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.

and there was

simple truth was that I didn’t

me, sure he

couldn't see it and I

all I wanted now

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

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

I

I was expecting to find the room dark and

on and I heard the sound of the

and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

were both shocked to

you and Sophie are

are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be

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

groaned in exhaustion.It

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

to the laptop on the coffee

lot of writing because he worked in the school

"Oh,"

I got up to

gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get some

he pulled on my hand, motioning

on? You wanna talk about

knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder,

showed up..."I

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

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

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

if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making

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

love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and this girl

continued my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled

you saying? You think he’s cheating on you

of Ian and Ally filled my head

the dinner and

my lip and nodded my head

have any time together, and even we're together,

to him all summer

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

a sad smile and said,

birthday and a shitty

drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now and why we're

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

took a road trip to Princeton and

my graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and

birthday, I had a lot of

Emma, I don’t know what else

your fault.I’m sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re working," I said as I

at all.I've been looking at that word document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and

it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

up his face as he got up

of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

had all night were

especially to help me forget all about this stupid

nodded my head vigorously at him

I ended up drinking

Law and Order on TV and we used our

I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when

pounding on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the couch and