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.

between us and there

that

me,

see it and I couldn't

now

to realize that what he was doing to

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

how I spent my

apartment door, I was expecting

were on and I

walked inside and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

both shocked to

thought you and Sophie are coming

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

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

back and groaned in

apartment's empty and I

to the laptop on the coffee

lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got

I’m not gonna bother

said and he pulled on my

going on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew

next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his

showed

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

around me and cooed me gently as he said,

long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and

sobs, "But why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even

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

I think? I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority

my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into the tissue

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

thing together back in high school,"I

are you saying? You think he’s cheating on

so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my

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

my lip and nodded my

too.We barely have any time together, and

said anything to

now things will get better, but it

out a sad smile

shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better

me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us

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

trip to Princeton and he inspired me to

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

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

I don’t know what else

not your 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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and the time

technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

I had all night were those stupid mocktails

help me forget all about

my head vigorously at him

up

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

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

on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and staggered