Page 29 of Queen’s Gambit

You want to show that you’re more than what everyone expects of you. If you transfer, then you’ll feel like you failed.

Yes!

I get that, but it must be lonely.

Ella shrugged. I’m used to it.

That made me sad because I knew just what she meant. I pointed to her sketch pad.

What are you drawing?”

Ella grabbed the pad and handed it over. It was a stunning home. Every little detail had been added, from shading on stones to the flowers in the garden.

This is beautiful.

Thank you. I’m going to be an architect.

She turned the page and showed me the layout of the house inside. It looked like the kind of place I’d always wanted rather than the monstrosity I’d lived in my whole life.

I love this. It’s what I want one day.

Then it will be yours.

Really?

She nodded.

You tell me what else you want added. Then, when you’re ready, and I have my license, I’ll draw the blueprints for you.

Ella smiled wide and brushed her strawberry blonde hair out of her eyes. I laughed and hugged her this time.

Thank you.

The guys are staring at us.

She nodded to my side of the room. I looked at the four dumbfounded expressions and lifted a brow at Eddie.

“How long have you known Ella?” I spoke as I signed so that Ella knew what I was saying without me looking at her.

He shrugged. “We met last year.”

“Why haven’t you learned to sign?”

His mouth opened and closed, looking around the room as if the walls might produce an answer.

“I’m not sure.”

“Well, you’re going to learn starting today,” I said.

“Um…okay,” Eddie answered. Lawrence and Marcus laughed, but Paul stayed quiet, making me like him even more.

“I wouldn’t laugh. I meant all of you.”

“What? No way,” Lawrence grumbled.

“I’ll do it,” Paul said, and Lawrence rolled his eyes. “I’d like to learn.”

He was quickly rising on my list of people I trusted here.