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.

between us and there was nothing else to

was that I

loves me,

I couldn't see it and I couldn't feel

now was to

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

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

was how I

I was expecting to find

were on and I heard the

saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

to see each

you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are

to be

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

groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

because the apartment's empty and I

gesturing to the laptop on the coffee

doing a lot of writing

"Oh,"

and I got up to my

not gonna bother you.I’m just

pulled on my hand,

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

hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like

showed

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

arms around me and cooed me gently

summer long, Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get

catch my breath in between sobs, "But why would he even bring 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 won't even

box

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

after blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

friends, but they used to have a thing together back in

you saying? You think he’s cheating

so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook

what happened? He never showed up for the dinner and

my lip and

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

to him all summer

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

sad

and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better

me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to

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

a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy

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

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

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

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

his head to see the clock, and the

technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he

later, he came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted them

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write better,"he

had all night were those

especially to help me forget all about

vigorously at him

up

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

and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a

pounding on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the couch and staggered