Page 6 of Queen’s Gambit

She tapped her chin as she stared at me.

“You look like an Eddie. That is what I’ll call you,” she said like it was final, and I didn’t get a say about it before she shook my hand. “If you want something to eat, follow me.”

She walked away, but I didn’t move. Yulianna looked back. “Are you coming?”

I shook off the surprise, and caught up to her, my papa forgotten.

“Can I call you Ana?”

“No.”

“But you’re calling me Eddie.”

“Yes, but that’s because Eddie suits you. Ana doesn’t suit me.”

“Yes, it does.”

She lifted her nose in the air and glared at me. “No, it doesn’t. Don’t call me that again unless you want me to break your nose,” she threatened before walking into a massive room.

The table looked like it could fit a hundred people it was so long. People I didn’t know sat at one end. I smiled politely as I followed Ana to her seat. She gave me the same disapproving look as she sat down.

“Why are you sitting beside me?”

I shrugged.

“Why not?”

“Fine, I guess you can sit there,” Ana said.

There was something magical about Ana. I’d never met anyone like her.

Sitting down, I couldn’t stop staring. Even as the food was served and I ate, my eyes remained on Ana’s face. Her skin was so pale that she looked like one of the statues in the hallway and just as smooth. She glanced at me and then looked away, her bright blue eyes a color I’d never seen. Her blonde hair was deep gold, and I wanted to reach out to see if it was as soft as it looked.

Ana leaned close to me as the adults talked.

“Why are you staring at me like that? It’s creepy.”

“I wasn’t staring,” I said and forced myself to turn away. I poked at the food on my plate and wished I knew what it was.

“Yes, you were.”

“No, I wasn’t. I was just looking in your direction, not at you.”

Ana rolled her eyes. “Sure.” She looked at my plate and then pointed. “That’s roast goose. It’s really good. That’s a deviled egg. You’ll like those if you like eggs. That’s called pirozhki.”

“Pir…oz…hki,” I tried to pronounce it the way she had and failed. She smiled, making me feel stupid.

“That was close. It’s a pastry with stuff in it. This is potato and mushroom.”

“Oh…thanks,” I said and ate whatever she did. I was surprised when it tasted good, but it wasn’t like home.

For the rest of the meal, I made sure to only look at my plate or straight ahead. But I felt Ana watching me. As soon as dinner was done, she tapped my hand and smiled. My heart stopped completely.

“Want to sneak out?”

I glanced over at Papa, who was laughing at something her father had said. “Yes.”

“Follow me, but be quiet,” she said, sliding out of her seat and under the table.