ATOMIC, benny watts

one- a chance encounter

It had been some bar in the East Side, and I was dressed impeccably well for once. Coming to New York had been one of the best and worst decisions I had ever made. The best, because it had been at the invitation of Bob Dylan and I remembered liking it when I had come for a competition as a kid.

Chess. My most confusing relationship, the very thing that had dominated my childhood.

I'd never managed to get away from it, as people still seemed to recognize me as the "kiddie chess whiz" in England, or with the musicians I had befriended, specifically The Rolling Stones, had dawned me as "Queenie" instead of Viv.

In the six years between the last competition I won, sure I had kept playing, but my opponents had always been drunk or drunken rockstars and their pals, or a roadie even.

It was nothing like the thrill playing with anyone, or even Arthur gave me.

Speaking of which, I'd missed him.

My closest friend from the time I had been eight, and I were not speaking. Purely because of what we had said to one another. Not wanting to get into specifics, it had to do with how he felt I was ruining my life, and how I wanted a break from chess.

My hands at that point couldn't even pick up a pawn without feeling tired, or forced to play.

The sport had become dull to me, and I did what all great athletes did, take a break. Only my break came before one of my most important matches, the one that would've easily made my career.

But I opted to skip it.

And didn't tell anyone.

However, that all seemed like eons ago. Taking a sip of my drink, I tap my heel on the rim of the stool I'm sitting on, turning to the person next to me, spotting an issue of Chess Review in his hands. A magazine I hadn't even bothered picking up or reading in years, mainly because I didn't want to see Arthur in it and feel even worse about where we stood.

Now, turning to examine the person reading it, I couldn't tell much.

He looked nice and proper, sleek black hair and a light brown cashmere sweater, the glass next to him was half full and appeared to be some sort of gin. Although, before I get another glance, he looks up, making eye contact with me.

"You play?" The man asks, a friendly grin on his face, placing his issue of the magazine down on the table.

"Kinda." I return the grin, taking a short sip from my glass before setting it down on the counter.

"What are the odds? Three chess players in one bar, and two of them are British!"

I raise an eyebrow "British? Really who? It isn't you is it?"

"God no, it's my pal. Maybe you know him?"

"Maybe I've beat him." I joke, poking fun at the whole situation.

He laughs "So you're good at it? Got a name by any chance? Maybe he's heard of you."

"Vivienne Bernard, but you, can call me Viv." I offer a hand towards him, which he shakes and then laughs a bit "Hey, I think I have heard of you. Couple years back."

"Probably. That was considered my prime." I do quotation makes with my fingers, which causes us both to laugh.

"Hilton Wexler, nice to meet you. Here, I've got one more person for you." He turns back towards the other side of the bar, where a brunette with slightly long hair is talking up a girl, fidgeting with his button up.

"Arthur! Come here! We've got another chess player here."

His head shoots up at the simple mention of the word chess, away from the girl and looks over the bar counter, where we are seated.

Our eyes meet by chance, and he gapes a little, turning back to the girl in question and I assume, apologizes as he gets up and makes his way over to the two of us.

"Viv? How is that you?" He asks.

"Easy. I'm here for a break. Staying with a friend. You know how England can be."

"Yeah. I do." He is still standing in between Hilton and I, so I decide to move down one, allowing for him to sit down between the two of us.

"You two know one another?" He asks curiously, leaning down on the counter, in order to have a view of all of us.

Arthur looks uncomfortably towards the ground and then back in my direction. "Viv and I go way back. Met when I was ten at her first competition, beat the shit out of me. And probably still could."

"Really?" He looks slightly impressed and raises an eyebrow "Damn, I've seen maybe two people defeat the Great Grandmaster Levertov before. I've got to see that again."

Arthur sighs, "Good luck with that. Viv here, has taken a sabbatical from chess." He rolls his eyes.

"I needed to rest competitively. Doesn't mean I stopped playing."

There's a bit of tension between the two of us for a second, just before Hilton goes to break it up "You should get back in the game. It's picking up now, especially with girls cause of Beth Harmon."

"Beth Harmon?" I question, tilting my head to the side, which causes Arthur to laugh a bit, knowing how no matter how I studied, remembering names always seemed to slip through my head.

"As I said, Viv's been out of the loop."

"Interesting. Say, this might seem odd and all, but how'd you like to come play chess with a few talented people tomorrow night?"

Arthur perks up a bit, hoping the answer is a yes, and that maybe my extended break is over. Which I wasn't sure about. Yet. Either way, a few games to help me back on my instincts couldn't hurt.

"What level are we talking?" Just wanting to get a feel for who I'd be going against.

"The current US champion, and an ex US Champion then you've got Hilton and I. Who I have no doubt you'll beat with ease."

I think about it for a second and then nod my head. "Sure. I'm in. I need practice anyways." The two smile for a couple seconds, and I watch as Hilton goes to scribble something down on the table of contents page in the magazine.

"Here. Take it, read up. Maybe you'll find a little bit out about who we're hanging out with tomorrow." Hilton hands me the magazine and winks, which Arthur seems to notice, as he nudges him on the arm.

I look at Arthur for a few seconds and say "Arthur, can I talk to you for a moment?"

It startles him. Either way, he agrees, following me to a corner of the room, where I sigh, starting what I guess was an apology. "I'm sorry. You were right. I made a mistake."

He shrugs "You were also right. Turns out, I also needed a break from Chess. So I had no room to judge you."

"Can we move on from this? It's been so long and if I'm being honest, I've missed our friendship." I admit.

He nods his head "Absolutely. Oh! Let me warn you about tomorrow night. Benny Watts? He's a shark. Will probably want to play speed chess, likes to gamble. So bring cash."

I snicker "Is that what America's chess scene has turned to? Gamblers?"

"He's a shark. Beats me every-time."

"I beat you every time."

Arthur groans. "But I'm a grandmaster."

"You realize that could've been me too. Right?"

"Okay. Now you're going to ruin my mood. I'll see you tomorrow night. Feel free to bring a friend, or booze. The more the merrier."

"Right. See you then."

And with that he walks off, to join Hilton and the female he had been talking to previously. Leaving me for the night, with my newly gifted chess magazine and a night to wake up whatever skills I'd left behind.

Oh. And to convince Bob he needed to come watch me play chess.