The Ghost Protocol

Chapter 6-David

Harper."

The voice didn't just stop me in my tracks; it sent a cold shock straight down my spine. I stood frozen on the concrete curb outside the humanities building, the afternoon sun suddenly feeling blindingly hot against the brick courtyard.

The sleek black car idling against the curb was all too familiar. The window rolled down fully, revealing a face I hadn't seen in weeks. A face I had actively tried to scrub from my memory after the absolute mental exhaustion of last month.

It was David.

He looked exactly the same—effortlessly put together, dark eyes studying me with that intense, unreadable gaze that used to make my stomach turn over. But what caught my attention wasn't his smile. It was the thick, cream-colored folder resting on his steering wheel, my full name printed across the front in official university ink.

"What are you doing here, David?" I asked, keeping my voice as steady as possible, refusing to let him see the panic flaring in my chest.

"You left your final university clearance packet for the New York internship at the administrative office," he said smoothly, tapping the folder. "James saw it on the counter when he was submitting his projects. He was going to bring it to you, but I told him I was heading this way. I figured it was a good excuse to see you."

I walked over, my sneakers clicking sharply against the pavement, and snatched the folder from his hand. "Thanks. You could have just left it with Vincent. You didn't need to drive across campus."

"Vincent?" David’s eyebrows shot up, a subtle, knowing smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "Right. The pre-law guy. I heard you two were... spending a lot of time together lately."

The sheer audacity of his tone made my blood boil. This was classic David. For months, he had played the ultimate manipulation game with me. He would vanish for weeks at a time, leaving my texts on read, completely ghosting me until I finally started to move on. Then, the second he sensed me slipping away, he would reappear out of nowhere, sending a casual Snapchat just to keep our streak alive, or showing up around campus with Ariyo and Vincent just to remind me he existed. He didn't want me, but he hated the idea of anyone else having me.

"Who I spend my time with is none of your business anymore, David," I said, clutching the clearance folder tightly against my chest. "You made it very clear where we stood when you stopped answering my calls last month."

David’s expression softened, shifting instantly into that vulnerable, apologetic mask he always used whenever he got caught being toxic. He turned off the ignition and leaned against the window frame, looking up at me with apparent sincerity.

"Harper, look... I know I handled things horribly," he murmured, his voice dropping into that quiet tone that used to make me forgive him every single time. "I was dealing with a lot of pressure from my family, and I panicked. I felt like I was losing control of everything, so I pulled away. It wasn't about you. It was never about you. I’ve missed you. james and the guys keep asking why you haven't been hanging out with us, and honestly, the quad feels completely empty without you."

I looked at him, and for a split second, a part of me wanted to believe him. I remembered the good times—the late-night drives around campus, the way he could make me laugh until my stomach hurt, the effortless comfort we used to share before the mind games started. But then I looked down at the folder in my hands.

New York Internship Clearance. In less than two weeks, I was supposed to be heading to Manhattan. I had spent days budgeting my funds, planning my moving expenses, and preparing myself mentally to step into a completely new chapter of my life. I didn't have the time, the energy, or the money to waste on David’s emotional roller coaster again. I had just escaped Vincent’s trap; I wasn't about to walk right back into David’s.

"I have to go get ready for my move, David," I said, stepping back from the car. "I don't have time for this."

"Harper, wait," he said, his smile fading into something frantic as he realized his usual charm wasn't working. He opened the car door, stepping out onto the asphalt. "Let me at least take you to grab some food. Let's just talk. One conversation. You owe me that much before you leave for New York."