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.

no distance between us and there was nothing else to

truth was that I didn’t

me, sure he

couldn't see it and I

now was

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

that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and

I spent my

I was expecting to find the room

were on and I heard the sound

inside and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

shocked to see each other

thought you and

here? Aren't you supposed to be in

long story, I don't wanna talk about it,"I

and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

because the apartment's empty and I

said, gesturing to the

lot of writing because he worked

"Oh,"

and I got up to

gonna

on my hand, motioning for me to sit

on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something was

burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a sad ugly

showed

didn’t even call...and it's supposed

and cooed me gently

long, Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working

City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a reservation for something he won't even show up

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

anymore.I think he got bored with me or

after blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my eyes

you saying? You think he’s cheating

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

happened? He never showed up for the dinner and he

and nodded

night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're

anything to him

..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with him every day, I

a sad

really sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve

took me on a road trip.I

thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at that bar in

seventeenth birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired

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

was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot

know what else to say,"Tristan sighed

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

disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

the clock, and the

technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

up his face as he

pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

were those

some booze, especially to help me forget all about this

I nodded my head vigorously at him and said,

ended up drinking throughout

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

asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next

groggily as the pounding on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the