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.

distance between us and there

truth was that I didn’t

loves me, sure

I couldn't see it and I couldn't feel

all I wanted now was to get

to realize that what

to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and

I spent my birthday

was expecting to find

lights were on and I

and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

were both shocked to see each other

doing here? I thought you and

supposed to

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

back and groaned in exhaustion.It had

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

to the laptop on the

a lot of writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

I got up to my

I’m not gonna bother you.I’m

said and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to sit

going on? You wanna talk

couldn't hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a sad

showed up..."I

even call...and it's supposed to

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

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 for something he won't even

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

I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and this

my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

friends, but they used to have a thing together back in high

saying? You think

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

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

and nodded my

barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the phone with Ally

said anything to him all summer

because I didn’t wanna 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 him

sad smile and said,

sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a

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 why we're so distant from each other,"I

us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I

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

for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us

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

sorry, Emma, I don’t know

in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't

you’re not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for

"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

came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

all night were

could use some booze, especially to help me forget all about this stupid

nodded my head vigorously at him and said,

and I ended up drinking throughout the

on TV and we used

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

groaned groggily as the pounding on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the couch