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 was nothing

was that I didn’t matter

me, sure he

couldn't see it and I couldn't feel

all I wanted now was to

I wanted him to realize that what he was doing to me was hurting

late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big fat suitcase

was how I spent

was expecting

I heard

saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

to see

I thought you and Sophie

to be

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

trashed my head back and groaned

apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps

the laptop on the coffee

a lot of writing because

"Oh,"

got up to

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

on my hand, motioning

going on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something was

next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a

showed

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

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

but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in

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

and crying mess.Tristan grabbed 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 something.His priority is the gallery and

my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

You think he’s

Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently,

that's what happened? He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so

my lip and

night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together,

to him all summer long?"he

I didn’t wanna get in the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but

sad

had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You

best boyfriend ever.Last year for my 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 distant from each

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

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

he drove us to

birthday, I had a lot of

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

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

that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time showed that it

it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

up his face as he got up and

came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

I had all night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

help

nodded my head vigorously at him

up drinking

Law and Order on TV and we used

AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to

groggily as the pounding on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

relief, he got up from the couch and staggered