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.

us and there

was that I didn’t matter

loves me,

couldn't see it and I couldn't

I wanted now was to get

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

me, just 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 my big fat suitcase

how I spent

door, I was expecting

lights were on and I

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

both shocked to see each other

you doing here? I thought you and

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

wanna talk about

and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

empty and I

gesturing to the laptop

a lot of writing because he worked

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up

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

my hand, motioning

on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

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

showed

even call...and it's supposed to

linked his arms around me and cooed me gently as he

but that’s okay, because

"But why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend

grabbed the box

got bored with me

continued my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

but they used to have a thing together

you saying? You think he’s

Ian and Ally filled my head

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

and nodded my

any time together, and even we're together,

to him all summer long?"he

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

let out a sad

birthday and a shitty

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

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

to Princeton and he inspired me

my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me move

I was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations

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

to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re

you’re not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

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

it’s still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got up and headed to the

of beer.He lifted them up in the air

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

all night were those stupid mocktails and

help me forget

head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

I ended up drinking throughout the

TV and we used our matching onesie

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

groggily as the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from the couch and staggered towards the