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.

between us and there was

was that I didn’t

loves me,

moment, I couldn't see it and

I wanted now was to get

being petty, but I wanted him to realize that

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

was how I spent my birthday

door, I was expecting to find the room

on and I heard the sound of

inside and saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

were both shocked to see each other

are you doing here? I thought you and

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

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

and groaned in

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

said, gesturing to the laptop on the

lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

and I got up

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

on my

on? You wanna talk

I burst

never showed

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

me gently as he said, "That

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

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

box of tissues on the table and handed it to

think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got

after blowing my

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

a thing together back in high school,"I

You think he’s cheating on you with

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

happened? He never showed up for the dinner and

my lip and

every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the

anything to him all

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 every day,

sad smile

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

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

always a special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at that bar in

road trip to Princeton

he drove us to

had a lot of expectations and they were

Emma, I don’t know what else to say,"Tristan sighed

to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing

you’re not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break," he said

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

the clock, and the time

it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got

he came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

had all night were those stupid mocktails

to help me forget

head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

ended up drinking

a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because

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

pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the couch and staggered towards