41 His Very Own Wingman

Emma chased after the man that was leaving. That very same aura still surrounded him as his face was filled with all kinds of different emotions.

"James! Wait up!" She called as she ran after him.

"Are you okay? She asked as she tried to keep up with him.

His aura had completely changed once he looked at her.

"Yeah. I'm fine," he said as he realized what he had just done.

He had told his childhood friend that Emma was his girlfriend, when that hadn't been the case.

While his parents would've been ecstatic at the news of his new girlfriend, but as much he wanted to introduce her to his parents, say that she was his girlfriend, he didn't know what she thought of this.

Regardless of how intelligent she was, her being born out of wedlock would be a huge problem with his parents. Them being conservative, he already knew having her as a girlfriend wouldn't sit well with them. Even if they could be supportive, his role as the future king of Amaris always came as a priority.

"Emma, I'm sorry," James blurted aloud as he stopped moving.

Emma raised her brow.

"Sorry? Why would you be sorry?" She asked.

"For dragging you into this mess. If I know Penelope, I know that she'd inform my parents of...us," he admitted.

"And why is that a problem?" Emma asked, not knowing how his parents would react to them dating.

"They'd want to meet you," he said next.

"And we're not dating," he continued.

"How are we going to pull this-

He was once again interrupted as Emma sweetly kissed him on the cheek.

"Hmm...uh-huh," James muttered as she pulled away.

"Well, about that, what are we, exactly?" Emma asked, using his currently dazed state to full use.

As much as James wanted to scoop her up in his arms and tell her how much he liked her, he knew she had a point. They were basically strangers.

He shoved all his thoughts as he put on a brave face, knowing this was much too fast to admit anything at all.

"Whatever you want us to be," he replied.

Emma smiled.

"Well, it's settled. We're very close friends," she said as she watched James' reaction.

Of course, as expected, his reaction was priceless.

His jaw had dropped, and his eyes glinted with a slight hint of rage.

"J-just c-close friends?" He asked, seeking validation.

"Kidding," she said as she stifled a laugh.

"I actually don't know either," she admitted.

"Well, never mind that," she said as she looked into his eyes.

"When are we going to start doing that assignment?" She asked.

"You don't have to do anything. You can just sit back and relax, and let this gentleman do the work for you," he said sweetly.

Emma smirked.

"That's a nice offer, but I have to help with that assignment too, Jemmy," she replied, using the same nickname Penny used on him.

He winced playfully.

"Did you have to use that nickname?" He asked, now pouting.

Emma laughed.

"Keep acting that adorable and see what happens," she said with a dazzling smile.

"Well, let's stop delaying this, come on, let's start with the assignment. I'm planning on visiting Lily once we're done," Emma coaxed.

James proceeded to explain what the assignment was about, and since the library wasn't the best place to do the assignment together due to previous unforeseen circumstances, not to mention Emma's dorm was out of the question since her two other roommates, Courtney and Winnie, would've never let them do their assignment in peace. That, and the fact that Courtney clearly had feelings for the Prince of Amaris.

As they arrived at a building that looked similar to the girls' dorms, the two entered the boys' dorms' private elevator, as it headed up to James' dorm.

James pressed his keycard to a scanner to select which floor his room was located, and a few minutes later, the elevator door opened, signalling the two to leave.

As Emma and James walked through its sturdy metal doors, Emma studied the inside interior of the hallway leading to James' dormitory. Unlike the girls' dormitory, the corridor had a more manly and masculine vibe, though it was as simplistically decorated as the other genders' dormitory.

The two stopped at a wooden door, and once again, James pressed his keycard against the door's scanner, and opened the door leading to his dorm.

As the door creaked open, Emma noticed one boy sat on one of the dorms' couches. It was one of her classmates. Emma stared at him, actually being able to notice his facial features, though the look she gave him undoubtedly made James jealous.

He had tousled dark brown hair, and his eyes matched hers, and were a deep ocean blue. His face, like James', was strong and defined, and he had dark eyebrows which were sloped downwards in a serious expression.

As if on cue, the classmate noticed the presence of two of his roommate and his unexpected guest.

"James, you're back," he said warmly as his lips curved into a smile, his attention then turned to Emma, as he took in her whole presence.

He found her gorgeous, but he hid any expression of awe or doing many double takes away from the already jealous James. He didn't want to start any unnecessary fights. Especially not in front of her.

"Why hello there. You must be the Emma Grey James has been talking about lately," he said as he kissed the back of her hand.

James, not in Emma's sight, blushed. He had been exposed.

Emma smiled in return.

"Well, it's good to know he talks about me. And you are?" She asked, much to James' gradually increasing jealousy.

"Connor. Connor Jones," he said as he introduced himself with his first and middle name, though also curious as to why she was here.

"And what are you doing here?" He asked.

"It's rare that James brings any girl to his dorm," he continued on saying.

Embarrassed, James intervened.

"We're here to do an assignment, Connor," he said as he tried his best to stay polite.

Connor raised his brow but nodded.

"Ah," he said.

"And you're pairs?" He asked innocently.

Emma nodded.

"Yeah, pretty much," she said as she stepped out of the way to let James and Emma start with their assignment.

"Well, it was very nice to meet you," Connor said nicely.

Emma nodded, facing the other direction as Connor shot James a thumbs up.

They seemed to secretly be having a silent conversation.

'She seems nice. She seems just like what you've told me about her,' Connor said as he looked at his roommate.

'She is nice. Not just that, she's amazing,' James replied back, his eyes doing the talking for him.

'Does she have a boyfriend?' Connor asked, smirking.

James glared at Connor.

Connor laughed quietly and raised his hands in the air.

'I'm joking. She's all yours, Jams, I'm just trying to be the wingman here,' he said playfully.

'I must say though, she seems like someone mother and father would like to meet,' he said next.

'You have no idea, brother. You have no idea,' James said as his gaze fell to the floor.