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.

us and there was nothing

truth was that I didn’t matter

me, sure

moment, I couldn't see it and I couldn't feel

I wanted now was to get

realize that what he was doing to me

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 three

was how I spent my

I was expecting

were on and I

saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

shocked to see each other

here? I thought you

Aren't you supposed to be

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

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

early because the apartment's empty and I like the

said, gesturing to the laptop

was doing a lot of writing because

"Oh,"

I got up to my

gonna bother

my hand, motioning for me to sit back

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

knew, I burst out crying into his

never showed

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

arms around me and cooed me gently as

long, 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

if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a reservation

grabbed the box of tissues on the table and handed it to

doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with

after blowing my nose so gracefully into the tissue

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

a thing together back in

you saying? You think he’s

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

up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you

lip and nodded

dinner.It’s 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

never said anything to him all

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

sad smile and said,

birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better

on

birthday was

Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy

he drove us

a lot

Emma, I don’t know

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

looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a break," he

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

his head to see the clock, and the time

still technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got up

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

some?"All I had all night were

to help me forget all about this

my head vigorously at him and

and I ended up drinking throughout the

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

and I had fallen asleep on the couch

as the pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the couch and