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

that I didn’t matter

loves me, sure

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

wanted now was to get

wanted him to realize that

wanted him to 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

how I spent

I was expecting to

were on and I heard the sound

saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

shocked to

you and Sophie are coming back

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

talk about it,"I sighed

groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

empty and I

said, gesturing to the laptop on the

doing a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

I got up

gonna bother you.I’m

wait,"he said and he pulled on my hand,

on? You wanna talk

it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like

showed

call...and it's

cooed me gently as he

been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because

"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

crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box

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

my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think he’s cheating on you with

so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and

for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you

bit my lip and

and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together,

said anything to him all

now things will get better, but it never

let out a sad

birthday and a

be the best boyfriend 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

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

road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy

my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to

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

know

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

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,"

and the time showed that it was 11:45

it’s still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got

later, he came back with a six pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write better,"he

had all night were those

help me forget all about this stupid

my head vigorously at him and said,

and I ended up drinking throughout the

Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because

AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me,

the pounding on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the couch and