Page 52 of Queen’s Gambit

Paul removed his hoodie when he noticed me shivering and handed it to me.

“Here, put this on.”

“Thanks,” I said, running my hand over the golden Trojan helmet logo.

I didn’t want to leave Wayward, and there was no way that someone like Lawrence was scaring me off.

“Fine, I’ll keep this to myself, but I really wish you’d reconsider and tell Dean Martin.”

When I shook my head, he sighed and stared up at the fluorescent bulbs.

“Alright, then, you don’t go anywhere or do anything alone.”

Nodding, I pulled out my binder. My schedule was stuck to the inside, and I placed it down on the table.

“I have Eddie, Ella, you, or Marcus in all my classes. The only class I have with Lawrence is biology, and I sit with Ella.”

“Okay, never leave them. Have someone escort you everywhere, even to go to the bathroom. Yuli, this is not a permanent solution. If Lawrence was bold enough to do that, then….”

Paul stopped talking when I sucked in a deep breath. He followed my line of sight to see Lawrence standing just outside of the cafetorium doors, looking livid. He didn’t linger long and quickly disappeared.

Paul’s face was a mask of rage when I turned back to him.

“If you’re this angry, Paul, what will Eddie be like?”

“I know you’re right, but I don’t like it, Yuli. I have a bad feeling about this.”

I patted his hand to reassure him just as Eddie walked in, looking exhausted. He smiled when he saw us.

“I promise it will be okay,” I said. But I wasn’t sure I believed it.

Yulianna

Things had been quiet, but my stomach was tied in knots. Now that I knew what was at stake, my fear of losing everything that I wanted had me hanging on tighter.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” I said, clinging to Eddie. “If I had it my way, I wouldn’t go home at all.”

“I don’t want you to go either,” Eddie said, holding me close. I shut my eyes, forcing back the tears threatening to spill. “It’s just for two weeks, and then you’ll be back.”

“Tell me to stay, and I will,” I said as Eddie kissed the top of my head.

“You know that I want you to stay. But your family requested that you go home for Christmas, and I can’t ask you to go against them.”

Pulling back, I stared into Eddie’s kind eyes.

“I don’t have a good feeling, Eddie. There’s no reason for it, but I just don’t. My stomach is tied up in knots and my heart is racing.” I pulled out my phone. “I’m calling my father and telling him that I won’t be coming home.”

“Ana….”

“No, Eddie. I’m not risking our time together.”

My mother picked up on the third ring.

“Yulianna, sweetheart, why are you calling?”

“I’ve decided to stay here over break,” I said, bracing for a fight only to be met with silence. “I want to experience Christmas here at Wayward. They’re holding a huge feast, and I want to try the food. Plus, there is ice skating, and…please let me stay.”

“I’m sorry, Yulianna. Your father should be there any minute to pick you up.”