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.

was no distance between us and there was nothing else to

that

loves me, sure he

see it and I couldn't

I wanted now was to get

him to realize that what he was doing to me

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

how I spent my

door, I was expecting to find the

the lights were on and I

inside and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to see

shocked to see each

thought you and Sophie are coming back

supposed to

don't wanna talk about it,"I sighed

back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

I came early because the apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps me get

the

of writing because he

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to

I’m not gonna

pulled on my hand, motioning for me

going on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan

couldn't hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out

showed up..."I

call...and it's supposed to

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

all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working

New York City if

box

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 into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think he’s

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

up for the dinner and he didn’t call you,

lip and nodded my head

before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the phone with Ally talking about

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

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

a sad smile

shitty birthday and

drove for hours and took me on a

a special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was

we took a road trip to Princeton and he

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

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

Emma, I don’t know what else to

here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re working," I said as

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time showed that

still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got up and headed

came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air and smiled

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write better,"he

were those stupid mocktails and

some booze, especially to help me forget all

I nodded my head vigorously

I ended up drinking throughout

a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were so

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

on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

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