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

me, sure

see it

I wanted now

to realize that what he was doing to me

as much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to

how I spent my birthday

apartment door, I was expecting to find the room dark and

the lights were on and I

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

to see

you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are

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

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

and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

and

gesturing to the

writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to my

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

he pulled on my

talk about it?"Tristan

couldn't hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a

never showed up..."I

him...he didn’t even call...and it's

and cooed me gently as

summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t

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 he

mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the table

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

blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

a thing together

You think he’s

and Ally filled my head and I

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

lip and nodded

every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together,

to him all summer

..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will

out a sad

really sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve

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 each other,"I

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

trip to Princeton and he inspired

my eighteenth birthday, he drove us

had a lot

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

all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re working,"

looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break," he

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and the time

it’s still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got up and headed

six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write better,"he

had all night were those stupid

especially to help me forget all about this stupid

vigorously at him

I ended up drinking

on TV and we used our matching

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

groggily as the pounding on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and staggered towards