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 was nothing else

simple truth was that I didn’t matter

me, sure he

moment, I couldn't see it and I couldn't feel

I wanted now

I wanted him to realize that what he was doing to me

much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took

I spent my

I opened the apartment door, I was expecting to find

were on and I

saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

both shocked to see each other

I thought you

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

long story, I don't wanna talk about it,"I

and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

the apartment's empty and

to the laptop on the coffee

writing

"Oh,"

got up to my

me, I’m not gonna bother

my hand, motioning for me to sit

talk about it?"Tristan knew something

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

showed

even call...and it's

cooed me gently as he

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

if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a reservation for something

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

he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery

my nose so gracefully into the tissue

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

they used to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my eyes for added

saying? You think he’s cheating on you

and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently,

that's what happened? He never showed up for the dinner and he

and

any time together, and even we're together,

anything to him all summer long?"he

do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better,

let out a sad smile and said,

had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve

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

us.My sixteenth birthday was the first

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

got engaged on my graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me move in

I had a lot of expectations and

don’t know

hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re working,"

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

the clock, and the

technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

up his face as he got up and headed to

a six pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

night were

booze, especially to help

nodded my head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

I ended up drinking throughout the

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

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

as the pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from