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 nothing else

was that

loves me, sure

moment, I couldn't see

all I wanted now

him to realize that what he was doing to

as much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I

how I spent my birthday

apartment door, I was expecting to find the room

were on and I heard the sound of

inside and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to see

to see each

here? I thought you and Sophie

here? Aren't you supposed to be in

don't wanna talk about it,"I sighed

trashed my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

and

gesturing to the laptop on the

lot of writing because he worked in the school

"Oh,"

and I got

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

pulled on my

going on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew

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

never showed up..."I

even call...and it's supposed to

and cooed me gently

long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t

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 with me.Why bother making a reservation for something he won't

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

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

my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

think he’s cheating on you with

Ally

for the dinner and he

lip and nodded my head

just about 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 on

never said anything to

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

sad smile

shitty birthday and

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

us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at that bar in

Princeton

and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us

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

I don’t know

fault.I’m sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re working," I said as

at all.I've been looking at that word document for

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time

since it’s still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got up and headed

a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air and smiled

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

all night were those stupid mocktails

some booze, especially to help me forget all about this

vigorously at him and

I ended up drinking

a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our

about 1.30 AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan

groggily as the pounding on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the couch and staggered