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.

no distance between us and

was that I didn’t matter

me,

the moment, I couldn't see it

wanted now was

I was being petty, but I wanted him to realize

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

was how I spent

was expecting to

and I heard

saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

were both shocked to see

here? I thought you

to be in the city with your boyfriend?"he asked

a long story, I don't wanna talk about it,"I

head back and groaned in

and I like the silence.Helps me get my

said, gesturing to the

writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

I got

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

pulled on my hand, motioning

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew

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

showed

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

his arms around me and cooed me gently as

because he’s working towards

even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making

and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues

know what I think? I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is

my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I

You think he’s cheating on you

of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping it

and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and you

and nodded my head

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

you never said anything to him

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

a sad smile

you had a shitty birthday and

for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now

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

trip to Princeton and he

birthday, he drove us to Philly and

a lot of expectations

I don’t know what else to

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

at all.I've been looking at that word document

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the time showed that

it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

were those stupid mocktails

to help me forget all

head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

I ended up

watched a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching

I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a sudden loud knocking

groggily as the pounding on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from the couch