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

was that I didn’t matter

me, sure he

moment, I couldn't see it and I

wanted now

realize that what he was doing to

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

I

opened the apartment door, I was expecting

on and I heard the sound

walked inside and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

to

here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back next

you supposed to be in the city with

about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him on the

my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

early because the apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps me get my work

said, gesturing to the laptop on the coffee

writing

"Oh,"

and I got

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

said and he pulled on my hand, motioning

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan

next thing I knew, I burst out crying into

never showed

call...and it's supposed to

gently as he said, "That

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

in between sobs, "But why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the

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

what I think? I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is

rant after blowing my

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

think he’s cheating on

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

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

lip and nodded my head

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 about

said anything to him

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

sad smile and said,

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You

and took me on a road

us.My sixteenth birthday was

seventeenth birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he

and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped

nineteenth birthday, I had a lot

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

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

you’re not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

see the clock, and the time showed that it was

still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got up and

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

all night were those stupid

could use some booze, especially to help me

my head vigorously at

I ended up drinking throughout the

of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were so comfortable and

I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a

the pounding on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from the couch and staggered