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.

between us and there was nothing else

simple truth was that I didn’t

me, sure he

moment, I couldn't see it and

now was to

I was being petty, but I wanted him to realize that

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

how I spent my birthday

opened the apartment door, I was expecting

and I heard

and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

were both shocked to see each other

you

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

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

and groaned in exhaustion.It had

because the apartment's empty and

the laptop on the

writing because he

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to my

not gonna

my hand,

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

thing I knew, I burst out crying

never showed up..."I

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

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

long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams

City if he didn’t even

crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on

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

blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

they used to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I

You think

and Ally filled my head and I shook my

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

bit my lip and

not just about the dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're

never said anything to

anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but

out a sad smile and

you had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much

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

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

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

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

here I was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they were all crushed in just one

know

hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be

been looking at that word document for the past

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time showed

technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got up and headed to the

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

some?"All I had all night were those stupid

especially to help me forget all

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

and I ended up

and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were

1.30 AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when

the pounding on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and staggered towards the