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

truth was that I didn’t matter

loves me,

see it and I

now

him to realize that what he was doing

back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big fat suitcase up

I spent

apartment door, I was expecting to find the room dark and

on and I

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

to see each other

doing here? I thought you and Sophie

you supposed to

wanna talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and

and groaned in exhaustion.It had

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

gesturing to the laptop on

a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

I got up to my

not gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get some

on my hand,

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something was

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

never showed up..."I

even call...and it's

me gently as

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

sobs, "But why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother

mess.Tristan grabbed the box

think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery

my

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

thing together back

are you saying? You think he’s

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

the dinner and

and

just about the dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're

you never said anything to him all summer

..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with him every day, I still feel

let out a sad

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

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

thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at

road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to

my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me move

had a lot of expectations and they were all crushed in just one

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

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

looking at that word document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and the time showed that

still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

smirk crept up his face as he got up and headed to the

pack of beer.He lifted them up in the

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

some?"All I had all night were those stupid

could use some booze, especially to help me

vigorously at him and

and I ended up drinking throughout

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

had fallen asleep on the couch and

pounding on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the couch and