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

was that I didn’t

me, sure

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

now was to

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

as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I

how I spent my birthday

apartment door, I was expecting to

the lights were on and I

saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

shocked to

doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back

Aren't you supposed to be

talk about

groaned in

came early because the apartment's empty and I like the

to the

lot of writing

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up

I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get

on my hand, motioning for

on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew

thing I knew, I burst out crying

never showed up..."I

waited for him...he didn’t even call...and

linked his arms around me and cooed me gently as

in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in the way

if he didn’t even have the time to

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

I think? I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me

rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the tissue

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

You think he’s cheating on you with

Ian and Ally filled my

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

bit my lip and nodded my head

just about the dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the phone with Ally

anything to him all summer long?"he

because I didn’t wanna get in the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better,

let out a sad smile

birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better

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

Princeton and he inspired me to

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

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

I don’t know what

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,"

document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break," he

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and the time showed that it was

since it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he got up

pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

I had all night were those stupid mocktails

booze, especially to help me forget all about this stupid

vigorously at

and I ended up drinking throughout

we used our matching onesie pajamas

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

as the pounding on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from