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

truth was that I didn’t matter

loves me,

the moment, I couldn't see it and I

all I wanted now was

being petty, but I wanted him to realize that what

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

how I spent my birthday

was expecting to find the room dark and

lights were on and I heard the sound of

saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

both shocked to

here? I thought you and Sophie are coming

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

don't wanna talk about

my head back and groaned in

I came early because the apartment's empty and I like the

to the laptop on

a lot of writing because he worked in the school

"Oh,"

and I got

I’m not gonna bother

my hand, motioning for me to sit back

wanna talk about

thing I knew, I burst out crying into his

showed

call...and it's

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

summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams

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

the box of tissues on the table and handed it

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

rant after blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

together back

are you saying? You think he’s cheating on

so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head

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

and nodded my

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

anything to him

things will get better, but it never does.Even though

out a sad smile and

sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better than

took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now and why we're so distant from

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

we took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to

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

a lot of expectations

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

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

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 up

he came back with a six pack of beer.He

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

I had all night were those stupid mocktails

to help me forget all

vigorously at him and said, "Yes

ended up drinking throughout the

re-run of Law and Order on TV and we

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

the pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and