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.

and there was nothing else to

simple truth was that I didn’t matter

loves me,

moment, I couldn't see

wanted now was to get

was being petty, but I wanted him to realize

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

was how I spent my

the apartment door, I was expecting to find the

were on and I heard

saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

were both shocked to

you doing here? I thought you

here? Aren't you supposed to be in

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

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

early because the apartment's empty and I

the laptop on the

writing

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to my

worry about me, I’m not gonna bother

he pulled on my hand, motioning

wanna talk about

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

never showed up..."I

him...he didn’t even call...and it's

gently as

but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his

paused to 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

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

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

rant after blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

You think he’s cheating

of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping

happened? He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and you came

bit my lip and nodded

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 the phone with Ally

said anything to him all

anymore.I thought by now things will get

a sad

had a shitty birthday 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 us now and why we're so distant

a special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the

to Princeton and he inspired me

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

had a lot of expectations and they were

don’t know what else to say,"Tristan

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

you’re not disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

to see the clock, and

it’s still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got up and headed to the

six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write better,"he

night were those stupid mocktails

especially to help me forget

head vigorously at him

ended up drinking throughout

TV and we used our matching

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

as the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch