Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

Chapter 32:  Summer Sunshine 

EMMA's POV :

I never knew spending the summer indoors could be so exhilarating! Seeing that lan was still a teacher at West Lake High, we knew we couldn't be seen together out in public.We found many ways to keep ourselves entertained, though.

From Netflix and chill to cooking dinner dates and losing at strip poker, it was safe to say that spending time with lan in his apartment was never second best.

"Hey, I have to get home," I said when I noticed the clock on the wall said it was 7.15 PM.

lan and I were sitting on the couch. After losing horribly at strip poker, I was left in my underwear and he was free to claim his prize.

He pinned me down and his lips devoured my entire body.

"Mm-hm," he was still kissing my neck, sucking and nibbling on that sweet spot he knew so well.

"I have to have dinner with my parents.They wanna talk to me about something," I said again, pushing him away softly.

But he was relentless.

"Mm-hm," his lips came right back down like magnet to my skin.

"You can't keep me here forever," I laughed and finally managed to squirm away out of his grip.

"You wanna bet?" he cocked his gorgeous head to the side and smirked.

"Ian," I hissed and he laughed.

"Alright, alright," he finally pulled away

"But I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow.And I want a rematch.I’m pretty sure you cheated your last hand," I said as I grabbed my clothes that were scattered on the floor.

"Baby girl, you're a lot of things but your poker face ain't one,"

"Fine, I'll go home and work on that,"I said and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"See you tomorrow,"

"See you tomorrow,"he whispered back.

But as I was about to leave, he pulled my arms and I was drawn back down on the couch.

Not giving me a chance to escape, his lips coaxed mine into a deep, passionate kiss.

I am never gonna get out of here alive! "lan, stop,"

I pleaded, trying my best to contain my smile.

"Fine,"he sighed.

"I love you,"I said with my hand cupping his cheek.

"I love you too,"he replied and leaned his face into my palm.

lan really knew how to keep me distracted.

I wasn't planning on staying past 6 PM, but he always had a way of getting me to stay.I raced back home and managed to arrive in a record breaking fifteen-minute drive.

Mom and dad were already seated in the dining room when I entered the house.I threw my things haphazardly on the couch and quickly grabbed a seat.

"Sorry, I'm late.I was uh...watching a show with Tiff and Carrie,"

I flashed them a sorry smile and grabbed a plate.

"Dinner looks great, mom,"Mom and dad looked so serious.

She didn't even bother responding to my compliment, which was weird.

Were they mad because I was thirty minutes late? "So, Emma, your father and I have some things we need to discuss with you," mom finally spoke in a firm and commanding tone.

Whenever she used the words ‘your father and I’, usually what followed wouldn't be good.

"What is it?"I gulped.

"It's about college,"she paused for a moment before continuing, "We know you said you want to go to the east coast for school, but we were just thinking maybe it’s best if you go to a school in the state instead,"

"University of Georgia has a great liberal arts program.Georgia Southern and Georgia State too," dad chimed in.

"Why? Why do you suddenly want me to go to school in the state?" I narrowed my eyes at them.

This was the first time I was hearing this.

When I told them I was applying to UPenn, Princeton, and some schools in New York, they were ecstatic.

"Because...out of state tuition can be very expensive,"mom paused for a moment and shared a knowing look with dad,

"Emma, your dad’s firm is not doing so well.They're cutting down hours and employees and your dad .he still has his job, but things are not the same anymore,"

"So you're saying that we don’t have the money for out of state colleges?"

They didn't answer me for a while, but the sorry look on their faces said it all.

"We're very sorry, Emma.We're doing everything we can.We hope you understand,"

Suddenly I lost all appetite for food.

I wanted to go to the east coast so badly.

It was our dream, lan and I.

We were going to go out there and start a brand new life together.That was supposed to be our happy ending.

"There are plenty of great schools in the state," mom said in that hopeful voice, but I wasn’t feeling all that hopeful.

"Yeah, but I really wanna go to school on the east coast.There are loans and scholarships.Maybe I can try some of that?" I wasn't going to give up on my dream so easily.

"If you stay in the state, you can live here and not worry about dorm fees and other living expenses," mom argued.

"I can get a job," I argued back.

"Emma, please," she let out a long sigh,

"Just try to least just give the state schools some thought.Try it for a year or two, if you hate it that much, you can always transfer,"

The three of us were quiet for a while.

We didn’t know what to say to each other.

All the while, I was still thinking of ways to get myself out to the east coast, with or without my parents’ help.

"We still have a year to figure this out," dad spoke finally.

"There's still time.Maybe we can work something out?" he looked at me with hopeful eyes. Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

I didn't know what he meant by that, but I nodded my head anyway because it seemed like the right thing to do.

The three of us continued to have dinner in complete silence afterward.

They were probably thinking of ways to get me to stay, but my mind was coming up with solutions after solutions.I was still determined to go to a school on the east coast and that was my future.I had never been so sure of anything in my life before.I wouldn't take no for an answer.I'll figure out a way to get there.

"Hey, I'm sorry I'm late,"I beamed as soon as lan opened his door.

"It's all good.I got tacos and La Casa de Papel ready to go," he took a step back and I noticed the homemade tacos, guac, and chips on the coffee table.

"Spanish night, me gusta," I turned to my gorgeous boyfriend and gave him a quick thank you kiss.

"Yo también,"he smiled and pulled me in for a deeper kiss.

I laughed at his attempt on a Spanish accent.It was cute.

"I see you've been working hard,"

I said when I noticed several canvases hanging around the room.

"What can I say? I got a lot of inspiracion," he said as he tilted my chin with his hand.

Does that mean me? I had to bit my lip to stop myself from smiling too much.He chuckled and pulled my bottom lip down with his thumb.

Leaning down, he closed the distance between us with another kiss.

A long and tender kiss.

My eyes fluttered shut as I felt his warm, soft lips coaxing mine.

How is this even possible? It’s like our kisses get better every time.

He pulled away finally, leaving me wanting for more.

I looked up at him and watched as his lips twitched into a smirk. And he gets cuter and sexier every day. Like, how?

"Shall we start?"he said, referring to the movie.

I nodded along as I followed him to the couch.

We sat next to each other and he linked an arm around me immediately, pulling me close to his chest.

"Hey, before you start the movie, do you notice anything different about me?" I said as he grabbed the remote.

"Hmm...it’s not the hair...what is this a trick question?"he studied my face intently.

"Look somewhere over...here," I motioned for the bright silver thing clasped on my chest.

"What's this? A nametag?" he raised an eyebrow quizzically.

"Yup. I just got myself a part time job," I smiled victoriously.

"That's the reason why I was late. I just came from an interview,"

"You got a part time job?" he gaped.

"Uh-huh. You're looking at the proud new waitress at Gloria’s Dinner,"

I said as I bowed my head slightly, pretending to be a server,

"Hi, my name’s Emma, how can I help you?"

"I'm sure you'll look cute in the uniform,"he chuckled, "

“But why?"

"Because...it's the summertime.I have a lot of free time to kill.You’re working on your art, Carrie’s out for summer camp, and Tiff's...Tiff's got her boys.I need to find my own thing too,"

"It's not like I work on my art all day long,"

"Plus, having extra money for college couldn't hurt,"

"That means I have to see you less though," he half pouted.

"How are you not tired of me yet?" I said as I cocked my head to the side.

"Never," he shook his head and gripped my face in his hand firmly.

He stared at me for the longest time, looking down at my nametag and back to me.

He was probably trying to figure out if I was serious about this part time job.

I just gave him a reassuring smile and leaned my face into his palm.

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

"So, when do you start working?"

"Tomorrow morning,"

"So if I were to come to Gloria’s Diner, say at around lunch time, you know any cute waitress that could serve me?"I rolled my eyes and replied playfully,

"Why, I could serve all right,"

"I have no doubt about that,"he smirked and somehow I blushed bright red.

"Should we start?"

I tried to reach for the remote, but he quickly pulled away.

"Oh, I’ve already started,"he said and licked his lip playfully.

"I meant the movie!"I blushed again and he laughed.

"Forget the movie.Suddenly I'm feeling hungry,"

he threw the remote away and his gaze suddenly turned dark.

"We have tacos —"

"Not that kind of hungry,"

"Lan," I scolded.

"Emma,"he replied playfully.

"You're insane,"

"About you.Yeah,"

He was biting on his lower lip to suppress that smug smirk on his face.And god did he look good.And that was it.

I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

Smiling from ear to ear, I leaped my body forward, grabbing him by his face and pulled him close.

Finding his lips with mine, I kissed him with burning passion and hunger.

He let out a muffled groan before kissing me back, hot and heavy.

I guess we're just a couple of two insane lovers taking over the world.