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

was that I didn’t matter

me, sure

the moment, I couldn't see

all I wanted now was to get

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

me, just as much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab

I spent my birthday

I was expecting to

on and I heard

saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

to

you doing here? I thought you

supposed to

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

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

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

gesturing to the

was doing a lot of writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

got

gonna bother you.I’m just

pulled on my hand, motioning for me to

talk about it?"Tristan knew something

it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out

never showed

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

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

okay, because he’s working

York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with

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

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

my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

but they used to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my eyes

You think he’s cheating on

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

the dinner and he didn’t call

bit my lip and nodded my head

too.We barely have any

to him all summer long?"he

now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I

a sad

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

best boyfriend ever.Last year for 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 met him at

to Princeton and he

he drove us

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

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what else

you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re working," I said

you’re not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break," he

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time showed that it was

technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got up and headed to

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write better,"he

were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

booze, especially to help me forget all about

my head vigorously at

and I ended up drinking

on TV and we used our matching onesie

couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a

the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from