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.

was no distance between us and there was

simple truth was that I didn’t

loves me, sure he

I couldn't see

all I wanted now was

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

as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and

how I

I was expecting to find the room dark and

on and I heard the

saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

were both shocked to

here? I thought you

to

about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined

groaned

the apartment's empty and I like the

gesturing to the laptop on the

doing a lot of writing because

"Oh,"

I got up to

not gonna bother

pulled on my

talk about it?"Tristan knew

hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a sad

never showed up..."I

call...and it's supposed to be my

around me and cooed me gently as he

long, Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because

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 spend with me.Why bother making a reservation for something

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

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 so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think he’s cheating on

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

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

lip and nodded

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

anything to him all summer

way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with him every

a sad smile and said,

a shitty birthday and a shitty

me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now and why we're so distant from each other,"I

thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the

a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply

my graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and

lot of expectations and they were all crushed

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

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

document

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and the time showed that it

technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

smirk crept up his face as he got

a six pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

I had all night were those stupid mocktails

to help me forget all about

my head vigorously

and I ended up drinking throughout the

on TV and we used our matching

was about 1.30 AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan

groaned groggily as the pounding on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

relief, he got up from the