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

truth was that

loves me,

I couldn't see

all I wanted now

to realize that what he was doing to me

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

how I

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

lights were on and I heard the sound of

walked inside and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

shocked to see each other

doing here? I thought you and Sophie

here? Aren't you supposed to

about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined him

back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

came early because the apartment's empty and I like

gesturing to the laptop on

writing because

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up

about me, I’m not gonna bother

on my hand,

on? You wanna talk about

burst out crying into his shoulder,

never showed up..."I

him...he didn’t even call...and

and cooed me gently as he said, "That

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

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

snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of tissues

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

blowing my nose so

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

you saying? You think

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

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

lip and nodded my head

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

never said anything to him all

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 feel

out a sad smile

and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better than

he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t

a special thing for us.My sixteenth birthday was

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

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

I was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they were all

know what else to say,"Tristan

hear all my

at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and the time showed that it

since it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he got up and headed to

six pack of beer.He

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

all night were those stupid

could use some booze, especially to help me

head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

I ended up drinking throughout the

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

on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a sudden loud knocking

groaned groggily as the pounding on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

relief, he got up from the couch