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

Fourteen: Starstruck

    "Benny, hi, it's Adelaide."

"Oh hey, what's up?" He asked, sounding a bit excited.

"Not much, you?"

"Just with some friends. How are you?"

"I'm doing a lot better, actually. How are you?"

"That's great, I'm glad to hear it. I'm alright, getting my ass kicked though."

"Oh really? At what?"

"Chess, if you can believe it."

"Who in the world are you playing?"

"Beth Harmon. She's in town for a few days and decided to drop by so we're having a little.. party of sorts. Hey, you should stop by. If you want."

"Beth Harmon is at your place right now? Kicking your ass at chess? Right now?"

"I hate to admit it, but yes. For the fourth time."

I remember how I read in Chess Review that he had trained Beth before she went to paris and how amazed I was. I had been a fan of Beth for a while now, but somehow completely forgot about how Benny knew her. "And- it would be alright if I came over?"

"Definitely! Some others are here too, though, as long as you're comfortable with that."

"Yeah, no problem." I paused for a moment and then asked, "would you mind if I brought Macy along?"

"Not at all, the more the merrier."

"Great. I'll leave now."

He gave me the address and I called Macy, who was of course delighted to come along. I went to her place first and we drove there together. I was surprised at how close his apartment was to mine. When we arrived, it took a minute to locate the door since it was a basement, but we eventually found it and knocked. We heard talking and laughter inside, and then the door opened to reveal Benny. His hair was lazily falling over his eyes, a small boyish grin on his face, and his shirt was only half buttoned, just like always.

"Hey, come on in. You guys find it okay?"

"Actually it took like twenty minutes to fi-" Macy started but I cut her off by elbowing her in the side. Benny just laughed and shut the door. I took a minute to look around, the basement apartment was not at all what I expected but at the same time it made sense for Benny. The dark, nearly empty living room, only having some cushions and a table on the floor, a bookshelf in the corner, another room off to the far right which I assumed was Benny's. To the left was a small kitchen and table that cold barely be counted as a table. Benny took the minimalistic style to a different level.

There were six other people in the apartment, Beth Harmon among them, along with Hilton Wexler, Harry Beltik, and grandmaster Arthur Levertov. I was starstruck.

"Macy, Adelaide, this is Hilton, Arthur, Cleo, Jolene, Harry, Beth, and Jesus I just realized how many people are here. Guys, these are some friends, Adelaide Carlisle and Macy Evans." Benny introduces everyone. They all wave politely as Macy and I take off our coats, joining them. There's two chess boards on the floor and another on the table, which Hilton and Harry were at, staring intensely at the game in front of them.

Beth and Cleo got up to greet us, as Arthur and Jolene were in the middle of a conversation. Beth held out a hand and we each shook it as I managed to force out a few words. "It's great to meet you. I've been admiring your games since I was a girl."

"Thank you, It's nice to meet you too." She smiles kindly. Cleo, instead of shaking our hands, kissed our cheeks. I know immediately that she's French and my heart aches a little, remembering how my mother would always do that.