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.

us and there was nothing else to

simple truth was that I didn’t matter

me, sure

couldn't see it

now

petty, but I wanted him to realize

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

how I

the apartment door, I was expecting to find the

I heard the sound of the

and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

both shocked to see each other

doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back

you supposed to be in the

don't wanna talk about

back and groaned in

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

said, gesturing to the laptop on the coffee

doing a lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

and I got up to my

not gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get some

pulled on my hand, motioning for

wanna talk about

it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his

showed up..."I

didn’t even call...and it's

cooed me gently as he said,

okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in the way of

out to New York City if he didn’t even have

was a snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box

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

rant after blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

are you saying? You think

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, hoping it

for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and you

and

every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the phone with Ally

said anything to him

because I didn’t wanna get in the 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 so

let out a sad smile and said,

you had a shitty birthday and a

used to be the best boyfriend 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

was the first time I met him

to Princeton and he inspired me to

eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and

a lot of

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

not your fault.I’m sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I

looking at that word document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

the clock, and the time showed

technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got

pack of beer.He lifted them up

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

I had all night were those stupid

to help me forget all about this stupid

vigorously at him and

and I ended up

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

AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to

the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the couch and