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.

and there was nothing else to

truth was that

me, sure

I couldn't see it and

all I wanted now

realize that what he was doing to

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

was how I spent

apartment door, I was expecting to find the room

and I

saw Tristan

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

both shocked to see

doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back

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

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

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

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

the laptop

lot of writing because he worked in

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to

about me, I’m not gonna

he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to sit

talk about it?"Tristan knew something was

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

showed up..."I

for him...he didn’t even call...and

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

summer long, Tristan.I've been in the back seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards

in between sobs, "But why would he even bring me out to New York City if he didn’t even have the time

box of tissues on the

know what I think? I think he doesn’t love me anymore.I think he got bored with me

rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my eyes for added dramatic

You think he’s cheating on you

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

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

lip and nodded my head

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

never said anything to

things

a sad smile and said,

shitty birthday and

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

was always a special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was the first

to Princeton and he

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

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

I don’t know what else to

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

turned his head to see the clock, and the time showed

technically

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

crept up his face as he got up and

of beer.He lifted them up

"You got beer?"I questioned.

me write

night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

to help me forget all about this

my head vigorously at him and

I ended up drinking

Order on TV and we used

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

groggily as the pounding on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from the couch