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 nothing else to

was that I

loves me,

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

now was to

him to realize

missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took

how I spent

apartment door, I was expecting

and I heard

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

shocked to see

I thought you and Sophie are

doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the city with your

story, I don't wanna talk about it,"I

back and groaned in exhaustion.It

the apartment's empty and I

to the

a lot of writing because

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to

gonna bother you.I’m just

he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to sit

wanna talk about

next thing I knew, I burst out crying

never showed

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

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

that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in

why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why

snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of

got bored with me or something.His priority is

rant after blowing my

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

of his best friends, but they used to have a thing together back in

saying? You think he’s cheating on you

think so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally

showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and you

and

and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be

never said anything to him all

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

let out a sad smile

had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much

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 each

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

a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to

day and for my eighteenth birthday, he

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

Emma, I don’t know what else to say,"Tristan

fault.I’m sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re

document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and the

since it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got up and

he came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

night were those stupid

booze, especially to help

nodded my head vigorously

I ended up drinking throughout

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

1.30 AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan

on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

relief, he got up from the couch and staggered