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.

no distance between us and

that I didn’t

loves me,

see it and I couldn't

wanted now was

him to realize that what he was doing to me was

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 up three

I spent my

I was expecting

lights were on and I heard the sound of

and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to see

to see

I thought you and Sophie are coming back

are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in

talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him on the

back and groaned

empty and I like the silence.Helps me get my

the laptop on the coffee

writing because he worked

"Oh,"

I got up to my

I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just

he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to sit back

wanna talk about

couldn't hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder,

never showed up..."I

call...and

cooed me gently as he said, "That really sucks.I'm

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

to catch my breath in between sobs, "But why would he even bring me out to New York City if

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

love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and

rant after blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

saying? You think he’s cheating on you with

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

what happened? He never showed up for the dinner and he

my lip and nodded my head

dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on

to him all summer long?"he

anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never

out a sad

and a shitty summer.You deserve

be the best boyfriend ever.Last year for 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 distant from each

always a special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time

Princeton and

birthday, he drove

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

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what

barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I

you’re not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and the time showed that

since it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he

back with a six pack of beer.He lifted

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

night were those stupid mocktails and

help me forget all

vigorously

up drinking throughout the

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

asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a sudden loud

on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the couch