The Chess Club

Chapter 1

Author’s Note:  Max’s thoughts will be in Italic.

A beautiful world with yet another beautiful morning, but not everyone can appreciate this. Max Knight who has quite recently seen the scene of his father’s suicide cannot help, but see the rising sun as nothing except a big yellow light bulb.

Eyes half opened, Max looks through his bedroom window which had lost it’s beautiful view thanks to the built of the new house next door. Being in a rather bad mood due to his lack of peace even in sleep Max gets up from his warm bed and heads to the once bloody tub to take a shower and freshen up. Looking at the tub only brings back the memory of his father even more vividly. Disgusted he decides to skip the shower and just freshen up and get ready for the first day of high school.

Ready for school he heads downstairs. His mother, Rosaline, was as usual nowhere to be found. Finding himself hungry he grabs a toast and spreads cream cheese and shoves it down his throat, so that at least his stomach won’t burn during the day. Finally out the door and walking down the sidewalk he finally reaches the bus top. After a few moments of wait the bust arrived and Max paid his share of fee and found a seat beside a window at the very back.

Looking out the window throughout the ride Max saw teenagers same as him laughing and walking with their friends to school. They haven’t seen the evil of this word yet. Max suddenly disgusted by all the happiness shuts his eyes and tries taking a nap for the remaining ride. Even though he had tried going to sleep, sleep never came to him.

With eyes shut still he felt another passenger sitting next to him and he moved away slightly without her noticing that he was awake. Max could tell that it was she from her distinctive floral scent.

I’m sure she had no choice, but to sit next to me poor girl. I’m sure she is totally regretting taking the bus.

Then Max heard another voice other than his little voice in his head. “I know you aren’t sleeping.” Says the girl next to him and he couldn’t help, but open his eyes due to the shock.

The girl stares at Max shocked and then starts laughing. Feeling a bit offended Max clears his throat and turns away from the still laughing girl. The girl finally stops laughing and apologizes to Max for laughing at him. “I’m so sorry, but I was shocked to see that what I read in the internet was actually true. I couldn’t hold my laughter.” 

Well, isn’t she polite? They do say a good face doesn’t mean good manners. Although I do wonder what she read?

 “On the net it was written that if you sit next to a seemingly sleeping person on the bus there is 78% chance that if you say ‘I know you are not asleep.’ They will be shocked and open their eyes in the process. Now I know that it was completely true.” She sighed with a smile on her face and nodded her head. “Yes I believe that today is going to be a really good day. Don’t you think so?” The girl asks Max not hearing a response she turns away from him.

Aren’t we there yet?

“Oh I started blabbing off without introducing myself. Hi, my name is Roxie Grey. Nice to meet you…”  Roxie extends her hand to Max. Max looks down to Roxie’s extended hand almost reaching for it, but he stops as the bus stops at his destination. He stands up straight and particularly runs out of the bus leaving without introducing himself to Roxie Grey.

That was close I nearly made a huge mistake. It’s not like I will meet the cheerful Roxie Grey again. Even if I do I’m sure she will not talk to me like the others.