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.

between us and

truth was that I

me, sure he

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

now was to get

I wanted him to realize that what he was doing to me

back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and

was how I spent my

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

were on and I heard the

walked inside and saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

shocked to see

are you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are

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

talk about it,"I

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

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

the laptop on the coffee

lot of writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to

not gonna bother

he pulled on my hand, motioning for

talk

it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like

never showed up..."I

call...and it's supposed to

cooed me gently

in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and I didn’t wanna get in

in between sobs, "But why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a reservation for

grabbed the box

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

rant after blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

best friends, but they used to have a thing together back

You think he’s cheating

so...God, I hope not!" images of Ian and Ally filled my

what happened? He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and

and nodded my

about every day and night before that too.We barely have any

said anything to him

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

out a sad smile and

shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve

and took me on a road trip.I don’t

was the first time I

seventeenth birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he

and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and helped me move in

I had a lot of expectations and

Emma, I don’t know what else to

I 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

looking at that word document for the past hour, not

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

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

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 smiled

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

I had all night were those stupid mocktails

to help me forget all about this

head vigorously at him

up drinking throughout the

Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because they were so comfortable and

couch and Tristan fell asleep next

pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the couch