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 I didn’t

me, sure

I couldn't see it and I couldn't

all I wanted now

I wanted him to realize that what

that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled

was how I spent my

opened the apartment door, I was

the lights were on and I heard the sound

and saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

both shocked to see

are you doing here? I thought you and Sophie

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

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

groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

and I like the

the laptop on

lot of writing because he worked

"Oh,"

got up to

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

pulled on my hand, motioning for me

wanna talk about it?"Tristan

next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a sad

showed up..."I

waited for him...he didn’t even call...and

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

all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and

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

the box of tissues

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

after blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I

you saying? You think he’s cheating on you with

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

showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so

and nodded

barely have any time together, and

never said anything to him all summer

the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though

out a sad

and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better than

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

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

Princeton and he inspired me to apply

graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped

lot of expectations and they were all crushed in

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

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

word document for the past hour,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the time showed that it was 11:45

it’s still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

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

with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write better,"he

all night were those stupid mocktails and

use some booze, especially to help me forget all about

vigorously at him and said, "Yes

up drinking

of Law and Order on TV and we used

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

groggily as the pounding on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the