Just Like Chess - A Highschool Love Story

Chapter One

Jack Adams woke up in the morning feeling determined, it was the first day of Junior year and he will start his plan to get the heart of the most beautiful girl in the whole school, Gwenny.
He brushed his brunette hair looking straight into the mirror, put his best perfume and brush his teeth, put a white shirt, jeans, and a white pair of shoes, then pass through the kitchen to reach the front door. Skipping breakfast because he couldn't hold the anxiety to get to school, said a quick "bye guys" to his parents and got into the car, a beautiful convertible blue with two white stripes in the middle, and drove to school.

You might be thinking that this is another story that a nerd or the normal and shy guy that tries to attract the most beautiful and popular girl in the school, and in a miraculous way that guy gets his objective, but not this time. Jack and Gwenny were dating, but the miracle happened and Gary, a member of the chess team took her place as her boyfriend. Besides being not pretty or popular, his sweetness and Jack's carelessness and pride made Gwenny break up with Jack and start dating the uncool boy.

It has been two months since Gwenny broke up with him. Because of this, Jack's popularity decreased a lot. Being the quarterback of the football team, the most popular guy in the school, the entire team started to make jokes about him. Getting back together with Gwenny would give his reputation back. So, it wasn't just about romance.
Knowing that Gary was part of the chess team, he was planning to have the help from Mindy Zhao, Gary's biggest rival at chess.

Jack entered the school looking through the crowded hallway trying to find some familiar faces. But the first thing that he saw was the back of a tall woman with curly blonde hair a little bit below the shoulders shored up in a locker, he suddenly recognized, he got butterflies in his stomach, it was Gwenny. As he slowly walked in, saw a short man behind her. It was short, with a brown licked hair, in a yellow shirt, seemed that he was going to church instead of school. Jack couldn't stand to look to this scene, then pass by them as fast as he could, looking very insecure, totally different than the imposing old Jack. He still had that typical Jock body, but his insecurity was totally clear. He saw his friend Carl Carter alongside his girlfriend Luíza Martínez at the end of the hallway near the stairs and walked straight next to them.

Carl was the Wide Receiver of the school football team, tall, black skin, grew up in the same neighborhood that Jack lives, and are friends since when the boys were born. Their friendship translated to the field as great chemistry. Both of them know that continuing like this, they'll get a scholarship. Luíza Martinez is a determined and strong person, who has an opinion about everything, maybe her weakness, controlling her tongue. Besides that, she was a short person standing at 5"1, brown skin and long black hair, sometimes Curly and sometimes straight.

Jack approached Carl, made their traditional handshake, a slap that when the hand's to touch, they pull it, making their forearms touch, and also greeting Luíza with a simple wave. Then Carl asked him:

"How are you feeling about that?" said raising his head, like pointing with his nose to the scene of Gary and Gwenny.

"Not cool," Jack said quickly, turning to the other side, pushing his friend with his hand on his shoulder, trying to walk away from that scene. "I'll turn this around, I have a plan, I'll explain to you in the way to class."

"Wait," Luíza said putting herself in front of the boys with her hand in a horizontal movement to stop them, frowning her forehead and make her eyes wide open. She is also an expressive person. " You have no right to be embarrassed just to look at those two. One day you gonna have to talk to her, so be mature about it. And don't come to one more of your plans. Just go try to get her in an honest way, telling her the truth and being a better person, because you were the worst boyfriend ever, and I was warning you about it all the time." said in a loud voice, that made even her a little embarrassed, worrying if somebody were listening. Unfortunately, one person heard, and the rumors about Jack trying to go after Gwenny quickly spread, but we will get to this later.

"I can't just talk to her, she is still on love with that guy, I need some information about him and based on these I will make Gwenny not like him anymore, clearing the way for me again," Jack said in a slow and soft voice, he is not crazy enough to yell back at her.

"Dude, I agree with her on this, no crazy plans, tell hee how you feel and respect her decision," Said Carl also with a low voice. He was always involved with Jack's crazy plans, not mentioning that Carl also had crazy ideas, like invading their rival school locker room to put mouses in there or going to their parties pretending that they were officers just to take down the party. So he going against him in a plan was almost a treason, but was used to this, considering that since Carl started to date Luiza he settle down on this.

"But this way the probability of her get back with me is much lower, plus, I want you to respect my decision either." He said, predicting that Luíza would say something back at him.
She raised her hand and was about to say something, but said calmly "My mom always says that I have to be less stressed with things, so I will not make any comments about it, I can avoid this. But at least I want to know what you gonna do."

"First I will talk to Mindy Zhao, her teammate, and nemesis in the chess team..." said Jack, being interrupted by Carl.

"And since when you have been following the Chess team?"

"That guy Martin, our teammate, he was from the chess team until las year. He gave me some information. And I admit that I went to one of the games."

"Wow, you stalking Gary in a chess game?... Where are the giant and magnificent Jack that I know?" said Luíza in a sarcastically way. " That girl Mindy is scary. Since she started to date my young brother Luke, I started to take Chinese to keep an eye on him, because she forced him to take this class. Mindy does whatever she wants with him, I can't stand that girl." She said with anger.

"What you said is actually good. This means that she can really help me. A bossy girl always helps." Jack said making a confident face putting his chin up.

"Okay, we know you'll ask her help, but what's next?" Carl said trying to get him back to real life.

"Mindy will do the trick," Jack answered still with his head up and a confident face.

"That is not going to end well," Carl said in a low voice, not enough to be heard and did a disappointment face.

"Well guys, my class is here. I don't like your idea, Jack, I think you are going to fail miserably, and I will laugh hard," Luíza being sarcastic again. Then she pulled Carl's head to a quick kiss and giving a "see you later dufus" to Jack, turning and going towards her Biology Class.

Jack and Carl kept going towards their classes through the hallways. Immediately after Luíza entered her class Jack asked "Think can be you, future wife?"

"Hey, chill, chill" answer a little scared, recovered himself, and continued "I love her man, although being too soon to talk about this, I can see a future".

Jack just smiled. Besides that she was taking the time that they spent with each other, he was happy about them and always say that they complete each other. Friends always know what is best for one another.