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

simple truth was that

loves me,

at the moment, I couldn't see it

all I wanted now was to

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

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

how I spent my birthday

I was expecting to find the

on and I heard the sound of

inside and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

to see each

here? I thought you and

doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the city with

about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him on

my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

because the apartment's empty and I like the

the laptop

a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

I got

gonna bother

wait,"he said and he pulled on my hand, motioning

talk about it?"Tristan knew something

I burst out crying into

never showed up..."I

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

around me and cooed me gently as he

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

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

the box of tissues on the table and handed it

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

after blowing my

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

think

know...I don't think so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I

showed up for the dinner and he didn’t

bit my lip and nodded

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

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

it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never

a sad smile and said,

and a shitty summer.You

on a road trip.I don’t know

special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the

seventeenth birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply

eighteenth birthday, he drove us

I had a lot of expectations and they were

sorry, Emma, I don’t know

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

the clock, and the time showed that it was 11:45

technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he got up

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

I had all night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

especially to help me forget all about

nodded my head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

ended up

Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were

had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to

on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the couch and