The English Teacher ➳ Emison

Chapter 3 | Drunk

Alison was starting to think she was losing her mind. It was like someone had flipped a switch, and in the blink of an eye, everything between her and Emily had shifted. She couldn't pinpoint exactly when it happened, but the change gnawed at her, leaving an unsettling ache in the pit of her stomach.

Over the past week, Emily had drawn into herself, becoming distant in a way that was impossible to ignore. No more warm smiles in the hallway, no quick greetings when she came into class. Alison was almost certain that Emily was going out of her way to avoid her altogether, and the thought sent an unfamiliar pang through her chest.

Yesterday, during their tutoring session, Emily had barely spoken. She listened, sure, and took notes like always, but the easy banter and curious questions that Alison had come to expect were missing. There was no teasing, no quiet jokes shared between them. Just... silence.

Alison should've been relieved. After all, she had been the one pushing for some space between them, trying to maintain her professional distance. But instead of the satisfaction she had anticipated, all she felt was frustration.

She missed the way Emily used to joke with her, the way her eyes would light up when Alison made her laugh. She missed being the reason for that shy, heartwarming smile. It had been one of the few things in her life lately that brought her genuine happiness, and now it was gone.

And the worst part? She had no idea why. The shift had happened so abruptly that Alison couldn't help but wonder if she had done something wrong—something to drive Emily away without even realizing it.

It was now Friday, and English class was undergoing. Twenty minutes into class, and Alison was already noticing that Emily was mentally miles away. The brunette was looking down at her desk, seemingly preoccupied with a million different thoughts.

"Everything we know about Jay Gatsby, we know from Nick Carraway's perspective," Alison retold, strolling casually through the classroom. Her eyes swept over her students as she passed through rows of desks. "We, as readers, know that Nick is honest, tolerant, and inclined to reserve judgment, so we tend to trust everything we learn about Gatsby too."

She reached the front of the class, leaning her back against her wooden desk. "Now, as the novel progresses, what do we find out about Gatsby from Nick's narration?"

A few hands rose up to answer, but not the one she was looking for.

"Emily?" she asked, causing the brunette to flinch slightly, breaking from her thoughts. Distracted brown eyes met hers and Alison raised her eyebrows questioningly. "Do you want to answer that?"

Emily seemed completely out of place, stuttering as she looked around, "U-Uh..."

Alison knew Emily was familiar with the material. After all, she had a private hour a few times a week with the girl, and Emily definitely knew the answer, but why was she not listening in the first place?

Toby looked to his side, sensing that Emily was struggling. He lightly cleared his throat, stepping in for his friend, "We learn that Gatsby was born as James Gatz on a farm in North Dakota and he was working for a millionaire, which made him dedicate his life to pursuing wealth. Then, when he met Daisy in his time training to be an officer in Louisville, he fell in love with her."

Alison finally veered her gaze from the brunette, who breathed out in relief, shooting the boy a grateful look.

The teacher turned to Toby, "Thank you for that answer. Very insightful."

She continued on with the lesson, finishing it just as the bell rang. It was time for the students to go to lunch, but as she watched Emily pack her things and head toward the door with Toby, she knew she had to say something.