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,

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

all I wanted now

being petty, but I wanted him to realize that

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

was how I

was expecting to

on and I heard the sound

walked inside and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

to see

are you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back

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

long story, I don't wanna talk about it,"I sighed dramatically

my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

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

to the laptop on

a lot of writing because he worked in the school

"Oh,"

I got

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

he pulled on my

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

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

never showed

call...and it's supposed to

me and cooed me gently as he said, "That

long, Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because

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 reservation for

was a snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the table and handed it

think? I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got

after blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

think he’s cheating

I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently,

and

and nodded my

barely have any

said anything to him all summer long?"he

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 every day, I still feel

let out a sad smile and said,

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You

birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I

us.My sixteenth birthday was the first

seventeenth birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply

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

had a lot of expectations and they were all crushed in

I don’t know what else to

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the time showed that it

it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he

pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

some?"All I had all night were those stupid

use some booze, especially to help me forget

vigorously at him and

ended up drinking

watched a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie

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

as the pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from