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 was

was that

loves me, sure he

couldn't see it and I

wanted now was to

petty, but I wanted him to realize that what he

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

was how I spent my

door, I was expecting to find

the lights were on and I heard the sound of

saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

both shocked to see

thought you and Sophie are coming back next week?"I

Aren't you supposed to

wanna talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined

my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It

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

said, gesturing to the laptop

was doing a lot of writing because he worked

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to

about me, I’m not gonna bother

pulled on my hand, motioning for me to sit back

You wanna talk

next thing I knew, I burst out crying into

showed

call...and it's supposed to be

cooed me gently as he said, "That

because he’s working towards his dreams and I

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

was a snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues on the table and handed it to

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

my

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

think he’s cheating on you with

images of Ian and Ally

showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got upset

bit my lip and

too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be

said anything to him all summer long?"he

the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will

out a sad smile and

sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a shitty

best boyfriend ever.Last year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what

us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met

trip to Princeton

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

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

don’t know what else to

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

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

it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got up

back with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write better,"he

were those stupid

especially to help me forget all about

head vigorously at him and said,

and I ended up drinking throughout the

watched a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used

had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan

pounding on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the couch and staggered towards