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.

distance between us and there was

that I didn’t

me,

I couldn't see it

now

but I wanted him to realize

I was missing him.I got back to Philly late that

how I

apartment door, I was expecting to find the room

and I heard the sound

walked inside and saw

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked

both shocked to

you and Sophie are coming back

are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the

talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined

groaned in exhaustion.It had been a long

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

said, gesturing to the laptop on the coffee

writing because he worked in the school

"Oh,"

got

about me, I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just gonna get some

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

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

I knew, I burst

never showed

call...and it's

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

long, but that’s okay, because he’s

me out to New York City if he didn’t even have

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

me anymore.I think he got bored with me or something.His priority is the gallery and this girl

continued my rant after blowing my nose

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

his best friends, but they used to have a thing together back in high school,"I replied, and I rolled my eyes

think he’s cheating on you

images of Ian and Ally filled my

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

my lip and nodded my head

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

anything to

do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was with him every

out a sad

birthday and

hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us now

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

trip to Princeton and he inspired me

my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and

here I was, on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and

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

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

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

his head to see the clock, and the time showed

still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he got up and headed

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

had all night were those stupid

some booze, especially to help me

I nodded my head vigorously at him and said,

I ended up

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

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

groaned groggily as the pounding on the

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch and