull me in for another kiss, when suddenly something caught his attention.

He stopped midway and asked, "By the way, who was that guy earlier in the parking lot?"

"That was Zach, my ex-boyfriend.He was the guy that cheated on me on my birthday and then I met you...and well, you know the rest,"

"What is he doing here? What did he want with you?"

lan narrowed his eyes and his tone was laced in anger.

"He wants to get back together, but I told him that I wasn't interested,"

His gaze turned black, he looked almost scary.

His fists curled up into balls and his voice dropped an octave lower when he said, "I don't feel good leaving you alone with him in this town,"

lan was being so possessive, I found it rather cute.

"It's just Zach.He’s harmless,"

I said as I ran my fingers along his jaw gently, calming him down.

"I saw the way he looked at you earlier—"

"You're being paranoid," I cut him off quickly,

"I know Zach, we dated for a year.He wouldn't dare lay a finger on me.Don’t you worry, everything will be fine,"

I said reassuringly, but lan wasn't buying it.I tilted his face down so he was looking at me.

When our eyes met, his dark angry gaze turned warm almost instantly.

Finally, he took a deep breath and let out a sigh.

"You'll be okay for four days without me, right?"he asked.

"Of course.I have my family, I have my friends.We're gonna take it easy.Maybe hit the mall,"

I paused for a moment before saying, "It's gonna be boring without you here,"

"Good, I don’t want you to be having too much fun without me,"that smirk was back on his face again and I smiled right back.

"I’m so gonna miss you, lan Hayes,"

"I'll miss you too,"

He tilted my chin up as his lips went down.

His kiss was so tender and warm, I couldn't help but feel butterflies.

I needed to savor this kiss since I wouldn't be having it for the next couple of days.

So I kissed him back, with every bit of passionate fiber in my bone.

He smelled so divine, I felt like getting high just by his scent alone.

Letting out a soft moan, I let my tongue travel to his lips, grazing seductively on his bottom lip.

"Emma, if you continue kissing me like this, I’m gonna end up kidnapping you and taking you to New Jersey,"he said through the kiss and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright,"

I said as I pulled away finally, "I need to get back.My mom would be looking for me,"

"It's just four days,"he reminded me.

"I'll see you in four days,"I smiled and let out a sigh, knowing full well that my time was up.

After giving him one final kiss, I got out of the car and raced back to my house.

I could still feel the butterflies swimming in my stomach as I ran.

I had just seen him ten seconds ago and I missed him already.

Damn, I’m so hopeless! "It’s just four days,"

I reminded myself mentally.

Four days.

Just ninety six hours.

I can do this.

I mean , what can possibly go wrong? And suddenly, my phone chimed.

I glanced at the screen to see the text, and my heart dropped to the floor.

Zach: I saw what you did .