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 was nothing

was that I

loves me, sure

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

all I wanted now was to

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

wanted him to miss me, just as much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big

I spent my birthday

door, I was expecting to find the

on and I heard the sound of

saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

to

doing here? I thought you

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

I don't wanna talk about it,"I sighed

and groaned in

empty and I

gesturing to the laptop on the coffee

was doing a lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

got

me, I’m not gonna bother you.I’m

and he pulled on my hand, motioning

wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a sad ugly

showed

call...and

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

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

to New York City if he didn’t

the box

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

my rant after blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think he’s

images of Ian and Ally filled

showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call

and nodded my head

any time together, and even we're

said anything to him all summer long?"he

anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with

a sad smile and said,

and a shitty summer.You deserve so much

ever.Last year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now and why we're

for us.My sixteenth birthday was the

road trip to Princeton and he inspired

he drove us to Philly and

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

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

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

that word document

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the time showed

since it’s still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got up and

with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air and smiled

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

could use some booze, especially to help

vigorously at him and

up drinking

Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas

on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next

the pounding on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the couch and staggered towards