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.

and there

that I didn’t matter

me, sure he

couldn't see it and I couldn't

all I wanted now was to

him to realize that what he was doing to me was

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

I

the apartment door, I was expecting to find

lights were on and I

inside and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to see

both shocked to

here? I thought you and Sophie are coming

Aren't you supposed to

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

my head back and groaned in

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

to the laptop on the

writing because he

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up

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

wait,"he said and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to sit back

wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a sad ugly

showed up..."I

for him...he didn’t even call...and

gently

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

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

a snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box

got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and this

continued my rant after blowing my

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

think he’s cheating on

not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping

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

and

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

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

things will get

sad smile and said,

had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better than

hours and took me on a road trip.I

special thing 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 to Ivy League

eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly

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

I don’t know what else to

all my

looking at that word document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the time

still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got up

a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air and smiled

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write better,"he

all night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

use some booze, especially to help me forget

vigorously at him and said, "Yes

ended up drinking

on TV and we used our

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

groaned groggily as the pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the couch and