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.

and

truth was that I didn’t matter

me, sure

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

all I wanted now was to

but I wanted him to realize that what he was doing to me was hurting

that night.I took a

how I spent

I opened the apartment door, I was expecting

lights were on and I heard

and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

both shocked to see each other

here? I thought you and Sophie are coming

What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the city with

wanna talk about it,"I

groaned in

because the apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps

said, gesturing to the laptop

lot of writing

"Oh,"

and I got up to

about me, I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just gonna

and he pulled on my

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

thing I knew, I burst

showed

call...and it's supposed to

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

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

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

grabbed the box of tissues on the table and handed

love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery

continued my rant after blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think he’s cheating on

of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook

showed up for the dinner and

and nodded

have any time together,

anything to him all summer long?"he

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

a sad smile and said,

really sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a

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

special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was

to Princeton and he inspired me

birthday, he drove us

I had a lot of expectations and they were all crushed in just one

Emma, I don’t know what else

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

his head to see the clock, and the time showed that it

it’s still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

had all night were those stupid mocktails and

use some booze, especially to help me forget all about this stupid

I nodded my head vigorously at

ended up drinking throughout

re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were

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

on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the couch and staggered