Alrighty. First off sorry for not posting last time, I was on vacation for the week and didn't have access to any internet. Sooo anyways here is your next chapter. I have never been to one, nor do I know anything about chess clubs so I hope this is ok. Don't be afraid to comment any thoughts/info on how they actually go if you have any! And yes, I made Thomas's mom named Amelia to reference Doctor who. :P Also, how do you feel about the length of these. I hope they're long enough for you, but I can make them longer if you want. Comment you thoughts and feelings!
Untold Futures part 4
That afternoon Thomas stood in front of the Paige house ringing the doorbell. He heard the click of Ava’s heals inside the house as they approached. She opened the door and invited him in with a smile.
“Thanks again for coming on a Friday Thomas! I won't be back until 11ish so could you make sure Chuck’s in bed by nine?” Ava asked as she put her white coat on and grabbed her purse.
“Sure thing Ms. Paige, don't worry about anything,” Thomas smiled at her reassuringly.
“Come on, can't I stay up later? It's Friday!” Chuck whined from across the room.
“No, I'm already giving you an extra 30 minutes. Thomas, there should be some pizza in the fridge for dinner, feel free to help yourself to whatever you need. Bye now!” She placed a kiss on Chuck’s forehead before leaving the house. Thomas waited until the clicking of her heals dissipated before turning to Chuck.
“What’re you watching?” He sat next to him on the tan couch and looked at the tv.
“I don't know, I can't find anything good on. Want to play Mario Kart?” Chuck made the decision for Thomas as he put in the game and tossed a controller at his babysitter.
“So, how was your Friday Chucky?” Thomas asked as the game started.
“It was good, Mrs. Kingston let us stay outside for an extra ten minutes after lunch!” He replied with a grin. “And don't call me Chucky, I'm not a little boy! I'm ten and a half!”
“Hey, it's not such a bad thing! I've got a friend who calls me Tommy and I'm 16,” he informed causally.
“Really, who?” Chuck contradicted as his virtual player crossed the finish line ahead of Thomas’s. “Ha! I beat you!”
“As a matter a fact, it's Newt. The guy you think is sooo cool with the motorcycle.” The next race started and Thomas was determined not to loss to a ten year old again.
“Really? Ok. Tommy,” Chuck replied with wide eyes.
“Uh, he's the only one who gets to call me that,” he secretly loved the sound of his nickname coming from Newt’s lips, coming from Chuck's it just wasn't the same. Thomas’s phone buzzed in his pocket and he paused the game to see who was texting him. “Oh come on Thomas! Who is it?” Chuck leaned over his shoulder to look at the phone.
“That weird, it's Newt but I don't remember giving him my number.”
Unknown number:
Watcha Tommy, it's Newt! :)
Text sent:
Hi Newt. How did you get my number?
Newt:
From Minho, hope u don't mind.
Text sent:
It's fine.
“Come on Thomas, let's play already!” Chuck begged as he decided the texts were too boring to keep reading, even if they were from the Newt.
“Hold on a sec Chuck.”
Newt:
anyway, u doing anything 2night?
Text sent:
Yeah, I'm babysitting until 11. Why?
Newt:
Oh no reason. Wow that sucks tho, u really have to babysit on bloody Fridays?
He went to the trouble to get my number for ‘no reason’?
Text sent:
No, not normally. Hey, how's your face doing?
Newt:
It's doing better. Thx for asking.
“What happened to his face?” Chuck asked as he once again read over Thomas’s shoulder impatiently.
“He got punched today. And stop reading my texts!” Thomas said and he readjusted himself so Chuck couldn't see his phone.
“Woah he got punched! What happened?” Chuck inquired excitedly.
“Oh this one guy was bothering us and Newt ticked him off trying to stand up for me,” Thomas said as if it was the most casual thing to tell.
“That's so cool!”
“You know, not everything he does is cool,” Thomas sighed.
“Can we keep playing now?” Chuck winned, remembering the game.
“Yeah sure,” he turned back to his phone for a second before unpausing the video game.
Newt:
U there Tommy?
Text sent:
Yeah sorry. I have to go now, Chuck is making me play video games with him.
Newt:
Alright, sounds fun. Ttyl!
•••
The following Wednesday Thomas and Newt walked into room 250 for the first chess club meeting of the year. Thomas went to stand in the front with the other leaders and Newt took a seat in the second row of desks near the other members and newbies. Thomas watched for a few minutes as people filed into the room. After it seemed everyone who was planning to show up had, a tall dark skinned boy standing next to him spoke in a low voice.
“Welcome greenbeans, to Glader High’s chess club. Also welcome back to our returning members. My name’s Albert. This is Harriet and this is Thomas, we lead the club,” Albert introduced.
“And Alby here is our top player this year, after Nick graduated last year!” Harriet added excitedly.
“Thank you Harriet. So let's get right to it. If you don't know anything about chess or how to play go over here with Harriet, she’ll teach you the basics,” Albert said, pointing to a corner of the room. “If you can play, go over there with Thomas, who will teach you specific tricks and moves. And lastly, if you already know all the tricks come to me and I'll assess your skill. Today's objective is to teach you how to play and get a feeling for how much you know. By all means save everyone some time, and please do not pretend you know how to play if you don't!” Albert stopped giving directions and the group split into their respective corners of the room.
Thomas went to his assigned area, sat down and started setting up the chessboard. He watched most of the clubs returning members like Clint, Aris, and Rachel go over to Alby, and three new players came to him. Glancing to the other side of the room he saw Newt sit down across from Harriet with a younger kid he recognized as Winston. So he doesn't know how to play.
“So, I'm Thomas! Why don't we go around with names and then we’ll get started?” Thomas said cheerfully to his three students. He soon learned their names were Beth, Zart, and Jeff. Thomas set up for the first move and asked them what they thought their move would be. Not long after he started explaining the first move did the brunet hear a loud laugh coming from Harriet’s side of the room. He turned to see her, Newt, and Winston cracking up over a joke he hadn't heard. He felt a sharp pang in his chest as he watched Newt’s lips curve up into toothy smile, his eyes glimmering at the two people with him. Ignoring his unidentified emotion Thomas continued teaching. It seemed as though more laughing than learning happened in that corner in the next hour.
•••
“Well Harriet said I'm a lost cause, but I bet I could get it eventually!” Newt chuckled as he walked down the hall with Thomas after their club ended.
“I don't know man, Harriet’s a pretty good teacher. There's a reason Alby had her show you the ropes,” Thomas replied with a smirk.
“Maybe you could teach me, that way I can be ready next week?” Newt requested.
“Do you seriously want to learn?” Thomas was surprised by Newt’s attitude towards the game.
“Why shouldn't I? So can you teach me or are you too high up with your fancy moves?” He teased.
“Sure I could help you. How does tomorrow work?” Thomas suggested as he mentally checked his schedule.
“Yeah, you can come to my house after school. I don't have a chessboard though, you'll have to bring one,” Newt smiled cheekily.
“Yeah sure. Text me your address!” Thomas waved to Newt as he walked to his car. Suddenly he remembered the way he felt when Newt was laughing with Harriet and Winston. Was that… Jealousy? No! No it couldn't have been. What would I have to be jealous of? Thomas quickly dismissed the thought.
•••
“Hey mom, is it alright if I go to a friend’s house after school tomorrow? He wants me to teach him how to play chess,” Thomas asked as he greeted Amelea after getting home from chess club.
“Sure! Whose house is it?” She replied.
“Newt. He's the guy who gave me a ride last week, remember?” He informed, throwing off his shoes in the kitchen.
“Oh yeah, I remember,” she smiled and Thomas left the room to do his homework. However the student had trouble concentrating on his work. He couldn't shake the odd feeling from earlier. There was something interesting about Newt that he couldn't put his finger on, but it was definitely there.