Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

EMMA’s POV : 

By 9 PM, I gave up.

I never felt so humiliated in my life.

I asked for the check and paid for the four glasses of mocktail I had and left a nice tip for my waiter.

The hostess smiled a sad smile as she saw me walking out of the restaurant alone.

I just wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

I went back to the apartment because I didn't know where else to go.

I saw my reflection in the mirror when I walked in and I looked so pathetic.

I did my hair and make up, I put on a dress and everything, only to be stood up by him at my birthday.

I was angry, embarrassed, and frustrated.

But mostly I was sad.

I thought tonight would be special, but no.

It was just any other day for Ian.

He had other things that were more important and I just had to take the back seat.

Feeling stupid, I took off the dress and put on an oversized sweater instead.

Tears were running down my face and it totally ruined my make up, but who cares? It wasn’t like it was important anyway.

I scrubbed my make up off angrily and pulled my hair into a messy ponytail.

I looked around the empty apartment and I debated on what to do.

I could stay here and wait until he gets home and hear about how sorry he was that he missed my birthday dinner, and tomorrow he'll go to work and ignore me again completely.

Or… I could pack my bags and leave.

There was a train running between Philly and New York City every day and if I leave now, I could make it before the last train leaves.

I didn’t think too much about it, I knew what I had to do.

I couldn't believe what I'm saying, but I needed some space away from him.

It would be better for us both.

My heart was hurting too much and I couldn't take it anymore.

So, I quickly packed my bags and I wrote him a note.

Dear Ian, You don’t have to apologize.

I know you're busy and I'm not a priority at the moment, and that’s okay, I understand.

But I think it’s best I leave so you can focus on your work.

No hard feelings.

Emma.

It sounded petty, but whatever.

I was too upset to be nice.

My uber was now waiting for me downstairs and I took a moment for one last glimpse of the apartment.

Leaving the spare key on the kitchen counter, I turned off the lights and closed the door shut.

I turned off my phone for the rest of the night.

I didn’t wanna hear any more ‘I'm sorry’ or ‘I'll make it up to you’.

I had enough of his empty promises.

I was tired of all that.

I put up with it all summer long and I needed an out.

At least when we were far away and he was busy with work, I didn’t have to feel this hurt because I could blame the distance.

was no distance between us and there was nothing else

was that

loves me,

couldn't see

all I wanted now was

I was being petty, but I wanted him to realize that what he was doing to me was

wanted him to miss me, just as much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big

was how I spent my birthday

door, I was expecting to find the room dark

were on and I heard the sound of

inside and saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

shocked to see each other

you doing here? I thought you and

are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to

about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him

groaned in exhaustion.It had been

I came early because the apartment's empty and I like the

to the laptop on

doing a lot of writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

got up to my

I’m not gonna bother

said and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to sit back

talk about it?"Tristan knew

it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst

showed

him...he didn’t even call...and it's supposed to

his arms around me and cooed me gently

back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in the way

between sobs, "But why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have

snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the table and

me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is

my nose so gracefully into the tissue

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my

you saying? You think he’s cheating

images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I

and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and you

bit my lip and nodded my head

barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the phone with Ally talking

you never said anything to him all summer long?"he

wanna get in the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it

out a sad smile and said,

a shitty birthday and a shitty

best boyfriend ever.Last year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road

birthday was the first time I met him at that bar

trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy League

and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove

nineteenth birthday, I had a lot

sorry, Emma, I don’t know

in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re working," I said as I straightened

looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and the time showed that it

it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got up

came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

I had all night were those stupid mocktails

some booze, especially to help me

I nodded my head vigorously at him and

I ended up drinking throughout the

re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because

AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a sudden loud

the pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the couch and