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

that

loves me, sure

couldn't see it and I

I wanted now was to

him to realize that what he was doing to

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

I spent

opened the apartment door, I was expecting to

I heard the sound of the

and saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

to see each other

are you doing here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back

you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the city with your

don't wanna talk about it,"I sighed dramatically and joined

head back and groaned in exhaustion.It had been

and I

the

of writing because he

"Oh,"

and I got up

gonna

on my hand, motioning

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

hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst

showed up..."I

even call...and it's

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

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

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

and crying mess.Tristan grabbed the box of

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

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 back in high school,"I

you saying? You think

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

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

lip and nodded

barely have any time together, and even we're together, he’d always be

you never said anything to him all summer

quiet because 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

out a sad smile and

birthday and a shitty summer.You

and took me on

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

birthday, we took a road trip to Princeton and

eighteenth birthday, he drove

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

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what

all my

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

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

and the time showed

still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

his face as he got up and

six pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me

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

booze, especially to help me forget all

head vigorously at him and

ended up

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

in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me,

groaned groggily as the pounding on the door got louder and

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

up from the couch