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 to

truth was that

loves me, sure

couldn't see

all I wanted now was to get

to realize that what he was doing to me

miss me, just as much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big fat suitcase up

how I spent my

was expecting to find

lights were on and I heard the sound of

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

were both shocked to

you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming

you supposed to

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

my head back and groaned in

I came early because the apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps me get my work

to the laptop on the

of writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

got

not gonna bother

said and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me

on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan

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

showed up..."I

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

me and cooed me gently as he said, "That

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

why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a

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

know what I think? I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got

blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

but they used to have a thing together back in high

saying? You think he’s cheating on you with

and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping it would

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

and nodded my head

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 talking

never said anything to him all

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

a sad smile and said,

shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so

hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what

always a special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was

Princeton

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

on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they were all crushed in just

don’t know what

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the

technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

were those stupid mocktails

help me forget all

vigorously at him and

ended up drinking throughout

and Order on TV and we used our

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

groggily as the pounding on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

relief, he got up from