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 else

was that I didn’t matter

me, sure he

moment, I couldn't see

wanted now was to

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

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

was how I spent

apartment door, I was expecting to

the lights were on and I heard the sound

and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

to see

doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back

Aren't you supposed to be

talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined

and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

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

gesturing to the laptop on the coffee

was doing a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

got

gonna bother you.I’m just gonna

pulled on my hand, motioning for

talk about it?"Tristan knew something

burst out crying

never showed up..."I

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

linked his arms around me and cooed me gently as he

summer long, Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in the

out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a

crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the table and handed

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

after blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

are you saying? You think he’s cheating

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

happened? He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you,

lip and

dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d

to him

can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with him

let out a sad smile and

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

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

was the first time I met him at that

to Princeton

he drove us to Philly

had a lot of

know what else to

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and the time showed that

it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

smirk crept up his face as he got up

of beer.He lifted them up in the air

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

were those stupid mocktails

help

I nodded my head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

and I ended up

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, when a sudden loud knocking woke

as the pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and staggered towards the