if you let someone else (girlfriend/potential wife) make the decision for you, then you run the risk of being embittered to that person as the one who kept you from achieving your dream. that's a lose-lose situation. if you can be happy doing something else, then that is another thing. it's all the mind moving pieces. only our emotions care what the pieces are made out of (words, paint, $, html, etc...).
in the next 8 months start your alternative career and then reapply and see what happens. that's a win-win strategy. whatever work you are doing will carry you through to the following fall. if your significant other is worried about supporting you and that causes tension then -- and you want to stay in that relationship -- it is up to you to figure out how to support yourself. you may be able to pick up stuff on the side depending on what work you are doing. you can definitely teach highschool, and will get more money by having an ma. you might even be able to teach some courses with an ma. my freshman english teacher only had an ma, and he was great. that was 8 years ago though.
i don't know too much about the process of applying for an ma in english. perhaps there are some things you can do in the mean time to build your profile. there are certainly things you can do to increase your chances... have you visited the schools to which you applied, met, and talked to faculty there?
if you have to get in next time, consider applying to some safety schools that aren't bottom tier, but not super-elite. if there are particular state schools, consider moving to that state to have in-state tuition the following year. you may also start taking grad level courses at most state schools. so you can start to meet faculty there. do well, impress them, and they'll want you in the program.
oh, and it should go without saying that your attitude will be the primary factor in determining the outcome.
good luck w/ the tough decisions.
