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.

no distance between us and there

was that

loves me, sure he

couldn't see it and I couldn't

wanted now was

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

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

was how I spent my birthday

the apartment door, I was

lights were on and I heard the sound of the

inside and saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

both shocked to

here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back next

you supposed to be in the city with your boyfriend?"he

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

and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

because the apartment's empty and

said, gesturing to the laptop on the coffee

was doing a lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

I got up to my

I’m not gonna bother you.I’m

and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to

wanna talk about

I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting

never showed up..."I

even call...and

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

long, but that’s okay, because

catch my 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

was a snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the table and handed it to

I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with

rant after blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

used to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my eyes

You think he’s cheating on you

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

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

lip and nodded my

barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the phone with Ally talking

you never said anything to him

do it anymore.I thought by now things will get

out a sad smile and

shitty birthday and

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

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

my seventeenth birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy League

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

I was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot

know what

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

to see the clock, and the time

technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he

pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air and

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

all night were those stupid mocktails and

booze, especially to help me forget all about

vigorously at him and

up

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

in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch

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 towards