120
Lucy
Michelle made us breakfast before we headed to class. It felt a little bit like being back at the orphanage except I had slept pretty well after David’s story. We took public transportation to campus. We arrived and saw Duke standing with a young woman we didn’t recognize. He seemed nervous as she spoke to him and tried to get closer to him. I didn’t know what she said but she sauntered of leaving Duke alone.
“Aren’t you looking spiffy?” Sarah cried, as we got close. The young woman turned back, scanning over us with a curious look before leaving. “Already beating them off with a stick, hm?”
David flushed and shuffled his feet. He’d gotten his hair cut into a nice style that highlighted his face and let his eyes show through. I had never noticed that his eyes were actually blue given how shaggy his hair had been. His jeans were new as was his shirt and shoes.
“What did David do before taking you home? Take you shopping?”
He scowled. “Actually… his house manager dropped all these clothes off in my room this morning… I don’t even know where she could have bought all this between dawn and seven in the morning.”
“Never doubt a woman on a mission,” Amy said snickering. “You look nice. Who was that?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know… She just…”
He gestured in the air and Sarah grinned. “She’s cute. You don’t want to at least go on a date with her? See if you have chemistry?”
“Lay off,” Duke said.
“You look nice,” I said. “Are you staying with David now?”
His eyes glossed over as our eyes met before he nodded. I hugged him tightly.
“I’m glad.”
He squeezed me back and slung his arm around my shoulders.
“Pretty soon, you’re going to be there too, hm?” He asked.
I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
He smirked. “Not even as his girlfriend? You sure?”
My face heated. “Leave me alone!”
“Are you going to have time to study with us tonight?” Michelle asked.
“Actually, not tonight…” He cleared his throat. “I’m going to talk with the Liberation Front after my last class. Maybe next time.”
He glanced at me. “D-David’s pretty adamant about it.”
I nodded. “I’m glad. Those people don’t deserve to get away with anything.”
He smile. “Thanks. Let’s get in there and start figuring out how to get into college.”
“Whoo!” Sarah said. “Henry promised me a present when I passed my GED course.”
“Somehow I don’t think that present is fit for polite company…”
We laughed, following them into class. Duke still had his arm around my shoulder and I leaned into him.
“How are you feeling about all of this?” I asked.
“Me? I’m fine. What about you? Did you get any sleep?”
I nodded. “You?”
“Well, I didn’t have an Alpha telling me a bedtime story, but I had hot chocolate and the most comfortable thing I’ve ever laid on.”
I scowled at him as we reached our seats and settled in. As I took out my notes and pens, the door opened. A woman and a team of three people came in behind her. I had never seen any of them before.
The three behind her started pulling out stacks of pages and they talked as the rest of the class trickled in and started to settle down.
The middle-aged woman with a warm smile turned to the class as the last student slipped in and grabbed a seat.
“Morning everyone! I’m pleased to say that I’ll be taking over for the remainder of the class. I’m Donna Anderson, and I’m so happy to be working with you all.” She turned to introduce the three beside her as the new T.A.s and let us know whom we were assigned to.
All of them had friendly faces and smiled when they were introduced.
“If you have any questions about the grading, please speak to your T.A. first. For other questions, feel free to come to my office hours or shoot me an email. We've just finished grading your last assignments," Professor Anderson continued, motioning towards the stacks of papers on the table. "So we'll start by handing those back to you. As for the assignments due to day, please pass them forward.”
I handed my paper to the person ahead of me as the three T.A.s made their way around to give back the assignments. My stomach turned as people started murmuring.
Professor Anderson collected the new assignments from the students at the front. I could feel my heart beating faster as the T.A.s made their way toward us. The young woman with the kind smile handed me my assignment, I couldn't help but glance at the grade. Relief washed over me as I saw an eighty-three at the top of the page.
Professor Anderson then cleared her throat and addressed the class again. "Now, let's move on to our topic for today. It’s off the beaten path, but one I think a lot of you could benefit from: financial literacy.”
She smiled up at us. "I know finance can seem intimidating, but trust me, it can also be empowering and yes, even fun!”
She went to the board and started her lecture.
“What the one thing you can tell me about loans?”
“Don’t take them.”
The class burst into laughter and Professor Anderson smiled. “Not even a loan you don’t have to pay back if you follow a few rules?”
“Do those really exist?”
“They do,” she said. “Knowing your financial options, even if you’re not in a position to take them is what financial literacy is all about.”
Options. I was listening, but my mind kept turning back to my current situation and Duke. What if there weren’t any options? What if the Moon Goddess did end up making me go back to them? My gut churned as I saw the way I looked in that vision. My eyes were lifeless. I hardly recognized myself.
“You okay?” Duke asked nudging me. “You’re looking pale.”
I nodded. “Just thinking about… options.”
Michelle raised her hand.
“Yes?”
"How can we start saving money while still being college students?" Michelle asked, my voice tinged with curiosity. “I mean, I pay my bills, but that’s about all.”
I frowned. I must have not been paying attention because it didn’t seem like that question was related to what Professor Anderson had been talking about.
Professor Anderson's eyes lit up. "Excellent question. Saving money as a college student is not the easiest thing, but there are things that you can do. Scholarships, grants, sharing responsibilities are among them, but let’s talk simpler tips.”
She started talking about things that didn’t seem to have much to do with me, but I took notes. I didn’t live in a dorm, but knowing that the school would refill my bus card was great.
The door creaked open and my heart leaped in my chest.
A woman entered her expression stern yet composed. I felt a tinge of apprehension as she scanned the room and looked at me.
“Miss Graves? Could I speak to you for a moment?”
Duke swiftly placed another surveillance spell on me with the tap of his hand on mine as I got up.
I walked down the steps and followed her out into the hallway. As we stepped away from the classroom, Duke's words echoed in my mind. This had to be related to David. I hoped it had something to do with my grades. The thought sent a mix of hope and unease coursing through me.
She smiled at me. “No need to be alarmed. After class, you’re needed in the dean’s office to discuss the concerns you raised about your former professor, T.A. and the director. Do you know how to get there?”
I nodded.
“Good. Then, we’ll see you then.”
I headed back inside just as Professor Anderson grinned and called, “Pop Quiz time!”
She smiled at me. “You got back just in time…”
I headed back up to my seat. As I sat down at my desk, she turned on the projector. “You’ll find a little remote in the drawer at your seat; you’ll use them to answer the questions. If we get over 80% as a class, I have a surprise for you all.”
We went one by one through the slides of questions about financial literacy. Most of them were definitions and while I was sure that I had gotten most of them right, I was nervous.
With the last question answered, I took a deep breath, a mixture of relief and anticipation flooding over me.
She grinned and unveiled the results. We’d managed a seventy-five percent passing rate.
“That’s pretty good!” She said. “Close but no cigar. Your next assignments due at the top of class will be made available to you on the online portal. For now, you’re free to flee!”
My jaw dropped as I realized that class was over.
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