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.

us and there was

truth was that I didn’t

loves me, sure

at the moment, I couldn't see it and I

all I wanted now

him to realize that what he

Philly late that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big fat suitcase up three flights

was how I spent my birthday

apartment door, I was expecting

on and I

saw Tristan sitting

"Tristan?"I gaped.

shocked to

were both shocked to see each

here? I thought you and Sophie are coming back

What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the city with your boyfriend?"he

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

trashed my head back and groaned in exhaustion.It

came early because the apartment's empty and I

the

doing a lot of writing because he worked in the

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to my

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

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

talk about

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

showed up..."I

him...he didn’t even call...and

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

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

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

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

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

blowing my nose so gracefully

"Who's Ally?"he asked.

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

think he’s cheating on you

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

dinner and he

lip and nodded

have any time together, and even

anything to him

..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things will get better, but it never does.Even though I was

a sad smile and

really sucks.Sorry you had a shitty birthday and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better than

birthday, he drove for hours and took me on a road trip.I don’t know what happened to us

us.My sixteenth birthday was the first time I met him at

Princeton

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

on my nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations

sorry, Emma, I don’t know what else

fault.I’m sorry 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 need

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

the clock, and the time showed that

still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

he got up

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

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

all night were those stupid mocktails

some booze, especially to help me

vigorously at him

up drinking

and Order on TV and we used our matching onesie

was about 1.30 AM in the morning and I had fallen asleep on the couch and Tristan fell asleep next to me, when a sudden

as the pounding on

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

my relief, he got up from