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

simple truth was that I didn’t matter

me, sure

see

now was to get

realize that what he was doing to me was hurting

that night.I took a cab to my new

how I spent my

I opened the apartment door, I was expecting

and I heard the sound of

inside and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

to

you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back next week?"I

supposed to be

talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined

my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It

and I like the silence.Helps me

said, gesturing to the laptop on the

writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

I got up

I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just

and he pulled on my

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something was

next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a sad

showed

him...he didn’t even call...and

me gently as he said, "That

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

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

mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the table and handed it

think he got bored with me or something.His priority is

my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

thing together back

are you saying? You think

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

for the dinner and he didn’t call

and nodded my head

too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d

to him all summer

didn’t wanna get in the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it

sad smile and

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

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

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

trip to Princeton

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

was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot

know what else to

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and the time showed that

it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he

with a six pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write better,"he

some?"All I had all night were those stupid mocktails

could use some booze, especially to help

vigorously at him

up

on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because

in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a sudden loud knocking woke us

as the pounding on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

relief, he got up from the couch and staggered towards