Page 78 of Stealing for Keeps
“Whatever you say.” She swipes her phone off the bench and starts toward the door, turning and walking backward so we’re still face-to-face. “Text me later to tell me about yourfriendhang.”
I wait it out another few minutes and then walk slowlyback through the school toward the breezeway. The halls are empty, but a lot of the teachers are still in their rooms grading papers or preparing for tomorrow.
As I get closer, voices filter in from outside. I stop at the doors and stick my head out to see a group of students sitting at the tables. I duck back inside quickly before I’m spotted, then peer back out to check and make sure Austin isn’t among them.
“Hey.” He comes to a stop behind me, making me jump. He’s breathing hard, like he was running to get here.
“Hi.” I turn to face him. He’s in his practice clothes. A blue jersey with FROSTLAKEHIGHSOCCERwritten across the chest, black athletic shorts, shin guards covered by tall socks, and soccer cleats. I’ve seen him in his soccer gear before, but I don’t know. There’s something about seeing him like this and knowing how much it means to him that makes him even more handsome.
“There are people out there,” I say, hitching a thumb over my shoulder.
“I know.” His grin widens. “Let’s go.”
Confused but too curious to object, I follow him out the double doors to the breezeway. There are four tables, two on either side of the doors. Students, mostly guys, a couple of girls, sit at two of them. It’s only as we walk closer that I notice the chess boards set up in front of them.
Before I can tell Austin that there’s absolutely no way I’m joining the chess team, he’s holding out a hand to José and greeting him.
“You know Claire?” Austin says.
“Hey, José.” I wave awkwardly, then shoot Austin a “what the hell” look that he either doesn’t read correctly or ignores.
“José has graciously agreed to let you sit in on one of their practices to see if you’re interested.”
Someone calls for the chess team captain, and he holds up a finger to us. “One sec.”
When he’s gone, I step closer to Austin. “No way.”
“It might be fun,” he insists. “How do you know unless you try?” He opens his mouth like he’s about to deliver another cheesy, trite saying.
“On this one rare instance, I think I just know.” I might be willing to accept that I’ll never be as good at anything else as I was at skating and even that there are things I might love that I wouldn’t know unless I tried. But chess?!
“How are you going to be here and at practice?” I motion to him.
“I’m not.” He gives me a boyish, hopeful grin steeped in remorse.
Then I remember what he said. José was going to letmesit in.
“You cannot leave me here,” I hiss.
“José is cool, and the others seem…focused.”
“Is there anyone in this school you haven’t befriended?” I ask instead of running away, which honestly, I think should count for something. I didn’t try chess, but I considered it for all of three minutes. I’d say that deserves two gold stars.
“We have study hall together. He’s nice, and he promised to show you how to play as a favor to me, so you can’t back out now.”
“I know how to play chess. Kind of. I know that the queen is important.”
He chuckles. “Good. That’ll come in handy.”
“I cannot believe you,” I say and then give in and laugh with him. This is a terrible idea but also strangely sweet.
“The Frost Lake High chess team has gone to state the lasteightyears, and two of their players are among the top twenty juniors in the nation.”
“That’s pretty cool,” I admit.
“Right?” He continues grinning at me, obviously pleased with himself. “Now, have you ever considered chess as an opportunity to try a new sport and make friends?”
José waves from the table. He is a nice guy. We had English class together last year, and he offered me his notes any time I missed class. Bailing will make me look like a jerk. Maybe it’ll be fun.
