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 matter

loves me,

I couldn't see it and I couldn't

now was to get

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

me, just as much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took

I spent my birthday

the apartment door, I was

lights were on and I heard the sound of

saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

both shocked to see each

you and

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

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

trashed my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

and I like the silence.Helps me

said, gesturing to the laptop

writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

I got up

gonna bother you.I’m just gonna

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

wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something was

hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying

never showed

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

linked his arms around me and cooed me gently as he said,

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

catch my breath 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 reservation

grabbed the box of tissues on the table

got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery

my

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think he’s cheating on

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

and he didn’t call you, so

and

just about the dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time

you never said anything to him all summer long?"he

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

out a sad smile and

really sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so

me on a road trip.I don’t know

was always a special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the

road trip to Princeton and

engaged on my graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he

a lot of

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what

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

word document for the past hour,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and the time showed

still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he

came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write better,"he

were

help me forget all about this

vigorously at him

up drinking throughout the

re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas

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

groggily as the pounding on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from