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

simple truth was that I didn’t matter

me, sure he

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

wanted now was to

him to realize that what he was doing to

missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled

how I spent

apartment door, I was expecting to find the room dark

and I

walked inside and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

shocked to see each

here? I thought you and Sophie

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

a long story, I don't wanna talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him on the

my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It

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

the laptop on the coffee

writing because he

"Oh,"

and I got up to my

gonna bother you.I’m just

on my hand, motioning for me to

wanna talk about it?"Tristan

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

never showed up..."I

didn’t even call...and it's supposed to be

and cooed me gently as he said, "That

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 way

catch my breath in between sobs, "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 making a reservation for something he

grabbed the box of

got bored with

after blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

but they used to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I

You think he’s

and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping it would

never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t

and nodded my head

before that too.We barely have any time together, and even

anything to him all summer

way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better,

a sad

sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better

boyfriend ever.Last year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know

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

birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy

graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly

a lot of expectations and

know what else to

I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re working," I said as I straightened

looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the time

technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

all night were those stupid mocktails and

could use some booze, especially to help me

my head vigorously at him and said,

and I ended up drinking throughout

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

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

as the pounding on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and staggered towards the