MORE THAN JUST FRIENDS(HIGH SCHOOL ROMANCE) Ep3

 

MORE THAN JUST FRIENDS 

CHAPTER THREE

Debate Partners

#storiesnseries #shortstory #shortseries

Mr. Holloway stood at the front of the classroom, his gaze scanning the students as he finalized the group assignments.

“For this project,” he announced, “I’ve assigned you into groups of three. Each team will prepare a debate on an assigned topic. You’ll be graded on research, teamwork, and presentation.”

Vee listened, only half-interested. Debates were nothing new to her. She was used to structured arguments, logical points, and public speaking. The real concern was whether her partners would pull their weight.

Mr. Holloway glanced at his list. “Vee, William, and Diana.”

Vee paused.

William?

She looked at the boy sitting in front of her—the same one she had collided with in the hallway, the same one who kept to himself, barely engaging with anyone.

And Diana? Vee barely knew her. She had seen her talking to William before, but they weren’t exactly friends.

“The topics are written on the board,” Mr. Holloway continued. “You’ll argue either for or against.” He turned to the class. “Any questions?”

No one spoke.

“Good. You have until next week to prepare. Work outside class if needed.”

With that, he picked up his files and exited the classroom, leaving the students to sort themselves out.

Vee was still processing the grouping when she heard a chair scrape against the floor. She looked up just as Diana pulled a seat beside William, facing Vee.

“So,” Diana said, arms crossed. “Looks like we’re working together.”

Vee didn’t reply immediately. She wasn’t sure what to expect from Diana. She was confident but not overly familiar.

Diana leaned back, eyes flicking toward the board. “Social Media: A Benefit or a Threat to Society?” She turned back to Vee. “What’s your take?”

Vee shrugged. “It’s obviously a benefit. It connects people, spreads information, and creates opportunities.”

Diana smirked. “And also invades privacy, spreads fake news, and makes people addicted.”

William, who had been silent all this while, finally spoke.

“Manipulation,” he said quietly.

Vee turned to him, slightly surprised.

He was still looking down, flipping to a fresh page in his notebook. His voice was low but certain, like he had already thought it through.

Vee chuckled. “Oh, so you do talk.”

William didn’t react.

Vee watched him for a second longer before shifting back to Diana.

“We can argue either side,” she admitted. “But if we go with threat, we’ll need solid evidence. We can’t just say social media is bad.”

Diana nodded. “True.”

She glanced at William, waiting for his input.

He simply picked up his pen and wrote something down.

Diana snorted. “That means he agrees.”

Vee tilted her head slightly. She had noticed how he never really reacted to anything. He didn’t argue. He didn’t push his opinions. He just was.

She had seen confidence before—she was confident herself—but William’s was different. It didn’t demand attention, but it was impossible to ignore.

Diana clapped her hands together. “Alright, I’ll research cyberbullying and privacy issues. Vee, you take addiction and misinformation. And William…” She smirked. “You’re in charge of structuring our arguments and rounding up.”

William let out a quiet sigh but nodded.

Vee watched him for a moment longer.

He still hadn’t looked at her properly, still hadn’t said much.

But something about him made her curious.

—

The atmosphere in the St. George High auditorium was charged with anticipation. Students filled the hall, some eager to prove themselves, others simply there to watch. The panel of teachers sat at the front, ready to judge the debate, while the student moderator stood at the podium, organizing the speaker list.

Vee sat at the long table assigned to her group, fingers lightly tapping against the surface. She was confident in her arguments, but her attention kept shifting to William, who sat beside her, silent as ever.

She had barely heard him speak since they were assigned the project. Even during group discussions, he mostly listened, taking notes but saying little.

Diana, on the other hand, was relaxed, scrolling through her notes. “Don’t look so serious, Vee,” she said with a smirk. “We’ve got this.”

Vee exhaled. She knew she had it. But did William?

The moderator cleared his throat, calling the room to order. “The debate topic: Social Media: A Benefit or a Threat to Society. Each team will present their stance, followed by rebuttals.”

The opposing team stood first, arguing for the benefits of social media. They highlighted its role in communication, business growth, and access to information. Their points were well-structured, but nothing Vee hadn’t prepared for.

Then, it was their turn.

Diana started strong, delivering their opening argument with confidence. She spoke about privacy issues, cyberbullying, and how social media distorted reality. She was engaging, making the audience nod in agreement.

Vee followed, tackling addiction and misinformation. She cited studies, real-life examples, and moments where social media had caused more harm than good. She was used to commanding a room, and by the time she finished, murmurs spread among the students.

Then, it was William’s turn.

Vee glanced at him, half-expecting him to hesitate.

But he didn’t.

William stood up, adjusting his blazer, and in a calm, steady voice, he began speaking.

“Social media is designed for engagement, but not always for the right reasons,” he said. “It’s not just about connection; it’s about control. Algorithms push content that keeps users hooked, whether it’s real or not. Companies profit from attention, even when that attention is fueled by misinformation and division.”

His voice was measured, smooth. Not rushed, not loud—just… steady. And every word was precise.

Vee blinked.

She was the only one surprised. The class, which had been filled with quiet whispers, fell completely silent. Even the teachers paid attention to him as if a president is giving a speech , people were interested to listen and to learn.

William continued, backing his points with facts. He countered the arguments of the other team effortlessly, pointing out how businesses, politicians, and even ordinary people manipulated social media to their advantage, often at the expense of the truth.

He wasn’t just stating facts—he was defending them with logic that left little room for debate.

Vee stared at him, stunned.

She had assumed he was just another smart but reserved student, someone uninterested in school events. But standing there, he wasn’t the shy, quiet boy from the hallway. He was confident, clear, and completely in control of the debate.

It was the first time she truly understood him.

William wasn’t here for popularity. He wasn’t here for attention.

He was here for academics.

And he was exceptional at it.

As he sat down, the audience remained quiet for a moment before applause broke out. Even the teachers nodded approvingly.

Diana nudged Vee, smirking. “Told you he talks.”

Vee didn’t respond. She was still watching William, who had gone right back to his usual silence, as if he hadn’t just dominated the entire debate.

And for the first time since she transferred to St. George, she was genuinely curious about someone other than herself.

To be continued

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