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

Thirty: Peace And War

    When we finished the trek back to the hotel and got to our rooms, we slid off the freezing wet clothes and put on more comfortable outfits. We went down to the dining area and got a late breakfast, warming up with more hot chocolate and pancakes.

"Well, I've definitely, warmed, up to snow." Steven joked. We all teased him for the horrible pun and continued to talk about the morning. When we were done with breakfast, we split up into our own little group or just on our own to enjoy as much of the hotel as possible while we could. I ventured the halls to see if this hotel had a library. I figured there was a good chance it would since it was one of the more expensive ones.

I eventually came across a large room that I figured had to be a library of sorts. Cozy furniture and bookshelves were littered about the room, the walls covered in books as well. There were a few people lingering about, but it was basically empty. I walked along the shelves and when I was satisfied with my selection of books I found a nice chair by a warm lamp and sat down, setting the stack of books on the table next to me and grabbing the top book, opening and starting to read.

I hadn't even finished the first paragraph when I noticed two people out of the corner of my eye. They were sitting face to face at a small square table a few feet away, seeming to be having a serious conversation. The man with his back to me had short black hair and the man across from him I couldn't see, but I could tell that he was wearing a hat.

A cowboy hat.

It was Jonathan and Benny. I panicked, thinking they had to have seen me, and held the book up closer to my face. When I peeked back over the spine and they were still invested in their conversation, I relaxed a little, and the curiousness grew. I slowly set my book down and tried to act natural, walking along the shelves, trying to stay inconspicuous. Once I was close enough to hear but not be noticed, I allowed myself to eavesdrop.

"...I understand. Look I'm sorry I did that, even though it was unintentional—usually—but honestly? Move on, man." Benny was saying. Jonathan sighed, placing a hand to his forehead.

"I know.. it's just- difficult. But it's not your fault or your problem. I'm sorry I was such an ass last night, I'm going to try and start being more mature about this."

"It's alright, I'm sorry how I acted too."

"Water under the bridge."

"So, we're good?" Benny stood, holding out a hand.

"Yeah." Jonathan muttered, standing as well and shaking his hand. Before they parted, Jonathan leaned over and whispered something to Benny that seemed to confuse him. Jonathan pulled back and nodded, then left.

I quickly returned to my seat and thought about the conversation. I wished I could have heard what they were talking about before. I'm glad they're alright now though, hopefully all the drama was behind them.

Since I had been thinking so hard, I didn't notice a tall figure standing in front of me. I looked up and saw Benny smirking down at me, brow furrowed.

"You're a terrible spy, you know that?" He said as he sat in the chair across from me.

I sighed. I had been caught. "I thought you didn't notice me."

"Well, I didn't until you rushed back over here. People don't usually sprint in libraries."

"I wasn't going that fast.." I muttered to myself. "Okay yes, I was spying. So what were you two talking about? I only heard the last ten seconds. A very touching reconcile, by the way." I teased a little. He chuckled and set his hat on the table.

"We were talking about how we were being dicks over something ridiculous and irrelevant and childish. We figured it out, talked it over, and everything's good now."

"Am I not going to get specifics?"

"Nope, sorry. Private conversation. Well, it was supposed to be."

"Alright, fine. Well I'm glad everything's smoothed over now."

"Yeah, me too. Hey, you mind if I join you?"

"Go ahead. As long as you're not a loud reader."

"Is that even a thing?"

"Trust me."

"I will read as quietly as I can." He chuckled and got up to get some books. He came back with about four and sat again, opening the second one and starting to read. I resumed my book as well and we read in silence for a while. After a few minutes, I look up to him. He was frowning, a hand over his mouth, focused. Understandable since he had chosen one of Capablanca's books. I always admired him and he was an amazing player, but personally he wasn't my favorite author.

I must have zoned out a little, because Benny flicked his gaze up to me and smiled a little. "It's rude to stare." He said cockily. I was snapped out of my trance an blushed a little, embarrassed I had been staring.

"Sorry- I guess I got a little distracted."

"By my face? You flatter me." He teased

"Hey, didn't I say quiet reading?" I retorted, glaring a little and trying to hide a humorous grin. He raised his eyebrows and his smirk grew but he returned his eyes to his book. I did the same.

After another 30 minutes, I looked up at the clock on the wall and was surprised to see it was already 2 pm. I assumed Macy would be looking for me since I hadn't told her where I would be and so I started to gather my books. I made it to my second book but Benny had already almost finished his fourth one. I wasn't surprised I couldn't beat him at chess, his brain seemed to work at double the speed and power. I started to put the books back and then went back to Benny.

"I'm going to go find Macy and maybe get some lunch. Are you gonna stay here?"

"Nah, I'll come. Just finished this anyway." He stood, leaving the books on the table, and we walked back to the rooms.

It seemed everyone else was still busy with their own activities, so we went to Benny and Jamie's room and got slices of cake and beer from the night before. We sat on the floor and talked as we ate and drank. After we had finished our 'lunch' we continued to talk, but suddenly we heard a door slam next to us and some yelling. We ran out to the hallway and saw Jamie at me and Macy's room door, trying to talk to Macy.

"What happened?" Benny asked.

"We started to talk about the wedding and as always, it blew up into a fight." Jamie sighed frustratedly and placed his hands on his hips. "Addy, could you talk to her please? You always manage to get her to calm down."

I was about to rush into the room and console Macy, but then stopped. "No." I said firmly. "I always do. Jamie, you and Macy are about to be married, you need to know how to deal with her breakdowns and start working through them. Now go in there and talk to you fiancé!" I said, trying to impersonate my mother when she forced me to do something I didn't want to.

"But- I don't know how to! What if I just make it worse?" Jamie protested.

"Well too bad. You'll have to work through it. Be honest with her while also letting you know how much you love her and it'll be fine. Come on, you can do this, go." I softened my tone just a little and he sighed, looking to the door, then back to us.

"I'm going in. Wish me luck." He walked in and shut the door. It didn't seem to escalate immediately which was a good sign.

"Do you have to deal with that all the time?" Benny asked from behind me.

"Any time they fight, which is at least five times every month. So yes."

"Shit. I can see why your so cynical about relationships."

"Exactly." I sighed.