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

that I didn’t matter

me, sure he

moment, I couldn't see it

I wanted now was

petty, but I wanted him to realize

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

how I spent my birthday

was

and I heard the sound of

saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked to see

shocked to see each

you doing here? I thought you and

are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to

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

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been a

and I like the silence.Helps me get my

to the laptop on the

doing a lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

got up

worry about me, I’m not gonna bother you.I’m

said and he pulled on my hand, motioning

wanna talk

couldn't hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst

never showed

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

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

all summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards his dreams and

to New York City if he didn’t even have the time to spend with me.Why bother making a

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

got bored

continued my rant after blowing my nose so gracefully into

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

thing together back in high

are you saying? You think he’s cheating

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

He never showed up for the dinner and he didn’t call you,

my lip and nodded my head

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 Ally talking

to

it anymore.I thought by now things will

sad smile and said,

a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better than

my birthday, he drove for hours and took me on

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

a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply

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

know what else to

you had to hear all

at that word document for the past hour,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

head to see the clock, and the

it’s still technically your

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got

with a six pack of beer.He lifted them up

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write better,"he

some?"All I had all night were those stupid mocktails and sparkling

could use some booze, especially to help me forget all

my head vigorously at him and said, "Yes

ended up drinking throughout the

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

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

the pounding on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

from the couch and staggered