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

was that

me, sure he

at the moment, I couldn't see it and

all I wanted now

wanted him to realize that what he was doing to me was hurting

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

I spent my birthday

I was expecting to

and I heard the sound

and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to see

to see

are you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are

you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be

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

groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

I came early because the apartment's empty and

the laptop on the

doing a lot of writing because

"Oh,"

and I got up to my

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

said and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to

on? You wanna talk

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

showed up..."I

waited for him...he didn’t even call...and it's

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

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 of

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 the time to spend

mess.Tristan grabbed the box of

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

rant after blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think he’s cheating

hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and

the dinner and he didn’t call you,

lip and nodded my head

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 talking about

to him all

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

out a sad smile and

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

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

sixteenth birthday was the first time I met

a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to

my eighteenth birthday, he drove us

lot of expectations and

I don’t know what else to

barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't

looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

to see the clock, and the time

technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got

pack of beer.He lifted them up in

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

I had all night were those stupid mocktails

booze, especially to help me

head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

and I ended up drinking

we used our matching onesie pajamas

the couch and Tristan fell

as the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the couch and staggered towards