Chapter One
Eduard’s POV
Age 18
Stupid Ryan goes on and on about how we can beat Cedar Valley High School at our next debate meeting.
He was pinpointing what Liam, and I were doing wrong but could never say anything about himself.
There were only three of us and normally with debate, there are four people, but no one wants to join such a sucky club.
Or have to put up with Ryan.
A knock at the class door, takes me out of my daydream and when the door swings open my eyes land on the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.
She paused in the doorway, the annoying voice of Ryan stopping in the debate room dipping as all our heads turned. Afternoon sunlight spilled in behind her, catching the coppery sheen of her red hair and making it seem almost aflame. Her bright blue eyes scanned the room with calm precision, lingering just long enough on each face to leave the impression she’d already weighed them in her mind. She wore a crisp white blouse tucked neatly into a navy pleated skirt, the kind that swayed slightly when she moved, and a slim leather belt that gave her outfit a polished edge. Black ankle boots added a quiet confidence to her stance, and a silver watch gleamed on her wrist, catching the light as she rested her hand on the doorframe. She didn’t speak right away-just stood there, composed and deliberate, as though her silence was part of the argument she’d come to make.
“My name’s Alisha,” she mumbles. “I got told the debate club meeting was here?”
“Yes, I’m Ryan,” he says and gets to his feet. “I’m the captain of the team. Those over there are Liam and Eduard.”
“Hey,” we both say.
“We are looking for a new member,” Ryan says. “Are you any good?”
“I was in the debate team at my old school,” she murmurs.
“What school was that?” Liam pipes up.
“Ridgeway High School,” she mumbles.
“You’re very soft spoken,” Ryan comments. “You will need to be louder at our meetings.”
Alisha blushes and nods. Ryan points to the seat beside me and Alisha makes her way over. She sits down and places her bag on the table.
“Trust me, he gets worse,” I joke.
She side eyes me with a giggle. While she concentrates on Ryan and whatever he is saying I admire her beauty some more.
The next hour goes by quickly and soon enough we were all stepping out of the classroom and into the empty hallway.
I catch up to Alisha and walk alongside her. “What year are you?” I ask.
“I’m a sophomore,” she says.
“My brother is in your year,” I say. “Vladimir?”
She shakes her head. “It’s only my second day.”
“Do you have siblings?” I ask.
“I have two sisters,” she answers. “One older the other younger.”
“Sweet, I have six brothers,” I tell her. “One is older, the rest younger.”
“That’s a big family,” she comments. “How do your parents cope?”
“My parents died last year,” I murmur.
She looks up at me sympathetically. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I lie. “My brother Alexei took custody of all of us.” I clear my throat. “So, what besides debating do you like to do?”
“I like reading,” she says. “I want to be a lawyer.”
“Oh nice,” I say.
“What about you?” She asks.
“I play football with my brothers sometimes,” I answer. “I like video games.” We get outside the building, and I see Vladimir waiting by my car for me. “I’d better go,” I say. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Maybe,” she says with a smile. I watch her walk away and get into a red sedan. I squint my eyes at the man sitting in the driver’s seat smoking a cigarette and glaring over at Alisha.
Huh.
My senses were up all week, every time I saw Alisha. Little things like, long sleeves on a hot day, turtlenecks that weren’t in season and lots of makeup on her face.
All the things my mum used to do in public.
I miss her.
I stare at her across the room from me as she speaks to Liam, now and then adjusting the long sleeves on her wrist.
“Eduard?” I snap my gaze from her and quirk an eyebrow at Ryan. “You’re not here to stare at pretty girls,” he snaps. “Argue our side.”
I ignore him entirely and get up from my seat, making my way over to Alisha and Liam. I put my hand on her shoulder to move behind her, but she flinched at the touch and got up from her seat.
“You good?” Liam asks.
“Y-you scared me,” Alisha stammers.
“Sorry,” I apologise. “Wasn’t my intention.”
After debate club, I walk with Alisha down the hallway and out of the school building. The same red sedan was parked and her whole body tightened at the sight of it.
“Bye Eduard,” she rushes out and runs to the car.
When she climbs into the car, I hear him call her a bitch but that’s all before we drive off.
I need to help her
