Do you love me, James?

Letting Go Part 1

My destination was the campus was just outside of town. It had everything a person could ever want inside, so most students don't even leave the campus. The college was extremely well known. Most of the students were from wealthy households, they had sent their kids there when they honestly just didn't want to deal with them or if they couldn't buy their way or just weren't interested in an Ivy League University. It costs a fortune to operate so tuition wasn't cheap. The expenses were seemingly well spent. Looking back, this place wasn't all that bad, but at the time I found this place to be dull and boring.

"Identification please?" the guard asked as I stopped at the big golden gates

"Yeah, sure," I said, looking in my glove compartment

"Oh, s**t" I cursed. I can't find them, I must have left them in the old car

"Is there a problem?" he asked

"I seem to have left my Identification"

"Sorry, but you have to leave the premises," he said

"Can you just let me call someone? She knows I'm coming"

"I'm sorry, that's not allowed"

"Just let me call her," I said, reaching for my phone

"Sorry, but that won't help. Please leave and come back tomorrow. It's already late" the guard said

"Just one call," I said before, the man sighed

"Young man, if you don't leave I'll have to call the cops," he said

"Alright. Alright, I'm leaving" I said

"Wait! That won't be necessary," a man came coming out from the campus

"Franklin it's okay, you can let him in"

"Yes, sir," The guard said before pressing a button opening the gate. I drove into the campus and quickly found a parking space before getting out of the car

"James Taylor, it's always a pleasure to have you around"

"Nice to see you too Dean Kane. I hadn't expected you to recognize me" I said

"Indeed if I hadn't been keeping track of you I might not have." Dean Kane said

"You've been watching me?" I said a bit crept out

"Not watching per se. Just keeping tabs. We wanted to make sure that you weren't led astray by bad influences so there will be no problem with administering you into the school," Dean Kane said as if it was a done deal

"Actually, Dean Kane I'm sort of exploring my options about college right now. I'm sure you know that other schools have also sent me acceptance letters" I said

"Yes, yes. I hear even Ivy League schools are fighting to get you to attend, but you have a history with this school so I'm hoping you'll keep that in mind when considering" Dean Kane said

"Okay, Dean Kane I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the help," I said

"Speak nothing of it, I was just passing by when I happen to see you," he said

"Still, thanks," I shrugged

"So Mister Taylor, may I ask how your recent project is going"

"Quite well, thank you, your donation was a really big help"

"I'm glad to hear it. You know there is plenty more where that came from if you ever decide to come here next year," he offered

"I'll keep that in mind, but today I'm actually just here to pick someone up," I said

"Oh yes, I had almost forgotten to tell you. Miss Romanoff's dorm room is on the other side of the school. The girls' dorm room 5A" he said

"Thanks a lot. I'll be taking my leave" I said, getting back in my car quickly making my way over to the girls' dorm, and getting out. After the short elevator ride, I was in front of her door-knocking for five minutes before it finally opened. A girl with vibrant red hair and beautiful blue eyes opened the door

"And who are you handsome?" she, most likely Rebecca's roommate, asked

"James Taylor, I'm here to pick up Rebecca, is she here?" I asked

"Oh, you're here to see her." She said, disappointed before turning back around, "Hey Becca your dates here!!!"

About five minutes later Rebecca came. She was beautiful, her long curly brown hair was let loose and fell all the way to her back, she had dazzling brown eyes, her lips looked incredibly soft and her figure was clearly shown from the t-shirt and short Jean shorts she was wearing

"Wow!" I said as my jaw dropping a little bit

"Yeah, you can thank my genius," the girl said, flashing her hair back proudly

"Rose don't you have an assignment or something," Rebecca said slightly embarrassed

"Oh crap I forgot," she said, rushing into their shared room

"Sorry about my roommate," she said

"It's fine. Um, you look... um... good," I said

"Thanks you don't look bad yourself." She said with a charming smile making me blush a bit

"Careful lover boy, remember the reason I'm doing this," She said before she took up her bag

"Yeah, I know. You just look really good" I complimented

"Again, thank you for the compliment, but we should really get going," she said

"Oh yeah, but we're gonna take a little detour or two okay," I said before we walked out and to the car

"Sure where we going?" She asked

"A friend's," I said before we went in my car and drove away. First, we went to Betty-Ann's house

"Wait here, I'll be back," I said getting out and walking to her door, and knocked. It didn't take long for someone to open the door and it was Betty's mom who was dressed very well

"James, what brings you here?" she said with a tender smile

"I'm here to pick up Betty-Ann. Is she in there?" I asked

"I'm right here," she said walking out

"And where are you going, Betty-Ann?" Her mother asked

"Out"

"And where exactly is out?" Her mother asked

"Is that really any of your business?" Betty-Ann said

"I think as your mother it would be my business"

"Since when. You know what don't ruin my mood, Beth. Do you really even care?" Betty-Ann said before her mother simply smirked

"You two have a good night," she said, walking out of the house

"Um....you look good," I said, unsure of what else to say in this awkward situation

"Thank you. Shall we?" she said motioning to the car. We walked over to the car and Rebecca got out

"I'm guessing this is your friend," she said with a smile

"Huh-uh, this is Rebecca Romanoff. She works for my mom and she attends the university," I introduced

"Hello, nice to meet you. James here really likes you he's told me much," Rebecca said

"What exactly has he told you?" she said looking at me

"Don't worry, I'm not the talkative type," she said

"Well, I'm beginning to think he is," she said not removing her glance from me

"To be fair, I had told her before you set the rules. So I didn't exactly break it" I shrugged awkwardly

"Huh-uh," she said, rolling her eyes at my technicality

"Always we should get going. Rebecca, would you mind sitting in the back?"

"No problem," she shrugged before we entered the car.

We drove to Carlos' house and walked up and knocked on the door for like ten minutes before Mister Estevez stumbled to the door

"Oh, James it's you," Carlos' dad said. His breath smelt of alcohol and his hair was a total mess, he hadn't shaved and he had a beer bottle placed firmly in his hand. It was truly a heartbreaking sight, especially because on any other day a drop of alcohol wouldn't touch his lips so casually

"Hey... Mister Estevez is Carlos here?" I asked.

"No.. he already left, he's there," Mister Estevez said and I knew full well what he meant

"Thanks," I said

"No problem, I heard about what you guys are planning and I hope it turns out for the best" Mister Estevez said

"You know, if you really want him to get better you shouldn't stay here and sulk all night. Maybe you could come to the party I think Carlos would like to see you there" I said

"I'll think about it, however, you've still got to get him there," Mister Estevez said

"I'll work on it, just promise you'll be there looking your best. If you're gonna come like that, you might as well stay home. Liberty's words, not mine," I said

"Okay," he said before he closed the door

"Come on, let's go," I said

"Where?" Rebecca asked