egotistical | benny watts

Vegas

Vegas, one year later.

I squirm as I hear a loud sound ringing beside me as I lay in comfort in the luxury suite of the hotel bed, causing my heartbeat to pick up. Blankets covering my bottom half, I turn over and reach out to pick up the beige-colored phone just to shut it up.

I wait for someone to speak into the telephone, I never liked being the first to speak because I never knew who was calling. It sort of became a habit every-now and then there's an overly dramatic awkward pause of silence before it's broken in half by the others' words.

"Hello?" A woman asks behind the phone.

Oh, it's just Beth, what a surprise.

I take in a deep sigh, "Hi." I reply softly.

"What the fuck?!" Well, she sounds angry.

I knit my brows together confused, "What?"

"Bitch come downstairs, my game starts soon, I want you here." Beth demands.

"You're like a child." I mock.

"And? Hurry the fuck up, bye." I hear the whoosh of her slamming the phone down.

I drop the telephone out of my hand and rub my face as I lean back in the bed.

"Fuck me." I mumble to myself.

eventually getting up, slowly walking over to the pile of clothes stacked on this useless wooden chair. Throwing the clothes onto the ground, surfing for a specific casual white mini dress with a flare at the ends. I lay my hands on said dress and walk over to the bathroom, placing my hand on the cold knob turning it to unlock its power to move open. As the door swings open slightly, I walk in, without closing it I take a peek at myself in the mirror.

My hair is a literal rats nest.

I brush the top of my hair down so it lays flat, noticing there's still a few standing curls at the tips of my long hair. I leave it be, not minding how natural it looks and swipe my clothes off of my body, then progressively changing into the dress I had picked out.

Looking back at myself in the mirror, trying to decide if I look decent or not. I play with my hair for a moment, nodding my head to the liking of how I look, and continue to walk out of the opened bathroom. I walk back over to the bedside table and take a hold of my heart shaped sunglasses, opening the little handles up and placing them over my eyes. I waltz over to the front door of the hotel room, popping it open and shutting it behind me.

I'm surprised with my streak of not running into the infamous Benny Watts, he's literally everywhere. Maybe he isn't and I just happen to notice him because he's always on my mind, who knows, psychology is a bitch.

Walking down the spiral staircase to the second floor where Beth is apparently standing, I notice from above the spread of chess sets on a two-person seated table, various groups of men surrounding said tables. Halfway down the steps I glance over to a red-head, wearing a black and white polka-dot dress.

Assuming that there's no other red-headed girl in this joint full of over-exceeded men, I'm pretty sure that's Beth.

I hop off the end of the stairs and take notice of a man approaching Beth.

Come on.

I stop in my tracks for a moment, gaining the exact pit in my stomach from the party, it's like a black hole just summoned to suck out all of my organs, Benny ruined my perfectly good streak.

Beth turns her head to oh so ironically look at me, Benny following her actions behind her. Thanks a lot Beth. She waves her hand at me, signaling for me to approach the situation at hand. I sigh, knowing this situation is unavoidable, I continue my steps forward. Close enough in between to where Beth and Benny stand, I stop in my tracks. Benny looked down at me, smirking.

I hate you, I hate you, I hate you.

I stare at Beth, attempting to avoid the glance of the cowboy standing before me. My body is shaking so much it could be classified as a seizure.

"Benny, this is my friend Marie." Beth informs.

Fuck, she said my name.

Benny makes on 'oh' shape with his mouth, nodding in surprise to the information provided.

I look down at the ground, sighing in disappointment, then looking up to Benny with a sarcastic smile printed on my face.

"Benny Watts." He plays, reaching his arm out.

I want to scream.

I refuse to take his hand for the second time, and look over back at Beth, who is now giving me a subtle concerned look. Benny drops his hand, smirk still planted on his face.

"Marie plays chess too, she's just accompanying me on my travels." Beth goes on.

How I could slap the living shit out of both of them right now.

"Oh really? What a shame." Benny asserts sarcastically. It's like he's trying to make it obvious.

I nod slowly, with the same expression as of before.

Followed by a long pause, and Beth's utter suspicion Benny sighs, waving his arms slightly, "Well I've got an adjournment to play," Benny clasps his hands together, turning to face Beth and beginning to walk away, "Beth, play out the game, figure out." Benny states followed by him turning and walking away.

I observe Beth, watching her bend her head down and sighing.

"What was that?" I ask.

Beth looked up at me, eyes widened, "He found a flaw in my game," She pauses, anger tensing her up, "A flaw I didn't even think to realize."

Her game with Betlik, I forgot.

"What game?" I ask, acting clueless.

"My game with Beltik. He saw it just by reading it!" Her voice levels rise, her stare burning through my soul, "I was so fucking proud of myself after finding that flaw in the Morphy game, and he just-" She sighs, placing her fingers on her brows while glancing at the ground.

"I'm sorry." Beth states, attempting to calm herself down.

As she looks back up at me I can see the hurt in her eyes, I can feel the frustration from here, I don't pity her but I do feel for her.

"Beth, you can't let him get to you, I told you this." I spoke, taking a step closer. Beth doesn't hate anything more than pity, and I have to knock some sense into her or all she will ever focus on is the flaw.

She just continues to stare me down, in utter shock.

I sigh, maintaining the eye contact, "When is your game with Benny?"

"It should be after his adjournment, and I have a game with Fincher I have to get to in a few minutes." Beth reports.

"That's-" I scoff, rubbing my eyebrows, "Really soon. Just- don't let it get to you, alright?" I struggle to assure her.

Beth nods in response. I know she's barely even listening to me right now but she needs her support, I'm really scared for her. I'm also terrified of running into Benny again, my chances of seeing him for another time is now higher than ever.