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 nothing

truth was that I

me, sure

at the moment, I couldn't see it

wanted now

realize that what he was

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

I

was expecting

and I heard the sound

walked inside and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

shocked to

thought you and Sophie

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

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

and groaned in exhaustion.It had

I came early because the apartment's empty and I like the

the laptop on

of writing because he worked in the school

"Oh,"

I got

gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get

my hand,

talk about it?"Tristan knew something

burst out crying into

showed up..."I

him...he didn’t even call...and it's supposed to be my

me gently as he said, "That really

the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because

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

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

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

my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

think he’s cheating on

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

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

my lip and nodded

barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d

anything to him all summer long?"he

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

let out a sad smile and said,

really sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a

took me on a

for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at that bar

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

on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they were all crushed in

Emma, I don’t know what

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

looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and the time

technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he

pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air and

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

were those

booze, especially to help me forget all

I nodded my head vigorously

and I ended up drinking throughout

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

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

groaned groggily as the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

relief, he got up from the couch and staggered