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

truth was that I

loves me,

couldn't see it and I couldn't feel

now was

but I wanted him to realize that what he

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

I spent my

was expecting to find the room dark

lights were on and I heard

saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to see

to see

you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back

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

I don't wanna talk about

back and groaned in exhaustion.It

empty and I like

said, gesturing to the laptop on the

was doing a lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

got

not gonna

on my hand, motioning for me

on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan

it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into

never showed

waited for him...he didn’t even call...and it's

and cooed me gently as he said, "That

been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because

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

mess.Tristan grabbed the box of

think he got bored with

my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

his best friends, but they used to have a thing together back in high

think

think so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping it would

that's what happened? He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you

and nodded my

dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and

you never said anything to him all summer long?"he

I didn’t wanna get in the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even

out a sad

really sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a shitty

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

birthday was the first time

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

for my eighteenth birthday, he drove

on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations

don’t know what else

fault.I’m sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re

at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break," he said

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and the

it’s still technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got up and

came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air and

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

some?"All I had all night were those stupid

booze, especially to help me forget all about this stupid

vigorously at him and

up drinking throughout

and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were so comfortable and

couch and Tristan fell asleep

the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the couch and staggered towards the