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

truth was that I didn’t

me,

see it and I

now was to

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

wanted him to miss me, just as much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I

how I spent my birthday

apartment door, I was expecting to

I heard the sound of

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

were both shocked to see

here? I thought you and

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

I don't wanna talk about

groaned

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

to the

a lot of writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

I got up to my

worry about me, I’m not gonna

pulled on my hand, motioning for me to

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

thing I knew, I burst out crying

showed up..."I

didn’t even call...and it's

me and cooed me gently as he said, "That

okay, because he’s working towards his

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

mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the table

love me anymore.I think he got

continued my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled

think he’s

don't think so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping it would

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

my lip and

and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on

said anything to him

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

out a sad smile and said,

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

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 and why we're so distant from each other,"I

was the first time I met him at that bar in

trip to Princeton and he inspired me to

he drove us to Philly and helped me move in

here I was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and

don’t know what else to say,"Tristan

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

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 showed

still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he

a six pack of beer.He lifted them up

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

had all night were those stupid mocktails and

could use some booze, especially to help

my head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

ended up

on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas

asleep on the couch and Tristan

groaned groggily as the pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the couch and staggered towards