Her Edge

The New Kid

Chapter 3

_The New Kid_Chapter 3_

The first bell hasn’t even rung yet, and the smell of sharpened pencils and fresh paper already fills the room. Elaine is rearranging the stack of name tags on her desk when the door creaks open.

A small boy steps inside, crisp navy blazer, hair combed within an inch of its life, big blue eyes briefly sweeping over the classroom. The nanny follows, her steps careful, almost protective.

“Good morning, Miss Elaine,” the woman says with a polite smile.

Elaine’s own smile comes easily. “Good morning, Leo.”

He just looks at her. Not rude. Just… studying her like she’s a puzzle piece he’s not sure belongs to the picture.

“Your desk is right here, sweetheart,” she says, leading him toward the front row.

He doesn’t sit immediately. Instead, he tilts his head slightly, gaze locked on her face. It’s the same feeling from yesterday—that strange weight behind his eyes, like he’s waiting for her to say something.

“You okay?” she asks gently.

Leo blinks, then finally slides into his seat. “Yes, Miss Elaine,” he says, the words precise, almost too formal for a six-year-old.

The nanny gives a small wave before slipping out the door.

Alright then… Elaine claps her hands softly“Everyone, take your seats! We’ve got a big day ahead.”

The chatter quiets. A few kids still wriggle in their chairs, but Leo is perfectly still, back straight, hands folded neatly on the desk.

Like a little gentleman.

“First, we’ll start with introductions,” Elaine begins.

One by one, the kids say their names, favorite colors, and what they want to be when they grow up. Astronauts, ballerinas, dinosaur scientists—she smiles at each one.

When it’s Leo’s turn, he stands—actually stands—before speaking.

“My name is Leo Vance,” he says evenly. “I like chess. And I’m going to run my own company.”A ripple of whispers moves through the room. Each word emanating confidence. Elaine smiles.

“Very ambitious,” Elaine says with a nod, though she can’t help the small laugh in her voice.

Leo doesn’t laugh back. He sits with the same precision he uses to stand.

As the morning goes on, she notices the way he follows every instruction to the letter. He doesn’t just color the apple on his worksheet—he shades it evenly, staying exactly inside the lines. When the boy next to him asks for a red crayon, Leo hands it over without a word, eyes flicking back to her as if checking to see if she approves. When she looks over his worksheet, turns out he has the neatest drawing.

During story time, though, she catches something different. While the other kids lean forward, giggling at the funny voices she uses,Leo is watching her—not the book. That same intense, searching look.

It makes her pause mid-sentence.

“Something wrong, Leo?”

He shakes his head quickly, looking down at the carpet. “No, Miss Elaine.”

But his ears turn pink. She's slightly confused.

When recess comes, she stays at her desk, sipping lukewarm coffee while keeping an eye on the playground. Leo is by himself near the swings, hands in his pockets, scuffing the dirt with his shoe.

A few minutes later, one of the braver kids, Jacob, trots up to him. They speak for a moment before Jacob points toward the jungle gym. Leo follows without hesitation.She smiles faintly. Maybe he just needs time to warm up.

The rest of the day passes in a blur of glue sticks, alphabet songs, and the occasional paper airplane rescue. By the time the final bell rings, her throat is dry from talking and her cheeks hurt from smiling.

“Alright, everyone—pack up your things! Don’t forget your folders!”

Parents begin filtering in, voices mixing with the squeak of sneakers and zippers. The nanny arrives for Leo, but he doesn’t move toward her right away. He lingers by his desk until the classroom has almost emptied.

“Goodbye, Miss Elaine,” he says at last. A hint of a smile tugging at his corners. That warms her heart.

“Goodbye, Leo. See you tomorrow.”For a split second, something in his face shifts. Like he wants to say more—but doesn’t. He gives the smallest nod, then follows the nanny out.

Elaine exhales, reaching for the eraser to wipe the board clean. She’s not sure why, but the boy leaves her with a feeling she can’t quite name. Maybe she should ask him to see her one day. The staring has become...obvious.

* * *

Nikolai

From the driver’s seat of the black Maserati parked just beyond the gates, Nikolai watches as Leo steps out of the building with his nanny. The boy glances back once, almost instinctively, toward a window on the second floor.

Nikolai’s eyes follow the line of his son’s gaze.There she is—tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she stacks papers on her desk. Completely unaware of him.

He taps his fingers against the steering wheel, jaw tight.

Too much of life is coincidence for him to believe in it.

Leo gets into the car, Maria helps him to strap his seat belt. "I thought you weren't coming".

"And hello to you too". Nickolai chuckles. "I had someone take care of it, so I seized the opportunity to pick up my Son". He pulls out of the school lot, stealing a quick glance at Leo from the rear view mirror. The little boy is flushed, and his gaze is fixed out the tinted glass.

"How was school?"

Leo hesitates before he responds. "It was... It was fun".

"And your teacher?"

Leo's eyes for a moment widens. His ears turn hot pink and Nickolai catches him. No doubt they're father and son.

"Uhm... she's nice, and funny. I think". Nickolai's brows rise. He has never seen his son this flustered.

"I also made a friend. His name's Jacob Black. But we call him Jake".

We? Did he hear him right? He's son is collaborating?

At this point, Nickolai can't contain his smile. "Seems like you had a very wonderful day".

"Yeah. I guess I did." He says looking out the window with a small smile plastered on his face. Something Nickolai hasn't seen in a while.

"What's your teacher's name?"

Leo's smile fades, he arches a brow. "Are you interrogating me now?"

Nickolai raises his hands in mock surrender. "I'm sorry, you got me". He then returns his them to the wheels. "You've got an acute sense".

Leo leans into his chair, with a prideful sigh. "Elaine Roosevelt. That's her name. The orher kids call her miss El". He says like it's a degrading thing to do.

Nickolai's grip tightens around the staring wheel_maybe because of the nick name, or maybe it's because his heart just skipped a beat when he heard it.

He wants to meet her.

He still can't forget that night .