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.

and there was

simple truth was that I didn’t

me,

couldn't see it and I couldn't

wanted now was to get

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

wanted him to miss me, just 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 suitcase

how I spent

opened the apartment door, I was expecting to

on and I heard the sound

and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to see

shocked to

I thought you

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

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

groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

the apartment's empty and I like

gesturing to the laptop on

was doing a lot of writing because

"Oh,"

and I got up to

me, I’m not gonna bother you.I’m

he pulled on my hand, motioning for

talk about it?"Tristan

burst

showed up..."I

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

his arms around me and cooed me gently as he said,

long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in

"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

mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the table and handed it to

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

after blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

to have a thing together back in high

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

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

showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got

my lip and nodded my head

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 on the phone with Ally talking

you never said anything to him

because 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 never

sad smile and said,

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve

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

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

road trip to Princeton and he inspired

for my eighteenth birthday, he drove

my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and

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

and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be

you’re not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

to see the clock, and the time showed that

still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

up his face as he got up and headed to

of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

all night were those stupid mocktails

especially to help me

nodded my head vigorously at him

and I ended up

TV and we

I had fallen asleep on the couch and

on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from the couch and staggered