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

simple truth was that I didn’t matter

me,

I couldn't see it and I couldn't

now was

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

him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took

how I spent my birthday

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

on and I heard the sound

and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

were both shocked to see each other

you and Sophie are coming back next

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

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

and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

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

said, gesturing to the laptop

lot of writing

"Oh,"

got

gonna

and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan

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

showed

call...and it's supposed

cooed me gently as he said, "That really

back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna

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

was a snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the table

know what I think? I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and this girl

rant after blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

of his best friends, but they used to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied,

are you saying? You think he’s cheating on you with

Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping it would

and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and

and nodded

about the dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any

said anything to

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

let out a sad smile and

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

boyfriend ever.Last year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t

was always a special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at that

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

eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me

birthday, I had a lot of expectations

know

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

that word document for

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

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

it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

up his face as he got up

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

I had all night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

booze, especially to help me forget

nodded my head vigorously at him and said,

up drinking

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

the morning 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.

relief, he got up from the couch and staggered towards