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 was nothing else to

was that

loves me, sure he

the moment, I couldn't see it

I wanted now was

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

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

I

opened the apartment door, I was expecting to find the room dark

the lights were on and I heard

and saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

both shocked to see each

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

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

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

my head back and groaned

the apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps me

the laptop on the

a lot of writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to

gonna bother you.I’m just

pulled on my hand, motioning for

on? You wanna talk about

burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting

never showed up..."I

didn’t even call...and it's supposed

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

summer long, Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in the

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 reservation for something he won't even show up

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

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

continued my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

a thing together back

you saying? You think he’s cheating on

images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my

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

lip and nodded my

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

to him

by now things will get better, but it never

out a sad smile and

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

to 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

sixteenth birthday was the first time I

took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy League

on my graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me move in to

I was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of

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

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

been looking at that word document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

his head to see the clock, and the time showed that it was

it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

up his face as he got up and

came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write better,"he

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

use some booze, especially to help me forget all about

head vigorously at him and

I ended up drinking

TV and we

was about 1.30 AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to

groaned groggily 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