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.

between us and there was nothing else to

truth was that I

me, sure

at the moment, I couldn't see it and

all I wanted now

realize that what

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

on and I heard the

inside and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

both shocked to see each

are you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back next

doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the city with your boyfriend?"he asked

I don't wanna talk about

back and groaned in exhaustion.It had

because the apartment's empty and

gesturing to the laptop

a lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

I got up to

I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just gonna

on my hand, motioning

talk about it?"Tristan knew something

next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a

showed

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

and cooed me gently as he said,

long, Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s

if he didn’t even

crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues

I think? I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and this girl

after blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

You think he’s cheating on you with

Ally filled

what happened? He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so

bit my lip and nodded my head

that too.We barely have any time together, and

anything to him

things will get better, but it never does.Even though I

let out a sad smile and

birthday and a

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

special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time

took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired

for my eighteenth birthday, he

birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they were

I don’t know what else to say,"Tristan

in here and you had to hear all my

you’re not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time showed

it’s still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got up and headed to the

pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

night were those stupid mocktails and

use some booze, especially to help me forget all about

my head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

ended up drinking throughout

watched a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our

couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a sudden loud knocking

groggily as the pounding on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

relief, he got up from the couch and staggered