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.

us and there was

simple truth was that

loves me, sure

see it and

now

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

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

was how I spent my birthday

was expecting to find the room dark and

on and I heard

and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

both shocked to

I thought you and Sophie are coming

you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in

wanna talk about it,"I

groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

early because the apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps me get my work

gesturing to the laptop on the coffee

was doing a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

I got

about me, I’m not gonna

pulled on my hand, motioning for

talk about it?"Tristan

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

showed up..."I

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

cooed me gently as

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

if he didn’t even have the time

crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the

I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or

after blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

together back in high school,"I replied,

you saying? You think

hope not!" images of Ian and Ally

dinner and he didn’t

and nodded my

day and night before that too.We barely have any time together,

anything to him

..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with him every day, I still feel so

let out a sad

birthday and a shitty summer.You

the best boyfriend ever.Last year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened

for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at that bar in

road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply

eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me

my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what else

not your fault.I’m sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re working," I said

me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

his head to see the clock, and the

still technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got

came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted them

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

had all night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

help me forget all

my head vigorously

ended up drinking throughout the

and Order on TV and we used

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

groaned groggily as the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and