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.

was no distance between us and there was

truth was that I

loves me, sure he

see it and I

now

realize that what he was doing to me was

as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to

was how I spent

I opened the apartment door, I was expecting to find

on and I heard the sound of

and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

to see each other

thought you and Sophie are

supposed to be in

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

back and groaned in

and I like the silence.Helps me

to the laptop on the

lot of writing

"Oh,"

and I got

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

he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

I burst out crying

showed up..."I

waited for him...he didn’t even call...and

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

Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in

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 on the table and

love me anymore.I think he got bored with

rant after blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

think he’s cheating on you

hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head

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

bit my lip and nodded my head

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 be on the phone with Ally talking

never said anything to him all summer long?"he

wanna 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,

let out a sad

really sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better

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

for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at that

trip to Princeton

eighteenth birthday, he drove

had a lot of expectations and they were all crushed in

know what else to say,"Tristan sighed

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

all.I've been looking at that word document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and the time showed that it was 11:45

since it’s still technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he

came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air and smiled

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

had all night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

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

head vigorously

I ended up drinking

TV and we used our

about 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.

up from the