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 nothing else to

simple truth was that I didn’t matter

me, sure

the moment, I couldn't see

wanted now was

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

that night.I took

I spent my birthday

I was expecting to

the lights were on and I heard the

and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

were both shocked to see each other

you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back

here? Aren't you supposed to be in

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

my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had

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

the laptop on the coffee

doing a lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

and I got up to

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

wait,"he said and he pulled on my

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

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

never showed

call...and it's supposed to

linked his arms around me and cooed me gently as he said,

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

"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

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

know what 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.

to have a thing together back in high

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

and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently,

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

and nodded

about the dinner.It’s 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

you never said anything to

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

sad smile and said,

and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better

took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now and why we're so

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

a road trip to Princeton

eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly

a lot

I don’t know what

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

to see the clock, and the time showed that it was 11:45

since it’s still technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

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

especially to help me forget all

my head vigorously at him and

ended up drinking throughout the

we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were so

in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell

the pounding on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the