Stalemates

2 (Queen)

Today can be described in one simple word, and that is, "BLASPHEMY!"

Pure and utter ridicule was how I felt from the moment I opened my eyes to the exact time I went to close them so I could sleep. For all intents and purposes, I'm not going to name the behemoths who beat me in the chess club today, so I will be unifying them collectively and addressing them under one alias, SNAIL! Which stands for-

Stupid

Narcissistic

And

Ill-mannered

Losers

I do acknowledge that it is hypocritical for me to be calling them SNAILs when I very well may be one myself, but that is only for me to know, and for my enemies to eventually find out. Overall, discounting intrusive thoughts, I would consider myself to be a decently respectful young lady of the 21st century, and take great pride in that. After all, a girl playing chess in a male-dominated player base is already a great accomplishment on its own.

Although I will admit, it hasn't been easy. As much as my pride may persevere me, I do feel defeated sometimes... I wish, and I yearn that I could be the best, not just another member of the team, but the leader; the invaluable treasure that leads my group to victory! Never again another pawn on the board, put on the front lines like a scapegoat. To prove all those SNAILs wrong...

That is my only mission!

**********

"And what if I am?" questioned the tall girl with black and purple dyed hair, standing in front of me with mockery on her face. 

"Don't play games with me, because I always win in the end." I retorted back at her daringly as the crowd around us watched as if we were zoo animals. To be a spectacle was not my intention when I confronted Bradly but I suppose there's no other choice. I took another step forward and then tilted my head to the side to see Bradly, now more startled rather than infuriated. Although it was true that I may have been too harsh on him, at least I was being transparent, unlike her. By all means, I had to be the one to get the final say in this gradually escalating conversation.

"Go on now, get to class people!" I commanded as I took one final glance at Bradly and the rest of the chess team. Having known them for years now, we seemed to form a mutual understanding between each other, and even though Bradly was still evidently bitter, he sucked it up and left with the rest of the students. I followed not long after but not before I went to class,  I had to say something to my newly acquainted vigilante. 

" Don't try to defend things you don't have any idea about." I silently recommended as my shoulder purposefully bumped into hers while I walked out of the classroom. Surprisingly, not a single word came out of the purple-haired girl's mouth; yet simply eyeing me with a gleaming smirk. Frankly, it freaked me out. Not many people smiled at me, and the ones who did were either looking to get something from me or were children. On that note, I didn't think that this girl was either of those. 

When I got to class, the day went on as usual and luckily was uneventful. Classes were followed by more classes and extracurricular activities, all while the course outlines and expectations for the new school year were building up as boulders on top of the student's backs. However, I was too used to it. I had already done summer classes to get ahead of everyone else and knew for a fact that amidst every person's rising levels of stress and anticipation, I was the sole level-headed survivor. I was the best in the class once more. Actually, that may have been an overstatement... 

Lunch was my least favourite class of the day, and it's not because I didn't enjoy eating, it was just, that I didn't like dealing with people. 

"Lucia, you must join the Math Olympiads! Please, we could really use someone like you!"

"Lucia, how was your summer? By the way, will you be applying for our post-secondary orientations? 

"Lucia, will you be applying as a peer tutor again? Some of the freshmen would do great with your help!" 

Again and again and again students and teachers wanted to talk to me, but not exactly to me, but to my academia. I didn't accomplish such honours just for the gratification of others, but for myself, because that was my mission. My mission was to seemingly stand above the rest, and that is how it was going to stay. 

"I can't talk right now." I abruptly repeated again and again and again, without a single moment of attention to their queries. My seat in the cafeteria was always the same, so it was never difficult for people to find where I was. Even though it was probably stupid of me to let myself be a sitting duck for the aspirations of St. John Paul students, I was connected to this spot.  I had been sitting here since freshman year and would continue to do so till graduation day. 

"Lucia Spinner!" Shouted a giddy voice from across the bustling cafeteria. Suddenly everyone seemed to stop what they were doing, somewhat anticipating the worst. 

"That's your name right?" Asked the same upbeat voice, just as casual as before. 

It threw me off, and I hated unpredictability. I begrudgingly needed to stop eating my sandwich and put down my hefty textbook so I could see who was this outlier in my system. 

"Didn't I tell you not to be a knight?" repeated my words, reminding her once more. 

"Then stop trying to be the queen of the castle then." The purple-haired girl said almost hauntingly so; smiling from ear to ear.