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

that I didn’t

loves me,

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

wanted now was to get

I was being petty, but I wanted him to realize that what he was doing to me was

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

was how I

I opened the apartment door, I was expecting to find the

and I heard the

saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

both shocked to see each other

thought you and Sophie are coming back next week?"I

you doing here? Aren't you supposed to

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

trashed my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It

apartment's empty and I like the silence.Helps me get my

gesturing to the laptop

was doing a lot of writing

"Oh,"

I got up to my

gonna bother you.I’m

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

talk about it?"Tristan knew

burst out crying

never showed

call...and it's supposed

me gently

because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in the way of

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

the box of tissues on the table and

love me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery

rant after blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled

saying? You think he’s cheating on

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

the dinner and he didn’t

bit my lip and nodded

have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the phone with Ally talking

anything to him all summer long?"he

now things will get better, but it

a sad smile and said,

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

drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now and why we're so

us.My sixteenth birthday was the

to Princeton and he inspired me to apply

on my graduation day and for my eighteenth birthday, he

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

don’t know

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

that word document

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

see the clock, and the time

since it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got up and headed

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

were those

help me forget all about

nodded my head vigorously at him

ended up drinking throughout

and Order on TV and we

in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a sudden loud knocking woke

the pounding on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the