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.

distance between us and there was

simple truth was that I didn’t

me, sure he

couldn't see it and I couldn't

I wanted now was to get

was being petty, but I wanted him to realize that

was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled

was how I

I was expecting to find

I heard the sound of

and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to see

were both shocked to

thought you and

you doing here? Aren't you supposed to

long story, I don't wanna talk about it,"I

my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

empty and

gesturing to the laptop on

of writing because he worked

"Oh,"

I got up

about me, I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just gonna

on my hand,

talk

burst out

never showed

call...and it's supposed

around me and cooed me gently as he said,

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

City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a reservation for something he won't even

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

got bored with me or something.His priority

continued my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

a thing together back in

You think

of Ian and Ally

for the dinner and he didn’t

bit my lip and nodded

any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on

never said anything to him all summer

way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even

sad smile and said,

shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You

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

birthday was the first time

took a road trip to Princeton and

day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me move in to the

my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what else to

your fault.I’m sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I

disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break," he said

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time showed

it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got

with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

were

especially to help

head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

up drinking

on TV and we

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

on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the couch and staggered