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 there was nothing else to

simple truth was that

me, sure he

I couldn't see it

wanted now was to

to realize that what he was doing to

back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my

was how I spent

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

were on and I heard

inside and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

both shocked to see each

here? I thought you and Sophie are

to be in the

long story, I don't wanna talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him on the

groaned in exhaustion.It

empty and

the

doing a lot of writing because

"Oh,"

got up to my

I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get some

wait,"he said and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to sit

going on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder,

never showed

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

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

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

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

box of tissues on the table and handed it to

think he got

after blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

together back in

think

know...I don't think so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping it would

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

my lip and

the 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

you never said anything to him all summer long?"he

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

out a sad smile and said,

shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better than

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

sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at that bar in

birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton

eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me move

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

don’t know what else

came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time showed that

technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he got up and headed to the

of beer.He lifted them up in the air

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write better,"he

I had all night were those stupid mocktails

especially to help me forget

my head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

I ended up drinking

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

AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when

on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the couch and