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 there was nothing else to

simple truth was that

me, sure

I couldn't see it and I couldn't

wanted now was

but I wanted him to realize

I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big

was how I spent my

the apartment door, I was

I heard the sound of

inside and saw Tristan sitting on the

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to

both shocked to see

I thought you and

to

wanna talk about it,"I

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

I came early because the apartment's empty and I like

to the laptop

doing a lot of writing because

"Oh,"

and I got up to my

gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get some

said and he pulled on my hand, motioning for me to

going on? You wanna talk about it?"Tristan knew something

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

never showed

didn’t even call...and it's supposed to be my

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

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

"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 something he won't even

was a snorting and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box

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

my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

of his best friends, but they used to have a thing together

saying? You think

Ally filled

and he didn’t call you, so you got upset and

and

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 with

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

because I didn’t wanna get in the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will

a sad smile

had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve

be the best boyfriend ever.Last year for 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

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

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

lot of expectations and they were

Emma, I don’t know what else to say,"Tristan sighed

here and you had to hear all my sob story.I

disturbing me at all.I've been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

the clock, and the time

still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

face as he

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write better,"he

some?"All I had all night were

help

vigorously at

I ended up drinking throughout the

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

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

on the door

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the couch