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

that I didn’t matter

me,

moment, I couldn't see

wanted now was

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

wanted him to miss me, just 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 suitcase up three flights of

how I spent my birthday

door, I was expecting to find the

and I heard the sound

inside and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

shocked to see

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

What are 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

groaned in

apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps me

said, gesturing to the laptop on the

lot of writing because he worked in the school

"Oh,"

and I got

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

and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to sit

talk about it?"Tristan

anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst

never showed up..."I

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

me gently as he said, "That really sucks.I'm so sorry,

because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get

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 show

box

doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and

continued my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

a thing together back in

You think

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

up for the dinner and he didn’t call

my lip and nodded my

just about the dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the phone with Ally talking about

anything to

kept quiet because I didn’t wanna get in the way ..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

sad smile and said,

sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much

and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened

for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I

seventeenth birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton

he drove us to Philly and helped

I was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of

don’t know what else to

hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re working," I

looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break," he

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

the clock, and the time

technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

up his face as he

he came back with 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

especially to help me forget all

head vigorously at him and said,

up

and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were so

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

pounding on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the