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.

was no distance between us and there was nothing

was that

me, sure he

couldn't see it

all I wanted now was

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

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

was how I spent

door, I was expecting

the lights were on and I

and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

shocked to see

doing here? I thought you and Sophie are

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

talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It

I came early because the apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps

the laptop on

writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

got up to

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

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

talk about it?"Tristan

next thing I knew, I burst

never showed

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

me gently

back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working

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

was a snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the

got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and this girl called

rant after blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my eyes

are you saying? You think he’s cheating on

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

and

bit my lip and nodded

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

never said anything to him all

do it anymore.I thought by now things will get

out a sad

a shitty birthday and a shitty

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

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

birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he

engaged on my graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to

nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they

I don’t know what else to

all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and

it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he got up and

back with a six pack of beer.He lifted

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

had all night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

especially to help me forget all about this stupid

head vigorously at him and said,

and I ended up drinking throughout the

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

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

as the pounding on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

relief, he got up from the couch and staggered towards the