Warning: I'm not a chess master, so don't study these words too hard.

I'll talk to you more at the bottom.

Previously...

Turning to Jasper, she proceeded to give him pecks of kisses all over his face. "Thank you for making this possible, wonderful husband". She whispered to Jasper. Leaning towards him to give him Eskimo kisses.

They were so sweet together. Looking at them like that, I had to turn away. Their intimacy was too much to ogle. Almost as if I was invading their privacy.

I wanted that.

Chapter 21 - Checkmate...

As I made my way upstairs, I could hear Edward in his room. His scent and the sounds of the pages of a book turning gave him away.

Just tell him and be done with this secret. It needs to be out in the open. It's not fair to Alice or Jasper that you asked them to keep a secret from their own brother. Stop being a coward and tell him.

Walking to his door I tapped lightly, in which he responded by mumbling to come in.

"Edward I need to tell you something."

He looked up from his book that he was reading and gave me an encouraging smile.

"It's really important, so I need you to just listen OK?"

He nodded his head and put his book on the coffee table, showing me that I had his undivided attention. "What is it Renesmee?"

I took a deep breath. Now was the time. "I'm...I'm Bella, Edward. Bella Swan"

He studied me for a moment with an unreadable expression. Then all of a sudden his lips twitched and he barked out an uncontrollable round of laughter. "You're Bella Swan" he said my name in disgust. "That measly human being who practically stalked me everywhere?"

"Well, I wouldn't have put it like that..." I nodded. Unsure as to why he was reacting like this.

"Gosh, I thought I got rid of you. You're weak and pathetic Bella. Wasn't it clear enough when I said it before? I. Don't. Want. You."

I shook my head fiercely, not accepting his words. "No, Edward. That was before. I'm a vampire now. You don't have to protect me anymore. I'm strong enough to defend myself now. We can be together, for real this time." I pleaded. "I won't hold you back anymore." My voice began to tremble at the end, hysteria overtaking me.

He stood up and walked towards me. His piercing eyes staring me down.

"No, you won't hold me back," he confirmed. "Because I don't want you, I never have. You were just a plaything; menial entertainment, at best, while I was bored and stuck in this dead end town."

My eyes began to sting with tears that would never shed.

No. This was not how this was supposed to happen. We were supposed to talk through our differences, salvage what could be saved from our previous relationship. I never expected him to forgive me and pick up from where we left off. I knew that. But this?! This total rejection?

My heart felt like there was an elephant stomping on it. My knees felt weak. My head was beginning to fuzz. I tried to grab on to a surface to keep me up, but there was nothing there that could help me preserve what was left of my dignity. As I collapsed to the floor, I could hear Edward's laughter ringing in my ears.

I looked up and could make out more figures entering the room.

"She thought we wanted her" he cackled to the others. Soon they all joined in with Edwards mocking of me.

"B-b-but Ed-Edward" I hiccupped. "You l-loved m-me".

"Ha," he scoffed. "How could anybody love you?!"

TAP TAP TAP.

A faint knocking on the bedroom door brought me out of my dark thoughts.

I cleared my throat and sat up on the bed.

"Come in" I said, still half distracted by the terrible thoughts that were dancing in my mind.

"Good evening"

"Edward." I released a breath that I didn't know I was holding. I had guessed it was him by his scent, the beautiful honey-sweet smell, like lilacs and the sun. Even so, the sight of the 6'2" Adonis in my bedroom doorway took my breath away. "What can I be doing for you?"

"Erm..." He murmured awkwardly, staring anywhere but me. "I was just wondering if I could take you up on that offer of a chess game."

He was adorable. As if I could refuse an offer such as that. Well, refuse anything that he would offer.

I nodded. "Of course. Now?"

"If you're not busy," He said, finally meeting my eyes. For you, never. Would it be too creepy to say that out loud?

"I'm not busy at all." Jeez Bella, desperate much?

I got off the bed and made my way downstairs with Edward.

Esme was wandering around the room, rearranging flowers in the vases. She always seemed to be rearranging them no matter how perfect they already looked. "Hello dears" Esme greeted.

I nodded in acknowledgement and she gave me a beaming smile.

Me and Esme had been getting closer. The purity of her heart still astonished me, and I often found myself drawn to her gentle personality. In the short time that I had been here, Esme had done everything possible in her power to make sure that I was comfortable. She had confided in me a lot about her past, with her abusive husband as well. How when she was younger and lived in Ohio, she originally wanted to move west and become a school teacher. How when she found out she was pregnant and ran away to her cousins in Wisconsin, even though she had never been more frightened, she had never been happier to have a life growing inside her own.

I had learnt so much more about this inspiring woman in the last few weeks. Just earlier this morning we were having another one of our conversations.

"Sorry, Renesmee, I'm probably boring you with all of this." Esme apologised.

"Not at all. Esme, you are truly inspiring."

Esme brushed it off, dismissing the flattery.

"Thank you for telling me this Esme." I said, truly awed.

"You're welcome," she said with a gentle smile. "I didn't mean to spill this all on you. I just find it easy to talk to you, almost as if we've met before." She shook her head probably trying to rid her mind of the thought.

I shrugged, "In another life, perhaps."

"Be careful. I hear she's the new chess master." Esme warned Edward in a teasing tone, winking in my direction.

I looked down in embarrassment. "I wouldn't really say that," I disagreed. "Just beginners luck I suppose."

"Well, don't let me get in your way."

"It's just chess." Edward noted.

"Uh huh" Esme mumbled with an unconvinced undertone.

"Shall we?" Edward gestured to the table once Esme was out of the room. "Ladies first", he motioned towards my pieces.

I looked down at my white pawns. "Actually," I said whilst rotating the board, "I prefer to play on the dark side."

"As you wish." His tone was laced in amusement. "So," He started as he studied the pieces in front of him. "How are you enjoying school?" He moved his pawn to B3. He was already playing the game close and guarded, a perfect metaphor for his life at the moment, only moving one space instead of the allowed two. My pitiable Edward. Could I perhaps bring his out of his shell?

Without much thought I moved my pawn to E5.

"I'm enjoying it just fine, thank you very much."

He moved his bishop to B3. Without hesitation, I moved my knight to C6.

I stared at the board, waiting for him to make his move. After a few seconds of silence, I glanced up to find him staring intently at me. "Your move." I prompted.

His eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he returned his gaze to the board. His beautiful lips puckered as he considered his plan of action.

Picking up his pawn, he resumed conversation again as he moved it to C4. "All of your classes enjoyable?" I looked at him with curiosity. What was he getting at?

His eyes seemed to bore into mine, to be searching my soul for the answers to all of his unasked questions.

I unwillingly shifted my gaze to the board. The board was safe, the board couldn't distract me, the board couldn't try to make me splurge my soul and it definitely couldn't make me fall impossibly further in love with it. If it could I would certainly have to start questioning some things.

"Erm, where was I?" Muttering more to myself, as I moved my other knight to F6. "Classes? Yeah. Well. They're as interesting to be expected I suppose. You know how high school can be. It wouldn't nearly be as fun without the rest of the gang though".

My eyes were trained on his hand as he moved his knight to F3. "Really?" He mused.

Hmmm, pawn to E4. "Yes. Jasper is hilarious in history, and no one is funnier than Emmet in P.E." I laughed, remembering when Emmet managed to save me from an awkward encounter with a spotty teenage boy.

His eyes tightened at my revelation, "It seems that my brothers are having all of the fun then." I felt sorry for the poor knight he seemed to be holding too hard as he moved it to D4.

"I have fun with Alice too. But she, Rosalie and Emmet are posing as a year younger than me and Jasper." Hmm, time to get my bishop out, me thinks. Bishop to C5.

"So Alice?" He wondered, moving his knight to C6 and eliminating my own. Grrr. Well, that just won't do.

Pawn to C6. But now my queen and king are exposed. What are you playing at Cullen?

"Yeah, Alice is like the sister I've never had." He listened as he placed his pawn on E3.

"But Rosalie?"

I could take out his pawn, but then he's just take my bishop. So maybe not. Bishop to F5. "Rosalie not so much".

Rosalie, now she was pretty easy to figure out, unlike Edward. She liked attention, craved it, which showed that she had the potential to be shallow. But she was fiercely protective. Wary of outsiders, as she should be, but it was clear to see that her bark was louder than her bite.

"That doesn't bother you?" He seemed confused.

"Not really. Your move."

He looked down and moved his queen to C2 with a huff, almost as if annoyed that the game was getting in our way. Suck it up, Mister. You suggested the game so I intend to finish it.

"Why?"

"Because that's how the game goes. First it's your go, then it's mine…" I explained slowly as if explaining to a toddler. I knew that wasn't what he was asking, but what was with the Spanish Inquisition? Queen to E7.

"That's not-"

"..What you were asking, yes I know." I interrupted and finished for him as I watched him move his bishop to E2. Looks like I'm not the only one ensuring the defence.

"She's protective, that's all. I understand that." I shrugged. Scanning the board for my next movement, I realised that I had the perfect opening for a bit of kingside castling.

He studied my movement for a moment before he moved his pawn to F4.

"Now, it's your turn." I wasn't going to let him get out of this that easily.

"No. I just had my go."

"Not the game. Your turn to answer questions." Knight to G4.

He seemed to be deliberating this for a second, while he moved his pawn to G3.

"Come on. It's only fair." I encouraged.

He let out a long breath and nodded in consent.

Gosh, reacting like that and I hadn't even got to the questions yet. Best start off easy and simple. Try not to arouse any more suspicion Bella.

Pawn to H5.

So… "What about school? Have you ever considered coming back?"

"I don't know. Teenagers, hormones, annoying thoughts to endure. That place… I don't even know if I could go back. Too many memories." He sighed, moving his pawn to H5. What was with this attack of the pawns?

Tread carefully Bella. He's clearly still fragile. "You'll never know unless you try…" Pawn to H4. Aww crap. I knew exactly what his next move was going to be.

Like I predicted, he moved his pawn to H4 and took out my Knight. Well, an eye for an eye. Pawn to G3. I took pride in removing his pawn from the table and replacing it for my own.

"I must admit, the idea has been increasingly appealing as of late." He confessed while moving his right castle to G1.

"Then why not go for it?"

"I'm not sure. I'll think about it." Clearly he needed a little push.

Looking at the board, I knew exactly what to do. "I know. If I win you have to go to school, if you win, then you get to decide what you want to do. No rush". He couldn't possibly argue with that.

I waited for his answer before I made my move. "That seems fair." He agreed.

Great! Now it was time to take this home. Castle to H1.

"No backing out now." I reminded him.

A smirk graced his face as he moved his castle back to H1. It was clear that he thought he had this. "I wouldn't dream of it."

I moved my pawn to G2.

Conversation ceased as we both focused on the game. Now there was really something at stake and neither of us were planning on loosing. This was WAR!

Edward reacted by moving his castle to F1, falling perfectly into my trap.

I had decided to play this game free thinking and organically. I didn't limit myself to the structures, which allowed me to react efficiently and effectively against Edwards skilfully played movements. There were a few casualties, honourable knight which gave their life, but it would not be in vain. I refuse to be defeated.

Queen to H4.

Edward studied my queen in regards to his king. He thought he had me sussed out. He moved his king to D1, taking it out of the path of my queen.

I demolished his castle, by moving my pawn to F1.

"Checkmate".

He stared at the board. Mouth gaping like a fish. "Wha.. bu-" He cleared his throat. "How?"

"Never underestimate the weaklings." In more ways than one. But he didn't need to know that.

He looked a bit astonished. He clearly thought that he wouldn't be tricked into going back to school. Well, not tricked. He did have his fair chance to back out and he could have won if he really put the effort in. I wasn't just going to lay over and play dead for him like everyone else seemed to be doing. But I wasn't completely harsh either.

"To be kind; I'll give you a month to get your head together. See you later, Edward."

I left him there, sat staring at the table, while I left the room. It was better to leave whilst I was ahead. I didn't want to push my luck too far.

This took me so long because I wanted to write an accurate game. I'm sorry if you find it too boring.

If you're interested this game was the Bent Larsen vs Boris Spassk game of 1970. Google was very much my friend for this.

Thank you for your continued support.

Until next time - K, x