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 there was

simple truth was that

loves me,

at the moment, I couldn't see it and

I wanted now was to get

petty, but I wanted him 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 my new apartment and hauled my big fat

I spent my birthday

was expecting to

I heard the

inside and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to see

to see

here? I thought you and Sophie are

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

about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him on

my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

the apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps me get my work

the laptop on the

was doing a lot of writing

"Oh,"

and I got up to my

about me, I’m not gonna bother

pulled on my hand, motioning for me to

wanna talk about it?"Tristan

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

showed

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

and cooed me gently as he said, "That really sucks.I'm so sorry,

but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams

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

box of

me anymore.I think he got

after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

but they used to have a thing together back in

saying? You think he’s cheating

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

and

and nodded my

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

anything to him all summer

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

sad smile and

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better

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 know what happened to us now and

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 to

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

I had a lot of expectations and they were all crushed

I don’t know what else to

and you had to hear all my

me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

see the clock, and

it’s still technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he got up and headed

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write better,"he

were those

to help

nodded my head vigorously at him

and I ended up

on TV and we used

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

the pounding on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

relief, he got up from the