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

simple truth was that

loves me, sure

see

now was to

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

missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a

how I

was expecting to find the room dark and

on and I heard the

saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

to see each

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

Aren't you supposed to be

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

trashed my head back and groaned in

because the apartment's empty and I

to the laptop

was doing a lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to

not gonna bother you.I’m

on my hand, motioning for me to sit back

wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

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

showed up..."I

call...and it's supposed to

cooed me gently as he

seat all summer long, but that’s okay, because

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

mess.Tristan grabbed the box of

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

blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

think

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

showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and you came

and nodded

just about the dinner.It’s about every day and night before that too.We barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be on the phone

you never said anything to him

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 does.Even though I was with him every day, I still

out a sad

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so

me on a road

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

we took a road trip to Princeton

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

I had a lot of expectations and they

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

your fault.I’m sorry I came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob story.I

at that word document for the past hour,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

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

technically your birthday,

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he

later, he came back with a six pack of beer.He lifted

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

night were those stupid mocktails

especially to help me forget all

I nodded my head vigorously at him and said,

ended up drinking throughout the

Order on TV and we used our

AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next

on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from the