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

that I didn’t matter

loves me,

see it

wanted now was to

petty, but I wanted him to realize that

to miss 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

I heard the sound of

saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

shocked to see

here? I thought you

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

wanna talk about it,"I

back and groaned in exhaustion.It had

early because the apartment's empty and I like

gesturing to the laptop on the coffee

lot of writing because he worked

"Oh,"

got

me, I’m not gonna bother

pulled on my hand, motioning for me

wanna talk

thing I knew, I burst out crying into his shoulder, snorting like a

never showed up..."I

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

and cooed me gently as he said, "That really sucks.I'm so

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

why would he even bring me out to New York City if

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

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

blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

but they used to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and

are you saying? You think he’s cheating on

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

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

my lip and nodded my head

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

you never said anything to him all summer long?"he

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

sad smile and

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

best boyfriend ever.Last year for my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on

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

my seventeenth birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply

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

birthday, I had a lot of

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what else to

not 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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time

it’s still technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got up and headed

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me

I had all night were those stupid mocktails and

to help me forget all

head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

up drinking throughout the

of Law and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie pajamas because

morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a

on the door got

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

he got up from the couch and staggered towards the