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

that

me, sure

moment, I couldn't see

all I wanted now was

wanted him to realize that what he was doing

to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big fat suitcase

was how I spent

was expecting to find the room

and I heard the sound of

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

to see each other

you and Sophie are

to be in

story, I don't wanna talk about

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had

apartment's empty and I like the

said, gesturing to the laptop on the coffee

was doing a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up

I’m not gonna bother

pulled on my

wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something was

I burst out

showed

didn’t even call...and it's supposed

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

that’s okay, because

bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time

the box of tissues on the table and

got bored with me or something.His priority is

continued my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the tissue

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

they used to have a thing together back in high

saying? You think he’s cheating on

hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled

He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and you

bit my lip and nodded

any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on

said anything to him

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

a sad

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You

used 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

always a special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was

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

for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and

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

know what else

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

disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

his head to see the clock, and

still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got

pack of beer.He lifted them

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

some?"All I had all night were those stupid

some booze, especially to help me forget all about

vigorously at

up

a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were

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

the pounding on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

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