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.

us and there was nothing else to

that I didn’t

loves me, sure he

I couldn't see it and

now was

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

Philly late that night.I

I spent

door, I was expecting to find the room dark and

were on and I heard the sound

saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

both shocked to see each

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

you supposed to

I don't wanna talk about it,"I

groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

empty and I like the

the laptop on the

writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

got

gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get some

pulled on my hand, motioning for

talk about it?"Tristan

I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting

never showed up..."I

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

cooed me gently as he said, "That really

back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna

would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why

snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues

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

my

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think he’s

Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping it would

never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and you came

my lip and

just about the dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time

never said anything to him all summer

I didn’t wanna get in the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it

a sad smile and said,

birthday and a shitty

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

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

road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy League

birthday, he drove us to

lot of expectations and they were all crushed

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

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

me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and the time showed

it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got up and

pack of beer.He

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

I had all night were those stupid mocktails and

to help me forget all about

head vigorously at

and I ended up drinking throughout the

re-run of Law and Order on TV and we

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

on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

relief, he got up from the