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.

between us and there was nothing

that I

me,

couldn't see it and

I wanted now was to get

to realize that what he was doing to me

wanted him to miss me, just as much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I

I

opened the apartment door, I was expecting to find the room dark and

on and I

saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

to

here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back

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

I don't wanna talk about it,"I

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It

apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps me get

to the laptop

writing

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up

gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get

and he pulled on my hand, motioning for

wanna talk

couldn't hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out

never showed up..."I

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

linked his arms around me and cooed me gently as he said, "That

back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t

"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 he

mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the table and

got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and this

after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think he’s

Ian and Ally filled my head

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

lip and nodded

have any time

you never said anything to him

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

let out a sad smile

you had a shitty birthday and

my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now and why we're so

birthday was the first time

a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me

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

I was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they were

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

to hear all my sob

that word document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and

still technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he

of beer.He lifted

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

were those stupid mocktails

to help me forget all about this stupid

vigorously

up

a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were

couch and Tristan

the pounding on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and staggered towards