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

truth was that

loves me,

see it and I

all I wanted now was to

wanted him to realize that what

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 fat

was how I spent my birthday

opened the apartment door, I was expecting to

were on and I

saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

were both shocked to see each other

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

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

story, I don't wanna talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him on

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

the apartment's empty and I

the laptop on

doing a lot of writing

"Oh,"

I got up

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

my hand,

going on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew

anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his

never showed

even call...and it's supposed

gently as he

been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards

paused to catch my breath in between sobs, "But why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a reservation for something he won't even

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

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

my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

best friends, but they used to have a thing together back

you saying? You think he’s cheating on you

so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping it

He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and you

lip and nodded

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

to him all summer

things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with him every day, I still

out a sad

sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and

he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I

sixteenth birthday was

a road trip to Princeton and he

day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove

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

know what else to say,"Tristan

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

looking at that word document for

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and

it’s still technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got

later, he came back with a six pack of beer.He

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

night were those stupid mocktails and

some booze, especially to help me forget all

vigorously

and I ended up

a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we

the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to

as the pounding on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and staggered