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 nothing else to

that

me, sure he

see it and I couldn't feel

I wanted now was to get

but I wanted him to realize that what he

missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and

was how I spent my birthday

was

I

walked inside and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

to see each other

you and Sophie are

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

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

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

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

the laptop

a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

and I got

I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just

my hand, motioning for me to

on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder,

showed up..."I

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

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

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

paused to catch my breath in between sobs, "But why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have

box of tissues on

I think? I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the

rant after blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

but they used to have a thing together back

think he’s cheating on you with

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

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

my lip and nodded my

too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be

said 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

out a sad smile and

had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You

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

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

Princeton and he

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

lot of expectations and they were

know what else to

and you had to hear all my sob

all.I've been looking at that word document

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time showed that it was 11:45

still technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got up and headed to

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write better,"he

all night were those stupid mocktails

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

nodded my head vigorously

and I ended up

Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie

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

pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the couch and staggered towards the