Echoes Between Us

Episode 3 : Under the lights

The debate hall smelled faintly of polished wood and nerves.

Rows of chairs filled the auditorium, the air buzzing with quiet conversations, the sound of microphone being tested. Banners for the INTERCOLLEGIATE NATIONAL DEBATE INVITATIONAL hung proudly above the stage, the bold red and gold letters shimmering in the spotlight.

Alana stood backstage, shuffling index cards though she barely glanced at them. Her focus was on her breathing-----steady in, steady out.

Beside her, Jesse adjusted his tie with a wave of calmness that was infuriating.

'' How are you this relaxed ? '' She whispered.

'' I'm not. '' he murmured back. '' I'm just better at faking it. ''

She snorted, shaking her head, but the small laugh loosened her shoulders a little.

The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers : Next up, from Lincoln's University---- Alana Brooks and Jesse Walker! ''

The applause was louder than she expected. As they stepped onto the stage, Alana's eyes scanned the crowd---- professors, rival teams, reporters with notepads. Then she froze.

Front row, on the left. A man she hadn't.

Her father.

The shock was a punch to her gut, but she forced her expressions neutral as she and Jesse took their seats.

He leaned closer. '' You okay ? ''

'' Fine. '' she said quickly, flipping through her notes as if the paper could shield her.

But her mind wasn't on the pages anymore. Memories surged, the last argument they had, the slammed door, the months of silence. And now, suddenly, he was here---- watching her.

The moderator's voice cut through her thoughts '' The resolution for this round: This house believes that access to higher education should be considered a universal right. ''

Perfect. Right in their wheelhouse.

Jesse gave the opening speech, his voice smooth and confident, commanding the audience's attention. Alana knew he was good, but today he was magnetic---- clear, precise, passionate without being overblown.

When it was her turn, she walked to the podium on autopilot, her heels clicking against the stage floor. She gripped the podium like an anchor. She began, ''My partner and I affirm this resolution...''

She found her rhythm quickly. The arguments flowed, the transition sharp. Everytime, her eyes flicked towards her father. He didn't smile, didn't nod-----just watched, his face unreadable.

Jesse caught her once between points, his brow furrowing for a split second, but he didn't falter.

They won the round.

Not just by a small margin---- the judges' feedback was glowing and the applause at the end had been thunderous. Bacstage, Jesse grinned. '' That was incredible. You were on fire.''

Alana smiled back, but it didn't reach her eyes. '' Thanks. ''

He caught her arm before he could walk away. ''What happened out there ? You kept looking at someone in the audience. ''

'' It's nothing. '' She said, too fast.

'' Alana---''

'' It's personal, Jesse. Drop it. ''

For a moment, he looked at her, jaw tight. '' Fine.''

The afternoon round blurred together. They won another match, then another, their monumentum building. The only time Alana's focus wavered was when she caught sight of her father again, always in the same seat, always watching.

By evening, they'd qualified for the semi-finals. The exhaustion in her was a strange feeling of adrenaline and strain. They sat outside on the campus green while the organisers tallied the scores. The sky was streaked in violent and gold,the air cooling quickly.

Jesse broke the silence, '' You know, for someone who told me on day one that she didn't need a partner , you make a pretty damn good one.''

Alana smirked faintly. '' Don't get used to it. ''

Before the teasing could turn into something else, a voice called her name.

She turned----and there he was.

'' Hey Alana, '' her father said quietly.

Jesse's gaze darted between them. '' I'll....give you a minute. '' he murmured, walking a few steps away, but not out of earshot.

They stood awkwardly, years of distance between them.

'' What are you doing here ? '' Alana said, cutting the silence.

'' I heard you made it to the nationals. '' he said. '' I wanted to see you. ''

'' You would have called. '' she said flatly.

He exhaled. ''I know. I didn't know if you would pick up. ''

She looked at him---older now, lines on his face deeper, but the stubborn set of his jaws exactly the same.'' So you just show up after two years ? No explanation ? ''

'' I made mistakes, '' he said. '' But I am proud of you. ''

Her throat tightened but she swallowed it down. '' I don't need your approval. ''

'' I know you don't. '' he said softly. '' But I wanted you to have it anyways. ''

She turned away before he could see her eyes shine. '' I have to get ready for the next round. ''

Back in the prep room, Jesse didn't ask questions. Instead, he slid a fresh legal pad towards her. '' We are on the affirmative again. Let's tighten our second rebuttals.''

She blinked at him, grateful. He wasn't pushing----just anchoring her back to the thing she could control.

By the time they walked onto the stage for the semifinals, her father was gone. The chair in the front row was empty.

The semifinals was brutal. Their opponents were fast, aggressive, and razor sharped with their facts. Alana and Jesse traded glances constantly, adjusting their strategy on the fly.

Midway through, Jesse improvised a counterpoint so precise it made their opponents stumble. The crowd murmured.

Alan followed with a closing so heartfelt that the judges' pens actually paused mid-scribble.

When the timer buzzed, they stepped back, chests heaving.

The announcements came fifteen minutes later :

'' Moving onto the final round..... Lincoln's University. ''

Jesse grabbed her hand witout thinking, lifting it in triumph. The crowd cheered.

And Alana--- despite everything----smiled for real.

That night, in the quiet of the nearly empty library, they reviewed their notes for the finals.

'' You know, '' Jesse said, leaning back in his chair. '' You were.... different today. ''

'' How so ? ''

'' Not worse. Not distracted, exactly. Just.... carrying something extra. ''

She hesitated, then said '' My father was in the audience.''

Jesse's eyebrows rose, '' The father you've mentioned once ? ''

'' Yeah. That one. ''

He didn't push. Just asked, '' You want him there tomorrow ? ''

She thought about it. '' I don't know. ''

Jesse nodded slowly. '' Well, you'll have me there. Either way. ''

Those words landed heavier than she expected.

For the first time, she wondered if she could lose the tournament and still walk away feeling like she'd won something.