Dark Squared Queen

1 - Emily

My name is Emily Roslyn. I'm a 1860 FIDE rated chess player, while also being a college sophomore with a 4.2 GPA. These are things I am very proud of, and have worked hard to achieve. I, admittedly, don't really have any friends my own age... the closest I have is the guys at the local chess club, who are mostly old, creepy, or both. Still, that doesn't discourage me from playing and learning from them. 

Today, however, I'm stuck just outside the school building, late for a tournament match because my grandmother needed to get gas on the way... Still, could be worse. At least there's nobody else around to bother me. The chess club members all went home, and the sports clubs won't be out for a while yet. 

With that thought in my head, you can imagine my surprise when a girl, dressed all in black and carrying a skateboard tapped my shoulder from behind. 

I didn't even hear her coming. After jumping practically out of my skin, I turned around taking the sight of the girl in front of me. She's saying something... I missed it though; too flustered.

What even is this? Why is she bothering me? Am I gonna get mugged or something? Here though, really?? No, that's absurd. Either way, I really don't have time for this. I need to get to the hotel in the city in less than two hours and it's an hour and a half drive... at least.

The girl then gave me a look and her face shifted into a gentle-looking expression of ... concern? 

She spoke again, "Uhm, sorry about that. You okay?.. I was wondering if you'd like to have a game? Since you're just standing here anyway." 

I was so confused, it took me several seconds to realize she was gesturing to the chessboard I had cradled under my left arm. 

She want's to play chess? Does she even know how? What's she doing here anyway?

"O-Oh, yeah, sure. I gotta go when my ride is here though... Is that okay?" I say slowly, bringing out the board form under my arm and moving towards a picnic table nearby. 

"Yeah, that's no problem. It shouldn't take long. I've seen you play." She said with a strangely friendly smile as she sits down across from me. 

"Alrighty then, I'll let you play white. You ... do know how to play ... right?" I ask hesitantly. 

The girl just made a gesture of mock offense as if I was joking, and set up her pieces. Then, the game began. 

She played, e4, to which I responded with e6. Then d4, d5, followed by e5, c5, and c3, Qb6. 

"Wow, you really know your theory. This is a pretty long opening." I said, but she stayed silent, focusing on the board.

She played Nf3 and I responded Bd7, marking the end of the Wade Variation of the French Defense... I wasn't expecting her to actually know any openings. Was it just dumb luck?

As the game progressed, it became more and more obvious that this was not just dumb luck. 

Just when I thought things were even and we would have a game cut short by time in the endgame, she suddenly started dancing her queen and rooks around the board, and creating openings. 

Before I knew it, I was loosing... badly. By the time I realized something was wrong, it was too late. I hadn't been taking the game super seriously to begin with, but I still should have seen through her. I should have been able to fight back. 

Heck, I should've won! I mean, I'm the top player in the chess club, and by some margin at this school. How could someone who doesn't attend tournaments, and isn't even in the chess club beat me so handily. 

Still, I had to admit, I'd lost. I decided to concede, holding out my hand, but the girl just looked at it and said "no". 

Sighing, I played on, the game ending in another 5 moves, as I stared at the board in shock and wonder. Then, my grandmother finally pulled up. I hastily packed up the board and ran to get into the car. 

What was that girl's deal. Actually, what was her name? I didn't even get her name... Geez, how rude of me. Still, that really was something. It'd shaken me to loose so badly to someone who I could only assume was an ammeter. 

I did end up making my match, but I lost it. Between having no real time to prepare before the game, and my shattered confidence, I was just completely out of it. That night, I couldn't stop thinking about the girl who'd beaten me. 

Do I know her??