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

truth was that I didn’t matter

loves me, sure

I couldn't see it

wanted now was to

but I wanted him to realize that what he was doing

to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big

how I

the apartment door, I was expecting to

lights were on and I

and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

were both shocked to see each other

you and Sophie are coming

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

wanna talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and

groaned in exhaustion.It

the apartment's empty and I like

gesturing to the

a lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

and I got up to

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

wait,"he said and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to

talk about

burst out crying into

showed

even call...and it's supposed

his arms around me and cooed me gently as he said, "That

that’s okay, because he’s working towards

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

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

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

rant after blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

think he’s cheating on you

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

He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call

and nodded

not 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 the

you never said anything to him

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

a sad smile and said,

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve

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

sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at that

trip to Princeton and

for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me move in to the

had a lot of expectations and

Emma, I don’t know what else

you had to hear all

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and the time showed that

it’s still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got up and headed to the

later, he came back with a six pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

had all night were those stupid mocktails and

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

vigorously at him and said,

and I ended up drinking throughout

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

was about 1.30 AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when

groggily as the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the