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

that I didn’t matter

loves me, sure he

the moment, I couldn't see

wanted now was to

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

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

was how I

was expecting to find the room

I heard

inside and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

shocked to see each

are you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back next week?"I

What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to

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

trashed my head back and groaned

the apartment's empty and I like

said, gesturing to the laptop

doing a lot of writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got

gonna bother you.I’m just

on my hand, motioning for me to sit

on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew

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

never showed

call...and it's supposed

linked his arms around me and cooed me gently as he said, "That really sucks.I'm so

long, Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get

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

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

got bored with me or something.His priority

rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

are you saying? You think he’s cheating on

images of Ian and Ally filled my head

up for the dinner and he didn’t

and nodded

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

never said anything to him all summer long?"he

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 does.Even though I was with him

out a sad smile and said,

and

and took me on a

birthday was the first

road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to

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

lot of

I don’t know what

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

disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break," he

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

see the clock, and the time showed that it

since it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got up and headed to

six pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

all night were

help me forget

my head vigorously at him

ended up drinking throughout the

Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas

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

on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from the couch and staggered towards the