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

truth was that

me, sure he

I couldn't see it and I couldn't

now was to get

was 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 a

was how I spent my birthday

I was expecting to find the room dark

were on and I heard

and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

were both shocked to see each

are you doing here? I thought you and Sophie

Aren't you supposed to be in the city

about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him

my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had

empty and I like the silence.Helps me get

said, gesturing to the laptop on

was doing a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

and I got

me, I’m not gonna bother

pulled on my

talk about it?"Tristan knew something

I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a sad

showed up..."I

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

around me and cooed me gently as he said, "That

summer long, Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna

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 for

the box of tissues on the

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

my rant after blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think

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

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

bit my lip and nodded my head

every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even

said anything to him all

didn’t wanna 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 him

out a sad smile

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better than

drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened

us.My sixteenth birthday was the first

Princeton and he

day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us

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

know what else

your fault.I’m sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob

all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

see the clock, and the time showed that

still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got up and headed to the

pack of beer.He lifted them up in

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

were those

could use some booze, especially to help me forget all about this

head vigorously at

I ended up

and Order on TV and we

on the couch and Tristan fell

the pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from