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

was that I

loves me, sure

couldn't see

I wanted now

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

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

how I spent my birthday

apartment door, I was expecting to find the room

lights were on and I heard the sound of

and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

shocked to

doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back next

you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the

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

head back and groaned in

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

to the laptop

a lot of writing because

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to my

worry about me, I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get some

and he pulled on my hand, motioning for

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan

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

never showed

even call...and it's supposed to be my

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

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 get

to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend

the box of tissues on

got bored with me

continued my rant after blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

together back in high school,"I

you saying? You think he’s

and Ally filled my head

dinner and he didn’t call

and nodded my

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

to

things will get better, but it never does.Even

out a sad

had a shitty birthday and a

and took me on a

for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time

my seventeenth birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me

on my graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me move in to

here I was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of

Emma, I don’t know what else to say,"Tristan sighed

had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing

that word document for the past

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

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

still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got up

came back with a six pack of beer.He

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

some?"All I had all night were

especially to help me

head vigorously at him and

up drinking throughout the

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

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

groaned groggily as the pounding on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the