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.

us and there was nothing else to

truth was that I didn’t matter

me, sure he

the moment, I couldn't see it and

now was

him to realize that what he was doing

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

was how I

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

the lights were on and I heard the sound of the

inside and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to see

both shocked to see each other

thought you and

What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the city with your boyfriend?"he

about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined

trashed my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It

apartment's empty and I like the

the laptop

a lot of writing because he worked in the school

"Oh,"

I got up to my

not gonna bother

pulled on my hand, motioning

talk about it?"Tristan knew something

I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a sad ugly

never showed up..."I

him...he didn’t even call...and it's

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

in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams

to 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

and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box

he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or

my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think

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

the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you

and nodded my

not just about the 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

said anything to him all summer long?"he

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

had a shitty birthday and

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

to Princeton and he inspired me to apply

eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped

lot of expectations and they

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what else

came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob

not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time showed that it was

it’s still technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got up and headed to the

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

all night were those

especially to help me forget all about

head vigorously at him

up drinking throughout the

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

asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to

as the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and staggered