The Tommo Way

Chapter Twenty-Four: Chess Boards and Late Apologies

Hey folks, here is another chapter (:
Once a massive thank you for reading! I promise our favourite Donny boy will be back soon (most likely the next chapter). I hope you enjoy the next chapter!
A lovely day to all of you!

Lots of love,
Melody

"So I have done my move. What are you going to do next?" Dad looked at the black and white board game with a concentrated face, awaiting my answer. I blankly stared at the chess game and tried to recall anything I had ever heard about chess. "I think" I said slowly and hovered my hand over the little pieces waveringly. "I'm gonna move my pony over here next to the tower dude."

My father looked at me with a hint of desperation in his eyes. For as long as I could remember he had tried to teach me chess but I lacked both skill and concentration equally. "Abigail, it's not a pony, it's a horse." He said and I picked up the little horse head. "Oh, so it's a horsy?" I said before my father could continue his lecture on the chess pieces and he let out a deep sigh. "It's called a 'knight'. And you can't move it next to the tower."

I pouted and shot an angry look at the tower. "Why not? My horsy needs a place to stay." I grinned at Dad who looked very annoyed. "Why don't you move your pawn instead?" He suggested and I pulled a face. "He looks boring. I've got Black Beauty here!" With a proud smile, I held up the black chess piece and Dad closed his eyes for a moment, seemingly gathering the last of his patience.

"Abby, please concentrate!" He said and picked up one of my pawns. "Look, if you move him over here, you can move the knight in your next move." I shrugged and put down the knight but not before patting its head. "Good boy!" I murmured and quickly attemoted an innocent face when I saw my dad's look.

The door to the living room opened and Mum walked in with bags full of groceries. "Hello family!" She cheered and sighed happily when she saw me and Dad sitting at our little coffee table. "It feels so good to say that again!" She said and put the bags down on our old couch. I grinned and held out my arms to her. "Save me, please!" I begged and Mum's eyes fell onto the chess board. "Oh David, you really don't give up, do you?"

Dad took off his glasses and leaned back in his armchair, crossing his legs. "The day will come when she regrets not knowing how to play chess." He said in a matter-of-fact voice. I rolled my eyes and snorted. "Sure, I will remember that when I'm turned down at my tenth job interview for not knowing the art of playing chess." Mum clicked her tongue reprovingly at my words but Dad smiled fondly. "I don't know who you got your sass from but I sure hope that this Louis lad can handle it."

My parents exchanged a grin while I looked down at the chess board, avoiding their eyes. Mum had been determined to find out exactly how I came to be friends with One Direction after barging into my room during my skype session last week. Somehow I had ended up telling her more than I had planned, it was very hard to escape Mum's curiosity once she got interested in a topic.

My parents handled the situation rather well, which was probably due to the fact that my father didn't know much about the band or its fame. Mum on the other hand had been by my side when I first started fancying them five years ago and it was only good that I had left home shortly afterwards. I was beyond glad that none of my parents doubted the fact that I liked the guys for who they were and not for their money or the fame. In some ways it came like a bit of a relief to know that there were yet another two people in my life who knew about my friendship with Harry, Niall, Liam and Louis.

"I bought you some snacks for your drive home tomorrow, Abby!" Mum's voice made me look up and I saw her point at the four huge bags of groceries on the couch. "Ooh, only four whole bags..." I said, shaking my head with a sad look on my face. "That'll only last me to Leicester, Mum!" Mum ignored my sarcastic comment and heaved the bags back into her arms. "I'll put these into the kitchen, I don't want the milk to turn bad."