He laughs again, the sound brighter this time. “Thank you,” he says, grinning. “You know, I have a feeling we’re going to be good friends. What’s your name?”
“Adeline,” I reply, the excitement slipping through despite my best efforts to keep it cool. “Adeline Ross.”
“Adeline,” he repeats, as if savouring it. “That’s a beautiful name.”
I blush again, feeling warmth spread through me. “Thank you,” I murmur.
He extends a hand, and I hesitate before taking it. His touch is warm, his grip firm but gentle. “Ajax Ambrose,” he says, his voice rich with warmth.
“Ajax,” I echo, the name unfamiliar but lovely. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
***
The teacher finally walks into the classroom. A bit late, I might add.
But before my thoughts can wander further, my stomach chooses that exact moment to growl—loudly. Mortifyingly loudly. My cheeks flush, heat spreading through my face like wildfire. If I could disappear into thin air, I would. Right now.
Before I can sink fully into the pit of embarrassment, Ajax’s laughter breaks through the silence. “Someone’s hungry,” he teases, his tone light.
I let out a nervous laugh. “Yeah, I guess I am,” I reply, attempting to play it off and relieved that he found it amusing rather than… you know. Mortifying.
But then another thought barrels into my mind, one that replaces the embarrassment with cold, hard panic. How the heck am I going to pay for lunch? Imagine the awkwardness when Naomi and Sam aren’t be able to pay for a meal in front of all their classmates.
Even worse, they would starve. In my panic, I turn to Ajax, blurting out, “Wait, how much does the food cost in the caféteria?”
Ajax raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Relax, Adeline. Everyone pays for their own food in the caféteria. You grab what you want, and you pay at the counter. Unless you have a free meal card, but not many people have those.”
I feel the unease creep back in. How could I have been so
foolish? I don’t have any money to afford all those meals, and the thought of my sisters going hungry makes me sick to my stomach.
Well, Idohave money, but that wouldn’t be enough for three people. Not even close. I’ve just paid the electrician’s bill; there’s no way I’m going to have enough left.
I guess I just assumed when Mr Ryder showed up at our door saying he would pay for everything, he meanteverything.
Clearly the free meal card is only for the privileged.
Why am I not surprised?
Panic grips my chest, and I swear I can feel the colour draining from my face.
Ajax must have noticed my distress, because he turns toward me with a concerned look. “Hey, Adeline, is something wrong?” he asks, his voice filled with genuine worry.
I force a smile, hoping it doesn’t look as shaky as it feels. “Oh, it’s nothing,” I say, trying to sound casual. “Just a silly thought that crossed my mind.”
But Ajax isn’t convinced. He leans closer, his brown eyes searching mine. “Come on, Adeline. I can tell something’s bothering you. You can talk to me.”
I bite my lip, hesitating. There’s a part of me that wants to spill everything—the fear, the stress, the pressure. But the other part of me, the part that’s been holding it together for so long, knows better.
“It’s nothing,” I say again, my voice barely above a whisper. “Nothing I can’t take care of.”
Ajax’s eyes linger, but the classroom goes silent before he can say anything more. The teacher’s voice breaks the silence, and I startle.
“Are you alright, Adeline? You seem a little distracted,” he adds in a level but worried tone.
I’m taken aback for a second. How does he know my name?
“Oh, um, yes. I’m fine,” I stammer, my cheeks flushing again. “Just lost in my thoughts for a moment.”
