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

was that I didn’t

me, sure

I couldn't see it and I couldn't

now was

being petty, but I wanted him to realize that

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

was how I spent my birthday

I was expecting to find the room

were on and I heard the

saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

to see

here? I thought you and

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

I don't wanna talk about

trashed my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

empty and

the laptop on

lot of writing

"Oh,"

and I got up to

I’m not gonna bother you.I’m

said and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to

You wanna talk about it?"Tristan

I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting

showed

even call...and it's supposed to be

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

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

catch my breath in between sobs, "But why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have

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

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

blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

saying? You think he’s cheating on

I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping

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

bit my lip and nodded my

before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always

never said anything to him all summer long?"he

get in the way ..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 still feel

let out a sad

sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and

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

special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the

trip to Princeton and

on my graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us

nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they were

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what else to

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

all.I've been looking at that word document

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

see the clock, and

still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got up and headed to the

pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write better,"he

some?"All I had all night were those stupid

help me forget all about this

nodded my head vigorously at him and said,

up drinking

a re-run of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were so

morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan

on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the couch