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.

no distance between us and

that I

me, sure

couldn't see it and I couldn't feel

now was to get

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

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

was how I spent

I opened the apartment door, I was expecting to find the

I heard the sound

and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

both shocked to see each

I thought you and Sophie are

supposed to be in the city

I don't wanna talk about it,"I sighed

back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

because the apartment's empty and

to the

was doing a lot of writing because he worked

"Oh,"

I got up

me, I’m not gonna bother

wait,"he said and he pulled on my

on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan

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

showed up..."I

even call...and it's

gently as he said, "That

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

to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a reservation for something he

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

love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority

my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

used to have a thing together back in

saying? You think he’s cheating on you with

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

never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call

and nodded my

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

said anything to him all summer long?"he

it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with

out a sad

really sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve

used to be the best boyfriend ever.Last year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now and

was always a special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him

road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to

birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me

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

know

sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

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

still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got up and headed to the

with a six pack of beer.He

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

had all night were those stupid

to help me forget all about this stupid

head vigorously at

and I ended up drinking throughout

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

morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch

as the pounding on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the