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.

was no distance between us and there was nothing else

truth was that I didn’t matter

me, sure he

the moment, I couldn't see

all I wanted now was to get

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

that

was how I spent my birthday

the apartment door, I was expecting to find

were on and I heard the sound of

and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

to see

are you doing here? I thought you and

to

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

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

early because the apartment's empty and

the laptop

of writing because he worked in the school

"Oh,"

and I got

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

pulled on my hand, motioning

on? You wanna talk

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

showed

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

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

okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get

bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with

a snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of

anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery

my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

You think he’s cheating on you with

don't think so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head

never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got

my lip and nodded my

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 the phone with Ally

anything to him all summer long?"he

anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with him every

let out a sad

had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so

used 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

was the first time I met

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

birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped

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

know what else to

sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't

document for the

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

the clock, and the time showed that it was 11:45

technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got up

later, he came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

I had all night were those stupid

could use some booze, especially to help

I nodded my head vigorously at

ended up drinking throughout

watched a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were so

fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell

groggily as the pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and staggered towards the