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

that

loves me, sure he

the moment, I couldn't see it and I couldn't

all I wanted now

realize that what

late that night.I took a cab to

I spent

the apartment door, I was expecting

on and I

saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

to see

are you doing here? I thought you and

you doing here? Aren't you supposed to

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

and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

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

gesturing to the laptop

a lot of writing because he worked

"Oh,"

and I got up

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

pulled on my hand, motioning for me to sit

going on? You wanna talk about

I knew, I burst out crying into

never showed

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

and cooed me gently as he said, "That really sucks.I'm

all summer long, but that’s okay, because

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 me.Why bother making a reservation for something he won't even show up

grabbed the box of tissues on

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

continued my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

best friends, but they used to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my eyes for

saying? You think he’s cheating on you with

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

for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and you came

bit my lip and

any time together, and even we're together, he’d always

never said anything to him all

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, I still feel

out a sad

and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better than

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

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

to Princeton and he

my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me

my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot

don’t know

came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you,

looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the time

still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he

he came back with a six pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

night were those stupid

help me forget all

I nodded my head vigorously

I ended up drinking throughout the

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

1.30 AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when

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