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

simple truth was that I

loves me, sure he

couldn't see it and I couldn't feel

now

I was being petty, but I wanted him to realize

wanted him to 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

how I

opened the apartment door, I was expecting to find

I heard

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

shocked to see each

doing here? I thought you and Sophie are

doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the

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

back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

came early because the apartment's empty and I like the

the laptop on the

was doing a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to

not gonna bother you.I’m just gonna

my hand, motioning for me to sit back

on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan

thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder,

showed

didn’t even call...and it's supposed

cooed me gently as he said, "That really sucks.I'm

Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in the way

bring me 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 won't even show

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

me anymore.I think he got bored with me

after blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think he’s cheating

Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently,

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

and

every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the

never said anything to him all summer

..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,

out a sad smile

and a shitty summer.You deserve so much

the best boyfriend ever.Last year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now and why we're so distant from each

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

birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy League

engaged on my graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he

birthday, I had a lot of

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what else

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

clock, and the time showed that it was

since it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got

of beer.He lifted them up in the air

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

all night were those stupid mocktails and

to help me forget

head vigorously at him

ended up drinking throughout

Order on TV and we used our

in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next

pounding on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch