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

that I didn’t

me, sure he

moment, I couldn't see

all I wanted now was to

wanted him to realize that what he was

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

I spent my

door, I was expecting to find the room dark

the lights were on and I heard the

inside and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

were both shocked to

you and Sophie are coming back next

are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be

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

back and groaned in exhaustion.It

came early because the apartment's empty and

said, gesturing to the laptop

doing a lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to my

me, I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just

and he pulled on my hand, motioning

going on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something was

thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a

showed up..."I

didn’t even call...and it's

around me and cooed me gently as he said, "That

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

"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

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

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

rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

You think he’s cheating on

and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping it

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

lip and nodded

that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the phone

said anything to him all summer

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

let out a sad smile

a shitty birthday and a

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 so distant from

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

Princeton and he inspired me

for my eighteenth birthday, he

had a lot of expectations and they were all

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

sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re working,"

not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

see the clock, and the time showed

it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got up and headed

back with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

all night were

booze, especially to help me forget all about this

vigorously at

I ended up drinking throughout the

on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas

in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a sudden loud knocking woke

groggily as the pounding on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

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