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 nothing else to

simple truth was that I

loves me, sure

see it and I couldn't

wanted now was

was being petty, but I wanted him to realize that what he

that night.I took a cab to my new apartment and hauled my big

I

apartment door, I was

the lights were on and I heard the

inside and saw Tristan sitting on

"Tristan?"I gaped.

looked shocked

both shocked to

you and Sophie are coming back

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

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

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

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

said, gesturing to the laptop

a lot of writing because he

"Oh,"

mouthed and I got up to

I’m not gonna bother you.I’m just

wait,"he said and he pulled on my hand,

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

couldn't hold it anymore.The next thing I knew, I burst out crying into his

showed

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

arms around me and cooed me gently as

summer long, but that’s okay, because he’s working towards

City if he didn’t even have the time

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

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

blowing my nose so gracefully into the

"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

you saying? You think he’s cheating

Ian and Ally filled my head and I shook

and

lip and nodded

any time together, and even we're

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

in the way ..but...I can’t do it anymore.I thought by now things

a sad smile and said,

and a shitty summer.You deserve so much better

hours and took me on

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

took a road trip to Princeton and he inspired me to apply to Ivy League

and for my eighteenth birthday, he drove us to Philly and

nineteenth birthday, I had a lot of expectations and they were all

Emma, I don’t know what

came barging in here and you had to hear all my sob

been looking at that word document for the past hour, not doing anything.I need a

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

the clock, and the time showed that it

since it’s still technically your birthday, wanna

"How?"

I stifled a laugh.

as he got

a six pack of

"You got beer?"I questioned.

helped me write

had all night were those

some booze, especially to help me forget all about this

head vigorously at him and

ended up drinking

we used our matching onesie pajamas

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

as the pounding on the door got louder

"Who is that?"I croaked.

"I don't know,"Tristan replied.

got up from the couch and staggered