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 there was nothing else

that

me, sure he

couldn't see it and I couldn't

all I wanted now

I was being petty, but I wanted him to realize that what he was doing to

that

how I spent my birthday

I opened the apartment door, I was

lights were on and I heard the sound of the

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

to see each

doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming

are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to

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

head back and groaned

came early because the apartment's empty and I

the

lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

got up

about me, I’m not gonna

pulled on my

on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew

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

never showed

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

me gently

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 the way

York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a

mess.Tristan grabbed the box of

doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and this girl

continued my rant after blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

a thing together back in high school,"I

you saying? You think he’s cheating on you

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

showed up for the dinner and

lip and

not just about 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

you never said anything to

didn’t 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

let out a sad smile

you had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You

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

thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the

road trip to Princeton and

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

on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they were all crushed in just one

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

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

been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

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

still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got

with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

I had all night were those

to help me forget all about this

head vigorously at him and said,

up drinking throughout the

Order on TV and we

morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell

on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from the couch and staggered towards the