Stalemate // The Queens Gambit //Benny Watts x OC

One: Exhaustion

August, 1968

***

I watched as the man across from me stared at the board with a frustrated expression. Every few seconds he'd go to move a piece but then change his mind, placing his hand back over his mouth in deep concentration. It had been like this for 4 minutes and 48 seconds and I was starting to get so bored that I contemplated just resigning and giving him the money. But of course that thought passed quickly. He finally reached down and moved his bishop to g6, which I then took with my knight causing the cycle to start over. I groaned inwardly as he started to reach for his queen and then pull back.

We were in a small diner late at night, probably almost 11 and I was starting to get slightly tired. Mostly because of how this guy played. At this rate his clock would run out before we got to finish.

I looked around at the other people in the diner and out the windows as I waited. A few people were circling us watching the game and mostly everyone else in here looked like it was their last cup of coffee ever. What should I expect though in this part of the city and this late.

I finally heard him punch my clock and I turned back, studied the board for a second, then put him in check. He looked dumbfounded but then moved his king and I thanked the lord he didn't take so long this time. After two more moves I had him in checkmate and he angrily knocked his king over, slumping back in his chair

"Man, that was a tough game. I must be real lucky tonight." I said to him, acting like I didn't have that game planned out ever since his second move. A common method with hustlers.

He huffed and pulled out a wad of fives then stood up and walked back to his table. I grinned a little and looked to the crowd. "Anyone else wanna try?" I asked, yawning a bit. This usually helped draw in more people since they'd think I was off guard because I was tired.

I was surprised to see a young boy sit in front of me, couldn't have been older than eight.

"I'll try. My big brother has been teaching me." he gave a sweet smile and I smiled back. I looked up to an older boy standing behind him, looking fondly down. I assumed this was the brother in question.

"What's your name?" I asked the younger boy

"Nicolas. And thats my brother, Jeff." he gave a gapped tooth grin and pointed up to the older boy

"Nice to meet you both. Are you ready?"

Nicolas nodded enthusiastically and we reset the board, then I punched his clock and we started.

After 17 moves, he had me pretty tightly cornered, I'll admit the kid was good. But by move 22 I had beaten him. I felt a little bad but it could only help him learn and he took the loss gracefully so it wasn't that big a deal. I still didn't make them pay me though.

***

After another 2 or so hours I had 17 wins, 4 losses, and 130 dollars in my wallet. I packed up, paid my bill, and started to walk home happily. It was a cold night in New York, there was a slight drizzle and the sky was cloudy but bright because of the full moon that evening. I went up the fire escape to my apartment instead of the stairs, trying to avoid the landlord since he sometimes smoked on the balcony and I was late on rent.

I stumbled through the window and closed it quietly, dropping my bag on an armchair and immediately going to my closet to change into pajamas so I could finally go to bed. But just as I was about to collapse into the pillows I heard a knock at the door. I looked out into the dark living room and frowned, waiting. I hoped I was hearing things but sure enough, it came again even more frantic this time.

I groaned and walked lazily to the door, looking out the small window to see my best friend's mascara streaked face, wringing her hat in her hands and continuously knocking. Macy Evans and I had been friends since private school when we were 11 and 12, attached at the hip ever since we met.

I sighed and opened the door quickly, at which point she threw her arms around me and began sobbing full force. I shut the door and guided her to my small couch, trying my best to comfort and get some answers out of her. She said something indecipherable as she blew her nose and I just gave her a confused look. She managed to calm down slightly and then started again.

"J-Jamie and I-I had a f-ight." she choked out, then let out a wail and hugged me again.

"What about this time?" I asked as I stroked her hair. Jamie was her fiancé and they had a fight like this at least once a month.

She sat up straighter and rolled her eyes "he keeps saying h-how we can't spend too much on the w-wedding and that I'm going to have to lower my expectations, to which I said that I have my trust fund money that we can use, b-but he said we need to put more than half of that in our savings so we have enough to-" she stopped to blow her nose once more "buy a house and such after the wedding."

"But don't you want to buy a house with him after the wedding?"

She sighed, making it clear I do not understand what she's getting at "yes, but I also want a beautiful wedding! I don't even mind the apartment much anymore, I can wait. But he says eventually the rent is going to build up so much that it won't matter much what he's making at the factory if it's just going into the landlord's pocket right after."

"Well what about asking your father for a little extra in your trust fund so you can get a loan from the bank?"

"That's what I said, but Jamie thinks we need to learn to stand on our own two feet. He's all about that crap, y'know."

I nodded a little and gave her a sympathetic look "well I'm sorry you two fought. I'm sure he's feeling sorry though and you'll both find a way to make it work. Try to compromise with him, he's only trying to help you both."

She paused and then smiled a little "I know he is..thanks Addy." she hugged me again and then stood up, walking to the kitchen "you want coffee or hot coco?" She called

"Coffee." I replied, following her in and sitting at the counter. Might as well be awake since she's going to end up talking my ear off now.

We sipped coffee and chatted until 2 am when she finally got tired and asked to stay over. I of course agreed and we both fell asleep quickly, equally exhausted.