Teacher's Girl (Aflyingwhale)

Chapter 76: Birthday Girl 

EMMA’s POV :

"I have a big meeting tonight, so I might be home late. Are you gonna be okay?" Ian had his back to me as he was making breakfast for us.

He made amazing scrambled eggs, just like Kirsten.

I was sitting on the bar stool with my elbows propped on the kitchen counter, my eyes were admiring the body shape of my gorgeous fiancée and yes, his cute butt.

"Emma?" he asked again, pulling me out of my daydream.

"Yeah, don’t worry about me.I’m gonna go explore the village area, maybe check out some of NYU’s college bars.Hook up with some cute college guys,"

"Hey!" he shouted and he turned around.

He was holding onto the frying pan.

Pulling out a plate, he put some eggs on it and served it to me.

"Kidding.I don't like bars that much anyway.I just wanna check out their book store," I laughed and he let out a relieved sigh.

Weeks had passed since I arrived in the city.

Every morning Ian would make us breakfast and we'd talk for a bit before he had to leave for the gallery or for a meeting.

On the off chance that he had a day off, we would go out and catch a movie or explore the city.

But there were only about three or four of that for the past three weeks.

This gallery was everything to him, so it was only natural that he was working his butt off for it.

Usually, he would be home by dinnertime and we'd grab some food together.

He would update me on his work and I'd tell him about my day.

Thankfully, there were plenty of fun things to do in this city so I was always able to entertain myself.

"Sorry I can’t come with you," he said as he watched me devour his eggs.

"You'll make it up to me, yeah, yeah," I rolled my eyes playfully.

"Seriously, I will," he insisted, pausing for a moment before saying, "Ally’s been crunching numbers and we need quite a lot of liquid injection to jumpstart this thing.That’s the problem we've been having.But if the meeting goes well tonight, we'll get everything we need.The gallery is gonna be up and running before the summer's over and everything’s gonna be great,"

"And you and I will live happily ever after?" I asked.

He smiled and leaned across the counter, pulling me in for a short kiss and he said, "Absolutely and always,"

"Alright then, get your cute butt to that meeting and get us some happily ever after," I smiled back at him.

"Will do. Enjoy your day baby girl," he said as he reached for his bag and adjusted his tie.

I got up from my seat and helped him with the tie.I loved doing that.I got to stand in front of him and have the perfect excuse to touch his body.

After I was done with his tie, I noticed that he was staring down at me the whole time.

He smiled when my eyes caught his and his hand reached for my face, pulling my lips up to his.He kissed me so sweetly and so gently.He tasted like mint.

"See you later," he said as he pulled away, leaving me desperate for more.

"See you..." I whispered back.

I kept my gaze on his back as he made his way to the door and exited.

Letting out a sigh, I gIanced around the empty apartment and I couldn't help but feel somewhat lonely.

We had been doing long distance for a year and when I thought we could finally be together, things didn’t turn out exactly like how I imagined it.

Even though we were living together, I barely see him during the day.

Sometimes he would get home really late at night too, and he was always tired.

We used to have a great sex life, but lately we hadn't been doing much of that either.

I went to the window and watched my fiancée crossed the street.

He blended in so well with the streets of New York City, wearing that suit and tie.

"Just give him a little more time," I thought to myself .

"Once the gallery is open, Ian can finally rest and spend some time with me,"

And we'll finally have our happily ever after...Right...?

"Emma! Hey, how’s life in New York City!?"

Carrie greeted as soon as I picked up her facetime call.

"Carrie! Hey!"I beamed.

"Things are great, I’m at the museum of natural history, visiting my friend Mr.T-Rex over here,"I said as I moved the camera around, showing her where I was.

"That's so cool!"Carrie exclaimed.

"Where's Ian?"I sighed at her question.

I was asking the same question all week, no, all summer long.Ian was getting busier and busier as the days went on.

It was getting harder and harder to spend quality time with him.And every day, I was spending my time in this beautiful city all alone.

"He’s busy with work," I answered shortly.

"Aww, still?"

Yeah.His meeting with the investors fell through, so they had to scramble looking for new investors ASAP,"

"He must be so stressed out,"

"Tell me about it," I sighed.

Ian was always tense lately.

This was supposed to be his dream but now it was turning into a soul sucking nightmare.

"How about you? How have you been feeling?" she asked.

"I don’t know, Carr," I admitted.

"On one hand, I want him to succeed because this is his dream. But on the other hand, I'm starting to think that this was a mistake,"

"What is?"

"Me coming to New York like this.Clearly, he doesn't need me here.I can’t do anything to help the gallery like Ally could.I'm just an added burden for him here,"

"That's not true," Carrie said disapprovingly.

"I’m sure Ian would say the same thing.I'm sure he loves having you there,"

"You don't understand, Carr.I feel like I haven't seen him all week.And when I do, he’s already so tired he just wants to sleep,"

"So you're upset because you're not getting any action?" she narrowed her eyes at me.

"That's not what I meant!" I rolled my eyes dramatically and she laughed.

"Kidding.I know what you mean," she paused for a moment before continuing, "Even though Mark and I are both in San Francisco, we barely see each other too.He’s busy with Stanford and I'm busy with Berkeley.It's not high school anymore and it’s like our lives are moving to two different directions,"

"Exactly!" I nodded in agreement.

"To be honest, that’s what scares me the most. I'm scared that we're gonna drift apart,"

"I feel the same way, Em.But remember, as long as the love between you two is real, you guys will find your way back to each other,"

"Is that what's happening with you and Mark?"

"I hope so," she sighed.

"It’s just gonna take a little more time,"

"Yeah...a little more time," I repeated her words.

I ended up spending the rest of the day talking with Carrie over facetime and I got a postcard from the museum to send to Tiff.

I was so alone in the city, it felt nice to finally have someone to talk to, even just through facetime.

So for the next few days, I called up Carrie, Tyler, even Sophie, and Tristan.

I talked to anyone who was willing to give me his or her time.

It was getting pathetic.

Who knew that in a city of 8 million people I would feel this alone? Even as I was living with my fiancée, I was still so lonely.

Even though he was sleeping in the same bed as me, I could feel him drifting away.

He was so close, yet so far away.What's happening to us...?

The summer went by so fast.

Seven weeks had passed since I first arrived in the city, and it was August all over again.

My birthday was coming up and I was excited for it.

Sophie and Tristan were taking the train from New Jersey to come visit and spend the day with me.

At night, Ian promised to take me to this romantic restaurant on the top of the Rockefeller Center. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

He knew he wasn’t able to spend a lot of time with me all summer long, so he was planning something special for my birthday.

I was up early for my birthday this morning, but Ian was already gone to work.

He made breakfast and laid them on a tray in front of the bed.

There was also a single rose on the tray and a note.

I picked up the paper and read it aloud.

"Good morning, baby girl.Happy 19thbirthday.I love you so much and I’m so proud of everything you've accomplished.I wanted to give you a birthday kiss but you were asleep, I didn't wanna wake you.So, put on this dress and wait for a birthday kiss from me tonight.Ian,"

I was smiling from ear to ear as I read the note.

Below the tray I noticed a long white box with a gold ribbon on top.I moved the tray away and opened the box, revealing a gorgeous lilac satin dress.I gasped instantly as my fingers touched the soft fabric.I literally was drooling over this dress when I saw it on the window display at Anthropologie.I was with Ian at the time, but he was busy taking a call, I didn’t think he noticed it.

But he did.Of course, he did.

And he got it for me for my birthday! I was yelping and leaping in joy like a five year old as I put the dress over my body and admired it in the mirror.

I was over the moon.

For a while, I was feeling defeated and distant from Ian, but Carrie was right, our love would lead us back to each other in the end.

After finishing the lovely breakfast Ian made me, I went and took a long shower.

I made sure to shave and I curled my hair immaculately, I wanted to look perfect for tonight.

I wished I had more time to get ready, but Sophie and Tristan were coming over to spend the day with me and I promised to meet them at the train station.

I hung the dress by the tall mirror, saving it for later tonight.

I put on some jeans and a white t-shirt and put on some light make up.

Once I was ready, I grabbed my purse and I was out the door.

I had a spring in my step as I made my way to Grand Central Station.

I thought I was on time, but Tristan and Sophie were early.

They were already waiting for me at the meeting point, and they beamed in excitement as soon as I stepped inside the station.

"Emmie! Happy birthday, roomie!" Sophie exclaimed, she ran over to me and gave me a big hug.

"Sophie!" I hugged her back.

"Thanks for coming all the way out here to see me,"

"Happy birthday, Emma," Tristan followed after her and gave me a hug.

"Thanks guys, I’m so glad you two are here,"

"This is a birthday care package, from the both of us," Sophie said as she lifted a medium sized red polka-dot bag.

"You guys already came all the way out here.You don't have to get me anything," I said, but Sophie shook her head and pushed the bag out to me.

"You guys are the best, thank you," I said as I accepted the bag.

I took a peek inside and saw a bunch of random things from Korean face masks to cute pens, my favorite candies, a plaid onesie pajamas, and a book of poems by John Keats, one of my favorite authors.

"You like it?" Sophie asked.

"I love it, oh my goodness!"

I was tearing up as I reached for the book of poems."That one’s from Tristan. I picked out the rest,"

Sophie grinned and Tristan shuffled awkwardly.

"I love it all.The onesie too," I smiled at them.

"That one’s a matching set.I got one for all of us since we're gonna be roomies," she clapped in excitement and Tristan rolled his eyes.

"You got one too?"I asked him.

"I guess,"he shrugged.

"We need to wear them together and take a group picture when we're back," Sophie ordered, and I could already see how cute that picture would turn out to be.

Sophie, Tristan, and I spent the entire day together.

We went for brunch at Katz's Deli and we caught a Broadway show, Wicked.

After the show, we took a walk around Central Park and we laughed our asses off as Sophie almost stepped on horse manure.

At around 6 PM, we said our goodbyes as Sophie and Tristan took the subway back to Grand Central and I was on my way back to the apartment.

I had an amazing time with the two of them, like always.

In just a week’s time, we would see each other again back on campus.

It was sad to see them leave, but I was also excited about my dinner date with Ian tonight.

The reservation was for 7.30 PM and I was back in the apartment at 6.30.

I was scrambling as I put on the dress he got me and re-did my make up.I curled my hair again to make sure they were perfect.I was wearing the heart locket and bracelet Ian got me, and I put on our engagement ring on my finger.I managed to do everything in less than thirty minutes, it must be a world record.

After putting on my heels and I squirted some perfume, I felt confident and beautiful, and I was ready to go.I called up an Uber and I arrived at the restaurant at 7.30 PM sharp.

I was smiling in excitement as I told the hostess,

"Reservation under Hayes for 7.30 PM,"

"Sure, right this way, Mrs.Hayes," the sweet hostess said and my heart did a backflip at her words.

I must tip her well! She led me to a table for two right by the windows.It had a view of the New York City skyline and it was gorgeous.

The two chairs were empty and she pulled one out for me.I stared at the empty chair in front of me and my heart sank a little.

"Ian must be late," I thought to myself.

"A waiter will be right with you with the drinks menu," she smiled sweetly before turning to her heels.

I checked my phone for any messages or calls, but there was nothing from Ian.

I decided not to think too much of it, and when the waiter came, I ordered some sparkling water and a non-alcoholic mocktail.

My eyes gazed out the window and I was admiring the beautiful skyline in front of me.

It was such a lovely place.

My heart was racing in excitement at the thought of Ian coming in at any moment.

Every time a new person popped up at the front door, I would look out to see if it was Ian.

And every time I had to turn away in disappointment because it wasn't him.

Time was passing by and it was almost 8 PM now and I was already on my second mocktail.

I had left texts and a voice note for him, but he hadn’t even read them.

I decided to give him a call, but it went straight to voicemail.

All the excitement in my body was drained away.

I felt a sinking hole in my stomach as I finished my second mocktail glass.

I ordered another one, naturally, and forced myself to stay positive.

"Ian’s gonna come.That's for sure," I told myself.

But he never did.It was almost 8.30 PM now.

I was waiting for almost an hour and he still hadn't shown up.

His phone was still unreachable and I was hungry and upset and disappointed and everything all at once.

"He will be here," I said again.

But… he never did...