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.

between us and there

simple truth was that I

loves me, sure he

couldn't see it and

now was to

I wanted him to realize that what he was doing to me was

miss me, just as much 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 fat suitcase up three

how I spent my

I was expecting

and I heard the sound of

walked inside and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

shocked to

you and

you supposed to be in

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

groaned in

came early because the apartment's empty and

to the

a lot of writing

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got

gonna bother you.I’m just

my hand, motioning

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting

showed

didn’t even call...and it's

and cooed me gently as he said, "That really sucks.I'm so sorry,

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

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

grabbed the box

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

after blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

together back in high school,"I replied, and

You think he’s cheating

don’t know...I don't think so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled

that's what happened? He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and you

my lip and nodded

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

to him all summer long?"he

it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with him every day,

sad

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve

year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us

special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at that bar in

Princeton and he inspired me to apply

my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped

had a lot

I don’t know what

not your fault.I’m sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all

looking at that word document for the past hour, not

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

the clock, and the time showed that it was

since it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got up and headed to the

pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

all night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

use some booze, especially to help me forget

I nodded my head vigorously at him and said,

and I ended up drinking throughout the

we used our matching

asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me,

as the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the couch and