Just Like Chess - A Highschool Love Story

Chapter 2

Mindy was woken up by her alarm, pushed her blankets, and quickly put her feet on the ground. Stretched her tiny body raising the arms up interlacing her hands and with her feet set turning left and right. Took a glass of water from a bottle in her nightstand, open her white closet, and pick up a mat and extended on the floor. Got her phone, put an exercise app, and worked out for exactly 30 minutes.

After taking a bath, brushed her long and black hair, got into her white desk, and pick a biology book about sea creatures. It wasn't for school, that was for fun and did this for an exact half-hour. Stopped the read, stood up, and got her blue backpack into her closet - the backpack is the same color as the painting of her bedroom. Dark pastel blue and white is her favorite combination- and study the next class lesson to be advanced compared to the rest of the classmates and did it for exactly an hour.

That's how is the routine of Mindy's morning before school. She wakes up every day at 5:00 from Monday to Friday (weekend she wakes at 7:00). The ritual is broken just on special occasions, usually when having a test or an appointment before school, being the time of reading the book or the exercise the ones that are substituted for whatever she would do, but it is rare. She is usually prepared to tests a long time before the day.

She inherited these habits from her strict parents. Having an oriental culture on the house, keeping a strict routine, and be attached to traditions is very important for them. Since both of her parents were born in China, Mindy was kept away from American culture by them, because of the fear of her lose the Chinese style and the bond with the culture.
Got ready for school wearing a black and blue skirt that goes until the knees and a blouse with the same colors and a little tight on her body defining her very small breasts. Checked her hair in the small mirror suspended in her door, put back the impressively big and round glasses, and went to the kitchen for breakfast.

Her parents were already on the table just about to start to eat. She sat calmly in the chair in the end  to join them and said a respectful "good morning", being responded by her father, Chang Zhao who was sitting right next to her eating an omelet:

"You should be here 2 minutes ago when we start breakfast," looked at his watch and continued "it is 7:32." With no expression, he continued to eat while Mindy's mother, Mei gave him a disapproval look.

Mindy had no reaction and ate in silence, leaving the table a few minutes later without saying a word. Got to the bathroom to brush her teeth, got the backpack, and got straight to the door, where her mother was waiting to take her to school.

They got inside the car and Mei started the talk "You don't need to care about what your father says every time, her rules are very strict, but he does this because he wants the best for you."
"Don't worry, got used to it." said in a firm voice.

"But sometimes I feel that you are in some kind of a prison, where he does not allow to do things that people of your age do."

"Watching too many American sitcoms mom?" Mindy said in a little laugh. " I am totally fine, with my situation, besides I am so advanced comparing to the idiots that do the things that you are talking about."

"I am just worried that you might not enjoy your young days, as a psychologist I know what I am talking about." said while she parked the car in front of the already crowded school entrance.

"Ok... Bye, mom" Mindy said while opened the car door, before being stopped by her mother.

"Wait," said spontaneously. Mindy left the door ajar and Hellen continued "I have things in my youth that I laugh about until today in China and here in America you should have these moments."

She was not talking about parties, alcohol, or this bad stuff. Mindy couldn't even go to sleepovers at her friends or having a date with her boyfriend Luke. They see each other at school or in the Chinese class get-togethers once a month. Mindy is an assistant teacher there and made Luke take the class to see him more often. The other thing was the curfew. She had to be at home until 5 pm, except the days of the get-togethers. Since Mindy never had a little bit of freedom, criticize who has and the fact that she is extremely stubborn indicates that a change in her way of living was almost impossible.

Mindy left the car and went straight to the school doors, Passing through a thin sidewalk surrounded by two green fields in which both had one tree in the middle.

Opening the school doors (same as Jack entered, but he went two minutes after her) and by trying to find her best friend Aimee, saw Gary and Gwenny talking and making a satisfaction smile. The reason behind her reaction to Gary's relationship was that with he distracted, she had a clear way to beat him in math competitions or in the Chess local tournaments.

A little bit disappointed by not finding her friend, she got to her locker. Very organized and with the only decoration being a pastel blue wallpaper on the inside. Aimee suggested to put a picture of them, but she refused. Mindy always says that she doesn't need anybody's help and is totally independent. It is kinda true, she is independent and not a good person for teamwork but sometimes she misses her friend.
While organizing the locker Aimee appeared on her left side with a childish, thin and insecure voice:

"I was looking for you."

"You should look better," Mindy responded in a rude way, but deep inside she was happy.

"Ok. I'll be better next time," Aimee's voice expressed disappointment.

"Speaking of being better, I decided that you'll take Chinese this year," Mindy said in an imperative way.

"I don't think I would like to take Chinese," making a face just like when you are at somebody's house and they offer you a gross food for dinner and you just cannot eat that.

"You said last year that you want to take more classes with me, so that's the perfect plan. Besides, there are get-togethers once a month which means that we gonna see each other more."

"I might consider then," said with a low voice looking to the ground, squeezing her lips. She was holding her books on the chest, like hugging them. She was really looking like a child.

"If I were you I'd go now, inscriptions end at 11."

"Ok, I'll do," still looking like a child.

"Good. I have math now, so I should be going."

"But class starts in five minutes, I want to tell you something." Aimee was all excited.

"Is it one more of your dreams about boys?"

"Yes, but this time I think I'm in love." with her shrill voice making a naughty laugh. "So, I woke up in a castle with a sea view and then Jack dressed like a prince held me in his arms and kissed me, and the rest I cannot tell," after telling the dream interpretation with gestures she started her traditional annoying laugh because of the last sentence.

"Oh no. You know these guys are all jerks, you need to get a smart and nice boy, not these jocks that you are always dreaming about...Speaking about Jack, he texted me this morning wanting to talk to me about something."
"Wow, you must be so so happy..." said in a nasal voice. "Wait, you have a boyfriend."

"No, do not even speculate about me and Jack, and yeah, I have a boyfriend, so nothing is going to happen." Mindy speaking aggressively.

"So, can you talk to him for me? I know he is single now, but I have no courage to go talk to him. Maybe...you could help." asked Mindy very shy.

"Alright, I'll see what I can do." She was just trying to avoid this conversation.

"Okay, I will see you again later at biology, I gotta go to class."

"Wait, when you and Jack are gonna talk?" said while Mindy already starts walking to class.

"During lunch."

"Tell me the details," Aimee yelled because Mindy was already far from her and when realized how high she screamed, got embarrassed and red, then got in the way to class.

Submissive, average height, skinny, brown hair, and average grades, Aimee is that kind of highschooler that in the class reunions nobody remembers. Totally unnoticed during and after school, but she will be an exception, she will be remembered, but I'll tell more about this later. She has a self-confidence problem. Rarely talk to anybody in the school if it's not Mindy. Sometimes talks to herself saying "you can do it, you can do it" before doing something that could expose her (and she will be). Since she never questions Mindy's decisions, a good listener, and a loyal friend, they became friends.