Chapter Eight #2
“Sooo…” Isis dragged. “I can help but my classes are mostly in the lab or clinic now. I’m moving further into my medical career so I would have to plan this out carefully in between exams so I don’t fall behind. It’s just a lot this year, Mags. It really is.”
“This will have to wait until winter break,” Souxie declared. Maggie looked around the room. I felt the rejection like it hit me in the face instead of her. I did not understand what was going on. It was as if they already spoke about this in private and decided they would not help her, but why?
“We’re not saying we won’t do it!” Asha blurted out, realizing how it sounds.
“It’s just give us a minute…this is a lot to take in and we’re already…
. under fucking pressure at this school.
We barely see each other as is and we’re not staying in the same house anymore.
It takes me forever just to get on this side of the Grounds. ”
Everyone started talking as Maggie’s shoulders dropped, realizing what was happening.
“I also think,” Souxie said, speaking slowly as she looked Maggie in the eyes. “I also think…Namir might be right. You already have so much attention drawn to you as is.”
“And!” Isis added. “It’s not like you have Dr. Holmes to protect you this time. We don’t have the luxury of just doing whatever this time around, not anymore anyway. I really have to focus this year if I want to land at a good hospital or clinic.”
I read Maggie’s face as clear as the sun from back home.
It’s the same disappointment I felt when my father told me he had no intentions of taking me outside.
He kept me anticipating just enough to stay put only to realize in the end, he had no intentions on letting me travel.
Maggie’s cheeks sucked in as she nodded before breaking into a smile.
“Last year was a lot," she admitted with a hard sigh.
“Your parents are still safe, yes? You still have access to their home security cameras?” Souxie asked as she wrapped her arm around Maggie’s shoulder.
“You know what?” Asha added. “Who’s to say that fuck boi Xavier isn’t right? Your mom could be First Family as well and…”
The look on Maggie’s face caused Asha to quiet her words as she closed her mouth. Souxie’s glaring eyes tried to turn Maggie’s attention back to her.
“I think she’s trying to say, you don’t want to put your parents in danger by including them in the spotlight.
Let’s just sleep on it and then in the morning, let’s find ways to get our research together in our spare time and figure out how we can help from a safe distance.
You don’t want to bring any unwanted attention to them. ”
“Right,” Maggie nodded before smiling. “Right.”
“Okay?” Souxie pressed but I stared at her with my own suspicion. “Let’s take a step back, do some research, and actually just be Drew Collins students for once, enjoying what the school has to offer.”
“Annnnd I’ma need you to make up with the Coach,” Asha let out with her arms crossing over her chest. “Can’t have these random hoes trying to come for him thinking he’s single and shit.”
Maggie nodded before throwing her hands into the air with a dramatic sigh.
“Fine! You convinced me! I’ll let it go! I’ll play it safe and now? I’m safely taking myself to bed because my head is killing me.”
“Also! We’re going to take Ayira above ground so we can take a peek at your parents’ house too!” Isis let out, almost in a panic.
“Yeaaah yeaaah…Let’s take the princess on her tour around the crappy ATL. I’m with it!” Maggie let out with a laugh before the bedroom door closed. There was an immediate silence that followed and lingered.
“Um…I think that went well,” Asha nodded.
“She’s upset but she will be fine like Namir said,” Souxie nodded.
When her phone started to ring, she hardly excused herself.
She simply walked out with the phone against her ear and left the house.
Asha and Isis were next, deciding to walk back to their dorms together and with a wave from me, I closed and locked the door.
It wasn’t until much later in the night that I woke up to the sound of something dropping to the floor.
I rose from the bed and listened, seeing the lamp post light peek over the balcony and peer into the window.
Flipping the covers back, I got up and stepped out of my room to see Maggie’s bedroom door closed before hearing the movement from downstairs.
“Maggie?” I called out as I tiptoed down the stairs.
I cut the light on and she turned around like a cat being exposed by the light, almost hissing at the sight of it before turning back to pack her book bag.
Her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail.
She wore black sweats with a tank top and sneakers.
Nothing about her said she just woke up to get something to drink.
“Where are you going?” I quickly asked.
“To the library.”
I noticed the bag of clothes stuffed inside as I crossed my arms over my chest.
“And then where?”
“Home. I’ll be back obviously…I just need to leave for a second.”
“Is Namir–––”
“We’re not speaking at the moment.”
“But how does he feel about you leaving? Is he okay with this? Do the others know?”
Maggie suddenly took in a sharp inhale as she briefly closed her eyes before releasing a forced smile at me.
“Can I help you, your highness?” She asked instead. “If not, please go back to bed and just cover for me.”
“I will not,” I stated defiantly.
“With all due respect. You just got here. You’re the shiny new toy to the group.
Everyone likes you…and you don’t cause any problems, but you don’t know shit.
I’m sure you follow the rules and do everything by the book in your life…
aside from switching places with a sister you never met.
You don’t have the same shitty load I have to carry. ”
I smiled because if only she knew. My rebelliousness and defiant nature knew no bounds.
Did I have to be at this school? No. I’m here because I enjoy it and enjoy the friendships I was forming.
Something I didn’t have back home, but if I wanted to, I could leave once again and figure it out from there.
Danielle’s life was not confined to this school.
“I’m coming with you,” I said as I turned around to start for the stairs.
“What?!” She hissed. “Ayira!”
“I am coming with you to this library…”
“Both of us can’t leave!”
“Yes we can. I will go and pack a bag too.”
I quickly pulled my braids up, brushed my teeth and washed my face and with my small bag given to me by the school, I was packed and ready to go. I yanked the charger off the walls and made up my bed.
“I can’t believe you’re actually going,” Maggie said as we began to lock everything up.
“This is what I do,” I whispered with a proud tone. “I have no ties to this land, this school…I can go as I please. None of this is my true home.”
“So this is what you do? You sneak in and out of places?” She asked sarcastically, but I answered honestly.
“Yes. My father would tell me I am like a wild cat,” I said with my fingers fluttering in the air. “I go wherever the wind takes me. The mind never settled on one place or idea.”
“Wild cat my ass,” she grunted.
We headed out the door as the quiet Legacy Park was filled with sleeping students. It was fun pretending to be in college, but my sense of adventure would have eventually kicked in.
“What is at the library?” I asked as I kept close to her. Both of us are tracking around the same height. Her bright white hair and mine seemingly pitch black almost pressed side to side like twins bound together by the body.
“I hope, some information about a blood contract and how to break it. There is a book in the forbidden section of the library that talks about this type of black magic. We’re going to take it and leave.”
Maggie looked at me as I stared back with a smile.
“Are you game or nah?”
“Yes,” I agreed with a mischievous grin. Maggie peered suspiciously at me.
“You’re a little too excited about this.”
“Right now I would be married off to an abusive tyrant and would have found a way to sneak off for good. This is no different.”
“Uh huh…” She let out before sucking her teeth. “I think I got too comfortable in having friends that I forgot what it feels like to be an only child. I can do this on my own without their help, or yours.”
“Fine, I will not argue, nor will I pretend to help you or want to help you,” I said with my nose in the air. “I am just here for the adventure.”
“Good. That means you won’t be in my way.”