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.

distance between us and there was nothing else to

that

me, sure

moment, I couldn't see it and I

all I wanted now was

being petty, but I wanted him to realize that what he was doing

just as much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big

how I

opened the apartment door, I was expecting to find

were on and I heard the

and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

to see each other

you and Sophie are coming back next week?"I

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

talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him on the

my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had

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

gesturing to the

was doing a lot of writing because he worked

"Oh,"

and I got up to my

gonna bother you.I’m just gonna

he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to sit

talk about it?"Tristan knew something

hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst

showed up..."I

call...and

me and cooed me gently as he said,

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

if he didn’t even have

mess.Tristan grabbed the box of

love me anymore.I think he got bored with me

rant after blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

saying? You think he’s

hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my

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

and nodded my

the dinner.It’s about 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 talking

anything to him all summer

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

a sad smile

birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so

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

birthday was the first time I met him at that

a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me

for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me move

nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they were all

I don’t know

sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I

you’re not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and the time

since it’s still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got up and headed to the

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

some?"All I had all night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

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

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

and I ended up drinking throughout the

a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our

and I had fallen asleep on the couch

on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the