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

truth was that I didn’t matter

me, sure he

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

now was to get

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

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

I spent my

the apartment door, I was

and I heard the

inside and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

to

I thought you and Sophie are

here? Aren't you supposed to be in

about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had

I came early because the apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps me get my work

to the

of writing because he worked

"Oh,"

I got up to

not gonna bother

pulled on my hand, motioning for

going on? You wanna talk

I knew, I burst out crying into

never showed up..."I

call...and it's

me gently as he

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

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

snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues

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

continued my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and

You think he’s cheating on you

of Ian and Ally filled

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

my lip and nodded my head

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

never said anything to him all summer

way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better,

sad smile and

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so

the best boyfriend ever.Last year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road

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

road trip to Princeton and he inspired

for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us

had a lot of

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what else to

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

document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break," he

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

see the clock, and

since it’s still technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he got up and headed to

he came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted them

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

had all night were those stupid mocktails and

use some booze, especially to help me forget all about this

I nodded my head vigorously at

I ended up drinking

of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were

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

groggily as the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the