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.

no distance between us and

truth was that I

me,

couldn't see

now

realize that

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

how I spent

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

the lights were on and I heard the sound of the

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

to see

doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back

you supposed to

don't wanna talk about

trashed my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

apartment's empty and I like

said, gesturing to the laptop on the coffee

writing because he worked

"Oh,"

I got up to

gonna bother you.I’m

pulled on my hand, motioning for me

on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something was

it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst

never showed up..."I

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

me and cooed me gently as he said, "That really

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

sobs, "But why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even

a snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of

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

after blowing my

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my eyes for added

You think he’s cheating

Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head

never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t

bit my lip and nodded my

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

never said anything to him

wanna get in the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get

let out a sad

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

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

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

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

on my graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us

had a lot of

Emma, I don’t know what

came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re

at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the time showed that it was

since it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got up

pack of beer.He lifted them up

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

were those stupid mocktails and

booze, especially to help me forget all about this

my head vigorously at him and said,

I ended up drinking throughout the

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

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

on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch