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

simple truth was that I

me, sure

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

now was to

I wanted him to realize

Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big fat suitcase up

I spent

door, I was

the lights were on and I heard the sound of the

and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

were both shocked to see

I thought you and Sophie are coming back next

Aren't you supposed to be in

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

back and groaned in exhaustion.It

empty and I like the silence.Helps me get my work

gesturing to the laptop

a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got

worry about me, I’m not gonna bother you.I’m

on my hand, motioning for me to sit

wanna talk

I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder,

showed

for him...he didn’t even call...and

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

all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I

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

the box of

got bored with me or something.His priority is

blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

used to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my eyes for added dramatic

are you saying? You think he’s cheating

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

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

bit my lip and

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

never said anything to him

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

a sad

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so

best boyfriend ever.Last year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I

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

seventeenth birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and

birthday, he

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

know what else to

all my sob story.I shouldn't

looking at that word document for the past hour,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the

since it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got

he came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write better,"he

were those

to help me forget all about this stupid

I nodded my head vigorously at him

ended up drinking

watched a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were so

I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a sudden loud knocking woke us

groaned groggily as the pounding on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and staggered towards