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.

distance between us and there

truth was that I didn’t matter

loves me, sure he

at the moment, I couldn't see it and

I wanted now

him to realize that what

Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new

I spent

was expecting to find the room

and I heard the

and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

were both shocked to see each

I thought you and

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

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

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

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

said, gesturing to the laptop on the

doing a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

got up

about me, I’m not gonna

he pulled on my hand, motioning for me

talk about

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

never showed up..."I

even call...and it's

his arms around me and cooed me gently as he said, "That really sucks.I'm

okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I

would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t

the box of tissues on the table and

he got

my nose so gracefully into the tissue

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

together back in high school,"I

are you saying? You think he’s

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

up for the dinner and he didn’t call

my lip and nodded my

about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together,

said anything to him all summer

by now things will get better,

out a sad

had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve

to be the 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 to us now and why we're

was the first time I

birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy

birthday, he drove us to

a lot

don’t know what else

all my sob

document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

see the clock, and the time

still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

up his face as he

a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

I had all night were those stupid mocktails

could use some booze, especially to help me forget all about

nodded my head vigorously

up drinking throughout

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

AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next

the pounding on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from the