The Checkmate Mystery (ON HOLD)

Chapter 1: The Queen- Rachel

*All names and places mentioned in this story are fiction. If there are any similarities between anyone or anyplace real, it is just a coincidence.

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Rachel Schafer was one of the kindest and nicest girls I'd known since 3rd grade. She had one of those "I always go to the beach" tans and sun-dyed hair. Her beautiful German features and 5'6" height made her the most noticeable cheerleader on the squad although she wasn't the head. That's why I didn't understand why she changed when I met at her house to get a ride from her parents (who were my parents' best friends).

"Hey Rachel! Are you ready to leave?" I asked, jumping on the kitchen counter.

Rachel looked up from her plate of eggs and bacon. "What do you mean me? Don't you want to change out of that ugly t-shirt?" She laughed and flipped her hair. That was so un-Rachel like, I thought. I looked at my purple Barney t-shirt. Rachel herself gave me that t-shirt for my birthday 2 year ago. Maybe she regretted buying it for me because I looked too good in it. I decided to play along.

"Well, I guess that eagle necklace of yours looks just terrible." I bought that for her on the second date we had. Things didn't work out (to our relief and to our matchmakers surprise) but I let her keep it. We were best friends since.

Rachel face starting turning red although the air conditioning was on. "Well, well..." she mumbled, obviously flustered. "Fine! Let's go!" she sighed, defeated. When she stood up, her legs started wobbling and she suddenly looked tired. I caught her with my arm.

"Ow...not so tight!" she yelled, yanking her arm from my grasp.

"Sorry, just wanted to help. What was with that joke earlier?"

"What joke?"

"That joke where you said my t-shirt-"

"Ugh! Major headache! Got an Advil on you?" Rachel started closing her eyes and holding her head.

"Yeah..." I started rummaging in my bag and handed her a pill and a waterbottle from the kitchen's fridge. Odd, I thought, she's acting like herself again. What happened to that diva a few minutes ago?

*Snap* Rachel's fingers entered my vision as I came back out of my thoughts. "I'm done. Let's go before we're late for the first day. Remember the year when we were late for your piano recital?" Rachel said jokingly. Yeah, I did.

*Flashback*

I had invited Rachel to my 7th grade piano recital (from the constant nagging of my mother) and I was surprised when she agreed. I had mentioned to my mother that I would walk to the location with Rachel because it was just a short way from our house. Unknowingly, I went to Rachel's house and walked the few blocks. We couldn't find the stupid studio!

"I swear it was just 3 blocks to the right of our house..." I mumbled. I was starting to get worried. The recital would start in 10 minutes and Rachel's and my parents already left together.

Rachel smacked me on the back of my head. For a girl wearing a frilly yellow dress, she had a mean slap. "YOUR house? 3 blocks from YOUR HOUSE?!? My house is 10 blocks away from your house! How are we going to make it in time?" Rachel started screaming at me and punching me in the arm.

Fortunately, we made it- 18 minutes late. A student was just finishing up "Moonlight Sonata" when we barged in through the doors screaming "WE MADE IT!!!" Surprisingly, the student finished the song and bowed before looking up at us and smiling. Rachel started clapping. "Bravo! That was brilliant!"

The teacher took this as a cue to encourage others to applaud and then introduce me to play my piece. I smiled and bowed in front of the small audience. I sat at the stool and closed my eyes and began to play "River Flows in You" by Yiruma. By the end, Rachel had tears in her eyes. I smiled and teased her about it in the car. "Shut up," Rachel mumbled, red and embaressed.

*End of flashback.*

"Yep! Do you still have red eyes from my awesome piano skills?" I said, horribly mimicking her crying face 3 years ago.

"I did not look like that when I cried! It was more like- this!" Rachel poured some of the water from her waterbottle into my face. She started laughing uncontrolably.

Before I could get her back, Rachel's mom's car honked angrily from the driveway. "Let's go!" Rachel waved and headed out the door. I followed along.

Before I could get into the car, Rachel called out to me. "Hey! Check out my moves!" She ran across the front yard and did a one hand cartwheel, a backflip and then landed in a split. "Don't you keep your cheerleader uniform inside of the gym? What's up?" I sighed, a little jealous that I couldn't even skip let alone do the splits. Although I was smart, I wasn't the least bit athletic.

"I gotta practice for cheerleader try-outs this Friday. Melody didn't promise me a spot on the varsity team this year because she said her younger sister would be a freshman this year and could possibly take my spot as the flyer for major stunts. I love doing the scorpion!"

"Yawn. You're boring me with your cheerleader talk. 'Let's get to school'" I mimicked Rachel's voice at the last part. Rachel playfully punched me on the arm.

"Watch your words, Cheng," Rachel warned with a threatening voice.

"Yes, my queen." I responded, bowing. Rachel smiled back.

This is going to be a great year, I thought.

Boy was I ever wrong.

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Hi! It's vampirejuli! I hoped you liked Chapter 1 of the "The Checkmate Mystery." Although it's not that exciting, I promise I'm just explaining the characters first and THEN getting to the action! I might have to change the categories depending how evil (hehe...) I intend to be with my chess pieces. (*hint hint*)

The video on the right is the song David played in his 7th grade piano recital, "River Flows in You" by Yiruma. It's my favorite song so I chose it.

The pic to the right is of Rachel (if you haven't guessed already). She will be played by Kirsten Dunst.

Hope you enjoy my writing!

If you like, like, comment, favorite, do something crazy! If you don't like it, comment with CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. I hate the haters. I was once one and have now changed and just put positive comments. Please be nice and no swearing! I would not like to take the comment away or fix it up (which you would respond to with another nasty comment.) I like being fair and respectful to my fellow Wattpad-ers (doesn't make sense, but I thought the people who went on here needed a name!) I already posted this on the Prologue, but for those who forgot, read it! I like comments but keep them appropriate (although it IS PG-13). No swearing and stuff. Thanks! ~vampirejuli :D