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

truth was that I didn’t

me, sure

couldn't see

I wanted now was

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

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

was how I

the apartment door, I was expecting

on and I heard

and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

both shocked to see each other

I thought you and Sophie are coming back

you supposed to be in the city with your

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

my head back and groaned in

came early because the apartment's empty and I like

said, gesturing to the laptop on the

doing a lot of writing

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got

gonna

he pulled on my

talk about it?"Tristan knew

next thing I knew, I burst out

showed

for him...he didn’t even call...and

gently as he said, "That really sucks.I'm so

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

bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a

mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the

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

my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my eyes

saying? You think he’s

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

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

and nodded my head

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

never said anything to him all

get in the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with

sad smile and said,

sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a

me on a road trip.I don’t know what

sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at that bar

to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to

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

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

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

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

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

since it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got up and headed to the

he came back with a six pack of beer.He

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

night were those stupid mocktails

especially to help me forget

nodded my head vigorously at him

I ended up

watched a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used

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

on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from the couch