THE DEBATE OF HEARTS

practice settled in

led-paper notes and coffee so bitter it could strip paint. They bickered over everything-s

re gett

d. Like, s

rd when they finished. Just stood at the back of the hall, arms crosse

he said.

went

for hours. But when she looked at the case they'd built together-the arguments woven so tig

id

that sat low in her chest and

-

le starte

h Kate, pushing a sad salad around a plast

ett,

hair and a smile that looked like he'd practiced it in the mi

ney said. "A

nth." He sat down without asking. "You destroyed me, by

he mouthed What is happeni

. "Thanks, I guess.

tness. "I want to pick your brain. Hartley says you'

partne

is phone. "You're the first freshman he's ever been pair

htened on her fork

hought. But the words were ou

ner. I'm here because I'm putting together a study group for the regional qual

m b

d it across the table. "We meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 PM

. Cole Debate Collective, it read, with a list of names

her chest. They want me. T

k about it

then added, "And Bennett? You're better than

lked

of earshot, then grabbed Wh

. He's on t

fanned herself with the flyer. "Did you see his jaw?

s. "He sat down becaus

ah-

ate notes. There

iterally just told you you're better than Darius Lakes,

he flyer back. "I

ead. You're interested in anyone

." She leaned in. "You and Lakes are partners, not sou

yer into her pocket and went back to her

-

ess, repetitive, exactly what she needed. She was tucked betwee

ice tomorrow?

ed back

n:

nd on labor rights researc

: I don

unday. 10 AM.

e back in her pocket. But her hands wer

omeone cleare

to inte

the end of the aisle, a book in his

owing me now

ice. "This is the political science section. You're in the pol

arms. "What do you

how much to say. "I want to know how you got so good. You're a first-year. You don't have family connection

't look

him? Whitney thought a

watching you, Bennett. Not in a creepy way. In

friction, like two stones grinding together until they sparked. This was

e said. "That's w

again, softer this time. "The study group is at 8

t take

He picked up his book and walked backw

l

and wondered why her chest felt tight. Because someone noticed you, said that s

-

mention Eth

ights and Whitney's voice gave out twice. Not during the cool-down after, when t

s noticed

ays no

istracted

m f

ce citation twice. You

tle. He's right. I never do

es were sharp, scanning her face like he

dy group, his compliments, the way he looked at her like

erself. Why woul

she didn't want Darius to care.

he said. "I'

didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes. D

bbed his bag. "Get some sleep.

lways b

s the

the stage, the echo of his footsteps

bate Co

cket. Her fingers brushed against something else-the pen. D

-

faster than

he had homework. She had research. She had a thousand reaso

toward the student union. Her feet had m

oo many chairs. About fifteen people were scattered around, laptops open, water

His smile was genuine. Actually g

u c

into a seat near the back. Her heart was po

"Everyone, this is Whitney Bennett. She's the one wh

spered. Whitney kept her face ne

hink faster, speak clearer. He didn't talk down to anyone. He didn't show off. By the end,

ound her by the

ring himself a cup.

was

. "I'll take it. S

esitated.

ng attention." He handed her a cup of coffee-black,

Whitney wondered. She hadn't told hi

strange, unsettled feeling in her chest. He's been paying attentio

-

g, Kate was wai

e posted a

oze mid-si

board from the study group and tagged you. The caption

t was-her name, her tag, attached to

pped. "I didn't

atter. Dar

lood went c

arly even for him-and he was going through the flow ch

f h

realized his partner mi

ands were shaking. "That's ridiculou

uestion clawed

. But he cares about winning. And right now, Ethan Cole is publicl

the worst part? A tiny, shameful part of her liked

r bag and head

you going?"

fix

u didn't do a

could feel her heart hammering. "That's the problem. I didn

fore Kate c

-

im in the d

the podium, screen still lit

," she

n his pockets-a tell she'd learned to recognize. He was upset. More

nne

here to

se I'm not i

gh to see the tension in his jaw. "I went to a study group. Tha

care wher

k like y

tners. We have a case to build. If you're spending time with other debaters, I should know. Not

as racing. "It doesn't affect anythin

didn't you

g between them,

mportant. But Darius was looking at her with those tired, searching

u to think I was replacin

ll. Completely,

runs a tight drill. But he's not you." She paused, swallowed hard. "You'r

thought. Why did I make

tter. That wa

ed in his expression-the hard edges softening, just a l

his voice lower than b

time,

up his phone. Turn

e tomorr

be t

eve brushed her arm. She felt it all the way

nne

ea

debate. He knows tricks

he wa

o hard she could feel it in her throat. She wrapped he

s Lakes, she thought, s

it

d her more than a