Emancipation

seven

I roam my eyes around the garage before they settle on a BMW. But the reason it catches my eye is because it's black, but majorly because I know I can manage driving that car on the road.

"That one." I say and he pulls out a key from the inside pocket of his suit, handing it over to me.

"Do you need anything else?"

I shake my head, "No, thanks."

He nods, and I walk to the car, unlocking it before I slide in. I keep my bag in the passenger seat before wearing my seatbelt. James doesn't move out of the garage as I start the engine and drive out of the space.

I look back in the rearview mirror to see him looking at the car but his expression remains blank as I drive away.

When I reach the parking, I take a deep breath, realising that I am already five minutes late as I gulp and look at my reflection. I look panicked but then taking a slow breath, my eyes move to the rings setting on my ring finger.

Without giving it much thought, I pull off the ring and slide it inside my jeans pocket before getting out of the car.

"Holy shit."

These are the first words I hear loudly when I enter the quiet classroom, the professor already teaching a topic. I know who those words came from which is why I have to bite on the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling.

"How can I help you?" The professor asks and I pull out the letter James gave me to show to him.

He sighs, shaking his head as if he's disappointed before he looks at me, "You may join the class."

When I turn towards the class, I notice Ashley staring at me with wide eyes and the seat beside her is occupied by a guy but behind her it's empty. I walk towards the vacant seat and as soon as the professor turns towards the board, Ashley turns towards me.

She pinches my arm, almost making me yelp as I give her a look but she continues staring at me, "You're a ghost."

"Unlikely." I whisper and she shakes her head.

"What the fuck, Lil?" She whisper-yells at me and I shrug before pointing to the front of the class and her jaw twitches, "This conversation isn't over."

As soon as the lecture gets over, I slide out of my seat but Ashley grips my arm tightly. She shushes me up as I start to protest but continues to lead me to our next lecture hall, making me roll my eyes because I definitely didn't miss her manhandling me.

"Would you stop?" I say when we finally enter the room where students are still coming in.

"Stop what? You disappeared! Without as much as a single message. What the fuck, seriously?" She yells in my face and I take a step back.

"I can explain." I try but she shakes her head.

"No, I am not buying shit unless you tell me you were dead and were resurrected in these two months."

I deadpan at her words but before I can give her an actual response, she wraps her arms around me and I am taken aback by her actions a little but then I realise that she was actually worried when I disappeared.

When she pulls away, she keeps me at an arm's length, "God, you packed up your shit and just left. Are you back in the dorms?" She asks and I shake my head.

"I left because I didn't know what to tell you. And no, I am not coming back to the dorms." I say and she nods, sighing before hugging me again.

"What was so important that you left studies?" She asks.