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 was

was that I

me, sure

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

all I wanted now was to

wanted him to realize that

him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab

was how I spent

apartment door, I was expecting to find the

I heard

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

shocked to see each

you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back next week?"I

you supposed to be in the city with your boyfriend?"he

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

and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

empty and I like the silence.Helps

said, gesturing to the laptop on the

doing a lot of writing

"Oh,"

I got up

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

wait,"he said and he pulled on my hand,

talk about it?"Tristan knew something

next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder,

showed

didn’t even call...and it's supposed to be

cooed me gently as he said, "That

that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in the

in between sobs, "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

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

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

my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

his best friends, but they used to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and

think he’s cheating

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

He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got

my lip and nodded

that too.We barely have any time together,

never said anything to him all summer long?"he

do it anymore.I thought by now things will get

a sad smile and

birthday and a shitty

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

us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I

Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy League

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

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

I don’t know

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the time

technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got up and headed

later, he came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

night were those stupid

booze, especially to help me forget all about

I nodded my head vigorously at him

ended up drinking throughout

Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they

the couch and Tristan fell asleep

groggily as the pounding on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from