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.

was no distance between us and there was nothing else

simple truth was that I

me, sure

couldn't see it and I couldn't

wanted now was to

to realize

that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big fat suitcase up

I

I was expecting

were on and I heard the sound

walked inside and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

both shocked to see

are you doing here? I thought you and

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

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

back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

came early because the apartment's empty and I

said, gesturing to the laptop

a lot of writing because

"Oh,"

got

gonna bother you.I’m

he pulled on my

talk about it?"Tristan knew something was

hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out

never showed up..."I

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

cooed me gently

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

he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the

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

think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and this

after blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

together back in high

You think

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

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

and nodded

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

never said anything to him

because I didn’t wanna get in the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never

out a sad smile and

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You

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

was the first time I met him

took a road trip to Princeton and he

eighteenth birthday, he drove

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

I don’t know what else to say,"Tristan sighed

hear all my sob story.I shouldn't be disturbing you, you’re

word document for

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

to see the clock, and the

since it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got up and headed to the

pack of beer.He lifted them up in the air and

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

night were those stupid mocktails and

booze, especially to help me forget all about this

my head vigorously

ended up drinking throughout

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

groggily as the pounding on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the couch and staggered towards the