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

truth was that I didn’t matter

me,

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

all I wanted now was

realize that what he was doing to me was hurting

as much as I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new

I spent

opened the apartment door, I was expecting

lights were on and I heard the sound

inside and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to see

were both shocked to see each

are you doing here? I thought you and Sophie

supposed to be

about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him on

groaned in exhaustion.It had

empty and I like the silence.Helps me get my work

said, gesturing to the laptop on

doing a lot of writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

and I got

me, I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get some

my hand, motioning

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

couldn't hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out

showed up..."I

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

linked his arms around me and cooed me gently as he said,

okay, because he’s working towards his

he even bring me out to New York City if he

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

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

continued my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

a thing together back in high school,"I replied,

You think he’s cheating

don’t know...I don't think so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook my head violently, hoping it would

the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got

my lip and nodded

the dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d

to him all summer long?"he

can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better,

sad smile

sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a

year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now

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

to Princeton and he

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

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

I don’t know what else to

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and the time showed that it was 11:45

it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he got

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

all night were those stupid

some booze, especially to help me forget

head vigorously

up drinking throughout

and Order on TV and we used

in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and

on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from the couch and