Chapter 3
Three
ALEX
Driving down the streets of East View brings back so many memories—both good and bad. A lot has happened since the last time I was here. Evading the police and trying to clear my name, I was the one skilled in hiding and disappearing without a trace. Never in a million years did I ever think Isa would use my own skills against me. I went through the stages of grief when she left, and it still hurts, but I don’t hate her as much as I used to.
After a while, you become numb to the pain of losing the only person you’ve ever truly loved. Did I love her? I thought I did. Now, I’m not so sure I even know what that word means. We met in an online community and talked a bit here and there, but nothing prepared me for the moment I saw her in person. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew there would never be anyone else for me. Honestly, after all this time, I just want to know why.
Why did she disappear?
We spent years looking for her. It wasn’t just me she abandoned; it was my sisters and their entire friend group. Everyone went through so much in the summer before she left. We talked about meeting up to celebrate getting through it all.
“East View is stunning in October. You should come and visit, see the leaves, and join in on all of the fall festivities.”
Those words convinced us to all meet here. We just didn’t realize the betrayal that was going to come two months later.
For three years after Isa disappeared, I tried to find her while simultaneously trying to unearth evidence to clear my name. I looked up everyone within a hundred-mile radius who had the last name Jenkins and a first name that could have been shortened to Isa. I found a few Isabels and a Clarisa, but they were all dead ends.
After those three years, I gave up on everything. I gave up on Isa and on having a normal life. I went back to Germany, turned myself in, and spent three years in prison before I was finally able to get my conviction overturned. Once I was released, I no longer wanted anything to do with my old life, but I still wanted to put my skills to good use. So, I became a teacher and a mentor. I haven’t really looked for Isa in over a decade, but when I saw there was a position open at EVU, I jumped at the opportunity. It’s a temporary job, but if I do well, it may become permanent.
Do I plan on using this opportunity to look for her?
I’m not entirely sure yet.
If she stayed here, I have no doubts we would have found her years ago. This is her hometown, so maybe she found her way back here after all. My heart instantly aches at the thought of her living her life as though the time we spent together never happened.
Did she just move on? Is she married with kids? Maybe she’s living in one of those old Victorian houses in the center of town she always talked about buying someday. A part of me still has feelings for her after all these years, and honestly, I’m not sure what I would do if I saw her again.
It’s a short distance to the school from where I’m staying, but I have to drive through downtown to get there. The voice on my GPS prompts me to turn right onto Main Street, and I hold my breath as I pass the diner on the corner.
“Isa!” Freedom and her friend Jen both jump up from the table and run toward the door.
I look over to see where or rather who they’re running to. Time stops as I spot the gorgeous redhead wearing a black and yellow sundress with a black jean jacket and black boots. She leans in to hug my sister, and we lock eyes. She nods along as the girls talk her ear off, but she doesn’t take her eyes off mine. She feels it, too. It’s as if everything else has faded away, and it’s just her and me.
“Uh-oh, I know that look,” another friend, Matt, says from across the table, but I don’t even acknowledge it because I’m too focused on her.
Before I realize what I am doing, my body is acting on its own and moving toward her like there is an invisible force pulling me in.
“Isa, this is my antisocial and socially awkward older brother, A ? —”
“Adam Schaefer, it’s nice to meet you.” I reach my hand out to her. Freedom and Jen both give me a confused look, and I shake my head, hoping they take the hint.
Isa takes my hand and gives me a smile that instantly melts my heart. “Isa Jenkins, it’s nice to finally meet you, Adam.”
That moment has haunted me ever since. If I hadn’t given her a fake name, she would have been able to contact me, but would she have even wanted to? Apparently, she also gave me a fake name, so maybe she never intended to stick around.
Was any of it real? Or was it all just a game to her?
I get to the school with thirty minutes to spare. Just enough time to find a parking spot, get a cup of coffee, and find the auditorium I am teaching in. I set my cup of coffee on the desk and pull out my stack of general knowledge tests. This first group of students is the youngest we have on the program this year, so I’m not expecting them to know much.
After everyone has filed into their seats, I take out the class roster and begin seeing who is here.
“Hello, my name is Alex Schwartz. I am going to be one of your teachers over the next five weeks. Please listen for your name as I call them. If you wish to be called something different, such as your middle name or some other variation of your name, please let me know. Jenna Marie Mason.”
“Here,” a small voice comes from the back.
“Daniel Lee Jacobs.”
“Here—I go by Dan.”
“Noted.” I scribble Dan on my paper.
“Free—” I pause and do a double-take. I thought for sure my sister was the only one who had that name. “Freedom Grace Summers.”
“Here, but please call me Grace.”
I look up and lock eyes with the only child in the room, who seems way too excited to be here. The kids start to get restless as I go through the roster. Once that is done, I pass out the knowledge test and explain what it is and what it’s for.
“I need you to put everything away except for a pencil. This is a basic computer knowledge test. This just shows what you know already. I’m not expecting you to know everything on here. In fact, I’m sure there isn’t going to be anyone who does. This is to show us where you are at so we know what to teach and what we can leave out. We must get accurate scores, so there can be absolutely no cheating. There are fifty questions, and you have an hour to do them. Once the test is over, we will have other more exciting things to discuss.”
After only twenty minutes I look up as Grace comes up to the front with a bright smile on her face. She hands me her paper, but as she’s turning to walk away, I stop her. “Grace, you still have more than thirty minutes left, are you sure you don’t want to look over your answers again?”
“No, thank you.” She walks back to her seat.
I pick up her paper to grade it and I see red… By the end of the first hour, anger has infiltrated every single one of my cells, so I quickly go over the rules of the program and other need-to-know information before dismissing the class.
“Grace, can I talk to you for a minute?” I call out as she’s about to exit the room. “You didn’t cheat on this test, did you?
Her eyes grow wide as saucers. “No, sir, I would never do that.”
“How do you think you did on this test?” I’m curious to hear her response.
“Umm, well, there were a few I was unsure of and I had to guess on them. I think I still made an A, though,” she whispers.
I raise my eyebrow at her. “Grace, you got a perfect score. You didn’t answer a single question incorrectly. I’ve given this test to hundreds of people of all ages and levels, and I rarely have someone get a perfect score. When I get a perfect score, they either already work in the field, or at least have a computer-related degree. And you’re how old?” I try to keep the skepticism out of my voice.
“I’m almost thirteen, Mr. Schwartz, but I really like to learn about computers.” Her voice cracks as she tries to keep the tears at bay.
“Well, if this really is your score, and that is a big if , and there was no cheating involved, then I’m highly impressed. I can't wait to be your teacher.”
“Thank you,” she whispers before quickly retreating from the classroom.
I gather my things and walk across campus to my office.
“Hey, why does it look like you’ve had a long day already?” one of the other teachers calls from down the hall.
“Hey, Mark, it’s definitely been a day. I think one of my students just cheated on the general knowledge test. She got a perfect score. It would be nearly impossible for someone her age.” I shake my head.
“Ah, that will put anyone in a bad mood. Who was the student?”
“Grace Summers.”
“Oh, you’ve met the child genius, then.” He pats me on the back.
“Child genius?” That would explain so much.
“Not officially, but my wife teaches at her school. She has an incredible mind when it comes to computers. Don’t stress about it; I promise you, Grace didn’t cheat.”
“Thank you, that makes me feel better about the whole situation. I really didn’t want to get one of our youngest kicked out.”
“Enjoy the rest of your day, Alex”
I head to my office, where I immediately open my computer and start a search for Isa. I didn’t think I cared this much, but being here has definitely changed that.